Scaredy Cat

CHAPTER 7

SCAREDY CAT

ELIAN

"Stand straight when I'm speaking to you!" Janet snaps.

"Sorry," I promptly correct my posture, "please continue."

"Listen clearly I will not repeat myself again!"

I nod faking a smile. Fuck, my brain feels like hot wet fudge. I can't think straight, I just want to crawl in bed and sleep for five years. Is that too much to ask?

"Swish a cup of vinegar around in the toilet bowl using a toilet brush," she continues, "then add a cup of baking soda, followed by an additional cup of vinegar. Let the fizzing solution sit for 10 minutes. Use a toilet brush to scrub the stains. Let the mixture sit for a few more minutes and then flush-"

"Janet?" Harry calls, unknowingly saving my life. He appears in the bathroom door dressed in a business suit, a light colored shirt and a business-style tie, just like the first day we met.

"Good morning Harry." I greet with a smile. He has no idea what he has just done for me and my poor, poor brain.

He returns the smile, “Good morning Mr. Evan, how did you sleep?"

Sleep? No I didn't sleep I went out breathing with a random stranger, "er, I slept very well thank you."

"What do you want Harry?" Janet says.

"Right, the lady calls she said she needs your opinion on something."

"Alright, I'll be there shortly." She turns to me, "and you-"

"Um the name’s Evan?"

"I want you to follow my instructions very carefully. I want this toilet sparkling when I return."

"Of course ma'am."

Finally she follows Harry out. Although I've acted differently I'm actually here because I’m on a mission to steal a goddamn car blueprint. I've been at this mansion for exactly fourteen days and what have I achieved? Jack. Shit. I can honestly say it's not my fault though. Janet is like an evil spirit monitoring my every move, I haven't had a single moment to get away. and the guards, the damn guards!

Well no more excuses, if I can find time to runaway with a deaf stranger, four fucking times I might add, then I can find time to do my actual fucking job. I'm taking my fear and I'm shoving it far up my ass!

Anyways no offense but Janet is insane. There is no need to do any of the stuff she’s been saying for the past thirty minutes. The toilet is already spotless I seriously cannot imagine it being any cleaner than this. I pour in a bit of all the liquids and powders she gave to me earlier and give the toilet a vigorous scrub.

"See? done." I dust my hands and leave the bathroom. So far all I know is; there are three floors in this house. I've only been allowed on the first and second floor which means that anything of value is definitely on the third floor.

I leave the bathroom with my full cleaning gear; I don’t want to be caught snooping around with empty hands, that would raise suspicion. The hallway is long and creepy; the walls covered with all sorts of weird paintings and even weirder…decorative pieces? I honestly can’t tell if they’re meant to be decorative or meant to induce suicidal thoughts. Anyways that’s the Stone’s problem not mine.

There are 7 rooms on this floor with eight bathrooms. To be more precise, there are only four bedrooms and they all look identical except for the shades of browns and whites used in the beddings.

The remaining rooms are the practice room, there is a giant piano, violin and harp here, yes a fucking harp! I have no idea who even plays harp, angels? The other room is a sewing room? A designing room? not sure but I found two industrial machines and a bunch of mannequins which only adds to this house’s creepy, over the top vibes. The last room is a locked room.

Goal number one find out what’s inside the locked room.

There are two ways that I can reach the third floor. The first is the elevator which I need a key card to access and the second is two large double doors leading to the staircase which I also need a key card to access. I got to hand it to the stones, there are pretty through with their security.

The difficulty to access the third floor confirms my theory that anything worth stealing (at least to them) is on the third floor.

Goal number two; access the third floo-

“Um hello?”

“Shit!” my heart nearly tumbles out of my chest at the sudden intrusion. “Bam!” The mop bucket falls to the floor spilling dirty water everywhere.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry didn’t mean to scare you.” A young curly haired girl rushes forward to help me.

“No worries, my fault for being a puss- I mean a scaredy cat.” I laugh awkwardly as I mop up the water.

She giggles; “hi I’m Elena, really sorry again.” she reaches out to take my hand.

“its fine and I literally just hand my hand in a toilet.”

“Hmm” she says, studying my face carefully, “you’re cute enough to risk it.”

“Well don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I take her small hands in mine. “I’m El- Evan. I am Evan”

She beams at me, “Hi Evan nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

“do you really work here?” she asks, placing her hands on her full hips.

I gesture to the mop and cleaning supplies, “yep.”

“I don’t know, you have a very nice face I thought you’d be a model or something.”

I chuckle, “nice face?”

“Sharp jawline, deep set eyes, tall frame, the only thing missing is wind swept hair and you’d be every guy in a magazine cover.”

“Wow you say that like it’s a bad thing?”

She giggles, “What I mean is you have a very attractive face.”

“Thank you, you’re not too bad yourself” I say admiring her ridiculous curves.

She beams, “thank you so how long have you work-“

“Elena?” Janet appears in the hallway, shooting daggers at me from her eyes.

“Hi mama,” Elena beams rushing to hug her.

At this point I finally see the resemblance. How the fuck did I miss it before?

“What are you doing talking to the help?” Janet asks still giving me the death glare.

Janet sorry to break it to you but were both the help. You’re just a glorified version of me.

Elena rolls her eyes, “he’s my friend mama."

“Friend?" Janet practically screams, can’t say I blame her, I didn't even know we were friends either, “you will not befriend someone like him now come on!”

Someone like me? I’m guessing that’s an insult and now I’m offended. Fuck you Janet.

She pulls Elena closer, her eyes still on me, “are you done with your work?”

“Yes I am.”

“All of it?”

Obviously not it’s been like an hour Janet, “well I-“

“Get to it!” she says dragging Elena away who turns to offer me a bright smile just as they round the corner.

“What the hell just happen-“

“I see you met Miss Elena?”

“Fuck!” I startle sending the bucket back to the floor. I need to calm the fuck down, “hello Harry didn’t see you suddenly materialize out of thin air.”

He chuckles, “pardon me, I happened to be passing by when I saw the exchange between you and Janet.”

“Right, of course you were.”

“Word of advice Mr. Evan?”

“Yeah?”

“Stay away from Miss Elena I guarantee you it is not worth it.”

I frown with confusion, “what’s not worth it?”

He grins, “have a great day.”

My gaze drops to the messy floor, “I don’t think I will but thanks anyway.”