He nods curtly and I walk into the house ahead of him, my mind swimming with thoughts of twirling my father around my little finger.
Once I walk into the grand hall, I'm greeted by the sight of the housekeeper, Mrs. Greene. She nods at me respectfully before speaking up.
"Miss Oakes, we've settled the matter of your personal maid."
"Great," I mutter.
"Mignonette is waiting in your room. Please remember dinner will be served at seven p.m. sharp," the housekeeper finishes, and I nod before running up to my room.
She looks after me with an outraged expression, and I take special joy in taking the stairs two at a time. I just love pissing these people off, it seems.
When I walk inside the room, I'm greeted by a sight I most definitely wasn't expecting.
The pretty, willowy blonde who helped me at my birthday party is standing in front of the full-length mirror in my room. She's wearing one of Eden Falls Prep's blazers over her uniform, admiring her own reflection. But when she sees me walk in, she flinches and rips the jacket off her body.
"I'm so sorry, M-Miss Oakes," she stutters. "I was just..."
She bites her bottom lip, struggling to find the words. I put my bag down on the chest of drawers next to the mirror, raising my brows and crossing my arms as I wait for her to go on.
"Well? Why were you trying on my clothes?"
"I'm so sorry," she repeats, looking like a dear caught in the headlights. "I just wanted to see... what it... what it looked like."
"You don't go to Eden Falls Prep?" I ask her.
"Oh, no." She gives me an outraged look. "That would be inappropriate... I don't go to school anymore. I work here full-time, with my mother."
"Belle?"
"Yes," she nods, her expression settling into an uneasy grimace.
She's still almost unbearably beautiful though, and jealousy twists my stomach into a knot. I've seen how men act around this girl. Like she's some kind of enchantress who's got them all under her spell. I don't even know why, but I'm jealous as fuck.
I’m tempted to mention my brother’s very noticeable crush on her, but I talk myself out of it. It’s a topic best saved for another day.
"So, you're Mignonette," I go on, choosing to ignore what I just saw her doing.
"Oh, everyone calls me Minnie." She gives me a shy smile.
"Minnie. Like Minnie Mouse?"
"Yes, Miss Oakes."
"You can call me by my name, you know."
"Oh no," she shakes her head vehemently. "I couldn't possibly. It would be entirely inappropriate."
"Well, you'd be doing me a favor," I mumble, giving her a defiant look. "In fact, as your sole responsibility, and with you being my newly appointed maid... I demand you call me by my first name."
"Alright." She pales in embarrassment before uttering, "Miss Lily Anna."
"No." I scrunch my face up at her. "Please, no. It's Pandora."
"I don't think your father would like that."
"Well, I don't see him here right now," I shrug mischievously. "Do you?"
She shakes her head. The corners of her lips are being pulled up in a reluctant smile.