Olivia Sparks

Olivia together with Tammy and Yana were walking the length of East Wing that would lead to the household staff quarters just outside the mansion.

The 'Quarters' as it was called, was a three-story building with dormitories that housed at least seventy to eighty percent of the household staff of The Highlands with men and women living in separately.

To reach their destination, which is the Quarters, they had to exit on the East Wing of the mansion and climb down a short flight of steps.

All the while they were walking, Olivia's eyes wandered on the oil in canvas paintings that adorned the hallways. Some paintings were portraits of a deceased Sui family member while some were paintings from famous artists known to land.

As she drank the images through her eyes, Olivia trained her ears to listen to Tammy's rundown on the dynamics of the royal household and the responsibilities of each department. 

Slowly, Tammy's voice softened and blended along with the humming of birds outside the windows that lined along the hallways and illuminated it with natural light.

She walked and walked until she rounded up a corner, and that's when she looked over her shoulder.

"Slowing down, slowing down," Olivia said in a singsong voice. She was at least ten steps ahead from Tammy and Yana.

"It's quite a workout walking with you, Your Highness. I love it," Tammy commented, huffing as she stomped a foot upon reaching Olivia.

"Where are we headed next again?" Olivia asked, passing a bottle of water to Tammy who shook a hand, refusing it.

"Our last stop is a place which you're all familiar with."

"The kitchen."

Everyone in The Highlands knew how familiar Olivia was with the kitchen. She was a regular in the place, often cooking or baking for the family to clear her mind from all the stress that came with running her own company. 

Although royals couldn't enter the kitchen for their safety, King Alistair gave Olivia a permission to come and go as she pleased as long as she wouldn't interrupt on a meal service.

"Good morning, Princess Olivia," the staff greeted them as they entered the massive kitchen. Tammy formally introduced Olivia to the kitchen staff, which was for appearance's sake as they all knew who she was and even had a chat or two with the newest addition to the Sui family. 

The royal chef gave her a formal tour of the kitchen and brought the entourage outside, where a garden brimming with fresh herbs and vegetables were at the kitchen's disposal.

Their tour ended in the security quarters where Shadow stood in attention upon seeing her boss.

"Are we leaving now, President? Got word from His Highness to escort you at Rockaway after your morning engagement."

Olivia halted and pivoted on her heel to face Tammy. "Are we?" She gleamed.

Tammy responded with a nod.

"Thank you so much for your time, Tammy. I really appreciate your patience with me. If you want to address something, please don't hesitate and come find me, okay?" Olivia clasped her hands with Tammy, and gave it a gentle pat.

On normal occasions, Tammy would just smile a mechanical smile, the one she rehearsed for years whenever she faced the royal family. 

Today, however, her smile reached her ears at the warmth and comfort that traveled from Olivia's hands to hers. 

Tammy knew Olivia meant every word that she uttered as she felt the hint of concern in Olivia's voice, and she finally realized why the staff adored the lady which high society dubbed as the Lee Family's Maleficent.

People in the royal household talked, albeit in whispers and hushed tones. Everyone knew Maxen's indiscretions in the past, or Queen Isla's days of depression and how she locks herself in the library for days. 

The graver ones would make rounds too, like Maya getting caught stealing in a department store which led to her meeting the love of her life. But the myth that hounded the palace walls for years was the dirty little secret that King Alistair did years ago. 

Nobody knew if it was even true, but walls had ears and people talk, and as they said, when there's smoke, there's fire.

...

The sun was blaring, and it was so humid, Olivia contemplated whether she should just order Yana to get her stuff for her in her decoy apartment or just sprint towards the elevator so she wouldn't feel the prickling heat of the sun. She voted for the latter.

"Can you call Jack and check if Maxen's home, please?" Olivia asked. Her phone was acting up yet again. It was an old model which she had been using for five years. Yearly, Secretary Gail would present a doc.u.ment with new phones in the market but Olivia refused to get an upgrade. 

It wasn't that she can't let go of her old phone but she was afraid of the idea that someone might get a hold of the contents of her old phone once she discards it and whatever they dug up in her phone would be used against her, so nope. She chose to keep her phone. The only way for her to purchase a new one would be if the phone would give up on her or get damaged.

"President, Jack said they're at the penthouse right now," Yana spoke, covering the bottom half of her phone.

"Okay, tell them to just wait for us. I just have to grab something in the apartment."

Yana nodded and relayed the message to Jack. When the phone call was over, Uncle Jin alighted the car and opened the door for Olivia who then rushed to the elevator car that would bring her up in her decoy apartment.

Olivia, Yana and Shadow were walking the hallways when Shadow whisked Olivia towards the decoy apartment, opening the door in a rush that a gust of air fanned Yana's hair.

"Stay inside. There's a breach in the penthouse," Shadow ordered.

Yana bobbed her head and sweat beaded her forehead. She really hated the security nightmare part of her job, working for a high profile boss.

Looking over her shoulder, surprise painted her face when Olivia sauntered towards the bedrooms, probably to her office, as if nothing serious was going on upstairs. However, unlike the other days when a security breach happened, a foreboding coursed under Yana's skin, dotting it with goosebumps.