My Housekeeper Tried to Replace Me with Her Daughter Chapter 03

My Housekeeper Tried to Replace Me with Her Daughter Chapter 03

Half an hour later, Ms. Whitaker and I were back at the condo.

I’d barely stepped inside when I turned to grab her a pair of guest slippers.

Ms. Whitaker was already pulling disposable shoe covers out of her bag.

She bent down and slipped them over her shoes.

“I brought my own, Ms. Ashford. Helps keep things clean.” Her voice was soft, almost cautious.

I led her into the kitchen.

“You’ll be making dinner and keeping the place clean. That’s the main job.”

Ms. Whitaker took out a small notebook and a pen.

“Got it. Any dietary restrictions?”

“I don’t eat cilantro, and my husband is allergic to peanuts.”

She wrote it down, then looked up.

“Noted. Any rooms that are off-limits?”

“The study off the primary bedroom. Don’t go in unless I say so.”

Ms. Whitaker nodded and closed her notebook.

In under an hour, she had the living room and kitchen spotless.

Her movements were efficient and quiet. No banging around, no carelessness. Nothing like Marlene.

By the time she finished her trial, I’d already made up my mind. I signed her contract right there.

“Start tomorrow. Two o’clock.”

I gave her my number, then grabbed a couple of apples from the fruit bowl and held them out.

“Here, take these home. You earned them.”

Ms. Whitaker shook her head and took a step back.

“Thank you, Ms. Ashford, but we’re not allowed to take anything from a client’s home. Company policy.”

She gave me a polite nod. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I walked her to the lobby and gave her directions to the nearest high-end grocery store.

On my way back, I got hungry and stopped at the café near the main gates for some seafood chowder.

That’s when I ran into Marlene.

She was sitting with the same neighbors I’d seen that morning. She spotted the takeout in my hand, and her whole face lit up with smug satisfaction.

“Look at that. Can’t even feed yourself without me, huh? Out here getting takeout like some helpless little thing.”

“Tell you what, I’ll make this easy for you.”

“You apologize to me right here, in front of everyone.”

“And if you mean it, really mean it, and double my hourly rate, I might come back.”

“Otherwise, when Mr. Ashford gets home, it’ll be too late for you.”

Unbelievable.

She actually thought I’d fall apart without her. Like her daughter and my husband were the ones who belonged together.

I let out a short laugh and walked right past her without so much as a glance.

We’d see.

I wanted to see who’d really be sorry once Everett came home.