Chapter 4
1253 Words
Ayla
The car continued its course until it reached a gate that looked more like a wall with roses growing all over it. I only realized we were about to enter the property when the car finally slowed down, and the driver said, "We're here."
That was five minutes ago, and yet we were still on the road, heading towards the house. A thick canopy of trees made the road look like a tunnel, and as we continued to drive, I also noticed that the forest became denser, almost as if it had been untouched for more than a hundred years.
Finally, when I thought we were never going to arrive, the car stopped. Without a word, the driver came to my side and opened the door, and as soon as I got out, he also took my luggage from the back of the car.
I stood there, dumbstruck, my jaw probably hanging to the floor.
The house was certainly not a typical home. A ton of enormous trees surrounded the freaking mansion, which was built on the side of a mountain.
No. Scratch that. It was a freaking castle like no other. I hadn't seen one in real life, but this had to be it.
With its roughly seven layers, one could easily mistake the fountain in front of it for a plaza. It was huge! And beautiful! And magnificent!
Tucked away in a mountain pass, the castle was invisible until you followed an intersection in the road that was, I believe, specifically built for the castle. It was a private road to the castle.
I must have been standing there for a few minutes, admiring the white stone walls decorated with all sorts of angels and gargoyles, as well as how the roses climbed up to the walls in every color, making them so much more beautiful. The next thing I knew, the driver and his black car were driving away towards the same road we came on.
I stood there, not knowing what to do.
I found the door and decided to knock. It was still early in the morning, and everyone must still be sleeping. The door was unmistakable. It was black, wooden, and huge, too.
The knocker was what intrigued me the most.
It was a wolf. The door knocker was an angry, big-ass wolf head.
I knocked twice, and after a few seconds, I heard someone shuffling from the other end of the door before it finally opened.
A woman, probably in her late fifties, opened the door and looked surprised.
Hi. My name is Ayla.” I said so, extending my hand. “Ayla Winterknight. I’m here for the house sitting jobI asked tentatively because it seems more akin to a castle-sitting job, if that's even a term.ng.
The door opened wider at that precise moment, revealing a man with white gray silver hair and what appeared to be a butler's uniform.
"Ms. Ayla Winterknight. We spoke on the phone," the man said, his voice a rich baritone that echoed slightly in the cavernous entrance hall behind him. He extended a hand and said, "I am Alfred Wayne, and this is Mrs. Martha Wayne."
I shook his hand, and a wave of relief washed over me. This was real. This was happening. "Pleased to meet you both," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Come in, Ms. Winterknight," Alfred said, stepping aside to allow me entrance. "Let me take your bags."
I followed him inside, my eyes wide with wonder. The entrance hall was even more breathtaking than I'd imagined, with soaring ceilings, marble floors, and ornate chandeliers. A grand staircase swept up to a balcony above, and I caught glimpses of paintings and sculptures that hinted at a vast collection of art.
"This is amazing," I breathed, feeling like I'd stepped into a fairy tale.
"Thank you," Alfred replied. "We are quite proud of our master's home."
He led me through a series of rooms, each more opulent than the last. There were sitting rooms with plush sofas and roaring fireplaces, a library filled with leather-bound books, and a dining room with a table long enough to seat twenty. Eventually, we arrived at a more modest sitting room, adorned with a breakfast tray on a table.
"Please, have a seat," Alfred said, gesturing to a chair. "Mrs. Wayne will be joining us shortly."
I sat down, my nerves starting to settle. The room was warm and inviting, with sunlight streaming through the windows and the scent of fresh coffee in the air. As I sipped my tea, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. This was a world away from the coffee shop and the dorm room. This was an adventure.
Mrs. Wayne entered the room, her smile warm and welcoming. "Good morning, Ms. Winterknight," she said. "I hope you traveled and slept well. I hope the car ride wasn’t that uncomfortable."
"I did, thank you," I replied. "And please, call me Ayla."
"Very well, Ayla," she said, taking a seat opposite me. "I'm sure you have many questions."
I nodded, not sure where to begin.
"Alfred has already briefed me on your conversation," she continued. She continued, "I understand you're wondering why we brought you here and what your duties will be."
"Yes, ma'am," I said.
"First, let me assure you that this is not a k********g," she said with a chuckle. "You are here of your own free will, and you are free to leave at any time."
"I understand that you must be expecting someone else." I stated. "My friend was supposed to take this job, but she has somewhere else she needs to be for the summer, so she gave me the calling card.” I felt sad as I took the card out of my pocket. “You didn’t ask a lot of questions over the phone. I'm not sure I understand why you chose me for this job."
Mrs. Wayne smiled. "We were looking for someone discreet and trustworthy," she said. "The other candidates, well they all backed out knowing that this location is so remote, and honestly, we were running out of options. I hope you don’t get offended. We needs Someone who would respect our master's privacy and maintain the upkeep of our master's home while we are away.”
"Away?" I asked.
"Yes," Mrs. Wayne said. "My husband and I will be traveling for the next few months, and we need someone to look after our master's house in our absence."
"I see," I said, starting to understand. "But what about the passport?"
Alfred spoke up. "The passport is a precautionary measure," he said. "In the unlikely event that we need to travel overseas, we would like to have you accompany us to look after our master's other properties."
"Other properties?" I asked, widening my eyes.
Mrs. Wayne nodded. "Our master has a few homes around the world," she said. However, rest assured, the majority of your time will be spent here. We have a full staff to take care of the house's day-to-day operations. Your main responsibility will be to ensure that everything runs smoothly and to keep us informed of any issues that arise."
I took a deep breath, trying to process everything. This was more than just a house-sitting job. This was an opportunity to experience a life I could only dream of.
"I'm in," I said, a smile spreading across my face. "I'm ready for whatever comes my way."
- Writer
