Chapter 2

I called Mr. Anderson at the agency.

When he answered, I only said one thing: "The housekeeper you sent brought her whole family to live in my house."

Mr. Anderson was silent for two seconds.

"Ms. Vance, please don't get agitated. I'll be right there."

I also called property management.

Twenty minutes later, Mr. Brown from property management arrived with two security guards.

Ten minutes after that, Mr. Anderson arrived.

As soon as he walked in, he saw the group of people in the living room and clearly paused.

But he quickly put on a smile.

"Ms. Vance, there must be some misunderstanding here."

I pointed at the slippers on Carter's feet. "A misunderstanding so deep he's wearing my slippers?"

Then I pointed to the master bedroom. "A misunderstanding so deep they're sleeping in my bed?"

Then I pointed to the balcony. "A misunderstanding so deep my cat's in this condition?"

Mr. Anderson's face stiffened a bit.

Maggie immediately stood up. "Mr. Anderson, you have to speak fairly for me. I was scared living here alone, so I asked my family to come see me. What's the problem?"

Mr. Anderson nodded. "Maggie is quite elderly, and working alone in an unfamiliar environment can be stressful."

I looked at him.

"Your contract says psychological stress allows bringing the whole family?"

Mr. Anderson cleared his throat. "A contract is a contract, but we need a little compassion in real-world situations, don't we?"

"Compassion?"

I flipped to the sixth clause of the contract and shoved the screen in front of his eyes.

"The service provider is prohibited from bringing any unauthorized persons into the owner's residence. Upon a single violation, the owner reserves the right to immediately terminate the contract and demand compensation for damages from the service provider."

Mr. Anderson glanced at it, then smiled. "Ms. Vance, don't be so rigid about this. The most important thing now is to resolve the issue."

I asked, "How do we resolve it?"

He said, "It's really too late tonight. Let Maggie's family stay one night, and I'll arrange for them to move out tomorrow."

I laughed, exasperated.

"Now I'm back in my own home, and I have to give up a night for them?"

Carter chimed in from the side, "If you want to stay, just stay. There are plenty of rooms."

I looked at him. "Where will you sleep?"

"The master bedroom."

"Then where will *I* sleep?"

Carter shrugged. "The guest room works too."

I looked at Mr. Anderson. "Did you hear that?"

Mr. Anderson quickly said, "Carter, say less."

Maggie also said, "Ms. Vance, what difference does it make where you sleep alone? Our family has a child; we can't sleep on the floor."

I asked her, "Did you ask me when you were living in my master bedroom?"

She was stubborn. "I kept it spotless for you."

I walked to the master bedroom doorway.

Their bedding was on the bed, and Maggie's reading glasses were next to the pillow.

There was a half-empty coffee mug on the nightstand, with a dried coffee ring.

My closet door was open.

A row of my clothes was rummaged through.

My pajamas, robe, and scarves had all been moved.

On the vanity, my face cream was all dug out, and two of my lipsticks were missing.

I turned to Mia.

Her eyes flickered. "Why are you looking at me?"

"Who used my cosmetics?"

Mia crossed her arms. "You have so many things; you suspect people just because one or two are missing? Do you have proof?"

Just then, the little boy ran over, holding my tablet. "Mommy, this is out of battery!"

I reached out and took the tablet back.

There was a new crack on the edge of the screen.

I took a deep breath.

A voice in my head kept reminding me: *Don't get physical, don't get yourself into trouble.*

I turned to Mr. Brown from property management. "Property management is now witnessing my demand for these unauthorized persons to leave immediately."

Mr. Brown looked at Maggie, then at me, his expression troubled.

"Ms. Vance, in principle, this is your property, and outsiders certainly shouldn't be staying. But you invited the housekeeper in yourself, and as for how her family entered, it's difficult for us at property management to enforce removal."

"If you can't enforce it, I'll call the police."

At that, Carter immediately raised his voice. "Call the police then! My mom's working for you, who are you trying to scare?"

Maggie began to cry. "I've been slaving away for her here, and in less than twenty days, the first thing she does when she comes back is call the police to kick me out. Mr. Anderson, look at this, who would dare take this job after this?"

I said, "I hired you for eighteen days; today is the sixteenth. You charge over a hundred dollars a day. Did you take care of the cat? Did you clean? You let your whole family move in, and now you're turning it around on me?"

Mr. Anderson quickly intervened. "Ms. Vance, don't be so absolute. The lady didn't mean any harm, she's just having a bit of a tough time right now."

"What kind of tough time?"

Carter sneered. "Our house is being renovated, so we have nowhere to stay temporarily. Your place is empty, and my mom works here. What's wrong with staying for a few days?"

I looked at him.

"So you intended to move in from the start."

Carter realized he'd let something slip and shut his mouth.

Mia, however, wasn't afraid. "We didn't stay for free; my mom's working for you."

I picked up my phone and dialed 911.

Mr. Anderson's face finally changed.

"Ms. Vance, don't involve the police; there's no need."

I looked at him. "Now there is."