Chapter 4

I couldn't help but smile, almost laughing out loud.

Trevor was sneaking extra dollars into my paycheck.

I wished he could keep it coming. I could never have too much money.

Fido looked like the ultimate innocent, soft, adorable, and easy to push around, always wagging his tail and begging for attention.

But in truth, he was the sharpest little detective in the house, the mansion's own Sherlock Holmes.

He noticed everything: who was slacking off, playing tricks, and sneaking things away. He kept it all in his mind, waiting for the right moment to expose them.

Jemma Hale, the maid, had been with the Wade family for five years. She always looked honest and hardworking, smiling at everyone she met.

But every day, when no one was watching, she'd sneak imported fruits from the Wade family into her bag.

From cherries to pineberries, from finger limes to dragon fruit, she made sure to grab a little bit of everything.

She thought she was getting away with it, smooth as butter.

But Fido saw it all.

Fido: [Thief! She's stealing fruit again. Yesterday, it was oranges. The day before that, kiwis. She's got a big pocket in her bag for fruit. That's bad.]

I didn't call Jemma out right then and there. I figured I'd let her keep her dignity one last time.

After all, in the world of the rich, I would never burn all my bridges, even though odds were, I'd never see her again anyway.

That night, Jemma was at it again, slipping fruit into her bag with the smooth moves of a seasoned pro.

Fido suddenly lunged, grabbing her bag in his teeth and barking like crazy, so loud that it felt like he might blow the roof off.

Bobby sprang into action, too, snatching the bag away with one swift paw.

Fruit went rolling everywhere: apples, oranges, kiwis, and even half a dragon fruit. The scene was wild, kind of a spectacle.

Trevor pushed open the door at that moment, with the butler and a few servants following close behind.

The whole room fell silent, like someone had hit the mute button.

Jemma's face went sickly green as she stammered, "I... I was taking a few fruits. Mr. Wade has so many. It's not like he'll miss them. It's really not a big deal."

I kept my voice steady, not a hint of harshness. "The Wade family isn't short on fruit, but we don't keep people who can't keep their hands clean.

"Jemma, you've worked here five years, and your salary's not small. Why bother?"

Jemma was fired on the spot and slunk out, not daring to pick up her bag full of stolen fruit.

After that, nobody in the Wade family dared to pull any tricks again.

Everyone looked at me with awe and respect, and the whispers started flying behind my back.

"Ms. Jefferson is something else. Even the pets are ratting people out now."

"With her here, this place is locked down tight. No mischief can hide from her."

"I heard she can understand what animals are saying. Is that for real?"

"Who knows? But don't mess with her. Her pets will rat you out in a heartbeat."

I stood in the sunlight, feeling a surge of confidence, totally in control.

Obviously, I was a master of animal talk at full level, and I had two ace assistants at my side.

One was my royal cat Bobby, and the other was my trusty dog detective Fido.

No one dared mess with me.

Over the weekend, the Wade family threw a private party.

The city's socialites and wealthy wives packed the place, and every single one of them was laser-focused on Bobby and Fido.

After all, in the high society crowd, if one could charm Trevor's pets, it meant he would win Trevor over.

Everyone knew that was the unspoken rule in this circle.

The socialites swarmed in, all desperate to pet, cuddle, and score some points, their smiles outshining the flowers in the room.

But reality hit different.

Bobby hissed at anyone who dared get close, his face practically shouting, "Back off!"

Fido stayed as far away as possible, wouldn't let anyone near him, and ended up hiding under the couch, playing dead.

"Mr. Wade's pets are super chill and standoffish."

"You can't even get near them. My ragdoll's a total sweetheart. She loves attention and cuddles."

"I heard even the professional pet trainers can't handle them. No one lasts more than a minute before bailing."

And then, to my surprise, I spotted Mandy in the crowd.

She was clinging to some nouveau riche guy, chin held high, strutting around like she owned the place, introducing herself to everyone as "Mr. Pruitt's personal assistant."

When she saw me, her eyes flashed with pure venom.

"Well, well, isn't that Ms. Jefferson?" Mandy said, her voice thick with sarcasm as she strolled over. "Heard you're working as a pet trainer for the Wade family now? Talk about luck."

The people nearby immediately perked up. "Ms. Hurst, you know her?"

Mandy gave a dismissive laugh. "Of course, I do. We used to work together for the Wade family.

"But she got lucky, catching Bobby and Fido on a good day. If it were my dog, she wouldn't stand a chance."

She shot me a look brimming with challenge and disdain. "Ms. Jefferson, aren't you supposed to be so capable?

"With all these people here, why don't you show off a little? Let everyone see if you've got skills, or if you're riding a lucky streak."

All eyes locked onto me, full of curiosity and drama. Everyone was waiting for me to embarrass myself.

I curved my lips into a confident smirk.

The real show was getting started.

I didn't rush over. Instead, I raised my hand and softly clapped twice.

The next second, Bobby jumped down from Trevor's arms, gliding through the crowd with that signature feline grace, making a beeline straight for me.