Reinhardt Manor (on hold)

2.

As soon as the front doors pushed open, a very unsettling feeling started pressing over her chest, screaming at her to turn around and run as far as possible away from there.

Still, she did no such thing. Instead, she pushed that stupid feeling away and boldly started walking down the east corridor -as instructed- until she was faced with other two massive wooden doors, intricately designed with some stylish patterns, indicating that this was it. This was the said office of her soon-to-be boss.

This is it, Iris. You can do this.

She mentally prepared herself, before her small hand landed on the big brass doorknob, slowly twisting it, and lightly pushed the door open, gradually revealing the one and only Richard Reinhardt, sitting at his large mahogany desk.

As soon as his beady eyes landed on her, his aged, wrinkly face contorted into a warm smile, silently inviting her inside.

"Iris! You've made it! Come come!" He quickly motioned for the young girl to approach his desk.

"H-hi." She weakly greeted back, shyly placing herself in one of the comfy leathery chairs in front of his desk.

He then quickly started to search through some scattered files on his desk, until he found what he was searching for, and soon, he pushed towards her what appeared to be a work contract.

"I assume you are already aware of the terms your father and I discussed about, right?" His left eyebrow rose, looking at her expectantly.

"Yes sir," She slowly nodded, solemnly looking him right in the eye,
"Everything I hear and see behind these walls stays behind these walls." She repeated her father's exact words, earning a pleased smile from Mr. Reinhardt.
But though her father told her this was just a precaution, to keep the nosy mass-media away from their family matters, something was telling her it was way more than just that. Still, she chose to ignore that tiny little voice in her head and focus on what she really came here for.

The job.

"That is correct.
Now, if you'll please read carefully and sign the contract," He recommended, showing her another pearly white warm smile, and she quickly nodded,
"Of course, sir."

"Please, call me Richard," He offered, while slowly pushing a pen over the desk right towards her.

"Right," She weakly replied, lowering her eyes on the written paper, then started carefully reading it.

---------------------------------------------