“Fine. Come in.” said George, giving into Georgia’s whims as he used to. He, like the rest of the servants, had been dreading the day she returned home from overseas and it seemed he wasn’t wrong. Georgia had always been a thick-headed sister of his and as much as he loved her, he couldn’t tolerate her at all. She had all the brains, but none of the EQ. She had been pushing everyone off the edge as soon as she had returned, and it seemed relentless.

Malee came in as instructed and stood by the wall as the twins continued their argument.

“What do you think of George?” asked Georgia to Malee, suddenly tuning her head towards her.

“Huh?” was the only response Malee could mutter.

“He is weak and pathetic, isn’t he? He needs to take charge of things.” continued Georgia.

“I am not doing such things, Georgia. And stop involving the rest in your arguments,” shouted back George.

Just as they stared at one another and Malee was thinking if she should go out and call Mary, there was a knock on the door.

“George, open the door. It’s me.” said a man’s voice whom Malee recognised as the art professor. Malee suddenly remembered she was told to fetch the professor in Mary’s absence, but she had forgotten to do so after witnessing the fight between George and his sister.

Malee hurried towards the door to open it and faced the professor who was carrying the large leather bag. She took the bag in shame and placed it on the table as the professor sat down at the chair by the table. He took a handkerchief to wipe off the sweat from his forehead, but paused after seeing a familiar face staring at him.

“Oh, It’s you Georgia. You are back.”

“Hi professor. Still doing fine?” replied Georgia nonchalantly before going back into the staring contest with her brother.

The professor sighed at them and turned to Malee. “Dear, could you get me a beer?”

Malee bowed and left the room to the main kitchen for the beer and a glass. She returned to the room and found the twins were no longer at each other’s throat but sitting down, with their faces turned away from each other. The professor took the beer and the glasses from Malee and signalled her to sit down at a nearest chair.

“You two are no longer the little kids. Why are you still at it?” asked the professor while taking his glasses off to clean them with a piece of wet tissue from the pocket. He looked at the two children in front of him and smiled He had known the twins for a long time and they had not lost their competitiveness over the years. They would fight incessantly over small issues and only Mary could separate them, not even their step-mother.

“Oh, yes. Where is Mary?” asked the professor, noticing that there was one person missing from the room.

“She is preparing the room for George’s finance.” replied Georgia sharply. George’s face blacked at the reply, but only the presence of the professor stopped him from shouting at Georgia. She could be so insensitive at times.

“Really? Congratulation George.” said the professor.

“She is not MY finance. I have not even seen her yet.” argued George.

“You would like her, George. She is your type. Beautiful. Smart. Green blood. And she would listen to you.” smiled Georgia.

George stood up at the last sentence and the professor had to push him back to the chair before another fight broke out between them. He wondered if there would even be an art lesson or he would have to spend the whole time babysitting the twins.

To his ultimate relief, the door opened, and it was Mary. She must have completed the preparation for the room. The professor let out the air of relief and picked up the glass of beer. The twins looked at Mary and sat upright. Mary was another of their many servants, but their mother entrusted them with her and they wouldn’t want to upset their mother.

Mary gave a quick sighed at two of them sulking and went to the professor.

“Has the lesson started professor? Need food with drink?” asked Mary before turning to Malee. “Malee, there is a plate of cakes in the mini-fridge. Can you bring it out?”

Malee nodded and went over to the fridge for the plate and placed it on the table besides the beer glass. She too was greatly relieved to see Mary, as otherwise she wouldn’t know how to handle the two of them in front of her. So the lesson was about to start as scheduled.