Isadora's heart sank hearing Mr. Hart's "good" news. He wasn't telling her specifically, that would be unrealistic and highly unprofessional. He was telling his trophy wife, Mrs. Hart. A relieved smile played on her lips as she nodded to show she was listening to him rant about his daughter, Maya. The poor girl deserved a much better life than the one that was provided to her now.
Even though she was the maid, Isadora knew a lot more about the family then she liked to let on. She knew who was on the other side of Mr. Hart's "business" calls. She knew that Mrs. Hart knew too and continued to put up the facade of doting wife for the sake of their family image. She knew that even though Sophia Hart was eleven, she had kissed more boys than Isadora could think up. She also knew that Maya Hart was an unwelcome addition to their family and that fact was unspoken but quite obvious at any gathering with the four of them.
"Thank goodness, Kermit. She'll finally stop getting out of hand with her little scandals, I hope. You sure that Johnny is sending the right person to watch her. She's slick." Isadora could hear Mrs. Hart vent her portion as well to her husband.
"Johnny assured me that the guy they're sending me is a professional and has a zero tolerance policy. It's about time, the admissions table has been complaining about her actions destroying the school's image ever since the art gallery incident. If she keeps going the rate that she's going, I know they'll have to let me go. I just wouldn't want to see Billy lose his chance at having a real career because I couldn't be there for him." Mr. Hart was a college scout and had found a baseball prodigy named, Billy Ross. Mr. Hart was known for finding extremely talented people, because of this he's mingled with a lot of wealthy people and networked his way to becoming so popular.
Isadora hated serving the conceded airheads he would invite over for dinner parties.
"Don't worry, honey," Mrs. Hart cooed, "Everything is going to get so much better after tomorrow, when our days won't have to revolve around that ungrateful brat." She heard them kiss and internally gagged. The two of them didn't look the least bit cute together and the noises they would make whenever they showed affection were nauseating. It was like they tried to prove to each other that they were in love.
"I hope, kitten," He said softly, "Because I can't take any more of this."
Couldn't take any more of it, Isadora rolled her eyes before she turned around and nearly jumped out of her skin.
Standing there watching her eavesdrop was Sophia Hart clad in her prep school uniform and an impatient look on her face.
"Aren't you supposed to be making my breakfast?" Her arms were crossed over her chest and her small lips pursed. Isadora looked back into the living room, scared that they might've heard her gasp and try to find out what happened. The two were wrapped in each other, slapping gums and being gross.
"Aren't you supposed to be doing homework and not have the kid next door do it for you?" She said knowing that it would shut her up. Sophia had a tendency to think the world revolved around her and inside the house it did although more recently its been when Maya didn't do something chaotic.
Which was rare.
Sophia huffed her way to sit at the table and text possibly one of her groupies, Isadora wasn't sure. She tried not to pay too much attention to the fact that an eleven year old had a better phone than she did. Mr. and Mrs. Hart ended their loving embrace and made their way to the kitchen, so to make it seem like she was doing something important, she fetched a pan from the cabinet next to the sink and was pretending to search for something in the fridge when Mr. Hart said something to her.
"Late start, Isadora?" He said with a smile that she never found friendly.
"Just trying to make something extra special for Sophia, sir." Her eyes found Sophia who was too enraptured in her phone to pay her any attention.
"Oh well, I don't know if Sophia is going to have enough time to have whatever it is you're making. I don't think you want her to be late for school." Mrs. Hart said skeptically eyeing the empty pan and the clear countertop. The woman was very good at getting under her skin with a simple judgmental glance from those bright blue eyes of hers.
"Of course not, Mrs. Hart. I'll make sure to cook it quick." She said through clenched teeth but her response seemed satisfied Mrs. Hart nonetheless.
The room suddenly grew tense once Maya strode into the kitchen. All eyes focused on her and she paid them no mind, instead she went to the fridge to search for something to eat. Isadora would've cracked a smile at the annoyance on Mrs. Hart's face if the timing wasn't inappropriate.
"Maya." Mr. Hart called and she looked up from the door, her icy blue eyes feigned surprise as if she just noticed them all there.
"You need something?"
"I wanted to give you the good news so you aren't surprised the day after tomorrow."
Even with his suspicious news, Maya didn't look like she cared, "If it's some weird aunt that I've never met, I'll just stay in my room until she leaves."
"It's not a weird aunt. I've hired someone to take care of you, to make sure that you don't get into anymore trouble." If Isadora hadn't been around the family for a whole year, if she hadn't been there before the art gallery incident, she would've mistaken Mr. Hart's words as concern.
"Oh great, another babysitter. Just what I wanted." Maya answered sarcastically, "Are they going to drink tea and play dolls with me too?"
"I'm doing you a favor here, Maya. I expect you to be a little more grateful."
She rolled her eyes, "Sorry I'm not jumping for joy. Are we done?" His calm composure never broke as he nodded. Maya grabbed the nearly empty container of Oreos before going back upstairs, isolating herself once more.
Mr. Hart sighed and shook his head slightly. He had a crease in his forehead that Isadora recognized as his obvious giveaway to how frustrated he actually was with his daughter. Mrs. Hart was by his side in a second though, rubbing his shoulder and reassuring him,
"Her attitude is gonna change, darling. And if this officer doesn't have what it takes we could always go with Plan B."
He offered his wife a plastic smile before placing his hand over hers on his shoulder, "You're right. It's just she really knows how to get under my skin. Especially after everything I've done for her. But that's enough of that, I better be off. Can't keep everyone in the office waiting."
"I'll see you tonight." Mrs. Hart said to him before he closed the front door behind him. Isadora hadn't realized that she was still blatantly staring at the whole ordeal until Mrs. Hart's curt voice caught her attention. "Shouldn't you be preparing my daughter's breakfast? We don't pay you to be an audience."
She bit her tongue and nodded before going to the fridge to grab ingredients.