Femme Fatale.

04

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Shawn has always known his sister to be marvelously endowed with a steadfast intelligence and a sweetness which has not been soured by her past dreadful experiences.
She, Carla, of course, despite being kind, is very self-willed and hotheaded but that is just a part of her that just multiplies her charm.
He watches in amusement as his smoky-eyed sister, showing her teeth like a feral cat, glares with a heaving chest like a fully grown lioness; ready to pounce on her friend, Rhoda.
With a sudden desire to see her wrath, he edges closer to them.
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Songs for the chapter:
i. Broken Glass - Sia
ii. I Wanna Know - Alesso ft Nico & Vinz
iii. Russian Roulette - Rihanna.

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When I get home Mother is already there, preparing dinner which is so unlike her. "Why are you cooking? Where's the maid?" I ask even before I greet her.

"Oh I sent her away, darling,"she replies with her special smile. The smile she saves only for me and my big brother Shawn.

" Why, thank you Mother. She really was most awful."

"I could not stand her." Mother concurs. "She cracked hazelnuts in he hands and dropped the shells everywhere. They crunched underfoot like snails!"

"Oh and remember how she used to walk in the rain, insisting that rain water is good for the skin." I say with a laugh. "I looked at her weather-beaten old leather and knew I'd rather never bathe at all!"

"Speaking of bathing," Mother absentmindedly stops stirring the broth and turns to me. "She smelled quite dreadful and she was completely unaware of it. The other day I order her to shower and she only consented to sit on a stool and dip only her feet in the water!"

I give a shriek of scandalised laughter. "Oh Mother! You never told me that. The worst of all was how she'd unconsciously hum under her breath during dinner!"

Mother doubles over in laughter then pats my back. "Well have a new one, love. I am helping her cook tonight since it is her first day."

"Okay Mother. I will change and find Shawn. He is in his room, right?"

"Where else would be? Helping me make dinner?" Mother asks sarcastically.

We both laugh at the image of my sluggish brother handling the demands of the kitchen.

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I walk into Shawn's room and find him lounging in the window seat. I sit on the bed and open my mouth to talk but I notice the new maid is in his room as well, folding his clothes.

"Oh she's here?" I ask Shawn. "I want us to talk. I glance a little nervously at the new maid.

"Nina's alright," Shawn says. "Rather deaf, thank God. Aren't you, Nina?"

The woman does not turn her head.

"Oh well, you may go," Shawn says. Still the woman goes on, stolidly folding.