20 A laconic, chatterbox and the cactus

''Why?"

Maxim glanced at her quietly for a few moments before he said, ''There are other people in the house.''

Other people? Diana blinked.

She walked towards the bed and picked up her maxi dress, ''Alright,'' she hesitated for a moment as her gaze landed on the baby who was sleeping peacefully.

''Ivy will keep an eye on her for you,'' Maxim said before he tucked one of his hands inside his pocket and walked out of the room.

Diana was speechless. He could not read minds, could he?

After changing into her dress, Diana walked out of the room and met Ivy in the living room. The woman was cleaning the couch.

Her eyes widened when she noticed the place which looked like it was flipped upside down. It has just been a few minutes but everything was unrecognizable.

There was a huge movie screen kind of TV on the wall and the couch was moved in front of it, there was a coffee table placed there.

There were beautiful paintings at random places on the very same walls which had gathered cobwebs before this.

And there was a 10-seater dining table placed in the grand living room.

The warm lights of the glass chandeliers above made her wonder whether she was hallucinating.

What was this?

Did she miss luxury so much that she was having illusions now?

''Miss Diana, you are here,'' Ivy hopped to her side when she noticed her.

Diana nodded dazedly, ''Call me Diana,'' she paused for a moment before she continued speaking, ''Ivy, what… is this? I… went to my room around half an hour ago. Why does it feel like a typhoon swept by this place but instead of destruction, it did some construction instead?"

Ivy coughed, ''Do you like it though?"

Diana looked around, ''It's…'' she looked for a word but in the end, she settled for, ''…pretty,'' her vocabulary had recoiled in shock.

''We are still working on this place,'' Ivy said, ''Sir recently…cough… moved here so we didn't have the time to organize things.''

''We?" We again? Also, why was she coughing so much? Was it a chronic cough?

''Ah…''

Before Ivy could answer her, Diana heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

She raised her head in the direction and she was greeted by the sight of a 6 feet something man. The person was almost the same height as Maxim. He was dressed in a simple plaid shirt and trousers.

As her gaze roamed over his features, she realized that for a man, he could be called quite beautiful. His features were too perfect. So perfect that it was unnerving.

Diana blinked.

''This is Sir Logan, the butler here…'' Ivy said to her before she looked at the man, ''And she is Miss Diana… uh… the new tenant.''

Diana did not understand why there was a hitch in Ivy's tone every time she said the term 'tenant'. What was so weird about it anyway?

The handsome man approached her, ''Logan Parker,'' he said.

''Diana Chen,'' Diana nodded at him, inwardly stunned that he was a 'Parker'. His facial features… told her that he was Chinese.

There was no doubt so she was shocked when he said his name. He did not look like an American. But maybe, one of his parents was American just like her but the parent with the Chinese gene won just similar to her case.

She shook her head, ''It's nice to meet you.'' Nevertheless, he must be the reason Maxim told her to not roam in a towel. She would have felt dead embarrassed right now if not for his warning.

''Likewise,'' the man said and walked past her calmly.

"..."

''See, this is the 'we' I was talking about. As long as Mr. Logan is around, everything will be perfect. He transformed the whole place in just a few seconds—''

''Ivy,'' Diana interrupted the chatterbox. Was she silent in the bathroom earlier just because she was stunned by her screams? She sighed, ''Can you please keep an eye on the baby? Warner said that you will take care of her while I am taking a shower…''

Ivy nodded enthusiastically, ''Of course, I will. I love munchkins. You know, I was once a nanny to a little boy but that child was a devil incarnate. He stuck two chewing gums in my hair and I had to shave my head completely. I was 20 at that time and I looked so ugly when I was bald. I had to buy a super expensive wig with my two months' salary. I quit that job hmph!" Ivy pouted but her eyes suddenly brightened, ''Also, Miss Diana, you address Sir so intimately. Do you both share a history?" she leaned closer, looking around conspiratorially, ''You can tell me. I won't tell anyone—''

''Ivy, the baby is alone in the room,'' Diana cut her off speechlessly.

''Oh my god, why were you chatting with me then? Miss Diana, how could you be so irresponsible? Did you leave the baby alone to chat with me? I mean, I'd love to talk to you but priorities are priorities,'' Before her words could finish, she whirred past Diana in a blur.

''Chat? Me?" Diana pressed a finger on her chest. Her mouth opened and closed, ''Hah~" she exhaled a deep breath.

The butler seems to be a man of few words. A laconic.

The maid seems to be the leader of the chatterbox cult.

And the house owner…. is a cactus.

Life sure is interesting for us, Angel. Diana thought, mentally poking the baby.