Purple Romance

''So, this is what my mother goes through while trying to make me have a nice life? She has to face trash like you every day just so I could get food and money for my books and fees? You boys are really… cute'' Carlien said and chuckled with a chilling gaze.

''What, cute? Us? Did you just call us cute?'' the boy in blue asked and laughed.

''Yes, you are cute for having the guts of a lion'' Carlien said and folded her sleeves backwards. She walked out of the counter and stood in front of the boys.

''Why? Are you going to fight us? Well, if you can make me fall to my knees, I will address you as father''

''No, I am going to… beat you up and teach you lessons that your parents forgot to teach you'' Carlien said and stepped back, with a swing, she turned and lifted her leg, hitting the blue shirt boy and he fell down.

''This woman has a death wish'' the yellow check shirt boy said and rushed towards Carly. She waited calmly for him to get to her and she stretched out her leg and tripped him, making him fall on his face. He sat up with a bleeding nose and screamed at the other two that were standing beside the counter.

''Get that woman!!!''

The two boys rushed forward and Carlien used her left leg to kick the other one down and used her hands to hold the heads of the two approaching, striking their heads together.

After a moment, the four boys knelt in front of her with bleeding noses, bruised eyes and faces.

''Now, listen to me carefully because I hate to repeat myself. Tomorrow, when my mother comes here, you four useless things will call her grandma and beg for her forgiveness, do you understand?'' Carlien said and slapped their cheeks.

''Yes, father'' the one in blue, who was also their leader said loudly.

''Why are you the only one responding?'' Carlien asked and looked at the rest.

''Yes, father''

''Yes, father''

''Yes, father''

They all responded and Carlien smirked.

''Now, you, yellow shirt, what is your name?'' Carlien asked the one in yellow.

''My name is Marcus'' yellow shirt boy said.

''Okay, Marcus, from now onwards, you are in charge of restocking the items in the shelves. If I come any day, any time and there is an empty shelf, I will kill you''

''Yes, father'' Marcus answered reverently.

''Blue shirt, you are the leader, right? You are in charge of protecting my mother. You will report to me whatever happens here. If you allow my mother to even hit her foot against the door, I will kill you''

''Don't worry, father. I will make sure nobody bullies grandma. I will report everything that happens to you''

''Good. As for you two, you will clean the store every day, pack the fruits outside and arrange them and also bring them in when night comes''

''Yes, father'' the two responded in unison.

''Don't shout like that again. Now, introduce yourselves. Apart from Marcus''

''I am Eli'' blue shirt boy said.

''I am Leslie'' curly hair boy said.

''I am Ruhad'' chocolate skinned boy said with a sheepish smile that Carlien found cute.

''I am quite busy today, but, come around when is 21:30PM, I want to know more about you, stubborn little things. I can tell you give your parents a lot of headache'' Carlien said to them. ''Go and sit on the bench over there, I will bring a first aid box and attend to your wounds, you look ugly'' Carlien added and went behind the counter. The boys smiled and stood up.

..........

Paige got down from a taxi and looked at the mansion in front of her. It was indeed the same address. Paige admired the house as she looked at the entire row of houses of the same stature. Indeed, this was a high end expensive neighbourhood.

Paige touched the doorbell at the front of the gate and a man opened the door for her.

''Hi, I am from Look Good Laundry Services. The Miss of the house asked me to come'' Paige said politely to the man and noticed he heard a confused look on his face.

''The Miss of the house isn't around but the young Master is inside, he told me to let you in when you arrive'' the man said and Paige smiled and nodded.

''Oh, thank you''

''This way, Miss'' the man said and closed the door after Paige entered. He led her to the front porch of the house. The man touched the bell and soon the main door was opened and a middle age man stood in front of Paige and the security man. ''She is from the laundry service'' the security man said and the other man smiled.

''Miss, come in please'' the middle age man said politely which made Paige a little surprised. She smiled and went in with him.

''They have such good manners'' Paige muttered to herself.

''Miss, you can sit here'' the man pointed at the blue chevron coloured sofas in the hall and said to Paige. The interior of the house was even better than the outside. Everything seemed to be in place. The design, the wallpaper and even the portrait of the green forest merged well with the wall making it look like a scenic place more than a hall. Paige swallowed her saliva just as it was about to drop from her mouth.

''Miss, Miss, are you alright?'' the man asked again and Paige came back to her senses. She looked at the man and smiled apologetically saying.

''I'm sorry, what did you say?''

''I said you can make yourself comfortable over there'' the man repeated himself patiently as he looked at Paige. This was the first time someone apart from the master himself was coming into the house. He was asked to take good care of her by the master, so the butler wanted to do a good job. The lady was pleasing to the eye and looked like a good person.

''No, I think there is a misunderstanding here, sir. I am not here to sit down and be comfortable. I am here to do laundry work for the Miss of this house. I am from Good Looks Laundry Services'' Paige said hurriedly not wanting to be mistaken for a guest.

The butler smiled realising the young master must have tricked this young lady into coming here but he couldn't expose him now, could he? Off course not. If his young Master who had shut the door to his heart after that year was finally opening up to this young lady, the least he could do was help, right?

''You are not mistaken, Miss. I know you are here to do the laundry but still, you are our guest. This is how we treat our guest. What would you like to drink? Juice or water?''

''Huh? Water will do'' Paige said awkwardly and the butler bowed before her and went away.

Paige sat down and felt the cushion softened. She touched it and smiled murmuring ''welcome to the rich life, Paige''

The butler returned with a glass of juice and placed in on the table in front of Paige.

''I asked for water'' Paige said and looked at the butler.

''I know, but, this juice is fresh and organic. It will make you feel refreshed as compared to just water. Or is it that you don't trust the suggestion of this old butler?'' the butler asked Paige and smiled.

''No, that is not what I mean. Thank you, I will drink it well'' Paige said awkwardly and smiled. The butler nodded his head.

''Then, have your juice first. The Master of the house will be with you soon''

''The Master of the house? Who is that, if I may ask?''

''You will find out soon enough. Excuse me Miss'' the butler said and took off. at this point, Paige could finally come out with a certain conclusion which was, she was confused. She was confused because she really didn't understand the kind of situation she was in at the moment. Confused because, since when were workers treated like this? she had been working in the laundry service business for a while and had met all sorts of clients. While some were polite, others were outright rude and looked down on her. This was the first time she was treated like a guest.

Meanwhile, in one of the rooms at the top floor, Jordan sat relaxingly on his lazy chair holding his iPad watching Paige in the hall. he had an amused smile on his face as he watched.

''You are in for a surprised today, Paige Payin. You are going to be my woman even before you know what is happening. I am going to lure you slowly into my world'' he smiled feeling satisfied and murmured "I haven't felt so happy in a long time. Thank you Paige Payin, for coming into my life at the right time''.

...….

Paige looked at the glass that had been refilled by the butler for the third time. She didn't know whether she was the one drinking the juice fast, or if it was because the time she used in waiting was long enough for her to finish three glass of fruit juice.

Paige took the glass to sip and suddenly thought of someone. She placed the glass down and removed her phone. She looked at the screen and frowned.

''How can he not call me the whole morning? Well, he can do whatever he wants. I just hope he doesn't call me when I am busy. Bratty Royal Prince'' Paige said and chuckled as she looked at the name. ''We are considered good friends now, right? Yes, I should change the name to Royal Prince and cancel the brat out of it'' Paige said and was about to change the name on her phone when she heard her name coming from the stairs.

''Hey, part time''