CHAPTER THREE

At about six o'clock in the evening, Louloudi's doorbell rang for the second time today. After several reminders from Xander, she checked the intercom first before opening the door.

It was a middle-aged woman, about forty years old. Her black hair with a few strands of white was held together in a neat bun.

She had what looked to be groceries in her hands.

Louloudi already had an idea of who this gentle lady might be. "you must be Maria?"

The lady smiled and nodded her head. This action reminded Louloudi that Maria is mute.

Not knowing what next to do she rushed to collect the groceries from Maria who in turn rejected her quickly by shaking her head. She placed the groceries on the coffee table and then brought out a small notebook and a pen.

Louloudi couldn't help but watch as her brows furrowed while writing in the notebook. Maria turns the notebook to her "As the madame, you are supposed to leave such things to me. Always remember that and don't make such mistakes in front of your elite friends "

Louloudi can't tell if Maria was saying this out of experience or if she is just very into that boundary that has always been emphasized between the Elites and the common people. Either way, she is right, Louloudi was still new to the whole 'suddenly rich miss fiasco', and no matter how good she is at copying and pretending (after years of pretending to be fine just to avoid therapy) she will pale in comparison when amid those real young misuses.

Seeing that she understood Maria wrote again "Show me around please, kitchen first". After showing her around, Louloudi went back to her room just in time to hear her phone chime. It was a message from Xander.

Xander: Maria is 60 years old, she is divorced with no kids, and is mute. She has spent most of her life working for the elite, 40 years of her life at most. She is the most decent help you will find right now.

There was a knock on the door. Maria came in to prepare her uniform for school tomorrow. She went into the walk-in closet and then came out with a pair of uniforms. She wrote in her notebook telling Louloudi to come out for dinner.

Maria watched her as she ate, a while later she wrote in her notebook, 'Sit straight'

Louloudi immediately did as she was told.

A while later ' Don't bury your head in your food' Louloudi raised her head immediately.

Louloudi has decided that this new status of hers does not stop her nightmares from reoccurring as she awoke to the persistent knocking on her door. After she acquiesced, Maria came in and opened the blinds, it was still dawn. Maria walked briskly to the side of the bed to show her notebook.

'Good morning'

Louloudi smiled and returned the greeting.

Maria turned to another page,' Go shower and get dressed, I will have your uniform ready'

Louloudi turned to the clock on her bedside table, it was only six in the morning. "Isn't it too early to be getting dressed for school?" she asked unsure.

Maria turned to another page of the notebook 'You need to get your hair and make-up done, you can't go to school like this, you might get mistaken for someone else'

Someone else? who? don't think she missed the judging eyes of Maria, does Maria mean she will get mistaken as a servant?!

By the time Louloudi finished showering her uniform had already been placed on her bed with a pair of square heels. This heel is a limited edition from a very popular luxury brand in the country.

While Louloudi was recuperating downtown, she attended an all-girls school. All day it was about fashion and beauty latest bags and shoes and all that, and this made Louloudi research these themes to fit in. This has ultimately come in handy as she is well aware that her school shoes and bag are enough to buy her previous school plus the land it was built on and pay the tuition fees of every one of the students of that school.

Louloudi was startled when she noticed Maria following behind her. "where are you going? Don't tell me the school stipulates we bring our help to school?"

Maria shook her head then wrote in her notebook, 'Do you know any good stylist for your makeover?'

Louloudi was rendered speechless. She decided to keep her mouth shut to avoid getting more judging looks from Maria.

The elevator doors were about to close when they came out from the apartment, it seemed some other person from this floor had just entered. There are only two apartments on this floor so Louloudi is convinced that this is her floor neighbour. "No..no..wait for me!" She changed her pace and walked briskly when the elevator door was about to shut. Seriously though who builds elevators far away from apartment doors. This is the 50th floor, Louloudi is not about to miss this elevator and then take the stairs, thank you.

Before the doors could shut, a hand reached out from inside to hold it. 'oh it's a dude'.

"Thank you" Louloudi did not forget to thank him when they got on. Louloudi could not get a good view of this neighbor as he was putting on a windbreaker with a hoodie over his head and it would be rude to keep staring. Maria bowed her head towards the stranger before moving straight to their back where she stood.

There was silence in the elevator as it descended to the last floor.

When they entered the lobby, a lot of men in black rushed towards them. Louloudi's heart almost left her chest at this thrilling sight that she had only seen in movies, 'nobody told me I'll be having bodyguards'.

The men bowed their heads in greeting when they got to where they were standing. The people in the lobby were looking at Louloudi and she was getting shy. "Uhm Uhm..." She cleared her throat and was about to say something when she heard a deep voice behind her

" Why did you come?"

she turned abruptly and noticed that the guy who held the elevator for her was right behind her. 'is he asking me or...'

"We will escort young master". One of the men in black replied

Louloudi came to realize that from the beginning to the end she had no business here. But here she was standing between two parties and acting like a clown. Her eyes seemed to catch sight of Maria looking at her with that same judging look.

At this point, she might think I'm an idiot, louloudi lamented. She laughed awkwardly then retreated slowly. 'So that's why those people were staring at me like that, they were judging me' She pressed down the urgent need to face-palm.

Xander was standing by the car when they came out. He opened the door for her and then bowed his head "Madame"

Louloudi was about to say something but decided against it and entered the car. Maria stood aside for her to enter before getting into the passenger side. The car drove off, and Xander noticed someone standing outside the apartment building staring at them.

If Louloudi had seen this person she would have been able to tell that it was the gentleman that held the elevator open for her.