n

n

nDying one's hair is not that hard of a process and doesn't really take a long while to finish, though it does consume a considerable amount of time when it's done without another person's help.

nCassidy did think of the idea of going to a salon for this, but she decided that she could just do it next time. She used to dye her hair all on her own in the past, and it's an experience that she quite enjoyed. That's why she wanted to try it out by herself again.

nAt this very moment, Cassidy finally stepped out of the bathroom after minutes of rinsing her hair. Now, she just needs to wait a moment more to let it dry and see the outcome.

n

"While I'm at it, I should go and see the beach. I think I'll also get some snacks to eat while I pass time there,

" she thought out loud as she made her way to the door.

nRight after turning the doorknob, though, Cassidy came to a halt all of the sudden. She's flummoxed to find it locked from the outside. This gets her eyes widening like saucers and her mouth gaping a little.

n

"Huh? Did I lock myself in...?

" she blurted out in disbelief and confusion.

n

"No, that's stupid. Why would I do that to myself? And as far as I know, this door can only be locked from here.

"

nThrown into a deep thought, Cassidy retracts her hand away from the door knob and tries to make sense of this. She then went ahead and just called for help from the maids outside. But despite knocking on the door repeatedly and shouting out loud, she ended up getting no response.

nShe kept doing this for five minutes straight but to no avail.

n

"Yeah, right. So much for watching over me...

" Cassidy scoffed sarcastically while rolling her eyes.

n

"I know for sure that they would just be around-

"

nThen, she paused.

nThat's when a realization suddenly struck her, finally helping her make sense of her current predicament. This is probably the strange feeling that she has earlier. Her premonition might be taking action right now.

n

"I see how it is...

" Cassidy hissed underneath her breath, her gaze narrowing in miff.

n

"So, they locked me up.

"

nEarlier, that head maid, Cecile, had been using quite an odd and almost scheming tone that made her think that they're up to something - most probably along with this Irish whom she claimed as the one behind the sudden reassigment.

nAs for what's exactly their reason for doing this, Cassidy is not sure yet. Regardless of the cause, their bad intention had already been spread out in broad daylight. They couldn't just lock her up out of nowhere and tell her later that it's a prank or something.

nKnowing this twisted family, there must be a twisted reason why she has to be restrained like this.

n

"Too bad for them, though, I'm not one to play the role of some damsel in distress.

"

nNow that they have pushed her buttons, Cassidy would just have to bring in yet another trouble.

nShe went to her walk-in closet and put on a new set of clothes - one that's fit for driving. Once she's done, she grabbed Adrian's debit card and her cellphone before proceeding to make her way to the balcony. She then observed the area for a moment and made sure that no one's around.

n

"Good thing that this is just the second floor...

" Cassidy mused out loud before looking ahead and smirking at the sight of a nearby tree branch that seemed sturdy enough to hold her weight.

n

"Well then, shall we get out of here?

"

n---

nCecile is presently inside one of the guest's rooms at the first floor.

nContrary to what people would expect from a maid like her, she wasn't doing any cleaning nor tidying up at all. In the first place, there's really nothing here that needs some sweeping and mopping since this place is not often used.

n

"I knew it. This is going to be harder than last time. It's just a vacation house, after all...

" she muttered before heaving a frustrated sigh and pushing back the drawer of a vanity mirror.

n

"There's nothing here. No jewels nor costly porcelains. All of the displays will not worth much either, considering that this is just a room for guests.

"

nThe thing is, Cecile is on a hunt for something expensive and can be exchanged for money.

nThis is her secret sideline job - stealing from her rich masters and mistresses. She had a dirty way of going around these things and eluding possible accusations.

nIn fact, she's so skilled at it that Irish even promoted her and gave her the position of a head maid. She's been working for the Millicent family for years already, but until now, she has never been caught stealing.

nShe has two main reasons as to why she made it this far - first is that she always had other maids to catch the blames by framing them for her crimes, and second is that she's able to earn the trust of a fellow trickster.

n

"Ma'am Irish herself is one dirty schemer. It's only a given that she'd want to use someone like me. She's even worse than me when it comes to conducting underhanded means...

" Cecile thought out loud, smirking knowingly to herself all the while.

n

"As for what she wanted me to do this time, I was able to hit two birds with one stone. Locking that naive woman in her bedroom would give me time to search around the mansion. While I'm at it, I'm also doing the job that she gave me.

"

nAs she is having this train of thoughts, her cellphone suddenly rings and vibrates from inside her dress pocket.

nShe then took it out and answered it without even looking at the caller yet. It's not like she still had to since she's already expecting that this person would call her around this hour.

n

"Good afternoon, Ma'am Irish. I have successfully done as you told. That woman won't be able to get out of the mansion anymore,

" Cecile told the person at the other side of the line right after she picked up the call.

n

"Good. Make sure not to let anyone answer her when she calls for help. Let's just make it look like she accidentally locked herself up while you and the others were busy doing your chores,

" her mistress replied with an evidently satisfied tone.

n

"Understood, Ma'am. I have already sent someone to inform the Madam that her daughter-in-law is here. We'll be letting her out when she arrives.

"

n

"Yes, that's good. Now that she's locked up, she won't be able to escape my mother and her impending fit of pique. I'd also be joining the fun some time later. Make sure to call me again once she's there.

"

n

"Noted on that, Ma'am.

"

nCecile got to admit that she never saw this day coming, though.

nThis is not her first time helping Irish in plotting her sister-in-law's moments of humiliation. She was working behind the shadows almost every time that this mother and daughter would make her go through something mortifying and horrible.

nDuring those times, Cassidy never tried to escape nor show any sign of going against them. She was well-behaved, obedient and compliant. That's why unlike today, there's no need to restrain her like this just so she can meet her in-laws.

n

"Well, there are those rumors that have been circulating among the houseworkers at the venue of the birthday party since last night. They said that Ma'am Cassidy left quickly even after her very own husband tried to stop her. That probably gave Ma'am Irish the idea that they couldn't possibly make her stay put like before...

" Cecile muttered to no one in particular before turning around to take her leave.

n

"At any rate, I already did my job here. That's none of my concern anymore.

"

nLittle did the head maid know that it was indeed her concern.

nStarting from the part when she started her treasure hunt all around the room up until she took her leave, a pair of ears were peeled open and hearing the entire thing. Right outside the glass window that was actually opened the whole time, a certain figure had been hiding and eavesdropping on both her monologue and dialogue with her mistress.

n

"Irish and Cecile, huh...

"

nOddly enough, Cassidy had found herself somewhat amused rather than vexed nor burdened.

nAfter learning the truth behind their petty attempt to imprison her, she was enraged at first, of course. She felt wronged to an unfathomable extent. For a minute there, she really felt like going in there and blowing a fuse in front of Cecile.

nBut then, now that she had finished calmly processing everything, she ended up feeling quite exhilarated for reasons that they won't see coming.

n

"Seems like Maleficent is no longer the only one this time. In that case, I'll just go ahead and step up my game as well,

" Cassidy thought with an amused and complacent smirk on her face, looking like someone who's all ready to turn tables.

n