Maria's POV
After I was allowed to settle in. Words were sent to me that I must resume my duties immediately. But before I would have any personal contact with the old potato.
I was taken before the rest of the jury, Aunt Lucille and Bianca. Bianca didn't pay any particular attention to me while the basic scrutiny progressed. Aunt Lucille however, didn't say a word but fixed her gaze on me. The entire time, she created a very uncomfortable atmosphere for me. But I made sure not to give up the act. And abruptly, she stood up. "Pathetic, Poor and classless", "Just like your cousin!" she began trailing around me like a vulture.
"Com'on Aunt, cut the poor girl some slack" Bianca voiced out in my defense. "Bianca darling.....you know Aunt's never wrong", "There's something fishy about this girl" she added while still gazing at me. "Fishy?....oh yes" I replied and began my act. Immediately I took off the woolen sweater and wrapped it up. "Thing ma'am must have been the problem. I helped my neighbour put a really large fish in the ice. Perhaps it is what you're smelling". She was astonished by how brainless I was not to plainly understand the depths of her statement. "You're not only pathetic looking, but also a fool" she concluded.
Making a walk towards the direction of her seat, as Bianca kept chuckling .
"But ma'am" I called out. She stopped before she could take her seat and she turned around to look at me. "I promise you. If there's any fish in this mansion, too big to cut""I might not be good at so many things. But in cutting fish. Big fishes…...no one could defeat me" I concluded.
We both stood staring at each other but as usual Bianca didn't derive any meaning from what I said. Instead she found me hilarious. But of course, I believed, Aunt Lucille felt an itch to what I said. "There's something about you girl, that seems.....really odd", "Like how very shallow minded and childish she is?". All heads geared towards the door. It was Jordan who interjected and disposed aunt's Lucille's suspicions.
"Let's just say. We have one clown in the mansion to worry about" he sarcastically said. But Aunt Lucille didn't relent in the staring contest. "Has our diamond been found?". I definitely knew what she was talking about but I couldn't phantom why she still kept her gaze on me. "Yet to be found ", "Although I have a hunch it might attempt crossing the border." "We have the men stationed on all nooks and crannies of the town," he answered. After a while he walked away.
That ended the chapter of the discussion at that moment but not the suspicion. I was led to the bedroom by Bianca, while Aunt Lucille followed suit behind. All the while I was being shown around the room. She looked for any odd familiar facial expression I'd make. But I kept no loose ends to my action.
I soon began tending to the old bastard. I cleaned him up, fed him meals and even read stories to him on his balcony. I detested those times. But I had to keep up the act in the open. But when I and the old vegetable were alone. I showed my very true colors. I spoke to him all about how much he detested me and how very soon I was going to nib them in the bud.
Before the accident, Rodriguez would stay in his room. The very one I presumed held the evidence of their ruin and perhaps my father's diamond. After the accident, he was taken to another, which in ambiance, was similar to a VIP ward, in a hospital. But the very room I seek to enter was locked and the key was with Jordan. I saw him a number of times. With briefcases and files and would often come out with a document or two. And I needed to have access to the room at all costs. So I devised a plan.
Since I was really friendly and helpful in the mansion. Both to my supposed bosses and fellow staff. I got close to the mansion's cook, Mama Emilia. Who in her words said I reminded of her daughter when she was my age. But when I asked where she was and why her memory brought sadness to her eyes. But Mama Emilia would never speak of the reason.
She has however for so many years, taken Jordan and Bianca as her own. And she has tended to both of them since they were kids. In her words. Jordan every evening at 9 O'clock had ginseng tea. Its temperature was precisely 26°C. Bianca was more of a wine person and would never trade a glass of white wine for anything. She knew them both like an open book.
I had just fed dinner to the old vegetable when I decided to go to the kitchen for a glass of water. Descending down the stairs. I knowingly bumped into Mama Emilia on the stairs. The hot ginseng tea spilled on me, taking a visible appearance on my white scrub. But I had an agenda despite the burn. "Oh dear!" she exclaimed, while trying to wipe the stain off with the kitchen towel on her shoulders.
Both of us, travelled down the stairs where Mama Emilia hit tooth and nail to wipe the stain. Which only faintly faded. "Am sorry Mama" I said to her as she soaked the towel in water for the umpteenth time. "I'm the one to be saying sorry my dear. I spilled hot tea on you!" she emphasised and continued in the wiping. "Don't worry. I'd just toss it in the machine. And once again it would become squeaky clean" I said to her so she'd stop with the wiping. I smiled at her in assurance that it was okay. And immediately she hurriedly placed a kettle on top of the cooker and tossed in some herbs.
She strained afterwards and did the unbelievable. Using a thermometer she tested the temperature and It was set to go. She made a move to go upstairs when I blocked her way, almost causing yet another spill of the tea. "Mirabelle" she called out my name startled. "Why have you stopped me? Now out of my way" she ordered softly. But I didn't budge nor move. And in any direction she tried to walk away from me. But I blocked her way with my arms extended widely. "You're out to get me in trouble", "No Mama, I'm out to help you. Just take a look" I said pointing to the stairs. "Now think of your waist Mama Emilia" she kept on looking at me, with the same generous eyes she used to look at me with my meal in her hands when I was kept hostage a year ago.
"Let me relieve you of the stress" I added, taking the tray off her grasp. "But.....", "Jordan might get upset....." I added rolling my eyes in humor. "Let me worry about his tantrums. You Mama should go get rest. I'd deliver his tea" I concluded and began walking up to the room. And while I went Mama Emilia's face was full of worry. Worry that Jordan might bring down the entire mansion if anything goes wrong.
On reaching, I knocked softly on the door but I didn't get an invitation to come in. But I went in anyways. It was obvious Jordan wasn't in. It was my golden opportunity. I dropped the tray on the table and began my search for the key. The key to Rodriguez main chambers. I combed the entire closets, underneath the pillows, the rug but there was no trace of the key. Then something caught my attention. A book on the table. I picked it up and opened it. Lo and behold, it was a key case. And the key laid steady, in a space shaped like a key.
I was just about taking it when I saw shadows walking towards the room and heard familiar voices, Jordan and Diego. I didn't know where to run to. The bathroom wasn't an option, there was no space underneath the bed to roll in. I was stuck and confused. Then the craziest idea came to mind. 'Hide in the wardrobe'. Without hesitation, I ran into the wardrobe and shut the door. The two men walked in and kept on with their earlier conversation. As I stayed quiet.
Then a statement caught my attention when Jordan declared, "We strike at noon tomorrow.....make sure to charge the men!". Diego bowed and made his way out. The moment Diego left, Jordan opened up his laptop. I could see from the lines in the wardrobe, pictures of arms and explosives. After a while, I dropped the laptop on the bed and walked into the bathroom.
That was my chance to leave. So I came out. But my nosy self wanted to have a good view of what he was up to. And I went on searching and saw a particular location, Toluca Mexico. What was worse was that it was a famous mall in the city. Where the explosion would occur. I couldn't believe how evil minded Jordan and his entire family were. I recall being a hostage. They purposely bombed and destroyed important sites in Mexico to get the government's attention for very juicy ransoms.
And while at this, they posed as terrorists. Clashing Mexico's head when they drew to the conclusion that Columbia and sometimes Russia had a hand in the county's unrest. I ran back into the closet the moment I heard the bathroom door open. He walked into the room with his shirt already taken off. It was the first time I saw him bare chested. He was well built. and sexy. Why did the word sexy get into my mind?
I made sure to look away. And by mistake I made a slight noise. He got alerted and walked his eyes around the room. My heart kept pounding when he suspiciously kept staring at the wardrobe. I covered my mouth in fear as sweat dripped down my face. Then the worst happened. He began walking towards the wardrobe. "No" I muttered underneath my breaths.