Chapter 6. Money owns the world.

"That has nothing to do with it," answered one of the girls rolling her eyes at Ana, "That idiot could barely make it to the mansion yesterday. Didn't you hear Mr. Gibran? It seemed someone threw her off the bike or something last night. She probably didn't even open the door for Martha in the morning..."

"B-but..."

"Don't talk stupid things anymore, if that idiot had anything to do with it, the cameras would have caught her and there is nothing."

"Isn't she good with computers? Maybe she did something to…"

"Ana, shut up, you're just talking nonsense, do you think someone can break into the mansion's security system just like that?"

Another of the maids laughed as well, "That idiot may be good with computers, but she doesn't have the skills nor the guts to hack into the Hart Mansion's security system, she is just a …"

At that moment, they heard the sound of steps nearing and a strict-looking woman with glasses appeared in the living room. Behind her walked the other employees of the mansion.

"Close the doors, quickly."

They all obeyed and some employees stood guard by the doors. 

Mrs. Roberts, the housekeeper of the mansion and the hidden keeper of the card, looked at the many employees in the living room, counting them and identifying them quickly. She had made them gather in secret to explain what would happen the following days. Particularly with the ongoing investigation and Martha's revenue share.

In her hands was the card that Mr. Hart had left after his wedding to his disgraceful wife one year ago. However, Mrs. Roberts had never given it to Eva. Rather, Eva was never informed that Mr. Hart had left her a card for her personal expenses and as she never asked, no one told her.

Now everyone shared the money in the card, after all, that woman didn't say anything, and Mr. Hart didn't ask about it. It was an extraordinary opportunity they couldn't let go of.

Mrs. Roberts looked at everyone with her beady black eyes and sighed. "Martha died this morning, the officers are going to investigate this matter for a few more days. If they ask you something, help them with whatever they need. Don't make any stupid comments to get them suspicious. Do you understand?"

Everyone nodded quickly.

"At the moment, they don't know what kind of animal attacked her, everything points to a bear hiding in the forest. So, for now, no one can leave the perimeter of the mansion, not even the gardens. No visits to the lake, nor to the cabin in the woods."

Many frowned. Sometimes they would go there to the cabin to spend a night or two with their friends or family.

"As for the commission that was due to Martha," everyone knew what they called the commission, the share they received from Eva's card. It was like their keyword. "We will give it to her family this month to help with the funeral, next month, we will share it among all of us proportionally."

The servants nodded and smiled mischievously without an ounce of remorse. A little more money wouldn't hurt and Eva would never know. Why not use that golden opportunity?

"And this is all we will say about this situation. Understood?"

They all nodded and returned to their duties. However, a few seconds later, Ana approached Mrs. Roberts alone.

"What?" Mrs. Robert frowned looking at the plain girl before her. 

"Auntie, about Martha... I told Martha to go see Miss Eva this morning when you asked to speak to her."

"I told you to go, not her."

"I-I know, but I was…I was attending to other duties."

Mrs. Roberts sighed and shook her head from side to side. Her niece was a good-for-nothing, she didn't do her duties in the house correctly, and she didn't know how to control the servants, not even the idiot Eva.

"But… but Martha didn't come back after she met with Miss Reed."

"Are you sure she went to see her?"

"I asked her this morning… she should have seen her."

"But you're not sure if she really went, and you're implying that Eva had something to do with what happened to her, right?"

Ana nodded fearfully. "Yeah…something must have happened. It… It's strange…"

Mrs. Robert suddenly grabbed her by the hair and ushered her into the first-floor studio. "I'll tell you this just once, don't mess with that woman. We can insult her, and steal her card, but if the policemen investigate that woman, they will find out what we've done. The Hart family may hate her, but they're not stupid enough to let servants steal money from them… Do you understand?"

Anne nodded quickly with tears in her eyes. She and her family had made a lot of money from the commissions. She couldn't let that money get out of hand.

"I'm sorry, aunt, I won't say anything more."

Mrs. Roberts released her angrily. If it wasn't for her brother begging her to give his stupid good-for-nothing daughter a job, she wouldn't have her in the Mansion. That stupid Ana only knew how to flirt with the other servants and gossip with the maids. Everyone treated her like an idiot too.

"Fine, get out of here" she sighed and flopped down on the couch. "Bring me a cup of tea and some biscuits."

"Yes, aunt, right away."

Ana closed the door behind her and went straight to the kitchen. As she passed the main stairways, she looked at the hallway on the second floor. 

She promised herself to investigate later. Something had definitely happened, and her innate curiosity would not let her rest or sleep until she found out. Nothing bad would have if she had been cautious and didn't talk to the police, right?

***

On the other hand, Eva was happier than ever.

"Sun! Life!" She climbed to the top of a building and took a deep breath. She didn't know what had happened, or how she revived, but when the hunters' seal was about to lock her up in a deep darkness, something magical saved her from an eternity of torment.

It didn't matter, she was back, and now she would live as she wished in this new world. No ties to any clan or family, no love and mercy for those vile creatures called human beings. She will live however she wants. 

"What am I going to do first?"

She looked at her clothes, she had a small suitcase with her, with all her possessions. However, as soon as she went out, she realized that she had not a penny in her wallet and not a dollar in her bank account.

"Money... even in this age," she sighed wearily but with a light of determination in her bright green eyes, "money owns the world and those who have it... live well... I must get money."