"A very happy 18th birthday to you, young master Haytham. Your grandfather has summoned you." said Ellie with a warm smile. However Haytham felt no such warmth from it. The words she uttered sent a chill down his spine.
"W-what? NO! P-please wait, I-I am not ready yet." Haytham mustered up his courage and managed to put a sentence together while stuttering, the fear in his voice evident to everyone.
"Young master Haytham, unfortunately it is not a request." said Ellie with a smile. However soon after her smile turned into a blank expression and her eyes were staring into Haytham's soul.
"Umm, Haytham, who is she?" asked Melissa meekly.
However Haytham looked like he was in no condition to answer. After a few minutes passed, he managed to calm himself and said to Ellie the maid, "Alright let's go." ignoring Melissa's question.
"Yes young master." said Ellie, who then bowed and led the way for Haytham.
"I am sorry Mel, but I will have to explain all of this to you some other day." said Haytham before leaving.
"B-but then will we be able to meet this evening?" asked Melissa in a worry.
"Unfortunately not, I might not be able to meet you for a while." said Haytham with a sad expression, "But don't worry about me, I'll be safe and I will come back and meet you when I am done. Take care."
As Melissa saw Haytham's back fading away from her sight, she tried to say something but no words came out. Her face was frozen in a state of shock due to the sudden turn of events. After a few moments she finally moved and walked towards the window overlooking the school gate. There she saw Haytham get into a luxury car with the maid in his tow. She could only watch as her best friend left without even knowing the reason.
"I've always known Haytham's family was filthy rich but I didn't know they were also weird."
A voice came from Melissa's side. She turned to look and her eyes landed on a blonde girl with the body gifted from god. She was the school's star cheerleader and Haytham and Melissa's mutual friend.
"I knew Haytham was rich too but I have never seen him with that maid. Do you know who she is, Betty?" asked Melissa to the girl named Betty.
"Well apparently she is his family maid. I have seen her accompany him to the school in his car a few times, but this was the first time she has ever entered the school." said Betty "I wonder what that was all about."
"I guess we will only know when Haytham returns." said Melissa with a dejected expression.
…..
In the luxury car
"So…where is grandfather?" asked Haytham sitting comfortably on the posh seats of his luxury car.
"He is at the mansion awaiting your presence." said Ellie who was sitting in a distinguished manner.
"Mansion? Shouldn't he be at the shop right now?" asked a surprised Haytham.
"Master wishes to be wholeheartedly involved in your education from the very start. Thus he is waiting for you at the mansion, from there we will all proceed together to the shop." answered Ellie.
"The fact that he is so excited despite knowing that I am unwilling to all of this just plainly disgusts me." said Haytham with an angry face.
To which Ellie stayed silent and observed Haytham with a calm gaze. After a few minutes of silence she finally spoke,
"What the master wants from you or what he feels about you is not something a lowly servant such as myself could say without his permission but there is one thing I can say for sure, it's that the master is a great man who has done a lot of great things in his life and he expects you, his only dear beloved grandson to surpass him."
Haytham looked at Ellie with a complicated expression. He had known Ellie since the day he first opened his eyes. She has been serving his family since way before he was even born. She had always been polite, soft spoken and kind. This was the first time that he had ever seen her be so adamant about something.
Haytham fell into deep thought, contemplating what Ellie had just said.
There was some truth in what she said, as he was an only child, his grandfather had doted on him since the moment he was born. However after his father passed away mysteriously 3 years ago, his grandfather had a complete change of personality. His doting and loving grandfather had changed into a stern, cold and ruthless man with no trace of warmth on his face. All since that one tragic day when his family's harmony was completely destroyed and it was never the same again.
…..
After a half hour ride from the school to the mansion, Haytham got out of his car. In front of him was a three storied mansion with a lot of rooms. On the main doors of the mansion was the walker family's insignia, a big 'W' inside of a circle. Before the doors of the mansion was a beautiful fountain with ever flowing clean water. This was his home, it was where he was born, it was where he had spent all of his days. However today it felt different, it felt ominous, it felt unwelcoming.
At the main door stood a woman with crimson red hair similar to Ellie except it was only till her shoulders. She also had similar features to Ellie and was also wearing the maid's uniform. She was Maria, Ellie's younger sister.
The walker family was served by 3 servants. Ellie the maid who looked like a woman in her early thirties, her sister Maria who was only a few years younger than Ellie and lastly Sebastian the butler who looked the youngest. Every servant was assigned to a family member, Ellie was Haytham's grandfather's personal servant while Maria was serving his mother. As for Sebastian he worked as the butler, assistant and driver for Haytham's father.
"Welcome home young master" said Maria with a polite bow "The master is waiting for you in his study."
Haytham nodded and handed his bag to the maid. He quickly ran upstairs towards his grandfather's study as his grandfather was a man who did not like to be kept waiting.
Haytham stood outside his grandfather's study. He reached to open the door but he noticed his hand was shivering with nervousness. He gulped and pushed open the door before stepping inside with hesitation.