Hazel walked up to the second floor, her face calm.
She looked relaxed, but her mind stayed sharp. Every step brought her deeper into Francisco's world of secrets and control.
She moved down the hallway toward Francisco's room, fully aware she was likely being watched. Cameras, hidden eyes... nothing about this place was ever truly private. Still, she kept her pace steady and her expression unreadable.
When she reached her own room, she entered casually and stayed for a minute... just enough to make things look normal. Then she stepped out.
She tried the handle to Francisco's room.
Locked.
Of course.
Without the code or Francisco himself, there was no way in. That room, like the man, was a fortress.
Not giving up, Hazel turned and headed downstairs. Her thoughts raced, plotting the next steps. She knew the house was probably filled with more than just cameras.
'He asked me to cook for him,' Hazel reminded herself.
'First, I'll do what he wants. Then I'll do what I came here to do.'
At the kitchen door, she paused. The maids worked quietly, each movement smooth and mechanical. One stepped forward, her tone flat and lifeless.
"Do you need anything, Ms.?" she asked.
Hazel gave a polite smile. "Actually, Mr. Francisco asked me to cook something for him."
The maids froze mid-task, eyes turning to Hazel with surprise.
Francisco's unexpected request had thrown them off. He was known for his routine... rarely straying from it.
But this? Completely out of the ordinary.
Hazel felt their eyes on her and caught the tension in the air. Trying to ease it, she said, "He likes birds. I thought I'd look up a recipe and cook something for him."
The maids glanced at one another, confusion flickering across their faces.
One finally asked, almost in disbelief, "Master told you he likes birds?"
Hazel nodded slightly. "Yes."
"We've never heard that before," one maid admitted, her brow furrowed.
Hazel added, hesitating, "He said he had a bird... and he likes to eat birds."
The maids, trained to keep their reactions controlled, looked genuinely puzzled now.
"As far as we know," one said firmly, "Master has no pet birds. And we've never prepared a dish like that for him."
Hazel's hands tightened around the edge of her dress.
'Was he joking with me?'
'But he doesn't seem like someone who jokes easily…'
The realization slowly sank in. Maybe he had been toying with her.
'So, he really joked with me.'
Her jaw tightened as she pushed back the frustration building inside her.
'Fine. Joke or not, I'll still do my job. And I'll do it perfectly.'
Despite the lingering uncertainty, Hazel chose a diplomatic path. A soft smile curved her lips as she addressed the maids, trying to smooth things over.
"Okay, maybe I misunderstood. But he did ask me to cook something. So… can I make something for him?"
The maids exchanged looks... a silent recognition that their master's whims often defied logic. After a brief pause, one of them nodded.
"Okay. Please wear an apron and cook for Master."
They stepped aside, giving Hazel space. She quickly slipped into the apron.
'Since he joked with me, I need to surprise him with something good.'
She glanced at the maids. "What does Mr. Francisco like?"
"He's not picky," one replied. "As long as it's healthy. We strictly follow a diet for him."
Hazel nodded, absorbing the information. A thoughtful smile flickered across her face.
"Can I make pudding for him?" she asked, testing the idea.
"Pudding?" one of the maids repeated, surprised. "Did he ever try it?"
"We don't know. We've never made it for him."
"Okay," Hazel said with a shrug. "I'm not the best cook, but I'll try what I can."
One maid stepped forward. "We can help..."
Hazel gently shook her head. "No, thank you. I'll do it myself."
Just then, Lily... the senior maid with a quiet authority... spoke up. Her voice was firm and clear. "Girls, let her do her work."
Hazel met Lily's eyes. A silent understanding passed between them. Hazel instantly recognized her as someone who held weight in this house.
Lily turned to her and added, "Just don't use too much sugar in the pudding."
Hazel nodded.
"Alright, everyone, back to work. Ms. Hazel will prepare dessert for Master," Lily announced, her tone brooking no argument.
As the other maids returned to their tasks, Hazel took a deep breath, centering herself.
'He doesn't like sweets. Then I'll give him the best dessert he didn't know he wanted.'
She set a bowl of milk on the stove, watching as it slowly warmed. The air filled with the sound of soft whirl of the blender as she beat the eggs, her movements smooth and focused.
But her thoughts drifted.
'What's he doing now?'
'I can't ask the maids for his room code. Either they don't know, or they won't tell me.'
'Whatever that meeting is about... it's serious. I have to find that drive.'
'By any means necessary.'
'Even if I have to act like I'm seducing him… I'll do it.'
But a flash of memory pulled her back.
'He has a girlfriend. And I saw how he treated Ms. Emily… so cold.'