12: The blonde maid

KATHY

"Mama"

Anya jumped out of her chair, running towards the lady.

The lady barely even reacted. I expect a warm reunion, a hug or a smile but nothing.

She must be Natalia. Anya's mother.

She was beautiful. Long dark hair that was probably dyed one too many times, I could see some blonde hair in the roots, blue eyes, perfect make-up, expensive clothes.

Anya stopped just before she reached her waiting to be hugged by her mama. But Natalia only glanced down at her then walked past right her.

My stomach twisted.

She walked towards me, her gaze travelled from my head to my toe. Sizing me up. Judging me.

"Who are you?" She asked again.

Her accent was American, or at least she was trying very hard for it to be.

"Katherine Bishop" I responded lightly.

"The tutor" she said, her tone making it sound like an insult.

But I smiled politely. If I could deal with people like my stepsister, Iris, then I could deal with people like Natalia.

"Yes, the tutor" I replied.

She looked at me again, a slow smile appearing on her lips. The smile was sinister to say the least.

No wonder the staff avoided talking about her. From her demeanour, you could tell she wasn't a nice person. People feared her.

And for a slight moment it felt like I should fear her too. I could tell she was going to be a very big problem.

"It's interesting how Viktor didn't mention you at all, I had to find out from Yuri just now" She said.

"Yuri said all the staff go through him" I responded.

"Yes yes, given how insignificant you all are. I can't believe someone like you is teaching my daughter english"

"Well it's not like you can... so..."

I'd seen this woman for all of 3 minutes and she was already getting under my skin.

"You..." She tried to say but was cut off.

"Natalia"

Every muscle in my body stiffened at the sound of his voice.

Cold, commanding. Yet my heart skipped a bit.

I slowly turned my head to the doorway and there he was. One hand tucked in the pocket of his tailored trousers. His dress shirt was rolled up to his forearms, exposing strong veins and the expensive watch wrapped around his wrist.

His Gray eyes landed on me for the briefest second then shifted to Natalia.

What is wrong with me?

'Did my heart really skip because I heard his voice and because he gave me one tiny look?'

I had been waiting for him to show at the house for over a day simply because I wanted him to know that I had started working.

That was all.

Nothing else.

Viktor stepped in the room walking towards Natalia.

"You're early" he said to her.

"I got bored and decided to come back home to see my daughter" she smiled. "Is that a crime?"

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

Natalia crossed her arms and Anya suddenly stopped smiling from seeing her uncle.

Then both of them suddenly started exchanging words in Russian.

I stood there, watching the both of them carefully.

None of them raised their voice or changed their expressions but you could tell there was hostility between them.

Something dark.

Anya was also very calm. Like she had been through something like this over and over again, it wasn't something new.

Natalia scoffed before brushing past Viktor. She paused, turned around to look at me "you'll learn" she said before walking out of the room completely.

"Don't pay her any heed" Viktor said, pulling my gaze from the doorway to his. "Hope you're settling in"

"I am" I said, keeping my voice neutral, "Anya is a good student"

For a moment, warmth flickered across his face. It seemed to me like he cared more about the kid than her own mother.

"Good" he nodded, "you should continue your lesson"

Anya waved her uncle goodbye as he turned to leave.

I watched him disappear out the door.

'stop looking'

I looked away immediately and returned to the lesson.

When we were done I flicked her nose lightly and smiled.

"Same time tomorrow"

___________

Over the next 3 days I noticed the house kept changing.

New faces. New maids and new guards.

I began memorising everything the moment I started getting more used to the place.

The exits, the staircases, the guards and maids. Yuri.

Especially the guards and Yuri.

The guards had multiplied in the 3 days Viktor had been in and out of the house.

I started noticing where the cameras were positioned too. Micro camera's everywhere, one could hardly see them.

Viktor was smart.

I was sure the maids and half the guards didn't know about them. I wouldn't have either if it wasn't for Anya.

I did a quick sweep of my room to check for cameras but I found none.

Good.

There was one particular detail I noticed the most though. A maid or she seemed like one.

Blonde hair pulled into a neat ponytail, too neat, I bet she would have constant headaches from how tight it fucking was. Always dressed in a fitted skirt suit that showed her small rounded ass and crisp white blouse that looked too ironed and too tight for someone who's job was to serve coffee.

Always moving in and out of his office and what seemed to be his room.

I had only seen her serve coffee, so she couldn't be his assistant or his secretary. Why would he allow such dress code or did he tell her to dress like that?

She went into the office 4 times just that afternoon. She would knock once and enter without waiting for a response.

I told myself it was nothing. Staff went in and out of offices constantly. It meant nothing.

She was really beautiful. Perfect. The kind of woman that could have easily stepped out of a fashion magazine.

I rolled my eyes at myself.

Why did I care?

I didn't.

Then why was I being bothered by it.

It was none of my business. I came here to investigate him, not his love life or the women he takes in his bed.

It's his house, his rules, his staff and his bed. He could do anything he wanted with them.

Would he?