She pressed her chubby little index finger onto one number at a time. Her tongue was drooping out of her mouth as her tiny eyes were fixed on the phone in concentration. The faint sound of beeping echoed throughout the nearly empty house. She was alone, besides her nanny, Lucielle.
Lucielle usually avoided anything to do with the child and focused on housework instead. Ever since the one time Rachel had taken her newest, and brightest hot pink safety scissors to the elderly woman's best dress.
Rachel Elizabeth Dare had long since decided that the woman simply didn't like her. Her four year old mind couldn't comprehend why, but rest assured, when she grew up she would understand completely.
The phone began ringing and the little girl smiled in almost-victory.
One trial had been accomplished:
Reach the telly-phone without being noticed.
Now, the next, would be getting her father's assistant, Renee, to allow her to speak with him. He was a very busy man, but this was important.
"Dare Inc. This is Renee speaking," Rachel made a face at the phone, "How may I help you?"
"I want to speak to Daddy," Rachel's voice was barely more than a soft whisper. She didn't like Renee much. To her, Renee was merely a mean old lady who looked at her Daddy like her Mommy should, but doesn't.
She could imagine Renee's red lips curling into a sneer, "Get off the phone, little girl. Your father has more important business to attend to. Go ask your nanny," there was an audible sniff on the other line, "Or your mother. If she's around."
Rachel shuffled her feet out of her newest black Mary Jane shoes. "But I need to talk to him now."
"He's busy."
"Tell him I need to talk to him now!" Rachel demanded, her under-developed temper fluttering. "Tell him now! Tell! Him! Now!"
"Goodbye, Miss Dare." Renee said curtly.
Soon, all Rachel heard was the buzzing noise that hurt her small ears if she listened too long.
She sat against the wall as her eyes watered.
Where had Rachel's hamster gone?