CHAPTER 11
AVA CLARKE
The perplexity reflected in my eyes finds a parallel in the surprised expressions of the three people in front of me. The situation reaches an embarrassing climax, and I struggle to find words as I attempt to maintain modesty with the towel.
Damien, Lucius, and Elara, though surprised, remain relatively calm in the face of the situation. I feel exposed and vulnerable, my face flushing with a mix of embarrassment and indignation.
What should have been a private moment becomes an unexpected chapter in the complex plot of Fell Mansion, where secrets and unlikely encounters constantly challenge the apparent order of everyday life.
I look down and realize that I am holding the towel in a way that only covers a part of my body, making the situation worse. I wrap the towel around my trembling body when I feel something crawling on my shoulder again. Furthermore, I fight to stay calm as I see another insect with many legs walking on my skin.
With a jump, I rid myself of the insect, and I look up when I hear a hearty, childish laugh. I see Elara laughing like never before, thoroughly enjoying my very embarrassing situation.
"Elara, go back to your room, this was not fun!", Lucius says with a serious expression, and the girl, still looking at me and laughing, leaves the room, leaving me facing the Fell siblings.
"Ava, sorry for being here, but we heard your screams, and I thought you were in danger. What happened?", Lucius asks with concern, and I open my mouth to respond when I see the expression on Damien's face.
He is struggling not to laugh too, and irritation takes over me when I notice his eyes on my body. Then he winks one eye with a mischievous expression.
"I... I was taking a shower, but there were many insects of all kinds, and I got scared. I'm sorry, Lucius.", I say, holding the towel tighter against my body.
They almost saw me completely naked, and I'm still trying to deal with this kind of information. I feel attracted to my boss, and he almost saw me naked along with his brother. Damien is an idiot and continues to look at me maliciously, while Lucius nods, maintaining his polite posture. He quickly blinks his eyes when he looks at me, and I see that he is also trying not to look at my body.
"I will handle this issue, but I don't know why those insects were in your bathroom. I am always very strict about the cleanliness of this house. I'm sorry for this, Ava.", he says, and I nod, stepping back so he can enter the bathroom and see what happened.
Furthermore, I am alone in the room with Damien, and I am trying not to lose my patience at this moment.
"Mmmm, you are much more interesting than I thought, little mouse...", he says, approaching me and whispering in my ear.
"I liked your tattoo. And be careful with Elara, she can be very vindictive sometimes...", he whispers with humor, and I widen my eyes when I understand everything now.
Elara.
Elara was responsible for this in my bathroom, and that explains why she was looking at me that way and laughing non-stop.
I open my mouth to respond, but seconds later, I see Lucius coming back to the room and looking at me.
"You can take a shower in the other guest room until I can sort everything out, Ava.", he says, and I nod, quickly leaving the room.
The gentle lavender scent lingers in the air as I finish my shower in the guest room at Fell Mansion. The water runs down my body, carrying away the fatigue of the day.
However, I am not prepared for what I will find when I leave the bathroom. I've always believed that children like to test limits, but this seems to go too far. As I dry my wet hair, I ponder what to do about Elara's mischief.
The doubt persists as I walk down the corridor, still remembering those disgusting insects. I know that telling Lucius can be a risky move. After all, a father's loyalty often leans in favor of his children. I don't want to seem like an ill-intentioned intruder, accusing innocent Elara without concrete evidence.
Arriving at the little trickster's room, I knock gently before entering. Elara is here, immersed in her own world of dolls and games. The innocent smile on the girl's face does not reflect the chaos she caused minutes before.
"Elara.", I call, keeping calm in my voice. The girl turns, her eyes shining with curiosity. I breathe deeply before addressing the issue.
"Why did you do that in the bathroom?"
Elara's look shifts from innocence to a mix of fun and regret.
"It was just a prank, I just wanted to see what you would do."
I hear her words as I weigh my options. Telling Lucius could create unnecessary tension, but remaining silent may allow Elara to believe she can do whatever she wants without consequences.
"Do you think I should tell your father?", I ask, seeking an answer in Elara's expression.
The girl smiles again, but this time it's a smile that denotes maturity beyond her years.
"Are you going to tell?"
I stay silent for a moment, pondering the implications of my actions. I know Lucius' trust in his new nanny can be shaken by a simple accusation of a child's prank.
Likewise, I haven't been here for long, and I can't lose my job because of a prank played on me.
"I don't know.", I finally reply, choosing my words carefully.
"But I want you to know that this kind of prank is not acceptable. We need to understand and respect each other."
Elara stops smiling and nods, seeming to understand the gravity of the situation. If I told Lucius that his little daughter did it, he would surely take her side because he is her father, and I am just the new nanny who arrived and is accusing a child of what happened to me.
I try not to think about it anymore as I sit next to Elara and start playing with her. Fortunately, my hand and knee are no longer hurting, which makes me feel better.
The day passes slowly, and I only focus on Elara. The afternoon begins to rain intensely, and I love the rain, and now it's time for dinner at the Fell family mansion.
After Elara's prank, she behaved with me, which relieved me, and now we are descending the stairs towards the dining table.