Chapter 3

ISABEL

“Have you taken note of everything?” the older woman asked after we had toured the whole mansion for more than thirty minutes. It was quite a rush, considering how huge this place was.

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied.

“Then I will leave the child entirely in your care. I am sorry, but I really can no longer handle her attitude,” she said. Her words felt like a warning to me.

“Y-Yes, ma’am,” I simply answered.

“Your job is to look after nothing but the child.... her meals, her studies, her playtime, what she should and should not do, and everything else. Just focus all your attention on Kai. Is that clear?” she instructed.

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied, but slowly her words made me think. “Is Kai really the child’s name?” I asked.

“Yes. Her full name is Kai Lancaster. She is Mr. Alexandro Lancaster’s only daughter. It will be easier if you just call him sir Alex,” she said.

“I see. Then.... who is this Emily that sir Alex mentioned earlier?” I asked further.

The older woman glanced around first, then leaned closer and whispered, “Emily was sir Alex’s late wife. It has been nine years now. She died on their anniversary.”

My mouth fell open slightly as I nodded, listening to what she said.

“Is that so? How sad for sir Alex and Kai. Maybe that is why the child acts this way, because there is no one properly guiding her?” I guessed.

“That is exactly why it is your responsibility now... to watch over her, take care of her, and give her love,” she replied. Taking care of such a stubborn child was definitely going to be a challenge for me. “Go on, Isabel. Head to Kai’s room so she can eat and do her lessons.”

I quickly said goodbye to Kai’s former nanny and made my way to the child’s room. Standing in front of her door, I knocked three times and slowly pushed it open.

“Kai?” I called out as I peeked inside. But the moment I took my first step into the room, a bucket of white paint was suddenly dumped right over my head. I rushed back outside, trying to wipe myself clean with my hands.

That child really has such a terrible attitude!

I heard Kai burst into loud laughter from inside her room as she watched me covered from head to toe in paint.

“Just barging in without knocking properly! This is what you get!” she teased me.

I wanted to march right in and give her a piece of my mind, but then I heard her father’s voice.... sir Alexandro.

“Kai Lancaster,” he called out in a firm, authoritative tone, making Kai freeze in fear. “What did you do?!”

“I-I don’t like her—”

“You have gone too far with your behavior.”

Everything fell silent, and I glanced at the child who had nothing more to say. She lowered her head in shame.

“You are grounded. Do we understand each other?”

“Y-Yes, Dad.”

Kai went back inside her room and slammed the door shut. I wanted to follow her, feeling sorry for how she was being treated. I knew what she did was totally bad, but I think that there had to be a reason behind her attitude.

“Isabel,” sir Alex called my name, and I looked up at him, feeling embarrassed. “Go clean yourself up and change your clothes. We will talk after that.”

“Y-Yes, sir,” I answered before walking away.

***

 

I HEADED to sir Alex’s office on the first floor after I had showered, changed, and fixed myself up properly. After knocking three times, I entered the room.

“Good afternoon, sir,” I greeted him, but sir Alexandro just stared at me with a serious expression.

“Sit down,” he said briefly, so I took a seat across from his desk. It felt so awkward when it was just the two of us.

He looked so stern and serious!

“I did not get to interview you earlier because I was..... I had too many things on my mind,” he began.

I felt nervous. Did that mean I wasn’t fully hired yet?

“So your name is Isabel Ramirez, and you are.... thirty years old?” he asked.

“Yes, sir.”

Sir Alex adjusted his position, resting his elbows on the desk and clasping his fingers together.

“Where and when were you born?” he asked next.

“In New Jersey, on October 10, 1996,” I replied. Sir Alex frowned deeply.

“Where exactly in New Jersey?”

I tried hard to recall what my mother had told me. “I-I can’t remember the exact place, sir. I am sorry. My mom said I lost my memory after getting into an accident while riding a bus,” I explained.

“When and where did this accident happen?” he asked again.

“I think I was twenty-six years old at the time. It happened around 2017.... about nine years ago now,” I answered.

I noticed sir Alex swallow hard, his eyes blinking rapidly. He quickly turned his attention to his laptop for a moment before looking back at me.

“Do you have any documents or proof regarding this accident?” he asked.

“None, sir.”

Sir Alex let out a deep breath, looking as if he was deep in thought. I grew more nervous, he looked like he was about to lose his composure any second.

“Where are your parents now?” he asked once more.

“At home, sir. Why do you ask? Is there a problem?” I questioned him back, since his questions seemed to go far beyond what was written in my resume.

“N-Nothing. Anyway, you may leave now. Go and attend to Kai,” he simply said. I nodded slowly, still confused.

“Very well, sir. Thank you,” I replied, standing up and walking toward the door.

Just as I closed it behind me, the guard who had let me in earlier suddenly appeared. “Is Sir Alex inside?” he asked.

“Yes, he is,” I said. He nodded, knocked three times, and stepped inside.

Before he fully disappeared through the doorway, my eyes caught sight of the black folder he was carrying, filled with papers. One document was sticking out, and I clearly saw the name of what looked like a company.

Lancaster Syndicate.

I frowned. Syndicate?

What kind of business does Sir Alex really run?