Emilia went through everything she could find before Patrick send her a huge folder with almost all the company information that only someone internal could possess, whilst reminding her that part of her contract was a non-disclosure agreement.
Emilia started reading the documents one by one, many of which had business jargon that she never heard of before. Instead of giving up on it, she started learning about it. She found ebooks on business theories, models, and strategies, trying to see what Christopher Hayden was using to run his business.
"A multisided platform business model?" Emilia read out loud, feeling increasingly frustrated that she didn't know enough about the topic. "Attention Merchant?" She let out a long sigh. She was fed up with going back and forth between concepts and struggling to see the link between them. But she wasn't going to give up. She knew that eventually, things will fall into place.
She had her meals with other staff in the manor, keen to start building relationships and friendships with them. It wasn't long before she realised that she was the only one with a live-in job. Unless one would count the groundskeeper who lived in a cottage at the edge of the gardens. And yes, the manor had huge enough lands that it needed a groundskeeper who overlooked a number of gardeners that were contracted to attend to the many fountains, hedges and flower beds. To maintain the neatness, the contractors had to come every couple of days.
Other staff included two chefs who worked interchangeably unless there was a bigger event, which was almost never. Then four housemaids did anything from cleaning to helping in the kitchen to serving food and doing laundry. Then there was Bernadette, or Bernie, who was a housekeeper and who overlooked everything within the household.
Otherwise, Patrick was known as Mr Hayden's shadow. Often coming in and out of the manor.
And now, there was Emilia who had a weird role of a representative of Mr Hayden for any public engagements. Someone who is to build his image through social circles. Almost like a member of PR but much more personal. A personal brand assistant. Or so Emilia thought.
She was very good at not bothering Christopher. So good in fact that she hasn't seen him since she signed the contract and it's been three days in.
Christopher didn't ask about Emilia during breakfast again. He assumed that she was an early riser and had her breakfast when it suited her better.
He did ask about her during dinner on Saturday, but the response was similar. She already ate. He wondered if he ever was going to see her.
Emilia reached her limit with learning by Monday morning. She looked at her laptop and a notebook on the desk and she decided that she needed a break from the screen.
After her morning run and breakfast, she changed into her go-to top and black denim, with a light cardigan over it. She picked up her black handbag and packed her wallet and a book before she left the manor. The weather was wonderful. A perfect first day of May.
Emilia walked down the courtyard, watching the gardeners trimming the hedges with amusement. There was barely any growth since they last trimmed it but it must've been maintained perfectly. Then she walked on the side of the road which had a thick layer of trees on either side and no pavement. It was one of those country roads that you hope no one is going to speed on and kill you.
Emilia was looking around a little nervously but there were no sounds of engines in the long distance. There were no sounds of civilisation at all. The birds sang cheerfully and the wind rustled the leaves. It was delightful.
Maybe slightly frightening.
If she was attacked, no one would hear her scream.
Only now it dawned on her that she willingly got in the car and was driven out to pretty much the countryside without a single thought. She could've easily been abducted and murdered. And she blindly did it.
She could've been killed.
Thankfully her anxious thought dissipated soon as there was more opening in between the trees and she approached the junction which was a much bigger and busier road. It wasn't hard to spot a single red pole on the other side of the junction.
She was relieved to have taken the book as the bus didn't come for almost forty minutes, and the ride was another forty. By the time she made it to the city centre, it was already late morning.
Firstly, she went to the shop and bought groceries for her mum and Maria.
Walking into the apartment felt almost claustrophobic in comparison to the mansion.
"Good afternoon, Maria." Emilia smiled at the carer who came out of the room with gloves still on.
"Hello, Emilia. How are you today?"
"I'm good. Thank you."
"How's the new job going?"
"Very quiet at the moment but I have a first event in about two weeks so hopefully it'll get interesting then. If not, I think I can manage. I'll find myself something to do. At least the pay is decent."
"That's good." Maria smiled.
"I've brought you some snacks and food. Also, I know it's been a bit rough. Seeing as I don't have much to do, would you like a few hours off on Saturday and Sunday?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, of course. You need to spend some time with your family. Besides, you are a godsend. Thank you for picking up the extra hours while I was going to all those interviews and while I'm settling into the job."
"That's not an issue and you know that."
"Thank you."
"Go on." Maria urged Emilia.
Emilia took a deep breath in and walked into her mother's bedroom. The smell of chemicals hit her face with the same force every time but yet it took her some time to adjust. As usual, the curtains were closed and the tv was on. The machines were whirring and buzzing in a low tone.
"Hey, mum," Emilia said to a woman that still barely resembled her mother. She opened her eyes slightly, trying to react to Emilia. Emilia smiled at her with love and sadness. Perhaps the most difficult thing was remembering all that her mum used to do and thought that if it weren't for her illness, she would still be doing so much. Remembering what those thin hands used to make, from the best and most comforting meals to beautiful and intricate dresses.
Emilia held her mum's hand and kissed the back of it. Her mum was way too weak to even keep her eyelids open beyond a few seconds. She still got more of her today than for weeks before.
She told her mum in a soft tone about all that she saw in the manor, how truly stunning it was, how amazing the people were there, and how much she was starting to like Bernie. Even if there wasn't much to speak about, Emilia found a way of describing what she saw perfectly, recalling the details of the paintings and embroidery.
She was glad that she was able to work and still have enough time to see her mum while earning enough to pay for her mum's care.