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Chapter 3: Meeting Mrs. Thompson

Walking down the road where everyone was rushing to get home early before the heavy downpour of rain will descend on them since the cloud has darkened dangerously. Valerie Williams was among the people rushing but Valerie was not rushing anywhere, she stood at the pedestrian crossing waiting for the cars to stop so she could cross over to the other side.

The cars had finally stopped, Valerie joined the long queue of people waiting to cross the road. Safely on the other side, she started walking all over again with no destination in mind. The street was dark due to the rain about to fall except for a few street lights that were scattered around.

She bumped into a middle-aged woman who was returning from the market. The bags of groceries she was carrying fell to the floor and the contents scattered around as Valerie bent down to pick up the groceries as she profusely apologised to the woman.

“Young lady! Can't you see the way” the woman scolded her as her maid rushed over to help her pack the groceries off the floor.

The event of the day, coupled with the woman's words, brought tears to Valerie's eyes as she sobbed uncontrollably on the sidewalk of the street.

The woman was shocked, she kept wondering what she must have said to the girl to make her cry but she came back blank.

“Young girl! Stop crying! I'm sorry if I've offended you” She apologised as she dragged the girl up from the floor.

“I'm sorry ma’am” Valerie apologies once again as she turns to walk away without glancing at the woman.

“Wait!” The woman called to her, her heart breaking at the lonesome figure of the young girl. Valerie stops and turns to regard the woman questionably.

“What's wrong? Why were you crying?” The woman asked her as she walked close to her and hugged her. Valerie stood shocked, she couldn't remember the last time she was hugged and now from a total stranger.

“I don't have anywhere to go,” Valerie opens to the woman after some time.

“Why? What happened to where you were before?” The woman asked, looking at the girl who was homeless at such a young age.

“I've been staying with my aunt and my cousin but due to some misunderstanding she sent me out, never to come back again”

By now the rain has started drizzling making everyone run to a nearby shelter. Valerie and the woman were not left out as they both scrambled into the woman's car which was parked very close to the mart.

The driver opened the door for them as she got into the car with the woman beside her while the maid sat in front with the driver.

“You said your aunt sent you out, right?” The woman asked Valerie again as she nodded, clearly not understanding why someone in their right mind would send a young girl out of the house so late in the night.

“Yes ma’am” Valerie replied as she tried to force back tears that threatened to surface again.

“It's okay. I wanted to hire another maid anyway but now that you are here you can do it” The woman said, shrugging as she looked out of the window.

The smile spread across Valerie face as she looks at the woman God had miraculously sent to her “Thank you, Ma’am”

“You are welcome, dear,” The woman replied just as the driver punched in the code to the big gate of the Thompson's mansion. They drove into the mansion.

Valerie stood gasping at the big white mansion in front of her, two other maids putting on uniforms walked out to help offload the groceries from the car.

“Maria,” The woman called an older lady who was standing at the car giving instructions to the other maids.

“Yes, Mrs. Thompson” Maria replied as she walked up to where we stood near to the fountain.

“This is Valerie. She's the new maid, guide her through everything and the rules” Mrs Thompson said, she turns to look at me one last time before walking into the mansion.

We are currently in the maid's quarters; Maria has left after introducing two other maids including the one, I saw with Mrs. Thompson at the mart.

“You are so beautiful” Audrey said, she was my bed mate and was also the one with Mrs. Thompson when we met.

“Thank you” I replied shyly as I unpacked the little clothes, I managed to take with me.

“Is it true that your aunt sent you out of the house?” Lisa asked. I nodded as I couldn't speak due to the heavy lump of tears in my throat.

“I don't know why aunties are so difficult” Gia lament bitterly

“Don't worry everything is going to be alright. Mrs. Thompson is a good woman, she will treat you right as long as you do your job well” Lisa said, she was the older one among us apart from Maria. After I had finished unpacking, we all showered and retired for the night.

I woke up the following morning at 6a.m. Being the one to do all the chores at my aunt's I was quite used to waking up early.

“Good morning, Val, sleep well?” Audrey asked, she was up earlier than I and she was already dressed in her maid uniform.

“Yes, thank you” I smiled at her as I got out of bed to do my daily routine of brushing my teeth, bathing then dressing in my maid uniform. I walked out of the room to see that everyone had a bath and were all waiting for Maria.

“I can't believe we'll be having a permanent roaster,” Lisa exclaimed happily, her short red hair was pulled back with a scarf as Mrs. Thompson frowned against letting hair down during working hours.

“I just hope I'm permanently assigned to young master Victor's room” Gia said with a dreamy look on her face. Looking at her one could guess that she has a crush on the young master.

“You still haven't gotten out of this, your foolish crush” Audrey frowned at her while I watched them fascinated. This is going to be hell of an interesting week!

Maria walked in holding a notebook and a pen “Good morning, everyone!” She greeted us as her eyes scanned everyone in the room before finally resting on me. She smiled proudly.

“I see you are already getting used to the routine around here. Right?” She asked me, smiling.

“Yes ma’am” I replied bowing my head shyly.

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