Operation: Make Him a Gentleman

The gates of Gilden Manor were made of heavy, black iron. They were tall and sharp at the top. When Cathy Santiago pushed the button on the intercom, the gates began to move. They made a loud, screeching sound like a giant metal monster waking up. It was a scary sound that echoed through the quiet trees. Cathy sat inside her old, small car. The engine made a rattling noise, and the heater didn't work very well. She felt very small as she drove through the gates. On both sides of the long driveway, there are old trees with long branches. It was autumn season, and the leaves were falling like red and orange rain. Cathy was very nervous. Her hands were shaking on the steering wheel, but under the fear, there was a tiny spark of happiness. "Five hundred dollars a month," she whispered to herself. Her breath made a little cloud in the air of the car. She can't believe this, she must be dreaming! This has to be real. Cathy Santiago lived in acuity where everything was very expensive. A small coffee costs six dollars. A tiny apartment cost three thousand dollars. Cathy was a graphic designer. She is very good at drawing and making logos on her computer. She worked fourteen hours a day just to survive every day, but she was still poor. Most of her money went to her rental apartment. This cheap rent at Gilden Manor was her only chance. It was a miracle. With this money, she can finally save for her own business. She could buy a better computer that doesn't lag easily while working. She can finally stop eating instant noodles every night. She drove to the end of the driveway. The house appeared out of the fog. It was a huge old stone building. It had many tall towers, and small, dark windows. It looked like a castle from a scary movie. The stone was grey and covered in green moss. Cathy started to feel a shiver run down her back. Cathy nearly had a heart attack when she saw a woman waiting at the front door. This is Mrs. Sterling. She did not look like a person who gave a discount. She looked very rich and strict. Her silver hair was pulled back into a bun so tight it looked painful to see. She wore a black silk dress and pearls on her neck that looked more expensive than Cathy's entire life. "You are late," Mrs. Sterling said. She did not say hello. She did not ask how Cathy was. Her voice was as cold as an ice cube. "I am very sorry," Cathy said. She tried to give her best, friendliest smile. "The house was a little bit hard to find. The fog is very thick today." Mrs. Sterling did not smile back. Her eyes stayed hard and sharp. "Follow me. They walked inside. If the outside of the house was scary, the inside was beautiful but strange. The floors were made with white marble. The ceilings were very high with giant gold lights called chandeliers. There were paintings of old good-looking people on the walls. It was a beautiful place, but it was too quiet. It didn't feel like a home, it felt like a museum. After a minute later, they went into a small room with a red velvet chair. Mrs. Sterling sat down and pointed to a chair for Cathy. "Let's talk about the rules," Mrs. Sterling said. "The rent is low, yes. Five hundred dollars. But you are not just a tenant. You have a job to do." Cathy felt a knot on her stomach. " A job? What kind of job? With all my respect, I am a graphic designer not a maid." "I have plenty of maids," Mrs. Sterling said, waiving her hand. "I need a teacher. Or perhaps, a handler. My nephew, Casper, lives here in the East Wing. He is twenty-one years old. One day, he will run our family company. But right now, he is a disaster.' Mrs. Sterling leaned forward. The smell of her expensive perfume was very strong. "He had become a hermit. He stays in his room all day and all night. He loves horror movies. He likes dark things, blood, and monsters. He is messy. He is rude and he has no friends." "I see," Maya said. "And what do you want me to do?' "On New Year's Eve, we have the Sterling Gala," Mrs. Sterling explained. "It is the most important night of the year. Every rich and powerful person in the city comes to this house. Casper, my nephew, must act like a polite, normal gentleman. He must give a speech to the guests. He must show everyone that he is ready to lead the family.' "So are you saying that you want me to change him?" She asked. "I want you to fix him," Mrs. Sterling corrected. She pulled a piece of paper from her desk. It was a contract. "If you make him a gentleman by New Year's Eve, your rent stays at five hundred dollars. You live here in peace." Cathy reached for the papers. "And if I can't?" "Mrs. Sterling's eyes turned even colder. "If you fail, or if you quit and run away like the others, the rent changes. You will have to pay the full price for every month you stay. The real price of the Gilden Manor suite is five thousand dollars a month." Cathy's heart stopped. She did the mathematics in her head quickly. "Six months... that is thirty thousand dollars!" "Then you must not fail," Mrs. Sterling said. She stood up, ready to end the conversation. "Go to the East Wing. Your things are already in your room. You may now start. You have three months."