Chapter 6

"In Memories of Samantha L. Martin," Anita whispered to herself as she read the carved name and words on the stone at the top entrance of the white mausoleum.

With how it appeared, she knew it wasn't something ordinary. She had never seen a rock as white as those. It seemed like a cave at first glance, but it wasn't at all.

Anita didn't know what their late boss' wife's name was. She hadn't heard from Linda yet, but looking at how the place was created in memory of someone who had passed away, she could imagine how much love they had for her.

They created a paradise inside a ranch. The place felt peaceful right on the spot where they were. The air was fresh, and the sound of the river flowing below the pavilion was relaxing.

"Anita—" Her silent sentiment was interrupted when Linda suddenly called her name. She turned her head right away and looked at her apologetically.

It was a shame that she was spacing out and almost forgot what they came for in that place after she got captivated by the view and ambiance around her.

"Can you arrange the table?" Linda asked.

That was one of the things she was trained for before stepping foot at the Martin's. She was confident enough that she could do it by herself perfectly at that time.

"I can," she replied sweetly with a smile before opening the basket next to her and getting a thumbs-up from Linda.

The lady butler left her there alone and Linda followed their boss on the arc bridge. William made sure the distance was far from Anita so she wouldn't hear whatever he was about to tell his lady butler. After all, it was about her, and it would only ruin his plans, if ever.

William started right after Linda got close. The lady butler listened intently to him, but he couldn't remove the frown from her face while listening to William's every word. It was too obvious in her facial expression how much she was against his plans, and when she was about to open her mouth to speak up, she stopped.

Linda decided to let him finish first, hoping she could hear something reasonable for why William wanted to take those steps even though he knew it was impossible for his son to agree with such arrangements. She also noticed that the one who would receive the biggest gain from that plan was nothing but William.

The selfish part of him was too apparent. It sounded more like a business deal for her. He would only make it look like both sides would gain in the process, but on the back end, it would be just him.

"So, you're trying to say you're planning to lie to Anita to make her agree with the other option for your sake?" Linda asked. Her voice showed how annoyed she was with the person right in front of her, and she wasn't scared to show it.

William felt that. He sighed and looked away to avoid her gaze because the old lady butler was looking scary.

"S-sort of," he mumbled, cutting his speech to inhale some fresh air and adding a few more words after, "I'm doing this for Lennon. I told you this first because you knew the servant better than I do. Although I already knew she would fit in the task—"

"She does, but Anita already has many things to contemplate. She doesn't need to worry about someone else. You know how stubborn your son is; Anita is his total opposite. They would only fight, and I don't think she could tame your son, William!" Linda exclaimed.

She sounded vehement. Linda didn't like his idea and thought there would be a possibility that Anita would only get hurt. She doubted herself physically, but mentally, there were chances.

"Sounds like you like that lady a little too much," William chuckled.

Linda glared at him because of that. She didn't like how William wanted to use Anita in his plans because he, as a father, couldn't even handle his son.

"Well, yeah. Anita has a pure heart and innocence to protect, and you only wanted her to do that kind of stressful task just because you can't handle your son on your own. I promised her parents I would look after her here, and also—Anita is like a daughter I never had, William. If your plans would only harm her, I would do whatever I could to get in between," she implied with a warning.

"You don't need to warn me." William chuckled. "My only concern is, do you think she would agree?"

"She would without any choice, William. Knowing her, how she thinks about her family, and her sick father in the hospital right now, that poor girl would," Linda answered, and she immediately started walking back to the pavilion to check if Anita had arranged the table right before William could see it.

She had so much concern for the Filipina girl. She believed William wanted to use the servant's soft heart and love for her family. His offer would surely make someone regret it after saying no and Anita, with all her problems, she was an easy target to take it a go.

She arrived and smiled after seeing Anita perfect it. William arrived and pulled himself a chair. Linda poured him juice—a mixture of fruits and vegetables. Anita stood on the side, not far from the table, watching Linda serve William the light and simple breakfast they had prepared.

"Come, have a seat, and join me," William offered the two. Anita didn't move an inch and was ready to decline when William added, "I want to talk about the favor Anita asked a few days ago." He turned his head in Anita's direction and gestured with his hand to sit on the chair across from his.

Anita looked at Linda, and the lady butler smiled, making her think it was okay to sit and join their boss for breakfast. She drew the chair slowly, but she did not sit in it to eat. They already had sandwiches in the kitchen, and she wasn't hungry.

"I already talked to an acquaintance, and he told me it would take a long time to process your visa renewal. The agency you came from couldn't assure you they could help you right now as well," William explained. He was talking while slicing the chicken on his plate, and he only looked at Anita when a slice was already inside his mouth.

Anita felt so much disappointment hearing what he said. She thought she could listen to some good news, but she was all wrong. She didn't have time to wait if the visa processing would take more than a month. She felt terrible, but she knew she had no one to blame. Their boss already made an effort, and that was enough.

Linda placed her hand on Anita's shoulder, making the servant raise her head to look at her. She found her looking at her, making her utter, "He found another way to help you, Anita."

"I did find one, but only if you like," William added to what Linda confessed. He wiped his mouth with a table napkin, and after swallowing what he had chewed, he looked at Anita and continued, "I can help you get a green card and become a permanent resident. This is more than the benefits of having just a working visa that could expire after some years. Aside from this, I can help you get a better job that matches your credentials."

Anita felt some hope but was skeptical of the billionaire's idea. She knew something was in exchange, and without asking, William told her what she needed to do to acquire all those benefits.

"Just think of it as a fake marriage. You don't have to be a wife to my son; be an aid for Lennon to be on the right track and help him pass an exam from the university. Just be his tutor for two weeks, and I will pay you. You'll get incentives if he passes the exam. You don't have to worry about your father's hospital bills anymore, Anita. Just think about it."

It sounded like music to her ears. She got teased into saying yes right away, but William gave her time to think about it.

They returned to the villa after William finished her breakfast, but he remained at the pavilion to have more time with his wife. Anita tried to consider the offer for the rest of the day.

In her mind, there was a possibility that William might forget about it. She counted the days left before her visa expired and realized she didn't have more time to waste, so the next day, she gave Linda her answer.

When William received it, he gave Linda a piece of paper with their deal's printed terms and conditions. He treated it like a business.

Linda shook her head in disbelief at what was going on. She read it first before passing it to Anita. It was clean, and all the things there sounded like they would benefit Anita more than him, but Linda could smell William's other agendas hidden.

She calmed herself. She chose to remain silent, but as she had previously stated to William, she would not hesitate to intervene if something went beyond of plan and what was written.