Chapter7
1085 Words
The driver eventually pulled the car over in front of a brownstone with grand bay windows, adorned with a sign reading "Wilbert Bow, Esq." Lina stepped out of the car without uttering a word, striding purposefully towards the door. Joana followed suit, positioning herself behind Lina as she rapped on the door with the brass knocker.
After a brief moment, the door swung open, revealing a young woman who led them inside. The office emanated an intriguing blend of mahogany and burnt coffee, carrying an air of silence. Neither Lina nor the woman uttered a single word; the latter only closed the door behind them and gestured towards a partially open door at the end of a short hallway. When Joana and Lina entered the room, they encountered an elderly man seated behind an imposing wooden desk.
To Joana's surprise, the elderly man was sound asleep. Lina cleared her throat loudly and took a seat across from him, but her presence failed to rouse him. With a swift movement, Lina kicked him under the desk, prompting an abrupt awakening. Joana stifled a laugh as she stood in the doorway, but her amusement quickly dissipated when Lina abruptly gestured for her to sit.
"Right," the old man exclaimed with a start, adjusting his glasses with trembling hands as he opened a drawer and retrieved a stack of documents. "Now, let's see..."
The c*ckoo clock on the wall ticked in sync with Joana's racing heartbeat, invading her ears and driving her to the brink of frustration. As the elderly lawyer licked his fingers and flipped through the documents, time seemed to drag on endlessly. Finally, prompted by an impatient "ahem" from Lina, he handed Joana the stack of paperwork, placing it before her along with a pen.
"You just need to sign this standard contract and non-disclosure agreement," he informed her.
Leaning forward, Joana picked up the pen, her eyes scanning the contract closely. Her eyebrows lifted when she discovered a couple of intriguing clauses embedded within the pages. One clause forbade romantic involvement with her employer, while another stipulated that she required permission to become pregnant with her employer's child.
Curiosity tinged her voice as she pointed to the clauses and sought clarification. "Um... What is the purpose of these specific clauses?" The old man leaned over to glance at the identified sections before waving his hand dismissively.
"They are quite standard," he replied casually, downplaying their significance.
Joana attempted to raise her concerns, but Lina growled under her breath, "Just sign the agreement. Unless you anticipate breaking those clauses..."
"No, no," Joana quickly scrawled her signature on the dotted line, sliding the contract back to Wilbert. "I would never do such things. I was merely curious."
Lina let out a disapproving "Hmph" and stood up, smoothing down her skirt. "Very well," she said, nodding politely to Wilbert, who seemed visibly exhausted from their brief interaction. "Let's go, Joana."
A few minutes later, they arrived at the location where Joana would live and work. It was a significant departure from the Tudor-style mansion Joana had visited the day before, but equally remarkable and beautiful. Walking through the marble lobby, Lina and Joana entered the elevator and ascended several floors before stepping out into a breathtaking entryway with cherry wood parquet floors and large arched windows, reminiscent of a luxurious Parisian apartment.
Michaela was already waiting for them upon their arrival. She appeared much more composed and less wild than the previous night, dressed in a proper baby blue dress with ruffles and a bow in her hair.
To the surprise of both Lina and Joana, Michaela warmly embraced Joana before taking her hand, leading her away from Lina on an extensive tour of the spacious apartment, which lasted over an hour due to its impressive size. By the time it ended, Joana felt thoroughly exhausted, even Michaela's bedroom alone was grander than Joana's former apartment.
Finally, after introducing Joana to the twin maids, Molly and Annie, Michaela led her to her own room.
"Here's your room!" Michaela exclaimed, pushing open the large double doors with her tiny hands. Joana stifled a gasp at the sight of the spacious and beautiful room, complete with a small balcony overlooking the city.
"Is this... mine?" Joana asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Michaela confirmed, climbing up onto the bed and bouncing excitedly. "Come, feel how comfortable it is!"
Smiling, Joana approached the bed and sat down next to Michaela.
"You're right, it's very comfortable," Joana remarked, as Michaela giggled and flopped onto her back, her arms outstretched. Utilizing the silence and privacy, Joana took the opportunity to get to know Michaela better and gather information about her mysterious father, ensuring he wasn't someone she should be wary of.
"So, can you tell me anything about your parents?" Joana asked. "Do you have a mother?"
Shaking her head, Michaela lay back, gazing up at the ceiling. "Nope, I never had the chance to meet my mother. She passed away when I was born."
Joana's voice softened with sympathy as she responded, "I'm sorry to hear that."
Michaela simply shrugged and hopped off the bed, making her way to the dresser to play with the decorative drawer handles. "It's alright. I'm content with just my father. He's always kind to me... I just wish he could spend more time with me."
Joana stood up and walked over to Michaela, who turned to look up at her with the same blue eyes as the night before. "I'm sure he wishes he could spend more time with you too," Joana reassured her.
Later that evening, after a day full of playing games together, Joana and Michaela sat on the living room floor while Annie and Molly prepared dinner. As Joana watched Michaela draw a picture with crayons, she assisted her in drawing things that posed a challenge for the young girl. Suddenly, the sound of the front door clicking open caught their attention.
Eagerly, Michaela jerked her head up, dropping her crayons and darting towards the foyer. "Daddy!" she exclaimed. Joana took a deep breath, quickly smoothing down her shirt and fixing her hair, realizing that it was time to meet the wealthy and handsome father she had heard so much about.
"Hey, princess. Did you have a good day?" Joana's eyes widened as she recognized the voice that accompanied Michaela's excitement.
It was a familiar voice, revealing that the wealthy and handsome father she had heard about was none other than her own employer.
- Writer
