Chapter Forty

After Mrs. Rita got dressed, they both left her room and went in search of Princess first. They didn't have to look too far because they found her playing with a puppy, and John and Audu were watching her. When Princess saw her mother coming, she stood ran to her, and said, "look, mom! Mr. Audu said I can take sparkle with me."

"Really? Did he say that?" Rose asked and looked behind Princess at Mr. Audu.

"Yes. She can go with the puppy. I figured it will be better if they start getting used to each other now." Audu came up to them and said. "Besides, the puppies are old enough to be separated from their mother." He added.

"Ok. If you say so. Let's go inside Princess." Rose said.

"Why don't you leave her with John and Audu for the meantime, we have things to do and you wouldn't want the young lady to get bored. Right?" Mrs. Rita suggested.

"I don't think that's a great idea. What if..."

"What if what? I have told you that you can be rest assured with John here with her. She is in safe hands." Mrs. Rita interrupted whatever Rose was about to say. "Come on, let her have fun. You should be happy she is adapting so well." She added and started to walk away.

"I'll be fine mom. John and Mr. Audu will be here with me so, you shouldn't worry so much." Princess assured her mom.

"Ok," Rose said. "I'll be inside the house if you need anything," Rose added. "Please John, take care of her," Rose said to John and walked away to catch up with Mrs. Rita.

They got into the house and were fortunate enough to meet one of the maids who was coming out of the dining room. "Good morning ma, good morning Mrs. Rita." The maid greeted them.

"Good morning Ene. How are you?" Mrs. Rita answered while Rose just nodded her head to the greeting.

"I am fine Mrs. Rita." The maid answered with a smile.

"Ok, Please call Blessing to the sitting room. Madam wants to talk to all of us." Mrs. Rita said to the maid.

"Ok. I'll be back soon. Let me call her." She said and walked away.

"This is why I said I need you. I don't even know their names yet." Rose said with a smile. "Let me see if there is anything in the fridge that I can eat while we wait for them," Rose said and they walked to the kitchen together.

Rose opened the fridge and took out some apples and a bottle of chilled water and they went back into the sitting room to wait for Ene and Blessing to arrive. It only took a few minutes for the maid to meet them where they were. "Please sit down," Rose said and they both sat down. "I called you here because I want to change some things about your working schedules," Rose said. "From today onwards, I want you two to stop cleaning the private quarters. In fact, I want you to stop cleaning all the rooms upstairs." Rose said.

"But, why? Did we do something wrong?" Blessing asked.

"No, you didn't do anything wrong. I just don't like people invading my private space and besides, I like doing my cleanup myself." Rose answered.

"But, what about Mr. Christioher's room? Should we also leave it alone?" Blessing asked again.

"Your Mr. Christopher is my husband and I just told you not to clean any room upstairs. Is his room down the stairs?" Rose asked.

"No ma. His room is upstairs. It's just that you said your private space and I thought since you two don't share a room. It won't be a problem." Blessing answered. The other maid Ene didn't say a thing she just sat there and watched.

"How did you know we don't share a room? Is that even supposed to be your business?" Ross asked angrily. "I said you two are not allowed to clean any room upstairs and that's what you will do. Is that understood?!" Rose added with more authority.

"Yes ma," they both answered.

"Secondly, your resumption time will be 8 am and you should be done with all what you have to do by 2 pm. I don't see any reason why you should come in so early in the morning." Rose said.

"Ha, thank you so much ma." The one named Ene finally spoke.

"Thirdly, you don't have to come in every day. The two of you can decide what days will be convenient for you. You only have to come In three days in a week. Excluding the weekend." Rose said.

"Please ma, I have a Question. Can I ask?" Blessing said.

"Sure. Ask whatever you want now." Rose said.

"What about our salary? Will it be reduced?" Blessing asked.

"No, your salaries will still be the same. Do you have any other questions?" Rose asked them.

"No, ma. That's ok with me." Ene answered.

"That will be all for now, if I have anything new to say, I will let you know," Rose said.

"Thank you ma!" They both said and stood up to leave.

"Oh, before I forget. That I changed your time doesn't mean that you can't eat here. Your other schedule still stands." Rose said.

Blessing beamed a bright smile at that statement and said, "ha, thank you, madam. You too much."

When they both walked away, Mrs. Rita finally spoke. "That wasn't bad, you handled it well."

"I guess I did. I think I know why you said it will be easy for me to tell the two of them apart soon. I can tell them apart now." Rose said.

"That's fast. How are you able to tell them apart so fast?" Mrs. Rita asked.

"From my encounter with them, Blessing is the one who talks the most. Ene seems to be the quiet type." Rose said.

"You also know how to observe. That's great..." Mrs. Rita said.

"It wasn't hard. She is quite obvious. She talks a lot and I think she is easy to please. Once you please her, she will be ok." Rose said.

"You are right. They are easygoing and they do their job with perfection. I like them and I am sure you will too. With time you will get to know them better and you will like them." Mrs. Rita assured.

Rose chuckled and said, "I hope so. Should we go and check out the room you will move into?"

"Sure, let's go. Let's go and check it out so that we can start making lunch." Mrs. Rita said and stood up.

"Ok, Let's go," Rose said and also stood up.