A/N: I must apologize for the long delay but my computer has gone berserk and won't work. So now I'm working on a computer I stole from whomever I can (lol). Don't expect much updates from me though, cause I'm balancing between four stories at the same time.
Chapter 3:
Someone knocked on the door. It opened to a blond boy whose blue eyes sparkled at Mariam but who stopped immediately when they saw Hilary.
"Hi, Mariam! I didn't know you were busy" the boy mumbled.
"Max" Mariam held his arm back. "Why don't you join us? This is Hilary Brown, the new maid."
Max's sapphire eyes lingered for a few seconds on the brunette then he smiled
"Hi! I'm Max Tate."
"Hi. Nice to meet you" Hilary answered. By his look, Max seemed a nice boy, the type you can look up yo whenever you needed help.
"Max's an engineer here" Mariam explained.
"Yeah, and I was wondering if you girls would like to come and see my new fountain" Max offered.
"Okay" they agreed.
They came out into the garden. It too was like a maze for Hilary. Not only that it had paths framed with pine trees, the garden spread over many floors.
"The architect wants it to remain an Italian style" Max explained as they walk through Italian rose beds.
At last they reached the fountain Max had just fixed. It was a sea battle between Neptune and sea monsters. Max took out a remote control and pushed the red button. Water sprouted from Neptune's trident and the sea monsters' mouth.
"Fantastic" Mariam clapped.
Unexpectedly Max blushed a little.
"I… I just fixed the water sprouts but the whole construction was done by Julio,' he said.
But the girls ignored him: they agreed that it was great. Suddenly Hilary felt someone staring at her. She turned and saw a blue-haired boy with a watering can in his hand.
"Oh, this is Tyson, the gardener" Max introduced him.
The boy smiled awkwardly.
"Hi! Who're you"
"My name is Hilary" Hilary answered.
"Nice name" he sputtered
Hilary stared at him : What does he want with me?
Mariam and Max were having a fit of laughter behind them.
"What's up you too" Tyson shouted.
"Nothing" Mariam smiled" Tyson's old Granger's grandson" she said to Hilary.
"And Hiro the driver's brother" Max added.
"Yep, the family's here" Tyson said, ignoring the fact that they were making fun of him.
"Hey, I'm hungry,' Mariam said.
"Oh, let's go and see what Kenny's mother got then" Max said.
Mariam seized Hilary and whispered"Let's get away from him."
She meant Tyson and Hilary was glad of that, the boy was so pathetic.
"See you around, Ty" Max and Mariam began to run but Tyson ran after them"Wait! I'm hungry too"
Unfortunately for them Tyson was a good athletic and they made their way with him to the kitchen which was in the basement. Max shrugged while Mariam groaned. Hilary wondered for how long Tyson would be hanging around with them.
Kenny was, Hilary learnt later, a programmer who worked for the Tornatore. His mother, Mrs. Marple was the cook. They found her directing her helpers around the gigantic kitchen. Hilary barely had time to compare it with her mini caravan that they were chased out of it again with a loaf of bread, olive spread and salamis, because the kitchen was busy preparing the masters' lunch.
The servants had their own dining room near the kitchen. It was dimly lit furnished with a rough wooden table and straw chairs. Mariam settled herself on a chair and they shared the frugal meal. The conversation began with life at the mansion then they talked about their families. Max's father was an engineer but he worked on another of the Tornatore's villa. As for his mother, he hadn't heard from her since her and his father's divorce but he knew that she was an intelligent woman. Mariam's parents died in an accident since she was six, and the Tornatore for some unknown reason took her in. Tyson talked the most about himself, his family had economical difficulties since they moved to America but he himself dreamt of leaving the villa and finding fame. But when Mariam asked him how he was going to do so, he shrugged and said it was coming up. Mariam added in low voice that Tyson and Enrique used to go to school together but there was a fight between them over a girl and since then they hadn't spoken a word to each other. Hilary began to feel sorrow for Tyson but them Mariam pushed off her plate and said"Look at the time! I've got to go"
"I'm going with you" Max said and both of them left before Hilary could stop them.
"Well, guess there's only you and me" Tyson chuckled stupidly.
Hilary stared at him
"I don't want to have anything to do with you" she snarled.
"Hey, why are you so mean to me? I was just trying to be friendly" Tyson crossed his arms sulked.
What a baby, Hilary thought.
"I'm going, anyway" Hilary said.
"Yeah, good idea" Tyson said.
Hilary gave him one last glance and left the table. What an idiot, she thought furiously, if every boys are like this here I'd rather die. Well, I hope I won't have to meet him again. Thank God, this house's big, he won't find me easily. I just can't believe he has the nerves to speak to me. Suddenly she stopped in her tracks. She found herself in an unknown corridor decorated with portraits. Damn it! Why is this villa so big? She spent the half hour later trying to find her way to her room. But the problem was the farther she walked, the deeper she seemed to get lost. Is there no one here who'll tell me where the damn room is? Hilary spun around desperately but there was no one. Of course! They must all be at lunch! Hilary swore again. She tried a door at her left. It was dark inside. Suddenly, the sunlight entered and shone on something red. Hilary worked out that it was a person.
"Excuse me, can you help me please? I think I'm lost."
The person didn't answer and turned to run.
"Wait"
Hilary ran after him and she saw an opened door. She went through, didn't see the person but found her room. She looked over her shoulder but no one was there.
Hilary entered her room and decided to take a shower. All the running had made her sweaty. The bathroom was rather small but clean. There was a mirror above the sink. Hilary took up her clothes and entered the shower. Little does she know was that the mirror was a video camera and watching over her from a control cabin was a blond boy, popcorns in hand and other seductive features.
"Mamma mia" the boy whistled. "This new maid's carina.'
Suddenly, the security guard reentered the room.
"Master Enrique! You shouldn't be here" the man exclaimed.
"Gustavio, can't we have fun a little" the boy retorted. "Come and look at this.'
The man blushed at the screen.
"Really, who's idea was it…"
"Don't tell me you don't spy on them either. Besides, we need to make sure they're not…"
"That'll be enough, Master Enrique, your mother's waiting."
"Vaya, vaya, I'm going."
Enrique got up and left the room, a smile on his face.
