A Brief Tour and Your First Assignment

You pass Sophia again as your boss takes you through the study and back into the hallway. The asian woman only gives you a cursory glance as you pass, before turning back to her TV show.

Walking down the hall, the Madam says "The manor is too big to cover in one tour. You would not be able to retain so much new information. So, I will be introducing areas to you as they become relevant, understood?"

"Yes, Madam."

"Good." As she talks she leads you into another servant's stair, both of you struggling to squeeze in. "There are four wings of the house. The East Wing, West Wing, Parler Wing, and where we just were, the Resident Wing. You will, for the most part, be assigned to the Resident Wing, which is comprised of the family's bedrooms, dining area, and offices. Are you following so far?"

You exit the staircase and re-enter a labyrinth of hallways. "I-I believe so, Madam!"

"Good. Here we are." She stops in front of a huge painting which is, you assume, a family portrait. The Master is in the center, his arm wrapped around a blonde woman. Four kids sit in front of them. "This is the Carlile Family, whom we serve. This was painted two years ago but you should still be able to recognize everyone."

She points to the Master. "This is Master Brandon Carlile, the head of the household. His word is held higher than anyone else's. Never, ever disobey one of his orders, even if prompted by a member of his family."

She moves her finger to the blonde woman next to him. While in her forties, she still has an amazing glow of youth. In the painting, she is wearing a beautiful green dress which accentuates her curves. "This is his wife, Mistress Angelica Carlile. Her word is second in this Manor and follows the same rules as the Master. She should not give you much trouble, though sometimes she likes to micromanage the help."

She then goes to the oldest child. He looks like a typical rich frat boy, a little too well put together and with a smug look of superiority on his face. "This is Master Benjamin. He is next in line to control Carlile Industries and is being groomed for leadership by his father. As such, he is to be treated with the utmost respect, even if he does not return it..."

Next is the oldest daughter. She looks like a model, with high cheekbones and an Instagram-worthy face. "Then we have Mistress Kelly. She is an avid socialite and on most days is either entertaining guests or being entertained herself. She likes her orders fulfilled quickly and above all else silently."

"Finally, we have the twins, though they are nothing alike. They are both eighteen and still in high school." She goes to the first twin, a bookish girl. While still very pretty, her face is rounder and her eyes are hidden by thick prescription glasses. "This is Mistress Sarah. She is pretty quiet and rarely orders the staff around, preferring to get things herself. She spends most of her time in her room so you probably won't see her too often."

Lastly, she points to the second twin. Unlike the rest of the family, his hair is barely styled at all and he looks angry to even be there. "This is Master Maxwell. He is... a more troubled child. He is two grades behind where he should be and has been kicked out of six boarding schools. He will be arriving tomorrow."

As you try and process all of this information, Olivia is already setting off down another hallway. As you scramble after her, you hear her say "What's important is all of these people are above you. If they ask you to jump, you ask how high, alright?"

"Yes, Madam."

"Good." She stops you in a long corridor with huge windows covering one wall. These overlook a beautiful garden that occupies most of the backyard. Against that opposite wall are a plethora of sculptures and other luxurious room decorations. The floor is polished marble with a red carpet running down the middle. "This is a viewing hallway for the garden. We will be hosting an event this Friday and this needs to be spotless. Your first task will be to scrub these floors twice over."

"Y-Yes, Madam, but..." You look around confused. "Well, where are the supplies?"

"Very good question. Pay attention!" Walking over to the wall, she points out a doorknob protruding from the wood, an ornate C emblazoned on it. "Keep an eye out for knobs with this symbol. They are pretty well disguised so look carefully." Turning it, she gives it a pull. The wall pulls back to reveal a secret closet filled with cleaning supplies. "These are servant's closets and they are scattered throughout the house. If you ever need anything, you are free to access them."

Reaching into the closet, she uses a faucet to fill a bucket of water. Also producing some soap and a brush, she sets all of the items at your feet. "I will be back at lunchtime to retrieve you. If you are not done by then, you can consider your employment terminated. Any questions?"

"N-N-No, Madam," you stammer, the threat scaring you straight. You cannot imagine getting fired now, after giving the Master your mouth.

"Good. I have other duties to attend to." Without another word, she turns around and disappears around a corner, leaving you alone in this house. Sighing, you get on your hands and knees and start scrubbing.