Chapter 5

Ivy's POV…

My heart was beating erratically in my chest. How was I going to escape this?

“I knew you had evil intentions from the moment I saw you" I stared at the strong face of Celine. She was standing by the door too. She must have come out from hiding after breaking the vase to frame me.

"I'm calling Julian” she glared at me and walked away.

Caroline had a wicked smile on her face. “You're so dead"

I shivered at the thought of death. Was he really going to kill me because of a vase?

I moved back a little when I heard footsteps approaching.

"What's going on here…” he stopped halfway when his gaze landed on the broken vase.

“What happened?" He raised his gaze and stared at me, coldness in his eyes.

"This wench here” Celine pointed accusingly at me. "Stole this vase and in an attempt to hide it, it got broken in the process”

"Is that true, Ivy?” He asked, his voice low.

"I have no idea what they're saying. I was in the bathroom. I still have soap on my body" I gestured to the small soap particles on my body. “How can I be in the bathroom and at the same time be stealing a vase?"

“So how will you explain this?"

“I'm sorry sir. I don't know how it got into this room. But I know I heard the door open before it broke, meaning someone must have done it. Please sir, I'm being framed here"

“You liar" Celine reached forward and slapped me on my left cheek. I winced in pain. Did she just do that?

I glared at her. I raised my hand to hit her. I didn't care about the consequences. I would still be thrown out anyways, so I might as well react.

"That's enough” he thundered before I could hit her.

"This vase was the very last gift Tracy received from her mother. It's a priceless possession to her and I'm not letting you go scot-free after what you've done”

What does he mean?

“Please sir, I didn't break this. They're framing me for this. I don't even know where this vase was, how then could I have taken it?" I pleaded.

"Save your breath” Caroline mocked. "You'll need that energy in jail”

Jail! I got alarmed when I heard that.

"Please sir” I went on my knees and clasped my hands together. "I'm innocent of this. I have no idea of anything…"

“She's right. She's innocent"

I had already lowered my head in tears when I heard that voice. I raised my head and saw a woman standing there.

“What do you know that you're coming here to prove that she's innocent?" Caroline snapped.

“Good morning Mr Trahan. I was here earlier than usual because I had extra topics I wanted to introduce to Tracy. I was coming down the stairs when I saw her” she pointed at Celine.

"She entered this room. I wondered what she was doing there but thought maybe she had changed her room. Shortly after that, I was in the living room when I heard something break and I saw her rushing out of the room immediately”

"That's not true. She is lying Julian” Celine countered.

Julian's phone started ringing. He stared at his phone, then us.

"Nobody should mention anything about this vase to Tracy, until I get back” he said and left.

I was still there on the floor, shivering from the thought that I would have gone to jail, if not of God's intervention.

"You just had to come and ruin things” Caroline glared at the young lady. "But mind you, be careful. Don't try to attack a lion from the rear, he could scratch you with his deadly claws”

"And you” she approached me at a slow pace. "Don't think you've wiggled out of this. I've got the upper hand here"

She smiled wickedly and walked away, with Celine trailing behind her.

Was she the lion she talked about?

I held my chest. This morning will have to be the second worst day of my life if I had ended up in jail.

"Thank you so much” I said as I managed to stand up.

"It's okay. At least I was around to see what happened“ she replied as she came closer to me.

I shook my head. "I don't want to imagine what would have happened if you didn't show up”

"They would have gotten you kicked out for sure” she said. “By the way, I'm Lily. Tracy's home tutor"

"I'm Ivy. The housekeeper" I said. “So, they do the same thing to you too?"

“They do it to everyone. Why do you think there are no staff here? They've all been fired. And it's courtesy of Caroline and Celine”

"Why are they like that?” I asked.

"I don't know, I'm not interested either. But Mr Trahan believes her everytime. I think they have ties from the past"

“Why haven't you been kicked out yet?" I asked. “No offense"

“None taken” she sighed and sat on the bed. She seemed too free and at ease around me. "Julian was my school mate. We were kind of good friends. Besides, I'm married. I'm not a threat to Caroline”

"But she doesn't like me anyways. I always stand up to her” she added.

"What do you mean by you're not a threat?” I asked.

She smiled. "You'll see soon. You still have soap on your body. Go finish up”

I nodded and moved towards the bathroom. What was she hinting at? And she seems really young to be married.

**********

Three days later…

“I'm Ivy. I'm the housekeeper" I shook hands with all the new staff members.

"I'm David, the driver”

"I'm Victor. Security” I nodded.

"I'm Martha. I'm your assistant. Assistant housekeeper” I smiled at her. She seemed like a nice girl.

This went on until we had all introduced each other.

"Since we are all doing introductions here” I looked up the stairs and saw Lily. She was holding a pen. “I'm Lily. Tracy's personal tutor. For those of you new around here, ask about her. You don't want to get on her nerves"

“Aunty Lily" Tracy screamed from inside.

Lily's eyes widened. “You see what I mean?" She said and went back inside.

Honestly, you don't want to get on her nerves. Just yesterday, I cleaned her room before she left for school. She threw a tantrum when she got back, because she saw a tiny broomstick on the floor. I had to clean everything all over again.

“Now. You all here don't know me, except this nobody here" Carolina gestured to me. “I guess I deserve a proper introduction"

“I'm Caroline. The cook. I'm also the head of all domestic staff. You all are going to show me respect and do as I say, if you want to last here long. And I don't want any forming of cliques or gossiping. Such is prohibited in this house. Just go about your duties. Am I understood?”

They all bowed. "Yes”

"For the ladies, eyes away from any male in this house. Most especially, Mr Trahan. You're not in his class and definitely not his type. Am I guaranteed you won't misbehave?” She looked at all the females and they nodded.

She smiled. "Good. Now follow me while I show you your rooms”

She started walking and they all followed her. I knew things were going to get interesting and dangerous from here.

*********

I hummed to the music blaring from my phone as I cleaned Tracy's room. She had gone out with Mr Trahan. They went to have fun together.

I came towards the bedside table and slowly raised the books on it so I could dust it. I placed them on the floor and when I was done, I carried them back on the table.

A piece of paper fell out of one of the books. I bent slowly and picked it up. It seemed it was torn from a book or maybe… a diary.

‘Dear diary, dad is hiding something from me. He said mom didn't leave me, but the truth is that he loves Celine and sent mom away’

My eyes grew wide. What!?