CHAPTER 3

"Welcome to our family, Ivan!" Verisha beamed, his cheerful voice filling the cosy kitchen as he prepared tea for the two of them. The aroma of freshly brewed leaves mingled with the buttery scent of soft cakes cooling on the counter. Ivan took a bite of one, and his eyes widened in surprise. Fuck! This is good! he thought, savouring the delicate sweetness. 

He chuckled at Ivan's expression, clearly pleased with his baking skills. "Glad you like it," he said, pouring tea into two delicate porcelain cups. "Now, let's talk about your new role."

Between sips of tea and bites of cake, Verisha outlined his daily routine:

Trimming two gigantic gardens Cleaning both residences Ensuring the master receives all his meals and afternoon tea Grinding ink on the inkstone every Monday Sorting all incoming mail by importance and organizing the mail cabinet

Ivan's face fell at the first task. Trimming two gardens in one day? after getting a glimpse of that garden he could very well say that it's impossible!!!! his mind started to race trying to find suitable excuses. Verisha, ever perceptive, quickly reassured him. "We'll take turns," he explained. "I'll handle it one week, and you'll take the next. We'll tackle it section by section. No need to panic."

When Yelena, the mistress of the mansion, heard about his appointment as the new housekeeper, she was overjoyed. She thanked him profusely every time he helped around the mansion, her gratitude so effusive it left Ivan red-faced and stammering. Over time, the two developed an easy camaraderie. Yelena, starved for company, found in Ivan a willing listener and conversationalist. They talked about everything—from the latest village gossip to the intricacies of local politics. 

Ivan couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between Yelena and her husband. While Yelena was warm and talkative, Igor was a man of few words. Their interactions were minimal, and the tension between them was palpable. He often wondered why the master had grown so distant from his wife, but he knew better than to pry. It wasn't his place.

Despite the underlying tension in the household, there were moments of genuine joy. Verisha and Ivan often found themselves laughing as they worked side by side in the garden, trimming hedges into whimsical shapes.

One particularly sunny afternoon, Ivan and Verisha found themselves in the midst of a heated debate over the garden's topiary. the valet had attempted to shape a hedge into what he claimed was a majestic swan, but he was having none of it.

"That's not a swan, Verisha. That's a… a… I don't even know what that is!" He exclaimed, hands on his hips.

"I'll have you know, this is a masterpiece in the making," Verisha retorted, stepping back to admire his work. "It's abstract art. You wouldn't understand."

He rolled his eyes. "Abstract art? bullshit! More like abstract disaster. Here, let me show you how it's done."

"Please… now that looks more like a pelican than a duck!" The valet exclaimed incredulous, trying to keep a straight face when he saw the so-called swan the housekeeper had made

"It's NOT! It's a duck! I just need to trim its beak a little!" Ivan protested, his face turning bright red.

"OH MA GWAD!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAH cough! cough!" the mistress laughed so hard so loud that she choked on her own saliva, tears streaming down her face. "You two are ridiculous! anyway.... both of you are doing such a wonderful job tending the garden. But maybe we should you know tone it down a notch perhaps stick to simpler shapes, like spheres or cubes."

"Spheres? Cubes? Now....now where's the creativity in that?" Ivan protested, but he couldn't help but smirk. Despite the teasing, he was enjoying the camaraderie.

When Yelena's children returned from their grandparents' house, the household dynamics shifted once again. Lenzo and Valentina, a pair of mischievous four-year-olds, quickly turned both workers into their personal playmates. The two men found themselves running around the garden, hoisting giggling children onto their shoulders and chasing them through the halls.

"Verisha, if I ever get married if I ever.... even think about it, I am NOT having children," Ivan groaned, out of breath after a particularly intense game of tag.

"At this rate, you're going to die an old man!" The valet teased, though he wasn't faring much better. He had already downed several glasses of water and was sprawled on a bench, utterly exhausted.

"Who are you calling an OLD man you are ten years older than ME!!!" Ivan balked as Yelena strides over while both of her kids hung onto her legs. Their bickering's ceased as the lady entered.

"my....my.... It seems that you both are faring quite well...." she remarked noticing their discomfort

"More like running 100 laps around the garden thank you very much" Verisha retorted his usual way, his English with a twinge of Russian as he hoisted himself to his feet.

"Well what I can say it was a great exercise for you both keeps you slim and makes you more youthful I think...." Yelena smiled her eyes twinkling with delight. Her perfectly manicured nails covered her mouth as she stifled her giggles

"UGH…... I am never doing this again madam EVER!" Ivan said as he watched the children sleep peacefully tucked in under the sheets after being bribed with sweets. Yelena, watching from the side-lines, couldn't help but laugh. "Sorry, boys," she said sheepishly. "They're quite the handful, but it's kinda hard to put your foot down when they are having fun and enjoying their childhood!"

'At the expense of our energy and time!' Verisha muttered a little incensed as he stomped his way back towards the manor.

"Well I might have to go madam sorry about that!!! you know how he is..." Ivan smiled sheepishly scratching his neck while preparing to go back to his quarters. 

"IVAN!!! QUIT YAMMERING AND COME HERE! WE HAVE A JOB TO DO!!!" the valet yelled at the person behind him.

"Gosh!!! this old man will not let me rest, will he?" He thought to himself as he hurried along to continue their shift.

As the days turned into weeks, Ivan found himself settling into his new life. The work was demanding, but the camaraderie with his new so-called friends made it worthwhile. The children, though exhausting, brought a sense of vitality to the household that had been missing. Even his boss's aloofness became a familiar part of the rhythm of life. He was quite content too. He had a roof over his head, food on his plate, and a newfound sense of purpose. And as he drifted off to sleep each night, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of what tomorrow or the future might bring.