Chapter 318 Being Harsh
Amelia stood outside until Tiffany woke up and rushed out to find her. As her face was pale, Tiffany asked hastily, “Babe, do you feel unwell? Or do your eyes hurt?”
Flashing a nonchalant smile, Amelia assured her, “I’m fine. It’s just that I haven’t enjoyed the breeze in a while and ended up standing here longer than expected. After losing my eyesight, my hearing, touch, and tastebuds had grown sharper. Back then, I didn’t think this was possible, but now that I’m blind, I finally realized what it is like. It was fun to feel and hear the breeze whispering in my ear.”
Tiffany scrutinized her carefully.
“Babe, you’re unhappy,” she stated.
Amelia’s smile faltered.
Taking her hand, Tiffany asked, “Did someone bully you? Tell me about it.”
After regaining her composure, Amelia burst into giggles. “Everyone is kind here. No one would bully a blind person like me.”
Tiffany felt bad to hear that.
“Amelia, don’t say that! You only lost your eyesight temporarily. You’ll recover after receiving treatment. You’re gorgeous, smart, kind, and compassionate. Don’t belittle yourself!” she frowned and chided.
Amelia chuckled gaily.
“Let’s head in. After being roasted under the sun for a few hours, I feel my mind going blank. I’ve lost my eyesight. If something goes wrong with my brain, I’d be a useless person for sure,” she joked.
Tiffany led her in after making sure she was all right.
After lunch, Tiffany was still hanging around when Jeremy said, “Amelia, I’ve hired a caregiver for you. She’s twenty-five and grew up in the countryside. As she’s honest and responsible, she’ll be a great caregiver for you. The chauffeur just brought her here. Do you want to see her now?”
Amelia turned in the direction she assumed Jeremy was standing and nodded.
“Thank you, Jeremy.”
Tiffany placed her fork down and frowned. “Jeremy, why did you hire a caregiver for Amelia to take care of her around the clock? I can take care of her myself. Amelia doesn’t feel comfortable around strangers and can’t get used to a stranger taking care of her. Her eyesight loss is temporary, and she isn’t a cripple. There’s no need to arrange for someone else as the person will be in her way.”
Amelia chuckled. “Tiff, Jeremy is being thoughtful. Let’s not waste his efforts. If there’s someone to take care of me, you can focus on your writing, and Kurt won’t have to worry about me at work. It’s a win-win situation. Cheer up!”
Tiffany glanced at her and asked, “Really? Do you mean that?”
She knew how prideful Amelia was, for they had been best of friends for years. Though Amelia could no longer see, she wouldn’t allow a stranger to take care of her daily life. Instead, she’d do her best to do everything herself so she wouldn’t trouble the people around her.
Lowering her gaze, Amelia said gently, “I think it’s all right to hire a caregiver who’ll take care of me around the clock. After all, I can’t see and can’t get around easily. If someone’s here to take care of me, you won’t have to worry so much about me. Am I right?”
Tiffany assumed something must’ve happened during the past few hours when she was asleep. Otherwise, Amelia wouldn’t have agreed to hiring someone.
With that thought in mind, Tiffany turned to Jeremy and ordered, “Jeremy, tell that girl to leave. I can take care of Amelia, so there’s no need to hire a caregiver. It’ll be a waste of money. Besides, we don’t know if she has an ulterior motive.”
Despite her instruction, Jeremy remained standing defiantly.
Amelia parted her lips to say, “Tiff, I was the one who asked Jeremy to hire a caregiver. It isn’t easy for her to get the job, and I don’t think it’s nice to kick her out before she arrives. Let’s meet her. If she’s all right, we shall hire her.”
Tiffany had no choice but to comply.
They waited for around half an hour before the girl was brought in by a maid.
Tiffany studied the young girl, who seemed to be around twenty-five years old. Her skin was tanned, but her features were all right. She had huge eyes, a dainty nose, and heart-shaped lips. With her oval face, she resembled the celebrity, Angelina Jolie. Tall and attractive, she had a curvaceous figure that was overall nice.
However, it felt strange to hire to be a caregiver, for she seemed a little unreliable. Though she was tanned, she was pretty and attractive. One would believe her if she claimed to be a fresh graduate.
Tiffany frowned, displeased with the candidate. What if she pretends to be obedient but mistreats Amelia behind our backs? That isn’t great.
“What is your name? Where are you from? With your looks, you can definitely get another better job. Why are you willing to be a caregiver?” As she wasn’t satisfied with the young girl, her questions grew sharp.
The young girl replied calmly, “My name is Rory Sanders. I was born in Xenhall, a small town neighboring Hallsbay in Horington. I’m a fresh graduate and didn’t manage to get a job in Beshya. After finding out about this job that supposedly pays well, I decided to try it out. The person who introduced this job to me is the butler’s relative. If you agree to hire me, I’ll do my best. I haven’t received a cent from my family after graduating, so I desperately need money now.”
Tiffany scrutinized her carefully. Hmm, she’s honest. But if she’s a fresh graduate, she won’t want to work here long term. After spending some time with the rich and getting used to the wealthy lifestyle, she’ll definitely get attracted by money and become materialistic no matter how honest she is. Especially since she’s pretty. What if she uses Amelia to get what she wants?
She refused to let someone else use Amelia as a stepping stone. Though Amelia wasn’t a fool, she was a soft-hearted person.
“Rory, I believe you got to know about your employer on the way here. Amelia here has lost her eyesight temporarily and needs a caregiver to take care of her. You’re a university student, so I don’t think you’re patient enough for such rough work. I’m sorry, but we can’t hire you,” Amelia rejected her outright.
Rory asked calmly, “Why? Are you assuming I can’t take good care of her just because I’m a university graduate?”
“No, we want a long-term caregiver. Perhaps the pay is enough for you to work here for a month or two, but how long can you stay? Amelia’s an introvert, so she doesn’t like to get close to someone before being forced to get another new caregiver. You’re not a suitable candidate. I’m sorry about that. We’ll make sure you get compensated properly,” Tiffany said.
Instead of replying to her, Rory went to Amelia and introduced herself. “Hello, my name is Rory Sanders. Before coming here, I indeed planned to work for six months before resigning. But if my job is to take care of someone as pretty as you, I’m willing to work long-term. Can you give me a chance?”
Amelia was stunned. She quickly regained her composure before chuckling. “All right, you can stay. If you find a better job, let me know. We won’t force you to stay,” she assured her.
Rory had no idea Amelia was that easy going.
“Is that a yes?”
“You’re buttering up to me. Isn’t that because you want to work here?”
Rory was speechless. She hadn’t expected a blind woman to be this humorous. In fact, she thought she would be tasked with taking care of a strange and hot-tempered blind person.
On the way here, she was extremely nervous.
Upset, Tiffany uttered, “Amelia…”
“What is it?” Amelia grinned.
Tiffany had no choice but to swallow her disapproving words. “Nothing.”
Turning to Jeremy, Amelia said, “Jeremy, I think Rory is a great candidate. Arrange a room for her. She’ll take care of me in the day, and I’ll share a room with Tiff at night.”
“Got it.”
Jeremy left to arrange for Rory’s room. Meanwhile, Rory started checking the luxuriously decorated villa out. Clearly, she had something else in mind.
Tiffany took in her reaction without saying a word.
It was clear that Rory wasn’t as honest and responsible as Jeremy claimed. There was no way a pretty girl with a bachelor’s degree would lower herself to be a caregiver. Either her family was poor, and she was in need of money, or she wanted to use this job to get connected to the rich and powerful. After getting into the upper-class society, she’d get to know more wealthy people. With her connections, she could use her degree to get a better job as a white-collar worker. That would be easier for her to marry into a wealthy family.
Tiffany didn’t want to think of the worst, but Rory didn’t seem like she was born into a poor family. Hence, the second possibility remained. By no means Tiffany was against a gold digger, but she refused to let anyone use Amelia as a stepping stone to improve their lifestyles.
I won’t allow someone with an ulterior motive to remain by Amelia’s side.
“Rory, right? Do you find this villa gorgeous?” Tiffany queried with a half-smile as though she was mocking Rory for being captivated by the luxurious interior design.
Rory immediately snapped back to reality and spotted Tiffany’s mocking gaze. Flustered, she answered, “Of course. I was born in a small town. Before I entered university, I was practically living under a rock. This is my first time seeing such a gorgeous villa. I’ve only ever seen them in TV shows.”
“Do you want to stay here forever? Or become the mistress of the villa?”
Rory’s expression froze.
Even Amelia felt Tiffany was overreacting. No one would feel comfortable after hearing Tiffany’s rude words, especially a young girl who was new here.
It wasn’t wrong for a woman to be materialistic. Besides, they didn’t even know this young lady was one. It didn’t seem right for Tiffany to make a judgment and mock the young lady without holding back.
“Tiff,” Amelia cautioned.
Tiffany twitched her lips and smirked. “It was a joke. You won’t mind, right?”
Rory forced a smile.
Amelia said, “Rory, Tiff didn’t mean that. She loves to joke around, so take her words with a pinch of salt. If you need anything, just let me know.”
“All right,” Rory responded obediently.
Tiffany became the bad cop. “Rory, we’re paying you handsomely. In order to prevent you from slacking off, I’ll set a few rules. If you can abide by the rules, I’ll allow you to stay. Otherwise, please pack up and leave,” she announced.
Rory bobbed her head.
“First of all, stay at Amelia’s side around the clock. Second, we’ll sign a two-year contract. You aren’t allowed to get another job within the timeframe. If I find out you’re secretly finding another job, you’ll have to compensate us. Third, don’t be noisy or talk behind our backs. Four, no making unreasonable demands. Five, no bringing your boyfriend back. Six, no bringing your relatives here, too. We’re not a shelter for refugees. Seven, when you work, don’t go flirting with other men,” Tiffany declared.
Rory frowned as she found Tiffany’s last few conditions extremely insulting.
Perhaps she had an ulterior motive for accepting the job, but no woman would refuse to be pampered. She hadn’t really done anything against the law, so she couldn’t fathom why Tiffany treated her so badly.
However, she tried her best to suppress the anger in her.
Amelia spoke up. “Tiff, stop messing with her. Rory’s new, so don’t scare her away.”
Shrugging, Tiffany answered, “All right, then. I’ll ask Jeremy to print out the rules that were stated earlier. Just make sure to abide by them.”
Tersely, Rory responded, “Yes.”
Amelia comforted her, “Rory, you must be tired from the journey. I believe you are starving. Let me ask the chef to prepare something for you.”
Warmth spread all over Rory’s heart as her lips curled up. “Thank you.”
After Amelia arranged for Rory’s meal, Tiffany immediately interjected coolly, “Amelia, it’s almost one. Time for your nap.” It was obvious how much she disliked Rory.
Amelia gave in and nodded obediently.
“Rory, you can go to your room and rest after finishing the food. You’ll start working tomorrow.”
“All right.” Rory pondered over it before she said, “On the way here, the chauffeur told me my employer is Amelia Winters. Is it all right to address you as Amelia? It sounds more natural.”
“Sure. You can call me anything you want,” Amelia answered cordially.
Rory munched on her food happily. After finding out that Amelia was an easy-going person, the idea she buried in her heart earlier popped up in her mind again. Just like Tiffany had guessed, she viewed the position of a caregiver as a shortcut to get to know more wealthy people before marrying into an affluent family. However, she realized most of them were arrogant and merely took her as a charity case.
People from different worlds would rarely end up together as they were not meant to be together. Most of the time, she would end up being a laughingstock.
