A/N: I must apologize but you'll understand everything later. And who said it was the Italian mafia that robbed the art gallery? Anyway, I will say no more…

Chap 1: The Tornatore villa

"Last night, the most famous art gallery in Rome, owned by the Tornatore's family has been robbed," the newsreader said from TV, "All the guards were killed and the security cameras failed to capture the criminal's face. The main missing pieces of art are The Madonna, The Apocalypse…"

Mrs. Brown turned off the TV and turned to her 18 years old daughter who was finishing her cereals.

"Hilary, I think it's time to go," her mother said gently.

Hilary, brown-haired, 18, and a pretty face had many reasons that prevented her from going to university. That was why she was going to work for the richest Italian family in America.

"Okay, Mum," the girl got up and picked her bag. As she kissed her mother goodbye, the woman whispered, "Good luck, dear. I wished we didn't have to come to this." The woman looked like she was going to cry. Hilary gave her a hug and with one last glance at their caravan kitchen, she left the 'house'.

She took the train to New York where the family owned a villa.

"Tornatore," she read on the business card. This name sounds strangely familiar… Hilary thought to herself. Then she remembered: it was the family which owned the robbed art gallery! Wow! This family is richer than I thought, Hilary said to herself.

The trained stopped at the New York station and Hilary stepped down and saw a blue-haired man wearing a navy driver uniform. He was holding a sign which said: Hilary Brown. Hilary went up awkwardly to him. God, they sent me a chauffeur?

"Are you Hilary Brown?" the driver screwed his eyes at her.

"Er… Yes. Mr. Tornatore sent you?" she asked, careful to read the name correctly.

The man nodded, "Follow me."

Hilary's eyes widened when she saw a white limousine waiting for her. The driver took her things and opened the door for her. Maybe it wasn't a bad idea after all… Hilary grinned to herself as she settled on the cream leather seat. There was enough space in the car to stretch her legs. The driver started the car and they were of. As the New York streets swept pass them, Hilary recovered from the surprise and started examining the driver who was separated from her by a glass window but which could be opened if desired. The man had long blue hair tied in a low ponytail. Hilary guessed he should be in his late twenties. Soon, the Tornatore's villa came into view. Hilary gasped at the sight. The golden gates opened to a sandy alley lined with Italian pines spreading over 10 miles to a white villa, big enough for all the American citizens to live in. As the limousine ran up the path, Hilary glimpsed between the trees, not one but two swimming pools on each side then an Italian garden with sumptuous sculptures and fountains. There was a small wood behind the villa and on the left hand side, a wide space used for playing golf, so the driver said. He parked the car in front of the villa and told Hilary to go ahead. She climbed the marble steps where servants were cleaning the golden handrail. The sea monster knocker stared back at her threateningly and she rang the door bell. An old butler opened the door for her.

"Follow me," he said as he let Hilary through.

She couldn't help widening her eyes. The hall was as wide as the Black Sea, its walls held many paintings and the Creation of the World was painted on the ceiling. Many doors hid secrets of each room and numerous staircases led to unknown places. Hilary followed the old man through a small door under the stairs and after passing may passages arrived in what look like a library of the size of a cathedral. An orange- haired young woman was sitting at an oak desk. The butler bowed and left Hilary alone with the woman. She beckoned Hilary to sit in the chair in front of her. When she came nearer, she saw that the woman was younger than she thought and there were many chances that they were the same age.

"My name is Emily Watson, Mr. Giovanni Tornatore's secretary," the girl introduced herself. She adjusted her glasses and read the file in front of her, "I presume you are Hilary Brown, 18, sex: female, born on 15th May 1987, loves reading, shopping and sleeping, has broken up with boyfriend two months ago but all in all a determined and hard-working person."

Hilary's jaws dropped. How could this girl know more about herself than she did? She never considered herself as a determined person and how could she know about Michael?

The bespectacled girl smiled at her awe.

"The family always has to have information about everyone working here. We can't just trust anyone. After what happened," she added. "So," she changed the subject, "Here are the rules of the house," she handed her a piece of paper, "Read and learned them quickly. I'll get someone to take you to your dormitory. You'll share it with Mariam, a loyal servant of ours. She's been here for a long time and will know the surroundings well. Any questions?"

Hilary looked up from the paper, "When do I start?"

"Oh, yes, I nearly forgot," the girl stood up and started walking around, counting with her fingers, "Today is Saturday so tomorrow you'll have to be up for the mass. Yes, the family's catholic but they have a private church so no worry about that. Then you'll have to go to the market with Mariam. Pick up the order in the hall. After that you're lucky, you got the afternoon off. Monday, though, you'll have to clean…" Hilary's head twirled with all the information. She decided to ask this Mariam later on.

"All in all, we have 52 servants, 22 gardeners and 15 drivers so your tasks are shared and as you see, you have a lot of time left," Emily finished, "This is your timetable."

Hilary breathed again at the sight of the paper: at least she didn't have to remember everything.

"Your uniform is coming so today we won't present you to the masters and mistress yet," the girl went on, "Anyway the master is off to Italy for the gallery affair. He'll be back in a week. In the mean time, you'll get use to this place." Then she leaned over to Hilary, "An advice between girls, keep away from young master Enrique Tornatore."

Emily gave her a deadly glance before tearing her gaze away from her. Hilary wondered whether Emily had a thing for this Enrique. The secretary pushed on a button under the desk, then said, "You can go now, old Granger is coming."

"Yes, Emily," Hilary answered.

"Call me, Miss Watson," Emily snapped.

"Er, yes, Miss Watson."

The door opened and the butler who had opened the door for her earlier came in.

"Take Miss Brown to her room please," Miss Watson ordered.

The old man nodded and led the way. Hilary followed him a little bit confused. Sounds a bit like a school, she thought, eyeing the timetable and the rules.

"Here we are," the old man opened to a small room with red carpet, a chimney, two small beds and a wardrobe. A girl with dark blue hair was sitting on one of the beds, flipping through a fashion magazine. This must be Mariam, Hilary thought. The old man left and the girl looked up from her magazine and pulled her earpieces out.

"Hi! You must be Hilary Brown," the girl's emerald eyes dazzled. Hilary liked the look of her.

"And you must be Mariam," Hilary answered.

"Yeah, that's me."

She was wearing normal jeans and a pink T-shirt. Her hair was wrapped in a ponytail and she wore a red headband.

"You're not in uniform," Hilary remarked.

"Nope, I'm off service this morning. Your things have arrived. Let's see what you've got."

Mariam scrabbled off the bed and took Hilary's things from the floor. Hilary sat beside her and watched as she lifted up each garment and commenting them. Hilary decided that the girl must be a clothe-maniac. When Mariam finished with the examination, they put the clothes in the wardrobe. Mariam pulled out the uniform for Hilary to see: a short red skirt with little belts on the left side, a whit shirt with puffed sleeves, a green checked apron and a green cardigan.

"Typical girlish, isn't it?" Mariam pulled a face. "There're red tights and black cut shoes to go with them too. Though they still haven't set under wears yet."

The girls giggled. Hilary liked the girl more and more. Then they talked about things like schools, pets, family and boys.

"I'll stay out of young master Enrique's way, if I were you" Mariam warned.

"Why? Emily got a crush on him?" Hilary asked.

"What! Emily? She radically loathes him!" Mariam burst out laughing.

Hilary looked confused.

"Then why did she tell me to keep away from him?" Hilary asked.

"Because…"

Before she could answer, someone knocked on the door.

Okay, it's a bit long, isn't it but I had to put a lot of information in it. The uniform was inspired from my own uniform (except the apron of course). Any way, I'll keep on writing even if there's no one reading. And I promise that there'll be more action later on.