RHTMAV) Chapter 7 Part 3 (Patreon)

“What do you want to do!? If you hurt me my parents won’t let you off!” Maria’s fear was making her entire body shake as she looked up at me from the corner of her eye.

“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you.” I knelt down, sticking my knee into Maria’s back.

“Ah!” Maria cried out, which made me chuckle.

“I only just rested my knee on your back. Why are you yelling? Imagine if I were to really use force. Would you even be able to take it? Now…”

I let my voice trail off as I gently caressed Maria’s face. She no longer had her previous arrogance I was so used to. She was being a very good puppy. “Tell me why did you come here after being told to not look for me?”

“I… I wanted to make a deal with you.” I could see Maria clenching her jaw. She seemed to be very reluctant to even talk with me. But I am sure she is only here to beg for money.

“And what deal can you make with me? It better be good or I might just accidentally do something I shouldn’t.” I gently took Maria’s fingers into my hand and caressed them.

“You are crazy!” Maria tried to pull her hand back, but I held it firm and began bending her index finger back to the top of her hand. “Ow! Stop! I am sorry! I didn’t mean that! I will tell you! I am sure you will want to know this! But you have to promise me not to cut my allowance off! I can’t live off a few hundred a month!”

“Hmmm… so you want your allowance, but what do you have that is worth that amount? As long as what you tell me is worth it, I might be willing to let you have some extra money.” I sat up and let her go. It was not like she could escape me.

I watched as she quickly got up and held her hand. The fear and hate in her eyes was very pleasing. “When I was younger I over heard something when I walked past Father’s study. Something about your mother. Mother and Father were talking and I heard that your mother’s death was not an accident.”

I furrowed my brow. I had a feeling this was the case, but I never had any proof. I will need to look into this. “And why are you so willing to tell me? Just for a few measly dollars, you would throw your own parents under the bus?”

“You don’t understand. I have to keep my image up. I hate you don’t get me wrong. Now that you are in charge of the money and I can only get money from Father, I can only come to you with this.” I raised an eyebrow. Was her image more important than her parents? How stupid was this girl? How stupid was I in my previous life!?

I felt ashamed at my previous self for being so stupid. How could I have been tricked by such an idiot? This girl just used her biggest trump card against me all for a few bucks. Sadly for her, we never agreed upon an amount. I guess I can give her a ten-dollar allowance.

“Alright, get out of here before you are found out. You will get your allowance at the end of the month.” I wanted to relax. Dealing with so many idiots in a single day made me lose a few brain cells.

Maria did not say a word as she left the room. In fact, she left so fast that one would think her pants were on fire. “Maybe she will be more useful than I thought.”

If I can use Maria’s stupidity and lure in her with money I can probably make her fight her own family. It would be very much amusing to see her clawing at Ryan or her mother for a few green bills.

“I guess if I want her to be a knife, I will need to show her a bit of hope.” I would give her a quarter of what she used to get, and every time she does something for me, I will give her a bit more. A carrot on a stick approach.

Feeling a bit better, I decided to go to the kitchen. I had not hired any new staff yet, so the sous chef was taking care of things. When I walked into the kitchen, he politely greeted me. “Young Miss.”

“Your name is Arron, right?” This young man was in his late twenties, but from what I remember, he was the only one nice to me in my previous life. He would sometimes sneak me some extra food when he could. He was honest, which was good.

“Yes, Miss. Is there anything you would like to eat I can have it ready soon.”

“No. I wanted to ask you, while it is just you here…” I walked close and whispered: “Who are you loyal to?”

I looked directly into his eyes. He did not avert his gaze at all. “You, Miss.”

“Good. Make sure all food from the Thatchers is of their standing. Use normal grocery meat. There is no need to use the expensive meat from the butchers to feed a family of freeloaders. As a matter of fact, can you do me a favor?” I good idea just came to mind.

“What can I do for you, Miss?”

“I want you to bleed out all the meat in this fridge and put it into a food container that no one can see into. When your done send it to my room. I have a use for it.”

“I will do it right away, Miss. But what about the meat?” While there was confusion in his eyes, he still did not ask more than he should.

“You can cook it for the staff. Or feed it to the stray dogs. But none of it will be going to the Thatchers. I have already fed them enough over the past ten years.”