Chapter 4 Tara savored her meal when a new presence entered through the door. Stella, unsurprised by Tara's presence, joined Leah, who was still puzzled by Tara's recent behavior. After noticing Stella in the staff dining area, Leah approached her with a warm smile. "Stella, have you finished your work?" Leah inquired. Stella turned and smiled. "Mr. Swain didn't want me to go hungry, so he insisted I come down and eat first." She briefly glanced at Tara, who was quietly finishing her meal.

It was evident that Leah was closer to Stella and that Stella held more influence over the four men. Without delay, Leah offered some flattery. "Mr. Swain is so kind to you, Stella. He doesn't treat me or Tara the same way. The men always seem to look down on us." "If you genuinely care for them, they will eventually see your sincerity," Stella reassured her. Leah nodded eagerly, taking Stella's words to heart. "Thank you, Stella.

I will do my best to earn their trust." Stella offered a gentle smile and walked over to the refrigerator, throwing Tara a meaningful glance from across the dining table as she did so. It was clear that her earlier remarks were not solely directed at Leah but also served as a subtle reminder to Tara of how the men favored her. Tara focused on her meal, hearing every word. She fully understood what Stella meant-the men showered Stella with attention while giving Tara the bare minimum.

As for gaining the men's trust, Tara wanted no part in it. She was just a housekeeper in this villa. Once her contract ended, she would leave without a second thought. What use was their trust to her? However, everyone had their own path. Tara's was different from Stella's or Leah's. The food was delightful, and she had devoured half of it in no time. Nearby, the sound of chair legs scraping against the floor disrupted the silence.

Stella and Leah settled nearby, engaging in conversation without involving Tara. Accustomed to keeping to herself, Tara did not take it personally. People naturally gravitated towards those they were closer to. Upon finishing her meal, she leisurely made her way to the kitchen to wash her dishes. Leah had no intentions of washing her dishes and hoped Tara would do it instead. She hesitated to ask outright, as Tara had always offered before.

By the time Leah entered the kitchen with her dirty plates and utensils, Tara had already cleaned up and loaded everything into the dishwasher. She gave Leah a blank look, then dried her hands with paper towels. Leah stood there for half a minute, and Tara made no move to help with the dishes. "Tara, do you want to know if Mr. Wilhelm has a girlfriend?" Leah asked. Tara had just thrown the paper towels into the trash. She turned to look at Leah, perplexed. "No, I don't.

Why would I care if Shawn Wilhelm is dating someone?" Tara found the question odd. Taken aback by Tara's direct response, Leah was at a loss for words. Tara had always been curious about the men's romantic lives, and now she claimed not to care. Was Tara truly indifferent or just pretending? "If you wash my dishes, I'll put in a good word for you with Mr. Pearson tonight.

Maybe he'll even invite you to his room tomorrow night." Leah was certain Tara would agree upon hearing that, so she held out the dishes with a haughty expression. However, she was not sincere. Jonah held a strong dislike for Tara, and Leah would never truly advocate for her. Glancing at the plates and utensils in Leah's hands, Tara suddenly understood the motive behind Leah's odd question. It was merely a ploy to avoid doing the dishes.

"Don't worry about it," Tara promptly declined before walking past Leah and exiting the kitchen. Leah was astonished. She couldn't believe Tara had refused. Just two days ago, Tara had been attempting to win Jonah over. Did she no longer care? Stella entered the kitchen to find Leah still holding the dishes, staring motionlessly at the doorway. "What's the matter?" Stella inquired.

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Leah snapped out of her thoughts, looking uneasy as she asked, "Stella, doesn't Tara seem quieter than usual today?" Tara had never been talkative, but she often disappeared briefly, only to return drenched in perfume and heavily made-up, never revealing her bare face. However, that day, there was no trace of her usual strong scent. Her natural face was stunningly beautiful, akin to a newly bloomed flower-almost ethereal.

Leah had always known Tara was pretty but had never realized how much her usual makeup had hidden. The thick foundation had subdued her features, and the harsh eyeliners seemed almost comical up close. Yet, even the poorly applied makeup couldn't conceal Tara's natural beauty. Stella didn't detect anything unusual about Tara. "She's probably concerned that Gemma might dismiss her." She understood that if Tara continued acting out, Gemma would eventually let her go.

Hence, lying low seemed like a prudent move. "But..." Leah hesitated. Though she and Stella were on good terms, they weren't close enough for candid conversations. Seeing Stella waiting for her to continue, Leah decided to drop the topic. She refrained from asking if Tara had altered her flirting tactics, fearing that if Stella reported her gossiping to Gemma, she'd be reprimanded. "I'm probably overthinking it," Leah dismissed the issue, shrugging it off.

Stella offered a gentle smile and unexpectedly brought up the incident from two nights ago. "Regarding what transpired with Mr. Pearson that night, I don't believe Tara meant to provoke him." "Stella, stop making excuses for Tara. She was clearly throwing herself at Mr. Pearson. She's much more cunning than she appears. Don't let her innocent face deceive you." Leah felt Stella's trust was misplaced. Tara's advances had been blatant, yet Stella continued to defend her.

When Stella began to speak in Tara's defense, Leah interjected, convinced that Stella had fallen for Tara's facade. "She's the type to use her looks to get what she wants. Be cautious, Stella, or Mr. Swain could be her next target." Leah lowered her voice when mentioning Lance's name, ensuring no one else overheard Stella's feelings for him. While Stella believed Lance wouldn't give someone like Tara a second thought, she feigned concern, furrowing her brow.

"I truly don't think Tara is that sort of person-" Leah's patience wore thin, and she bluntly stated, "Stella, you're too trusting. I'll keep an eye on Mr. Swain to ensure Tara doesn't have any designs on him." This way, Leah could safeguard Stella's interests and earn her gratitude. Though Stella hesitated and her words faltered, she didn't outright refuse Leah's suggestion.

Interpreting this as agreement, Leah engaged Stella in helping with the dishes, playing the role of the supportive friend. As the night darkened, it was Tara's turn to deliver fruit to the four men's rooms. Subsequently, Tara wheeled the serving cart into the elevator, with Leah following, as she was tasked with bringing Jonah his fruit. No words were exchanged in the elevator. Tara planned to stay only until her contract expired, after which she would sever all ties with everyone in the villa.

To Tara, Leah was merely a coworker, and she had no interest in forming any connections, not even casual ones. While Tara wasn't the most observant, she could sense Leah's aversion towards her. Leah, puzzled by Tara's behavior, kept glancing at her. However, Tara never met her gaze, not even when she exited the elevator with the cart. This irked Leah, who believed Tara was putting on airs and up to something. "Tara, come with me to Mr. Pearson's room first," Leah requested.

Leah was certain this was the moment Tara had been waiting for, as everyone in the villa knew of her efforts to win Jonah's affection. Yet, Tara had no intention of obeying Leah. Upon Leah's words, she released the cart. "You take it. I'll deliver this to Mr. Wilhelm first." Grabbing a fruit platter, Tara turned and strode down the right hallway. The second floor was expansive, with Jonah and Shawn's rooms on the right and Lance's and Soren's on the left.