Neo walked into the king sized bedroom Lilian showed him. She had also shown him how to use the intercom to contact any worker he liked. This sure was luxury. He looked over at his right and saw the lounge area; Two small sofa and a coffee table. To his left was the study area with a vanity desk and armchair. Towards the entrance, close to the door was the electronic fire place. Something like the one his father has in London but this looked way too different from his father's. The room was well furnished. He dropped his bag on the bed and walked into the bathroom. He needed to wash off the dirt and sweat he had on. When he got to the bathroom, he froze. The bathroom had a spacious layout, heated floor, to the end was a Jacuzzi tub overseeing the backyard. There was another walk-in glass shower, just in case you didn't want to take a bath in the tub. He looked up and gasped, the designer lighting fixtures were ethereal. Then the sound coming from the wall attracted him. He walked slowly towards the tub and turned to the direction where the sound came from. At the head of the tub was a TV screen. He gasped again, then he crossed over to where the sculpture of mother nature was hung graciously. If he were to compare, this sculpture would take the whole space in Old Ezekiel's bathroom. He leaned in and brushed his hand on it. It felt expensive. Slowly, he walked over to the dressing area, a little to the entrance. He sighed and turned towards the tub. Which should he use? The tub or the shower?
If he used the tub, he was sure he'd spend the whole day there. If he used the shower… nah, the tub wins. He took off each piece of clothes he had on gently and walked straight into the tub, filling it with water and pouring in the bathing spot, and bubbles. He needed this. Old Ezekiel didn't have this in his crusty old house.
He sat in the tub for hours, thoughts of Elizabeth smiley face hovered around his head. He missed her. He missed her so much that it hurt to think about it.
"Neo if you frown too much; you'd get old quickly."
"Neo take a picture of me."
"Neo, do I look pretty in this dress?"
"Neo, come with me to the park."
"Neo I just got a new boyfriend."
"Neo I'm nervous. I need a pep talk. Do you think I'll get this job?"
"Neo please come over, Ezekiel is having a seizure."
"Neo…"
"Neo…"
"Neo…"
"Neo…!"
He jerked, and took a long breath, his breathing rushed. She was playing with his head and he let her. He was trying to get his breathing together. He can't keep having this, especially not in this building.
Mrs Chordis face popped on the screen before him, he flinched.
"Neo come downstairs for proper introduction." then her face was out. How did she do that? He shook his head and leaned back in. Just twenty more minutes.
~~~
Neo walked out of the elevator. He didn't notice that when he first walked in.
"I called for you an hour ago." her voice rang in his ear as he walked into the massive living room. Her husband sat next to her. Nadia sat on a single sitter, her laptop on the armrest, her legs crossed underneath her butt. He tried so hard not to look at her.
"Have a seat." Mr Chordis pointed to a chair opposite Nadia. He sat down and looked at his employer. A frown pasted on her face.
"I'm sorry I took time" he said. She sighed and tucked her phone away.
"This is a ritual we do every time we get a new worker." she said and looked from her husband to her daughter. They both nodded, Nadia closed her laptop and placed it on the table close to her. Her full focus now on her mum. She's beautiful, he took a mental note of that and turned to look at Mrs Chordis.
"Welcome to the Chordis Mansion." Lilian said as she walked into the living room, five girls walked behind her and stood in front of us. "They all will introduce themselves." she said and signaled them. The first girl stepped forward. She was short and fat and had a cringe smile.
"I am Layla. At your service." she said, smiled and stepped back. Her cheeks turned red. The other girl stepped forward, she was tall and beautiful, her black hair packed in a bun. She had the shape of a model.
"I am Rachael. At your service." she curtsied and stepped back. The third girl stepped forward and smiled revealing her diastema. She looked dirty even in the clean uniform.
"Ruth." she said, she had a manly voice. Neo nodded in acknowledgement as he did the other girls. Ruth stepped back and the forth girl stepped forward. She was short and petite, probably around the age of Nadia. Neo looked from the girl to Nadia and smiled. She was irresistible, that he noted.
"My name is Tamera. At your service." her voice held every ounce of confidence lacking in the other girls voices. She was different from them. Tamera looked at Nadia and smiled. Neo took note of that; it's either they were friends or Tamera just knew the way to Nadia's heart. Tamera stepped back and the last girl stepped forward.
"I am Juliet." she said, trying to imitate the prowess Tamera embodied but failing all the same. Lilian's shoulder rose in pride as she stepped forward.
"These are the inside workers. They'd attend to your needs anytime, any day. You might get acquainted with the workers outside but I'm not responsible for that." she said, with a swing of her head, the girls scrambled out in a thin line. "If that's all, I'd like to take my leave ma'am." she bowed her head. Mrs Chordis nodded her head smiling. She was proud of how efficient Lilian was with the workers.
"You may leave Lilian." Mrs Chordis said.
"Lilian." Nadia called when Lilian was halfway out.
"Yes, madam Nadia?"
"Tell Tamera to see me later. We've got a lot to talk about." she smiled and dismissed her.
"You're getting too close to her. She just came." Her father remarked.
"I know what I'm doing Daddy. I'll be careful if that's what you're driving at." she said and adjusted herself on the sitter. Neo looked at her and shook her head.
Mrs Chordis cleared her throat and leaned forward.
"This is my daughter, Nadia. You admired her picture when you came." she smirked as she pointed to Nadia.
"Hello." she said in her sonorous, well accented voice. The way she pronounced her words was sophisticated.
"She's the heir to the Chordis company. Outside that, she is an entrepreneur and a business tycoon. Partnering with different personnel around the globe." Mrs Chordis bragged, her eyes gleed with pride.
"Mum. Are you trying to scare the young man?" Nadia laughed. Neo smiled as she laughed. She looked more beautiful when she laughed.
"No." she said. Mr Chordis shook his head and smiled.
"Nice to finally meet the heiress everyone's curious about. I must say: you surpassed my expectations." he said slowly, deliberately. She smirked.
"Keeping the low is an habit. Quick one: my mum is a workaholic, Do your job and leave the rest. Don't let her stress you out." he nodded. All he wanted was to hear her speak.
"Thank you for the tip. Your mother is a… how do I put it… hmm."
"Don't say a thing; she'd use it against you." Mr Chordis warned and chuckled.
"Okay." he smiled. Nobody said the Chordis family were welcoming. Nobody spoke on how hospitable they could be. Not even Old Ezekiel. They only told him to watch his back. The Chordis were dangerous. Neo spent a few more minutes with them before he excused himself. This wasn't what he was here for. He needed to know if they had a connection to his best friend's death. He needed to close the chapter, and heal himself of the thoughts of not being there for Elizabeth. He took the stairs this time, slowly, surveying the interior of the house. Being skeptical, maybe, just maybe, evidence will lie on the ground waiting for him to touch. he passed the first floor and was tempted to tour every room in that hall.
"If curiosity was a person it'll be you." she said from behind him. She had taken the elevator and was heading for the library to make research on her ongoing project. She needed something to shut those foreigners up.
He turned and smiled when he saw her. "I didn't think I'd see you." he said and turned to look into the hall.
"I should be the one saying that. You don't have a room on this floor." she pointed out.
"Maybe I am curious after all."
"I could give you a tour. I'm going to the library." she shrugged and led the way. "Dad collected a lot of books and I'm grateful for that. I don't have to stress when I need to research on something." she pressed her fingerprints into the wall and the door opened. Neo took note of that.
"Aside working for my mum, what do you do?" she asked, already climbing the top floor of the library. This Library has to be the biggest library Neo had come across in this town. It sure was bigger than the towns library.
"It's bigger than the towns library." Nadia said when she registered the look on his face. That statement gave him enough time to ponder on his answer to her question.
"I thought as much." he said as went around, from shelf to shelf, admiring the beauty of the library.
"He dedicated this place to me when I was ten. He said it was a step to an easy life. God bless Mr Chordis." she smiled sincerely and walked into the deeper part of the library. This has been her home ever since that day.
"You like to study, I take that." he said and trailed her voice. She was an interesting person.
"It has always been an habit since I learnt how to read. My mum takes pride in that." she rolled her eyes and stood on her tiptoe, her hands still not reaching the book she wanted.
"Shoot!" she yelled frustrated. Neo looked at her as she struggled. She looked beautiful even in her struggle. When it looked like she had no hope, he pressed himself forward and took out the book with ease. Nadia froze, her heart began to palpitate. She blinked and cleared her throat.
"Thank you." she said and hugged the book. God knows she had been swooned the moment he stepped into the living room. Her mind creating a picture of him to taunt her. She smiled and moved to another shelf, far away from him. She needed to be away.
"What's the research on?" his baritone voice rang in her ear, sending chills down her skin. Nobody has ever had this effect on her until him. She picked up another book from a close shelf and stacked it on her hand. Something related to children. I can't go into details, I don't work for you." she said and picked another book. The weight of the book was weighing her down but she didn't care, not with her distraction a few feet away.
"Should I help you with that?"
"No. I can manage." she located a mobile book carrier and dropped the book carefully into it. Neo noted that in his head. She was too careful with her books. He smiled and studied her for a minute before looking away. Was she worth being his distraction? He asked himself over and over again.