Thanks for the reviews:
Hutchy- You've got it! The family with the help of some servants composed a secret organization, though you'll find out what later. I think I'll follow your suggestion and make a love triangle between TyHilEn.
Kaihilary- I was hesitating about matching Kai with Hilary too but there are already a lot of those. I hope you don't mind.
So to the story….
Chapter 5: The master's return
The whole household bustled like busy bees as they caught hold of the information about the Signor's return from Italy. The house needed to be sparkling clean for the welcoming home party. It would be a little occasion for the family to have lunch together, because according to Salima, since Master Enrique's 14th birthday, he barely stayed home. Hilary found the occasion to clean the offices and witness a scientific phenomenon.
"Kenny, are you sure it's going to work?" Hilary looked curiously at the thing on Kenny's desk.
"Patience, now," Kenny bit his tongue and he connected the red wire with the blue one.
Bzzzz! The metal ball's wings flapped and it rose from the wooden surface. Kenny quickly ran to his computer and typed out an order. The metal ball turned its magnified eye in the center of its orb stared at Hilary.
"Hilary! Hilary! Kenny called, "Come and look at this.
Hilary came beside Kenny, the ball still following her. To her surprise, the flying camera reproduced her picture in the computer, including giving information like how far she was from the computer post and how heavily she was armed. This thing she didn't quite understand was why the last information was needed. According to the computer, she was at a vulnerable point.
"And now the cherry on the cake," Kenny said as he typed something.
The metal ball, which was flying above their head a few minutes ago, was there no more.
Hilary gasped.
"How can you do that?"
Kenny smiled.
"It's just a notion of camouflage. I've been working on the substance that allows the chameleon to change colors and now I've found the way to create that substance and apply it on metal.'
"You're a genius, Kenny!'
Kenny blushed.
"It's nothing really. "
Hilary stared around Kenny's office. There were piles of papers stained with coffee mug all over the place. Big aluminum drawers lined the walls, stuffed with strange wires and other materials. Hilary noticed that Kenny had been doing a lot of inventions of the sort but she couldn't quite get why.
'Kenny, why are you always inventing strange stuff like this?" Hilary asked. "It's as though you're a spy or something.
Kenny jumped as if he had been electrocuted. He hastily cleared up his desk and, after returning it to its normal color, took the camera ball and dumped it in his drawers.
"I think you should go back to work, Hilary," Kenny pushed her out of the office. Hilary stared at the closed door in surprise. Then she shrugged. Kenny was a strange boy. He usually worked at his crazy inventions in his office but sometimes he would spend hours in the library. He said it was for recherché but Hilary, Salima and Mariam soon discovered the true motive of his going. The three had a violent surprise when they found out that Kenny was there for Emily Watson, who spent her time between the shelves. One day, as they were on duty in the library, they saw Emily looking through the books. Much to their surprise, on the other side of the shelf, Kenny was peering through the gap. When they went up to say hello, he jumped the-guilty-Kenny-jump. They soon got the idea. But in order to understand this frustrating passion, they needed to make intense recherché. Even though they still weren't sure about finding the answer. They tried questioning Max, he explained that this love had already lasted 3 years, ever since Kenny arrived but the unfortunate Kenny was forever too shy to ask Emily out.
The afternoon before the master's return, after an exhausting day of cleaning the great hall, Hilary sat back on a silent bench in the garden. The fountain lapped nearby, birds were chirping in the pine trees. Hilary took in a deep breath. There wasn't a soul in sight. For once Hilary was alone. The villa was so crowded, dogs running all over the place and maids gossiping at every corner, that one learns to appreciate solitude.
As she leaned back, she felt a presence beside her. Hilary froze as a soft masculine voice broke the silence:
"I ignored that such a treasure is hidden in this villa."
Hilary turned. She was struck immediately by the young man's features. The gentle wind played with his radiant hair as his sapphire eyes laughed at her astonishment. Hilary suddenly felt ashamed. She lowered her gaze, her cheeks turning scarlet.
"I must apologize for intruding," the boy went on, "Accept this as a gift."
He presented her a crimson rose, probably picked from somewhere in the garden.
"The redness of this rose reminds me of your eyes," he said in a caressing voice.
Hilary couldn't bear his playful gaze and decided to stare at the rose instead.
"Th- thank you," she muttered as she took the rose from him. Suddenly she pricked herself.
"Ouch!"
"Are you alright?" the boy caught hold of her hands.
Apparently she was bleeding.
"Here I am, meeting you for the first time and bring you troubles," the boy smiled apologetically as he took out a handkerchief from his trousers pockets and tied it around her finger. Hilary was speechless during all that time but she noticed an initial on the handkerchief: E.T. (Not Extra-Terrestrial! Lol).
"Are- are you Enrique Tornatore?" Hilary finally found her voice.
The boy laughed.
"Guess the game's over!"
He picked up the rose she dropped for her.
"And what about you? I've always wondered what a name can suit a beauty so sweet."
Before Hilary could answer, a voice rang out: "Hilary!"
"Mariam!" Hilary stood up.
Enrique raised an eyebrow.
"I guess I hadn't thought about that. Mariam…hmmm… suits you perfectly."
Hilary couldn't help laughing when she heard that.
"I'm afraid you've got it wrong, Sir: my name's Hilary, not Mariam."
Enrique broke into a smile.
"Forgive me. That was close. If your name was Mariam then I won't know what to do. But Hilary… it means 'joy' in Latin."
"Really? I didn't know," Hilary was surprised. "Umm, but I've got to go now. My friend's waiting for me," Hilary excused herself.
"Before you go, know this: your name is forever carved in my heart."
Hilary flushed as red as the rose, then she left to rejoin Mariam who was looking very impatient. Enrique grinned after her.
When she reached the place where Mariam was standing- a little way up from where she was with Enrique- Mariam pulled her ears.
"So you've met him," Mariam's eyes flashed dangerously.
"Oww! Let go of me Mariam!" Hilary cried.
Mariam did but she still looked furious.
"I've warned you! And now, just look at you! The poison is taking effect1"
"Mariam! Listen to me!" Hilary shouted for attention while rubbing her ear.
Mariam stared at her.
"Look, I wasn't to know that he crept up behind me! I thought I was alone. Besides," she looked at the rose, "he was very polite. Didn't touch me except… to tie his handkerchief for me."
"God, Hilary! Are you naïve or what?" Mariam shook her head. "That's the beginning but soon he'll be putting his fingers on your boobs!"
Hilary stared at Mariam, outrageously.
"Don't speak nonsense, Mariam!'
"But that's what he does! If you don't believe me, ask Salima. She's been through it."
Hilary shook her head. She didn't want to believe Mariam, but another side of her was considering her words. What if it as true? Surely Mariam should know since she grew up with him, nearly. But-
"He was so gentle and kind," Hilary signed staring at the rose.
Mariam suddenly felt pity towards Hilary and put her arms around her.
"I know, he's irresistible," Mariam said, "But he's a womanizer. No one can tame him. Especially, someone as innocent as you. Forget about him."
Hilary signed, "I suppose you're right."
She dropped the rose and the two girls walked back up to the villa.
The next day, at around ten am, all the servants were gathered on the terrace in front of the villa. A shiny navy limousine was making its way up the path towards the villa. Hilary, alongside with Mariam and Salima was craning her neck to glimpse Enrique. Her heart began to throb rapidly as she saw his golden head beside his mother's chestnut one. Emily Watson was standing beside the mother and son but took no notice whatsoever of Enrique who wasn't looking at her either. Maybe Mariam's right: the two must hated each other. Why? She wondered. Suddenly Mariam tugged at her sleeves. The limousine parked in front of the villa and Hiro, Tyson's brother came out to open the door to a man of fair size. He had wavy blond hair and sapphire eyes like Enrique but they didn't shine playfully like his son's. On the contrary, they looked mingled with a grown man's worry. Butler Granger took his suitcase along with some younger servants. When he reached the steps, his wife and son received him. Hilary couldn't hear what was said between them but his wife put her hand over her mouth as in shock and Enrique raised an eyebrow. The Signor waved to the audience of servants around him before entering the villa with his family and Emily. Before entering, his eyes lingered in Hilary's direction. Hilary was quite taken aback. She turned to Mariam and Salima. Both had puzzling looks on their faces.
"Something's wrong," Mariam muttered.
"Do you think-" Salima broke off when she saw Hilary.
Max and Tyson walked over to them.
"Did you see the Master's expression?" Max asked. "There must be something wrong."
"Maybe he couldn't get the paintings back," Tyson said.
"Whatever, normally he isn't so grim," Salima said.
The servants started moving back to their post. Hilary, Mariam and Salima were intrigued all day long about the master's strange comportment.
That night, Hilary fell back on her bed, exhausted.
"Goodnight, Mariam"
"Goodnight, Hil"
She slept for a couple of hours then woke up in the middle of the night. The room was dark. Hilary twisted and turned but couldn't get back to sleep. She sat up and looked around. Despite the darkness, she could make out Mariam's bed on the opposite side of her's. But Mariam wasn't inside. Hilary blinked. Is this a hallucination?
"Mariam! Mariam!" Hilary called.
There was no answer.
She got up and went to Mariam's bed. There was indeed no one. Maybe she's in the toilets, Hilary shrugged. But there wasn't the usual light coming through the doorframe when someone was in the bathroom. She decided to wait since she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep any way. It seemed like hours and still Mariam hadn't come back. Hilary decided to go out and find her. She was fed up of lying on bed. She put on a dressing gown and turned the knob of the bathroom door. She made her way through the dark corridor by tattering on the walls. She knew her way by now and decided to look for Mariam in the kitchen. The girl had such an appetite she was likely to go down for a midnight feast. In the darkness, the gallery of paintings was gloomier than usual. Hilary could feel the pressure of their eyes on her. As she took the staircase down to the basement, she saw a statue at the bottom of the steps.
Strange, I've never seen it before… Hilary thought. Suddenly it moved! Hilary let out go of a shriek. She turned to run away but slipped and fell down the stairs to the creature.
"Ouch!"
Hilary recognized that voice.
"Mariam? What the hell are you doing here?"
