Natalie peeled out of her wedding dress and changed into a a knee-length floral dress with a pair of flip-flops from the sea of clothes arranged neatly in her closet, she had wondered how they got her size when they never actually measured her, soon after a soft knock was heard on the door.
"Come in" Natalie said aloud and a woman in her late forties entered alongside a young lady, Natalie glanced at them from her vanity table where she was seated styling her Chester nut hair in a loose bun. "How may I help".
"My lady" The woman smiled, Natalie recognizer her as the only female maid she saw amidst the maids so she gave her a professional smile.
"Alexi asked that you get a personal maid so this is Kelly, she has been briefed on her duties already and I hope it will be up your taste". She said referring to the young lady by her side. Natalie glanced at the girl and gave an appreciative smile he is not that arrogant after all to have an elder call him with respect.
"Oh thanks Mrs..." Natalie said raising a brow, asking what she should she call her. The woman seemed to get the message and smiled. "I am Jane, the head maid and nanny".
"Seems fair thank you Madam Jane and its Natalie not my lady is cringy" Natalie said in her casual tone.
"If I must then you can call me Lady Jane" Lady Jane said with a smile. "Let me leave Kelly to you to get familiar with" with that she walked out of the room.
"Kelly... Nice name, seem like you are new?" Natalie said in a tone more of a question than a statement making Kelly bid her head bowed. "Come on show me around since you've been briefed already".
***
As they walked through the brightly lit hallway, Kelly showed her the rooms and its surprisingly kid friendly which she didn't expect because of his cold attitude and indifferent air. Kelly became more opened to Natalie and they talked about things at random Natalie stomach suddenly grumbled.
"I'll have the staff prepare something for you to eat, my lady" Kelly said with a bow and walked away while Natalie made her way to Alexi room but he wasn't in.
She went to dinner room to meet him seated in an entirely different look, she was left mesmerised by his beauty although the suit made it look like he was in a formal dinner meeting it still add its own air of beauty.
"Why are you standing there" Alexi asked snapping her out of her daydream, she gave a sheepish smile and walked towards him.
"Uncle looks extra different from earlier... How many times do you change your hairstyle in a day" She couldn't help but ask as this was the third style she saw him today. "Uncle, you look very dashing that can attract female like a bee after honey".
"Are you also blown away" His voice was like a seductive whisper in full flirt mode but his eyes were emotionless.
"Hmmm, Uncle is quite handsome so it's only natural but if they come close I will make sure to break their leg"
"Really with which of the strength" Alexi asked his interest piqued.
"Why would I beat them, All those girls tend to loose their brains... I would just say that Alexi likes ladies that can fight and are crippled." Natalie replied confidently.
Alexi "...." He didn't quite understand how her brain works.
"Everyone is a fan of beauty" Natalie stated then took her sit by Alexi right side since he was at the head of the table.
Lionel came forward and read a list of rules for the dining table for her. "No talking and punctuality are the only rule".
"Does he recite them always" Natalie whispered to Alexi but he just gave her a blank look. Soon the maids served them lunch, the whole table was covered with mouth-watering dish. Natalie eagerly tried every dish with an unmatched hunger, she moaned with each bite while Alexi looked at her with a bewildered expression he was fighting the urge to scold her.
"Pass me the steaks over there" Natalie said her mouth filled with food, she pointed her fork to plate of steak far from her, he scoffed and continue eating.
"Pleeease..." She batted her lashes cutely her expression soft and vulnerable, Alexi casually picked the steak to his plate then cut a piece Natalie opened her mouth ready to eat it but he directed it to his mouth eating it calmly. Natalie face twisted with anger, she took out of his food and ate with his fork giving a triumphant smile.
They all knew that Alexi has an obsessiveness to neatness and cleanliness that he doesn't use what other people use especially girls, the last time someone tried using his fork to eat In a public gathering he didn't give the person any face and outrightly asked for another dish an a disinfectant so they are all aware of this but Natalie is just a newcomer and probably didn't know.
Lionel and the maids present whose head was bowed gave Natalie a silent prayer in their heart, Lionel took a deep breath he had held Natalie in high regard before but now he was to stay dutiful to his boss so he rolled up his shirt sleeve ready to drag Natalie out of the house.
"Why the face... avoid coffee for now" Natalie said when he was staring daggers at her, she casually picked his cup and drank the coffee "hmmm, it taste good."
He was about to yell at her when she choked on her meal but she stubbornly ate the one in her mouth which led her to cough violently.
"Cough... Cough... Cough..." Natalie coughed out, Alexi impulsively pat her back for her and she curved out bone, he gave her a cup of water to drink.
Lionel looked at Alexi with a complicated look, he actually fed her water from his own cup and actually touched so miracle was really happens.
"Who cooked this meal" Alexi asked coldly. A servant came to the front with his head bowed "Sorry sir, it was a mistake please pardon me".
"Now I'm meant to listen to you no know who I should pardon" His tone was going increasingly cold lacking any warmth. "I'm... sorry...sir" The servant stuttered.
"You are fired, get out of here... Throw the dish away" Alexi declared and scooped Natalie in his arms walking out with her. Lionel took a deep sigh walked the servant out and followed Alexi to the living room.
Alexi asked that their luggage should be packed as they were visiting the old house for the rest of the week.
It seem those who change doesn't know the gravity of how much they have change but those around them knows, the once cold and unfeeling man now had a bit of an heart but what does these changes lead to good or bad is unknown.