Chapter 6 A warning glare

Juliet had obtained the opportunity to work in the Luis family home after being kicked out of her parents' home. Her parents were wealthy, but Juliet could not identify the man who had impregnated her. She had fallen pregnant out of wedlock, and that was against her parents' standards. She had a one-night encounter with a mysterious man; she knew if she saw him again, she would recognize him, but it had been 5 years, and she had not seen him.

The man was a young man then, and she doubts he was up to twenty-two years old at the time.

Juliet did not bother to search for this man, as she knew he would not accept her. They were only engaging in casual fun; now she had to work as a maid to cater to her four-year-old son's needs. Her son was with her parents, but they refused to sponsor her needs after she had given birth and told her to go ahead and work as an adult since she now longed for adult pleasure. She should be able to take care of her son; that was the result of her foolishness.

Juliet was also as fair-skinned and beautiful as Miranda, but she did not like Miranda, perhaps because she desired the house master and wanted him to notice her too.

Derrick was 25 years old, and Juliet was 24 years old. She wished she was a little younger and not a single mother; then she would have tried her chances with him.

However, remembering her four-year-old son at home, Juliet exited Miranda's room and walked out to the kitchen to continue with her work.

"Miranda, what happened with Melody last night? Did you fight with her?" Lady Loretta Luis was seated on a pristine white couch in the living room as she queried Miranda. She could not simply drop the topic as Derrick had asked her to.

Lady Loretta had previously placed a ban on all her maids, stating that fighting was not allowed in her home. She knew that females often grew jealous of one another, and if she had not imposed that ban, then perhaps there would be a report of murder in her mansion one day.

"I am sorry, ma'am. The lady slapped me again after Master Derrick and his guest left us upstairs. She slapped me twice and hit my head on the wall, and I could only defend myself," Miranda said, with her head lowered to the ground as she knelt before Lady Loretta.

Miranda was not accustomed to telling a lie, and that was what had earned Lady Loretta's trust in her.

"But you are aware that fighting is not allowed here. Why did you not report Melody to the guards? That's why they're equally around to guard you all and ensure that there is peace in the mansion. You should have informed one of the guards to remove her. I did not approve of either your actions or Melody's actions the previous night. That behavior is never tolerated here; did I make myself clear to you?" Lady Loretta was annoyed, and before Miranda could respond, they heard footsteps on the staircase. Glancing to her right and behind her, Miranda spotted Derrick.

Derrick wore a white shirt and black pants, paired with black slippers. He was not going to the office as the day was Saturday, and it was the weekend.

"Mother, what's going on here again?" Derrick pretended as if he had not spotted Miranda.

Seeing Miranda again and how she knelt before his mother with her head bent lower, her blonde hair scattered and covering some part of her face and neck.

Derrick could only remember the previous night when he had seen her náked. He wanted her, but he immediately kicked the crazy thoughts away.

"Good morning, Son. It's Miranda. I know that you are not familiar with any of my maids. But it troubled me that she got into a fight the previous night, and if this matter was not addressed, then the rest of the maids would start thinking of fighting here too." Lady Loretta complained, just as the rest of the maids in the living room greeted Derrick. "Good morning, Sir."

"Hmm, then we should fire her. A maid shouldn't be causing any of us stress," Derrick said, not wanting to state the underlying meaning behind his words. But Miranda quickly pleaded, "Please, ma'am. I am sorry. I promise not to fight here again. I don't have anywhere to go, and I really need my job to survive."

Derrick's eyes darkened as, with the way Miranda was pleading with his mother in her soft feminine voice, he knew that his mother would fall for Miranda's charm.

Derrick did not want to report what Miranda had done to him the previous night, as he had slept so late and woke up late as well, causing him to miss his morning exercise.

Silence ensued in the living room as the other maids waited for Miranda to be fired. They equally did not like Miranda. Miranda was very beautiful, and she taunted them with her beauty, walking with pride and wearing a seductive outfit in the mansion, as the maids did not have a particular uniform.

"Hmm, Derrick. I would have considered firing Miranda as you have stated, but I like her. I simply enjoy having her service around me. I love how she speaks and how she carries out her duties here. However, it still amazes me that she is violent, as I never saw that attitude in her when I hired her. I only saw a meek girl who was eager to work and with her big, shining brown eyes," Lady Loretta announced.

Derrick frowned, and his face turned stoic as he stood in front of his mother. He wanted to take a stroll outside, and he did not want to think about Miranda again.

If his mother claimed to like Miranda, then dismissing her would only make her feel sad.

"So, what do you want to do with her now, Mother?" Derrick finally asked his mother. He added, "I do not like her service here and would rather you send her away before she causes more damage than good."

"No, my son. It's good to have a forgiving heart. I had no issues with Miranda, and I would not allow a third party to come between me and my maids. They are all my children, so I will spare the rod and correct her. Miranda," Lady Loretta's eyes fell back on Miranda.

"Let today be the last time you are reported for fighting in my home. If I receive another report that you did something wrong or that you hurt anyone, then you will use the exit gate. Is that understood?" Lady Loretta's eyes were not smiling.

Miranda nodded her head like an obedient puppy and replied, "Yes, Mother."

"Good. You may leave us. And why are you still in your nightgown? Did you forget about your duties here, or are you just waking up now?" Lady Loretta's eyes scrutinized Miranda's body suspiciously.

"I am sorry, ma'am. Because of the cold last night, I found it hard to sleep after regretting my actions too," Miranda said.

Others would think Miranda was speaking about the slap with the guest, but she was speaking concerning Master Derrick.

Derrick's fist clenched. He could not believe that Miranda would be bold enough to speak back to his mother and lie again.

Why was she testing his patience and taking him for a fool the previous night?

"It's okay, then. You shouldn't make the same mistake twice. That would show that you have repented, so detest fighting or hurting anyone's feelings, okay?" Lady Loretta spoke in a calm demeanor as she lovingly looked at Miranda.

"Okay, ma'am. Thank you for forgiving me," Miranda said.

"Yes. Go and prepare my breakfast. You should know how to do it best and don't waste my time. I have been waiting for you to come out of your room before I sent Juliet. Go now," Lady Loretta dismissed Miranda, while her gaze shifted to look back at her son, who was silently strolling away and not pleased with her actions of forgiving their maid.