n

n

nCassidy got tired of messing around that morning.

nAdrian probably sucked out her energy when he sucked her finger earlier. She felt lazy to the bones. Because of that, she just decided to coop herself up in her bedroom and lock the door to avoid a certain human-hand-harasser from entering.

n

"Or it's just because I played too much with the boys yesterday...?

" she wondered out loud as she continued lying on her bed and burying her face in her pillow.

n

"Well, I enjoyed it, anyway. Been a while since I played that much.

"

nCassidy recalled what she and her nephews did after swimming until noon yesterday. They freshened up for a while once they got back in the mansion. Afterwards, they proceeded to play some board games, tag and hide-and-seek. At some points, they just talked idly among themselves.

nLooking back at those now, she suddenly starts missing the other children in the orphanage.

n

"How are they now, I wonder? I don't know how I can contact them. I couldn't look up their contact number at all, and for some reason, nobody knew about the name of that orphanage. It makes me not sure if they're still there...

" she mumbled to herself, remembering how she made several attempts to reach them when she was still a few weeks into having no memories.

n

"Eight years are quite a long time. Many things could've happened with them that I couldn't recall anymore.

"

nAt first, Cassidy decided not to trouble herself so much over it.

nShe was still busy adjusting in the life she woke up to, after all. Every time she thought about her previous home, her worries and concerns about adapting in a new, unfamiliar world would pop up and occupy her head. She couldn't get a break at all.

n

"Let's worry about that again once I find a way out of here. Take it little by little for now.... Baby steps, Cassidy... Baby steps...

"

nWhile having this train of thoughts, someone knocked on her door.

nThinking that it's her husband, she just pouts and rolls on her stomach. She then makes a loud groan to let him know that she is still not getting over what he has done to her earlier.

n

"Go away, bossman. I'm sleeping,

" Cassidy grumbled while pretending to be grumpy and sleepy.

n

"Then, why are you talking, Ma'am Cassidy?

" said a different person, taking her aback and making her sit up on her bed.

n

"Huh? Cecilia...? Is that you?

"

n

"May I come in? I have to tell you something.

"

nSensing serious business, she did not spare any more second and went ahead to open the door for her.

nAs soon as she sees the head maid, the first thing she notices is the phone in her hand. It appeared like she was just on the phone earlier. Going by the solemn look on her face, she could tell that it had something to do with their deal.

n

"Ma'am Irish just called. She asked me if you will go to their family dinner later tonight, and I said that you're going,

" the head maid disclosed with an enigmatic tone, making her lips curl into a smirk.

n

"And I bet she's planning to do something with me?

"

n

"Well, of course, there's that. But I also kinda learned that she's enraged about something else other than you firing the maids. She likes yapping on the phone, so she spills that she's gonna take it out on you tonight.

"

n

"I still haven't met her, and yet I'm already irking her this much. So then, what's her new drama all about?

"

n

"Something about you ruining her date this morning.

"

n

"What?

"

nNow, that's dumbfounding.

nPerhaps, even if Cassidy doesn't do anything, she will get blamed for something in one way or another. She doesn't even care about Irish and her dates. It's bewildering just as it's hard to believe.

n

"You're joking, Cecilia? If yes, I'll just laugh for the sake of comedy,

" the redhead said incredulously.

n

"I'm just as confused as you, so don't make me look like a clown,

" the head maid deadpanned.

n

"What made her think that I ruined her date, anyway?

"

n

"You'd have to ask her yourself for that. All she told me was how I should make sure you're really meeting them this time since she badly wanted to see your mortified face and everything.

"

n

"Mortified? She gonna embarrass me or something?

"

n

"Ma'am Cassidy, I should let you know this... Ma'am Irish is fond of humiliating you in public. Better be aware at all times. She can pounce on you even in front of people.

"

n

"Well, she's an actress, right? She probably loves attention... Seriously, though, don't people call her out of it? Don't they know abuse or stuffs?

"

n

"She would pretend it's not her who did it. At times, she would lie that it's an accident and that she didn't mean to do it.

"

n

"Hmph... Sounds like a real drama queen to me-

"

n

"What are you two talking about, Cassidy?

"

nAt Adrian's sudden arrival, both of them abruptly paused and turned to him in surprise.

nThat's when their eyes bulge wide in flummox. It just happened that he didn't appear all alone. There's a couple of men walking right behind him, rolling a rack full of clothes all the way to their direction. Another one is carrying a mountain of boxes that they assume are containing shoes.

n

"N-Nothing! We ain't talking 'bout nothing...

" Cassidy hastily trailed off before squinting her eyes at his companions.

n

"More importantly, who are they?

"

n

"Delivery men from the boutique we visited a while ago. I ordered clothes for you to choose for tonight's dinner. I told the manager to send them here so that you won't have to go back to the mall.

"

n

"H-Huh?! But I just shopped for clothes the other day! This is too much!

"

n

"I checked your wardrobe. There are no dinner party dresses.

"

n

"Dinner party what?! What's this, the Victorian Era?!

"

n

"Will you please just try these out? It will be rude to send them back, no?

"

nIt's not like Cassidy has a say in this matter whether it's rude or not, anyway.

nShe's not complaining, though. It's just an overreaction to such an overwork. Though she didn't buy any dinner party dress or whatever he just called it, she still bought some dresses that would be good enough for the occasion.

n

"Come on now. Let's have you try them on inside your room,

" Adrian said as he walked closer to her - and she swore she heard a hint of excitement in his voice.

n

"Well then...

" Cecile chimed in before stepping backward.

n

"I'll be going now, Ma'am and President-

"

nYet before the head maid can retreat, Cassidy suddenly stops her and hides behind her back, catching both of them off guard. She appears to be wary of her own husband, especially with how she cautiously takes a peek at him and covers herself as if he's some kind of a predatory beast.

n

"Cassidy, why are you using Cecile like a human shield?

" Adrian deadpanned, a little offended by her reaction.

nEven Cecile herself is too stupefied to say anything.

nThe thing is, Cassidy still hasn't gotten over his attempt to seduce her earlier. She's not about to be fooled when he said he'd have her try the clothes on in her room. Right then, she already has a feeling that he's going to pull another stunt once they're alone.

n

"Cecilia's gonna come with me,

" Cassidy demanded.

n

"Huh? There's no need to. She has other works,

" Adrian protested.

n

"What if there's a zipper on the back of the dress and I can't pull it up?

"

n

"Then, I'll do it.

"

n

"No, you can't! You probably don't even know what I mean!

"

n

"Yeah, you're right. I'm not sure what you're talking about now.

"

n

"Dummy!

"

n

"I'm a dummy 'cause I can't pull up a zipper?

"

nAs the couple's banter goes on, all Cecile can do is try her hardest not to roll her eyes or let out a loud groan in annoyance. It doesn't help that she's stuck between the two of them while they're fighting and flirting at the same time.

n'Fortunately, the Millicent's are filthy rich. Else, I might complain that I don't get paid well enough for this nonsense,' Cecile grimaced silently as she just continued to endure their longwinded jibber-jabbers for a few more minutes.

n---

n

"Tell me, Cecilia. What kind of look does bossman hate...?

"

nIn the end, Cassidy was able to drag Cecile all the way inside her walk-in closet.

nNow, her job isn't only to pull up zippers if needed. She also needs to take part in her new scheme. Apparently, she wants to keep Adrian as far away from her as possible during the whole dinner.

nShe wants to appear like an eyesore so that he will never look at her again.

n

"I want an outfit that can turn him off or make him want to divorce me in an instant...

" the redhead babbled on while the head maid only sighed and did not say anything.

n

"If you guess right, I will give you an emerald-

"

n

"I believe he hates the sexy, immodest and revealing types, Ma'am.

"

nAnd Cecile answered instantly.

n