CHAPTER FOUR

DALLAS

"Dallas! Dallas!! Lord, where is this girl?" I heard Stephanie's annoying voice as she climbed up the wooden stairs.

I clicked my tongue in irritation but didn't say anything. I continued scrubbing the toilet floor.

"There you are. Didn't you hear me calling you?" She asked, shaking her leg like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

'I heard you, Stephanie, I think the entire neighborhood did.' I thought to myself.

"I'm sorry, i was so focused on scrubbing the floor." I said.

"Why are you so sluggish and lazy? The kitchen is so dirty and the dishes are still not done. I need to use them for my food vlog." she whined.

"I'll come clean the kitchen when I'm done here." I said despite the retort hanging on the tip of my tongue.

"I don't know how hard it can be to scrub the floor that you have to be so slow about it." she scoffed. She turned around and walked away, her heels making creaky sounds as she descend down the stairs.

I let out a long sigh as I mentally went through my schedule for the day. I need to go clean the kitchen and also do some of Sylvie's laundry. I have a cleaning job at the Smith's house and also walk their dog. I have a babysitting job at the Maxwell household. I should already be on my way to my first job of the day but Lucien claimed the toilet floor weren't clean enough and wanted me to scrub them again. Now I'm scrubbing the toilet floor for the second time that day.

I finished scrubbing the toilet floor and headed towards the kitchen. The stench of dirty dishes and spoilt restaurant food welcomed me. There were broken eggs which I suspected was another one of stephanie's failed attempt to cook. I was out late last night so I couldn't do the dishes, and of course, nobody bothered to do it.

I knelt on the floor and began scraping the food. I finished after a few minutes. My back and knees hurt from being in a kneeling position for so long. I cursed slightly. I started washing the dishes. The doorbell rang.

"Dallas, get the door." Lucien said. He was sitting in the living room watching TV. He was closer to the door than I was. I pretended I didn't hear him. He would eventually get tired of screaming my name and go answer the door himself. The doorbell rang continously.

"Jesus christ, people are impatient these days." I heard him grumble as he went to open the door.

"Mr Kang." I heard Lucien call, his tone laced with surprise.

Oliver? what was he doing at my house? That means he found out I was at his house to steal the bracelet. I hid behind the kitchen counter. He hadn't fully entered the house yet so he didn't see me. It wouldn't take long for him to see me behind the counter. My eyes darted around for a hiding place. I decided to hide in the pantry. I could get a view of what was happening but they wouldn't see me.

"Come in and have a seat." Lucien said, his tone laced with excitement.

Oliver entered the living room. He suddenly consumed the whole space, making it hard for me to breath. I was so scared and almost peed in my pants.

"I didn't expect to see you here. What brings you to my humble abode?" Lucien asked.

"I'm here to see one of your daughters." Oliver said, his voice exuding authority. He remained in his standing position. Lucien looked so small next to him that I almost chuckled. I bit my lip hard to refrain the chuckle.

"Sure. Which one of them would you like to see?" Lucien asked. I could sense the excitement in his tone. He probably thought Oliver was interested in one of his daughters. I made a silent prayer that he doesn't mention my name.

"Stephanie! Sylvie! Come down here someone is here to you." He called.

"Why are you screaming, dad? I was about to start my livestream." Sylvie's voice came from upstairs. I heard footsteps approaching followed by Stephanie's squeal.

"Mr Kang."

Sylvie must have heard her sister's loud squeal as I heard hurried footsteps descending the stairs.

"Mr Kang, what a delight to see you here."

"You should take a seat, we will bring some refreshments." Stephanie said.

"Don't bother, I won't stay long." He said.

"Mr Gilbert, are these your daughters?"

"Yes sir, I only have two daughters." Lucien said.

"There is no one else living in this house?" Oliver asked.

"No." Lucien replied.

I heard the rustling of plastic bag.

"Which one of you does this sneaker belong to?" Oliver asked.

I poked my head out a bit so I could get a clearer view. Oliver was holding the sneaker I lost while running out of his mansion in his hand.

"It's mine!" Stephanie and Sylvie said in unison.

"No, It's mine." Stephanie said.

"Don't listen to her, It's mine." Sylvie said.

They broke into an argument over who the owner of the sneaker is. I shook my head. The whole thing looks like a scene from the Cinderella movie where the evil stepsisters were claimimg ownership over cinderalla's shoe.

"There is no need to argue ladies. The owner of the sneaker was caught trying to steal something from my house. She got away but left accidentally left a sneaker. I found out that she lives here and the cops are already on their way. If you can't provide her, I'll have no choice than to arrest all of you." Oliver said.

They all fell silent.

"It's not mine!" The twins said in unison.

I almost bursted into laughter. The way they both denied it was hilarious.

"There is someone else who lives in this house. My stepdaughter. I'm sure she is the one that attempted to steal from you." Lucien said.

I felt my heart jump in my mouth. Now he remembers me when he was about going to jail. I rolled my eyes. I saw Stephanie and Sylvie's retreating figures from the tiny hole I was peeping through.

"Where is she right now?" Oliver asked.

"Dallas!" Lucien called.

I cursed silently. I didn't answer to his calls.

"She was just in the kitchen a while ago." I heard Lucien said as he approached me. I held my breath tight and prayed he doesnt find me. Lucien kept calling my name but I didn't reply him.

"Mr Gilbert." Oliver called.

"Check the pantry."

My eyes widened. Oliver must have caught me peeping. I shut my eyes tight as I heard Lucien's approaching footsteps. He flung the door opened.

"What are you doing hiding in the pantry? So that means you really did steal from him."

I stepped out of the pantry with my head hung low. I was so embarrassed with myself.

"You can take her, she isn't useful to me in anyway." Lucien said.

"How about you give us some minutes alone?" Oliver said.

Lucien gave me a long disgusting look before walking off. I finally raised my head and stared into Oliver's eyes.

"So that's how you get away with things, first hiding in a car trunk then in the pantry. Wow!" he said and I rolled my eyes at his words. I figured he watched the security footage of the party.

"So where are the cops? come whisk me away already." I said, trying to sound nonchalant even though I felt like peeing in my pants.

"They aren't going to come if you obey my orders." He said.

"I have a feeling that it is going to be something unpleasant, so I'm gonna go with jail time instead." I said and start to walk away. He grabbed the tip of my clothes to drag me back, his fingers accidentally brushed my skin. He let go of me as if he touched a hot iron. He stared at his hand in a weird way as if he was waiting for worms to pop out of his hands. After a few seconds, he put his hands in his pocket.

"I have a deal for you. Be my maid and chess partner and I'll help you with the thing you want most or I show the video of you trying to steal from me to the cops and you enjoy sweet jail time. I'll make sure you don't get bailed." he said without mincing words, his face very stern.

"And what is it that I want most?" I asked. There is no way he would know that. He might just be bluffing to get me to agree to his stupid deal, though the look on his face tells me he isn't bluffing.

"I'll help you contest your mum's will." He said.

My mouth hung opened. My eyes darted around to see if anyone was listening on us but all of them seem to be minding their business.

"How do you know about that?" I asked in surprise.

"I can find out anything. Now you either agree to the deal or I carry on my threats. Make a decision quickly, I don't have all day. " He said, checking his watch.

I sighed. He had this whole thing planned that there is no way I'm getting out of it. I figured I better agree peacefully and get some benefits out of it. Having an ally like Oliver Kang against Lucien is a dream.

"It's a deal." I said.

"I'll have a contract drawn up in written and send it to you." He said and walked away before I could say a word.

I sighed as I watched his retreating figure. A part of me felt like I had just made a bad decision. It felt like I had just signed a deal with the devil and my soul will be forever doomed.