The sleek black car deposited Ashleigh at the imposing wrought iron gates of Adrian's estate. Her heart hammered a nervous tattoo against her ribs. Spending the weekend at her husband's mansion, a man who seemed to control her every move – it was enough to make anyone uneasy. As the car pulled away, she took a deep breath, the crisp evening air filling her lungs. She looked at the doorway to see Tara standing with a Stoic expression. Unlike the other day, she dressed up in a flowery gown, her hair falling past her shoulders and framing her heart-shaped face. Although she looked like a typical sweetheart, her demeanour was cold. "Mrs. Ashleigh," she greeted with a curt nod. "Why are you here? It's clear you don't want to be here" "Mr. Cagliari has asked that I ensure you arrive", she said in a clipped tone, turning to enter the house. Ashleigh followed behind with embarrassment etched on her face. Tara led her to the kitchen where the meal prepared was set on the table. Today the h
A wry smile touched Ashleigh's lips. "One more thing, huh? Seems like Adrian's got a lot to tell me tonight." Settling back into the chair, she braced herself for another unexpected announcement."I've made arrangements for you to start college," he declared.Ashleigh's eyes widened in surprise, then lit up with excitement. She snatched the tablet back from its stand, her voice trembling as she spoke."Are you serious? This isn't some kind of elaborate joke, is it?"Adrian chuckled, his amusement evident. "No jokes, Ashleigh. It's true. But to get in, you'll need to take the entrance exams. That means enrolling in some tutoring classes." He relaxed back in his chair, gesturing towards something off-screen.A moment later, Mr. Turner appeared, handing him a document. Adrian placed it on his desk."Which college are you interested in?" he asked, his voice softer than usual. "Mr. Turner put together a list of options."The question acted like a key unlocking a dam within Ashleigh. She la
Excitement crackled in the air after Ashleigh hung up. Her long-held dream of attending college was finally coming true. In a month, she'll be a student! Grabbing her textbooks, she piled them on her desk and switched on the computer. Rushing to the college website, the welcome banner seemed to gleam, a symbol of her imminent arrival.Minutes flew by in a daydream of college life. Finally, snapping out of her reverie, Ashleigh decided to create a study schedule. Though work had eaten up most of her time, she was determined to catch up. Thankfully, Adrian arranged a tutor to provide focused support. With luck, she could finalize a schedule by Monday night.An hour later, the schedule complete, sleep beckoned more powerfully than dinner. The excitement was buzzing through her veins. The next morning, Ashleigh woke up with a lightness she hadn't felt since arriving. Adrian's news had been the best gift he could have given her. Dressed in a matching pastel purple
"Good morning, Mrs. Cagliari. I'm Chef Larry. I work as the head chef in the Cagliari kitchen on weekends. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." He extended his hand, and she returned the handshake briefly before pulling back."Well, I'm Ashleigh. You can call me that," she responded."I don't know about that. Will I get fired if I do?" he teased. Ashleigh's eyes widened as she began to refute his claims."Just kidding," he said with a chuckle, "no need to get yourself more riled up than you are at the moment. This time, I can say it was well deserved. Tara needed someone to bring her down a peg." His tone was appreciative, almost relieved that she threw Tara out."Hmm, seeing as you're so happy about this, I'd say you have some grudges against her," Ashleigh observed."Some would be an understatement," he huffed, pushing up his sleeves that fell down to his wrist, as he had done earlier."Well, all that scold
Larry froze, a heavy silence settling between them for a moment. He finally turned to find Ashleigh already waiting for his explanation."According to the staff roster, only the butler and cleaning crew are assigned to this floor," she mentioned, her tone laced with suspicion. "No one else is permitted access."Larry's smile faltered slightly. "Right. Actually, Tara did have me come up here once to help her with some food supplies for Mr. Cagliari," he explained, the explanation sounding a bit forced.It did seem strange to Ashleigh, but she brushed it off. With only a month of marriage under her belt, she had little knowledge of Adrian's specific dietary needs."That's fine," she dismissed, her attention returning to the movie playing on the large screen. The film was an older one, but one she'd been eager to see.By the time the credits rolled, she felt thoroughly satisfied and ready for bed. As the movie ended, the theater lights automatically flickered on, prompting her to exit.O
The first rays of dawn peeked through the window as Ashleigh was jolted awake by Mr. Atkinson at 4:00 am. Following Adrian's instructions, Mr. Atkinson ensured Ashleigh began her duties promptly. After a quick confirmation that she was awake, he excused himself, allowing her a brief thirty minutes for a shower before rejoining him.Shadowing Mr. Atkinson, like a loyal but weary companion, Ashleigh observed him inspect the work of the first and second-floor staff. He explained the roles: the first floor comprised cleaning personnel responsible for maintaining both her and Adrian's supplies, as well as cleaning the theater room and her quarters (though she witnessed them cleaning that morning due to her early start). Adrian's room and study, however, were Mr. Atkinson's sole domain.Since Ashleigh wasn't yet allowed access to these private areas, Mr. Atkinson assigned her supervisory duties in his place while he cleaned. Their tour continued downstairs, where Ashleigh was introduced to
As Ashleigh left her aunt's office, a plan began to take shape in her mind. She was done playing by Adrian's rules; it was time to seize control. Reaching the private elevator, she paused, then opted for the stairs instead. With newfound determination, she marched through the underground parking lot towards a waiting car. The driver took off promptly, delivering her to the mansion.Mr. Atkinson greeted her upon arrival. "I apologize for interrupting, Madame, but the interview for a new butler is scheduled for shortly. Mr. Cagliari insisted on your presence.""I'm aware, Mr. Atkinson," Ashleigh replied."However, I've had a change of plans. In addition to finding a butler for the house, I'd like to hire a personal assistant."Surprise flickered across Mr. Atkinson's face. "But Madame, this wasn't part of the initial plan. Mr. Cagliari certainly won't approve.""Mr. Cagliari placed me in charge of managing this mansion, didn't he?" Ashleigh
Monday evening cast a nervous shadow over the grand house. Ashleigh, a whirlwind of energy, paced the living room, the only sound her footsteps echoing in the vast space. She'd ensured everything was in order with Mr. Atkinson – chores delegated, Susan, the new butler, settled in the staff quarters (a meeting awaited her later).The doorbell's jarring ring startled her. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her blouse and marched towards the door.A woman in her late 50s, impeccably dressed with a leather briefcase, stood on the doorstep.Mrs. Cagliari?" the woman inquired, her smile warm and inviting."Yes, that's me. Please, come in." Ashleigh ushered her in. This was Dr. Amelia Brooks, the top college prep tutor Mr. Cagliari had chosen, specializing in those seeking entry to Robin College, Ashleigh's ultimate goal.Dr. Brooks settled comfortably into a plush armchair, her gaze sweeping across the room with a practiced eye."M