“Yes, yes, we have been speaking out of turn. We’ll go back to work right away,” one of the ladies said as they started to hurry off.
“Hold it.” Vivian stopped them right then. “Mr. Slate is your boss and deserves your respect. I don’t want anyone discussing his private life behind his back!”
The ladies traded glances, a tacit understanding forming just then. “Yes, yes, we’ll be going now.”
“Back to work, back to work.”
Still, they feigned deference toward Vivian despite their clear contempt toward her as they hurried out of the lounge.
After that, Vivian went downstairs to the cafe-she was quite close with the waitress, since she often went there for coffee.
The waitress must have seen
Zachary when he arrived to work too.
Winking at Vivian, at Vivian, she asked, What, did Mr. State have a bad night again?
You should put in an effort, if you know what I mean?”
Vivian pretended to snap at her. “Cut that out! Mr. Slate would tear off your mouth if he knew you were You badmouthing him!”
And with that, she turned and left with the coffee.
Arriving outside Zachary’s office, Vivian took a deep breath before knocking on the door.
“Come in,” a deep voice called out.
Vivian entered and placed the coffee on the table. “Have a coffee, Mr. Slate.
Losing sleep because of your baby?”
“Just leave the coffee here,” Zachary snapped.
His head was just hurting-Luna was really throwing too much for a fuss to have a good night’s sleep, though he was now relieved with the new babysitter.
On the other hand, Vivian was not in a hurry to leave even after leaving the coffee. “You’re very busy, Mr. Slate, so it’s understandable since your baby needs a guardian. Has Erma been doing a good job?”
After all, she was the one who arranged for Erma to work as a maid at Zachary’s house.
“Yeah,” Zachary replied flatly, but that only left Vivian perplexed.
She arranged for Erma since she was an old woman, so why was there a young woman in the cameras today?
Who was she? Why was she allowed to babysit?
Vivian was all too keen to lay the groundwork to snare Zachary, and she could tell that he cared about his baby a lot.
Nonetheless, while her imagination ran wild, Zachary snapped sternly, “Vivian!”
Vivian felt goosebumps all over her skin at the tone, since she recognized it-he was really angry!
“Yes, Mr. Slate…”
She looked up awkwardly, to find herself staring at his sharp glare. “You’re the one who recommended Erma, didn’t you? You were saying that she was experienced with children?” Zachary demanded he had been busy with work ever since returning to the country, and did not have time to find a proper housekeeper as such.
Knowing that, Vivian had offered to help!
“Of course she’s experienced!” Vivian exclaimed. “All my neighbors’ children grew up under Erma’s care. Did she do something wrong?” While she spoke, Vivian appeared at once anxious and guilty-she was that good at pretending.
And when it came to Zachary, she was always prudent about how she behaved, while she acted high-and-mighty around everyone else. Even so, Zachary’s tone was cold and impatient. “She definitely hasn’t taken care of any children before. Remember to tell your neighbors that she really shouldn’t be allowed around children!”
Vivian was actually stunned that was impossible!
Erma was there at the maid agency when she visited, seeking employment!
However, Vivian’s spacing out got Zachary further annoyed. “Why are you still here?”
Vivian was certainly afraid to speak out of turn at that point.
She really wanted to find out who the woman in the camera was, but as things were she should not be talking we & not be talking around Zachary, let alone probe him!
As such, Vivian quickly left his office while keeping her head down after which she frowned and whipped out her phone.
“What the hell?” she growled under her breath as she dialed a number. It was answered after a couple of rings, and a familiar voice greeted Vivian. “Hello, Ms. Crowe!”
It was none other than Erma herself, and Vivian promptly snapped, “What the hell is your problem?”
Vivian was fuming when she heard Erma’s voice. “Did your brain get fried? Why didn’t you take good care of Mr. Slate’s daughter?!”
Erma was actually feeling wounded as well.
She was doing well until she was suddenly told to babysit! And even if she discounted that fact, the nanny who arrived after she did gave her a thorough dressing down!
The memories certainly did not sit well with Erma, and knowing immediately that Vivian was calling her to snap at her, she said sarcastically, “That’s not quite right, Ms. Crowe. What was that you told me? That you’d pay me if I could get myself hired by Mr. Slate… but I still haven’t received that money you promised.”
Vivian’s face fell. “What are you talking about? Are you demanding pay when you can’t even do your job?! Do you think our money grows on trees?!”
Erma did not flinch despite Vivian’s outburst-even if she was a maid, she was a seasoned individual who knew how to fuss over the little things.
Puffing up her chest, she snapped back, “I was kicked out almost right after I got in, clearly showing no faith in my work. Do you know that if others knew I was fired by a previous employer, I’d be losing my reputation completely in this business?! Say whatever you want about me, Ms. Crowe, but you can’t say that I’ve been irresponsible. I can only tell you that Mr. Slate is too demanding, and not everyone can meet his demands!”
Erma’s righteous retort left Vivian’s eyes flashing in anger, and she had to force herself to calm down with deep breaths.
“So who’s the woman Mr. Slate hired?” she asked. “How did she come under his employment?”
This was why she called in the first place, to find out who that woman was!
She did not want any young woman around Zachary, whether she looked hideous or otherwise.
If she was young, they might eventually feel a spark!
“So that’s why you’re calling!” Erma exclaimed in realization. “Didn’t you agree to pay me before, Ms. Crowe? So when are you giving me the money?”
Vivian was incensed. Erma was still talking about money during an important moment like this?!
“Why should I pay you?! You didn’t even do your job!”
Erma simply shrugged it off. “What do you mean, I didn’t? I’ve been babysitting Mr. Slate’s daughter for days!”
Suddenly she laughed deliberately. “Well, it’s fine-I still have the recording you told me to get. But if you’re finding it difficult to pay me, I’ll go to Mr. Slate with the recording, and he just might be willing to pay me!”
It was a barenaked threat!
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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