As Eleanor raised her head, she felt a flutter in her chest as she realized the family was talking to her. Before she could even reply, Amber's voice cut through the air, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Well, brother here decided it was fun to hire a human live-in maid, right, brother?" Amber's eyes flashed with annoyance as she turned to Lucian, her black hair swinging slightly as she moved.
Lucian's response was swift, his voice laced with amusement. "Well, sister dear, if you don't talk, no one will think you're dumb." His eyes sparkled with mischief as he gazed at Amber, who rolled her eyes and looked away, her expression disdainful. The air between them seemed to vibrate with tension, and Eleanor felt a sense of unease as she watched the exchange.
Lucian turned to his father, his smile growing wider. "Well, Father, yeah I was the one who employed her." Malcolm's gaze lingered on Lucian for a moment, his expression unreadable. "And does she know?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.
Lucian's smile faltered for a moment before he replied, "Not yet." Eleanor's curiosity was piqued, but she didn't have time to wonder what Lucian's father meant. Malcolm turned to her, his amber eyes sparkling with interest. "Young lady, introduce yourself," he said.
Eleanor's voice was soft as she introduced herself. "I'm Eleanor Roosevelt." She felt a sense of nervousness as the family turned to look at her, their gazes lingering on her face.
Malcolm's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "Eleanor Roosevelt's?, that's a lovely name. What about your parents?" Eleanor felt a pang of sadness as she looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm an orphan, sir."
The room fell silent, and Eleanor felt a sense of awkwardness wash over her. Catherine spoke up, her voice filled with sympathy. "I'm so sorry to hear that, Eleanor. That must have been very difficult for you." Her blue eyes were warm with compassion, and Eleanor felt a sense of gratitude towards her.
Malcolm's gaze lingered on Eleanor for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Then, he nodded and continued eating, the rest of the family following suit. The conversation turned to more mundane topics, but Eleanor's mind was still reeling from the exchange. She felt like an outsider looking in, trying to understand the dynamics of this complex family.
As she poured the juice and refilled the cups, Eleanor couldn't help but notice the tension between Lucian and Amber. It was like a palpable force that hung in the air, making her feel like she was walking on eggshells. She also sensed that there was more to Lucian's employment of her than met the eye, and she couldn't help but wonder what secrets lay hidden beneath the surface of this seemingly perfect family.
As Lucian stood up after breakfast, he spoke to Jenkins, the butler, in a low tone. "Jenkins, please prepare my car. I'm heading to the company." Jenkins nodded and hurried off to carry out the instructions.
Lucian turned to leave, but then paused and turned back to Eleanor. "Follow me," he said, his voice brief. Eleanor's heart skipped a beat as she dropped the tray she was holding and rushed to follow him out of the dining room.
As they walked to the car, Lucian didn't say a word, his long strides forcing Eleanor to hurry to keep up with him. When they reached the car, Lucian turned around and faced her, his eyes scanning her face. "How are you settling in?" he asked, his voice a little softer than before. "Are you comfortable? How's the work?"
Eleanor took a deep breath and replied, trying to composed herself. "I'm settling in well, thank you, sir. The work is fine, and everyone has been helpful."
Lucian nodded, seeming to accept her answer. "Good. I'll have Jenkins show you around and explain how things work here. Just meet him, and he'll take care of the rest." With that, he turned and got into his car, leaving Eleanor to watch as he drove away. She felt a mix of emotions, unsure what to make of Lucian's sudden interest in her well-being.
As Lucian drove to his company, he couldn't shake off the image of Eleanor from his mind. He found himself replaying their brief interactions, wondering about her background and what made her tick. Her shy demeanor and soft voice had caught his attention, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity about her.
As he navigated through the traffic, Lucian's mind wandered to the way Eleanor had looked at him, her eyes wide with a mix of admiration and wariness. He smiled to himself, feeling a sense of satisfaction that he had caught her gaze. He wondered if she would be able to handle the demands of working for his family, and if she would be able to keep up with the intricate dynamics of their household.
Despite his focus on the road, Lucian's thoughts kept drifting back to Eleanor. He found himself wondering what she would be like as a part of their household, and how she would fit in with the rest of the staff. As he pulled up to the company, Lucian realized that he was looking forward to seeing her again, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
Lucian stepped out of his bespoke Bentley Continental GT in the underground car park, the soft hum of the engine fading into silence as he turned off the ignition. The dimly lit parking garage was a stark contrast to the bright, bustling city above, and the cool air enveloped him like a shroud. He made his way to the elevator reserved for the CEO, his footsteps echoing off the concrete walls. The doors slid open with a soft whoosh as he swiped his keycard, and he stepped inside, the mirrored walls reflecting his image like a shadow.
As the elevator hummed to life and began its ascent to the top floor, Lucian's mind wandered back to the events of the morning. He couldn't shake off the image of Eleanor, the new maid, with her shy demeanor and soft voice. There was something about her that intrigued him, something that made him want to know more.
When the elevator doors opened on the top floor, Lucian's secretary, Emma, greeted him with a professional smile. "Good morning, Mr. Darkwood," she said, her voice warm but controlled. Lucian nodded in response, his eyes scanning the sleek, modern reception area before making his way to his office.
The soft carpet muffled his footsteps as he walked to the floor-to-ceiling window that dominated one wall of his office. He gazed out at the city below, the sun glinting off the skyscrapers like diamonds scattered across the landscape. The streets were a sea of cars and pedestrians, a never-ending tide of humanity that seemed to pulse with its own rhythm. Lucian stood there for a few minutes, lost in thought, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
Eventually, he turned away from the window and walked to his desk, dropping into his chair with a soft sigh. Just as he was about to focus on work, Emma knocked on the door. "Mr. Darkwood, someone is here to see you," she said, her voice hesitant.
Before Lucian could ask who it was, a voice called out in a sugary sweet tone "Luciannnn... darling, I'm heeeeere to see you!" The voice was like nails on a chalkboard, and Lucian's expression turned annoyed as he recognized the speaker. "Penelope," he muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes in exasperation.