with a creak, and Mr. Greg Davis stepped into

zel brown eyes, and chiseled, square-sculpted face. His handsome features were ac

es said, bowing respectfully, as t

n in the foyer was palpable. His cold, silent appraisal seemed to

the new House Manager. "Mr. Davis, may I introduce Miss Lily, the ne

eadable. Then, without a word, he gave a curt nod and turned on his heel, str

art thumping in her chest as she realized

gave Lily a sympathetic glance. "He's... not always

much, Mrs. Owen," she replied, trying to keep her voice even. "I'm sure

ight, Miss Lily," she said, her voice warm. "And you seem like you're

e said, her voice low. "Miss Cherry is also a force to be reckoned with. I believe it would b

"I see what you mean, Mrs. Owen," she said. "I

he stairs, ready to retire to his

ice dripping with honeyed seduction. "

door to her room, he found Cherry standing in the doorway, a vision of red silk

his arm, pulling him into her room with a swift, seductive motion.

Davis, taking in his rugged, handsome features. "I've been waiting

irritation flashed across his face. "Why are you here, Cherry?" he ask

a reason to visit you, baby?" she purred, her voice dripping

is expression unreadable. "

e made it clear that I don't want you visiting uninvited anymore," he said, his to

calculating. "But darling," she said, her voice taking on a

t overstep the boundaries I've given you," he said, his voice low and c

break it. Cherry's anger simmered beneath the surface, her eyes

sensed the shift in her demeanor. "Cherry," he said,

yes boring into his wit

able, he collided with Lily as she approached the door. With a quick refl

f time had stopped, the world around them fading away. For a brief instant, there was an

yes flashed with fury, her voice sharp and accusatory. "What do you think you're

y Cherry's accusation. "I-I'm sorry, I was just coming to introduce mys

and the volatile situation, turned on his heel and strode down the hal

ut Cherry was not about to let the matter go. "You'd better stay away

ng back to Cherry, to

watch you try to steal him from me." She stepped forward, her movements taut with anger, her body practical

despite the palpable threat. "I don't know what you're ta

k I don't see the way you look at him? The way you act all innocent and demure? It's pathetic. Y

at you think, then you're seriously mistaken." She stood her gro

, Lily. I know exactly who you are, and what you're after. You may think you're so clever, but I won't be

eyes, unblinking, her expr

all the others. Weak. Pathetic. A pathetic little house manager, thin

d out. "You don't know anything about me, Cherry. And if you think I'

curled into

ice a dangerous purr. "You're nothing but a mouse, and I

on't think you have the slightest idea of who you're dealing with," she hiss

e last moment before turning on her heel and storming down t

, her nails leaving deep gouges in the wallpaper. "You bitch!" she screa

ning, the tension between the two w

with exhaustion. She closed her eyes, letting the tear

f, her voice trembling. "Why couldn't you just kee

temples as if to ease the throbbing that had be

ms. "This job, this job that I worked so hard to get, it's all going to be

is out to get me, to make my life as difficult as possible. And now, when I finally thought

er voice choked with despair. "Maybe I'm just not

o something, it never seems to work out for me. It's li

feeling the weight of the world

ologize to her tomorrow morning, before she has a chance to speak to Mr. Davis," she thou

. I'll do my job to the best of my ability, and I'll avoid any

more confident. "I'll be dignified, but not arrogant. I'll make her

e enemy. Maybe she'll see that I'm just a hardwork

feeling a small spark of