CHAPTER 61

I headed to the kitchen in search of Halley but saw a chef preparing meals. I stopped in my tracks. 'Good morning, Mrs. Hollen. I'll have breakfast ready for you in one minute,' he said cheerfully with a smile. 'Thank you, Chef.' I was rather hungry. Another maid walked past me, greeting me before making her way to the elevator to the third floor to start her cleaning the bedrooms. She had to be new also. I began wondering if Halley had quit because I couldn't find her. I walked back upstairs. 'Emma!' I heard an excited voice call from downstairs. Halley began running up to me, dropping her mop and cleaning tools. She flung herself on me, almost knocking me over. 'You're back! You're actually back!' she hugged me tightly. 'Yes, Hal, I'm here.' 'I'm so happy to see you. I hope you don't ever leave again.' 'I'll try not to,' I said, hugging her back, knowing, in the back of my mind, what my final decision really was. Midday, I took a shower and lie in bed with skimpy clothing on