BFF'S APARTMENT
Kitchen**
"What are you doing?" Zara creased her brows.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Diamond retorted, rolling her eyes.
"Wait, you are cooking?" Zara asked in disbelief, stepping closer to Diamond who was frying eggs.
"Why are you surprised? It's not like this is my first time cooking."
"Actually, it is your first time cooking without being reminded."
"Shut up."
"But on a serious note, what made you wake up this early to cook breakfast for everyone? And besides, it is my turn to cook."
Diamond shrugged, turning off the cooker and dished the fried egg on a large plate.
"I didn't cook last night, remember?"
"Wow. This...is a miracle."
"Ugh, stop already." Diamond took in her friend's appearance and a mischievous smile appeared on her face. "Where are you off to?"
"What sort of a question is that? Isn't it obvious I'm heading to work." Zara replied, avoiding making eye contact with Diamond.
"Oh, really?" Diamond wriggled her brows. "Do you plan to fuck your boss?"
Zara choked on her saliva. She started coughing. "Wha....what the fuck?"
"Why are you acting guilty? Do you really want to fuck your boss?"
"Are you crazy? I have a boyfriend and I will never cheat on him. Never."
"And what about him? Did he also pledge his loyalty to you?"
The smile on Zara's face dropped.
Diamond threw her hands up in surrender, taking a step back.
"I didn't mean to say that, Zara. I'm sorry."
"I know you are still hurt with what that jerk and that asshole did to you but I trust Sean enough to know he isn't anything like them."
"I know. And I'm sorry."
Ayden walked in, yawning loudly.
"Good morning, beautiful ladies." He winked.
"Good morning, Ayden." They chorused.
He sniffed the air. "Wait...did you cook?" He asked Zara.
"I didn't but she did." Zara nodded her head at Diamond.
Ayden eyes widened. "You don't mean it. Really?"
"Okay, that's enough." Diamond rolled her eyes, stepping out of the kitchen.
"Are you not going to dish out the food!" Ayden asked at the top of his voice.
"I was kind enough to prepare breakfast...be kind enough to dish the food out." She replied, ascending the stairs.
"I will dish the food." Zara offered.
Ayden glance through her body and smiled.
"Are you going on a date?"
"Uh...does it look like I'm going on a date?"
"No."
"So why are you..."
"You look like one who's about to get laid." He winked seductively, cutting her off.
"That's it. I'm wearing something else." She stormed out of the kitchen.
"You still look sexy though!" Ayden said loudly but Zara already left. "Shit, I will have to dish out the food."
BRUNI'S MANSION
Aurora Bedroom**
The little girl of five years old yawned loudly as she peeled her eyes open.
She looked around to find the room empty which made her wonder.
She sat upright and stretched her body, coming down from the pink queen-sized bed.
She frowned when she saw the time,,,7:30am.
"Where is Maya?" She asked herself, stepping out of her bedroom and going downstairs on barefoot.
Aurora walked into the kitchen to find Evelyn and some other maids making breakfast.
She approached Evelyn.
"Evelyn?"
Evelyn looked down and a smile quickly made a way to her face. "Oh. Princess. How are you?"
"I'm fine."
"I can see that. How was your night?"
"Good. Uh...is Maya still asleep?"
"Ma...Maya?" Evelyn repeated nervously.
Aurora nodded. "Yes. I didn't see her in my room when I woke up. Why is that?"
"Uhm...come with me, child." Evelyn grabbed hold of the girl's hand and led her out of the kitchen. "Maya is not around."
Aurora frowned. "Did you send her out on an errand?"
"What? No. You see...she...um...wait, do you need help in anything? I can be of help, you know."
"No, I need Maya. She's my nanny not you."
"Ouch. But I am more than a nanny to you."
"Exactly my point. You are more than a nanny to me but not my actual nanny. Where is Maya?"
Evelyn scratched the nape of her neck, thinking of a reasonable lie to give the smart little girl.
"You see...um...Tara!" Evelyn called out.
A young maid ran out of the maid's chamber and bowed slightly.
"Yes ma."
"Can you run a bath for Miss Aurora?"
"Of course." Tara, the maid, was about to leave when Aurora said,
"Don't go to my room." She commanded, glaring.
"Aurora_" Evelyn began but the child turned around and ran upstairs. "Oh God."
"Ma, what should I do?" Tara asked, confused.
"Well, you heard the child. Don't go to her room if you still love your life." Evelyn went back to the kitchen.
Mikhail's Bedroom**
"What about the nanny?"
"She was mercilessly dealt with." Marcello replied.
"Good. Have she written her resignation letter?"
"Yes."
Mikhail stretched out his palm and Marcello dropped the letter.
"Send her out."
"Uhm, boss?"
Mikhail gave him a sharp look.
Marcello gulped down in fright, bowing his head a little.
"She's really not in a good condition. If she don't see a doctor...she might die."
"And?"
"Sir?"
"What are you trying to say?" Mikhail bellowed.
"Nothing."
"I thought as much. Do as I say, am I clear?"
"Yes boss."
The door was suddenly flung open and Aurora walked in angrily.
Mikhail sighed. "Leave."
Marcello bowed his head and left the room, shutting the door closed behind him.
"Hey princess!" Mikhail tossed the letter aside and crouched down to pick his ball of sunshine up in his arms. "How are you doing?"
"I'm not fine, daddy." As soon as those words rolled out of her tongue, it felt like a heavy dagger has been pierced through Mikhail's body.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" He asked worriedly, looking over her body to spot out any injury.
"I can't find Maya."
Mikhail's movement came to a halt as he gently dropped his daughter on his bed and sighed out in relief.
"You got me worried. I thought something was wrong with you." He knelt down on one knee in front of her.
"Dad, did you hear what I just said?"
"Evelyn and the other maids will take care of you until I find a good nanny for you, okay?"
"What about Maya?"
"She quit." He simply answered.
Aurora eyes widened. "Maya...quit?"
"Yes. She left this morning. She said she had something really important to take care of." He shrugged.
"Will she come back?"
"I don't think so, princess. You shouldn't get your little head worked up about that...i mean, Maya, right?"
"Why? She didn't even say goodbye. How could she just leave like that?" Aurora started crying.
Mikhail jaw clenched as he saw his little princess crying.
"Hey, stop crying. You know how much daddy hates seeing you like this."
"Why did she leave? Why does my nannies always end up leaving me? Why?"
"Your nannies?"
"Yes. My nannies. If my calculations are not wrong, I had twenty nannies and they all quit before I even wake up and none of them cared to say goodbye. Do they hate me, daddy?"
"Nonsense. No one hates you, love. They wouldn't dare."
"So why did they always quit? Am I not good enough. I know I can be stubborn but I did whatever they asked me to as long as it wasn't bad."
Mikhail ran his thumb over her cheek, wiping off her tears.
"It's not your fault but theirs. They chose to quit and that has absolutely nothing to do with you."
"Dad," Aurora sniffled. "Are you sure you are not the one firing them?"
"What? Why will you think that?"
"Whenever I ask Evelyn,,,she never says anything. She will try to avoid the question. If they really quit, she would simply say so without beating around the bush." Aurora reasoned.
"Are you sure you are five years old?" Mikhail joked and the little girl chuckled. "I'm sure Evelyn doesn't want to make you cry and trust me, I don't want to make you cry as well. I'm sorry you had to cry because of me."
"Daddy..."
"Yes princess?"
"Where is her resignation letter?"
"I knew you were going to ask." He grabbed the letter on the table and handed it to Aurora.
She opened it and glanced through it.
"Do you even understand what you are reading?"
"Actually...I don't." Mikhail laughed. Aurora was just like her mother and she also had the same sense of humor as her. She was like a little version of Diamond. "Although I do know one thing for sure..." Mikhail shot up a questioning brow. Aurora kept the letter aside and embraced her father, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck and he immediately hugged her back. "You will never lie to me."
Mikhail bite his tongue, purposely injuring himself.
'I'm sorry, Princess. I'm so sorry.' He thought to himself, tightening his arms around her little frame.
Few seconds later, they pulled apart.
Aurora jumped down from the bed, holding Maya's 'suppose' resignation letter and walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Mikhail asked.
"I need to have my bath. um, are you going out?"
"Yes." He stared down at the letter she was holding. "Do you need to take that?"
"Yes. You know I have every of my nannies resignation letter. I want to read them when I become of age."
"Why?"
She shrugged. "There might be a good reason to why they always quit without even lasting one month of working as my nanny." She smiled. "Uh...when will I be getting a new nanny?"
"Soon."
"Okay!" She opened the door and walked out.
Mikhail let out a deep breath he didn't even realized he has been holding in.
He ruffled his hair, clenching his fist.