Burning The House Of Cards: taking revenge on my billionaire family
Chapter 86 - 85. Invitation

Chapter 86: Chapter 85. Invitation

The girl’s name was Mary--although rather than having a lamb, she seemed like the lamb herself; innocent, a little bit naive, but following instructions well. Like a lamb to a shepherd.

Perhaps that was why the house was willing to hire her. It seemed like the house manager was finally feeling the shortage of workers after Sarah fired several employees last month.

The girl didn’t question things much, which was why she was obediently going to the annex without finding out more. It was rather worrying, but she was also perfect. A clean slate, not yet pulled to any side.

While they could tap into the security footage around the house, there were still a lot of places without any CCTV access. Isolating themselves in the annex, Sarah and Hajin couldn’t really find out what happened behind the unsupervised parts of the house.

And if they wanted to spy around, acquiring a house staff was the best option. The gossip circulating between the employees was not to be trifled with.

Certainly, that kind of task--listening as much as she could--was something even an innocent little lamb could do.

And, as if it were fate, she had something in common with Sarah and Hajin. Something they could exploit, even if it sounded cruel.

At least, she looked happy at the end of it.

But she looked too happy, so Hajin spent quite some time teaching her how to behave. She needed to at least act flustered or sad when she returned, after all--as if she was just getting punished. The bodyguard even told her to watch the saddest movie she knew to set her mood again, preventing her from smiling in relief for getting her debilitating debt erased.

"If you can’t do your job right, we can reinstate your debt anytime," Hajin warned the girl, and it put her anxiety back better than the sad movie ever could. She was reminded once again that Hajin was someone who could get her detailed information in minutes.

Yes. It was not a charity. It was a down payment to ensure her loyalty, and she was still very much on probation. With a serious nod, the girl returned with slumped shoulders and bowed head. Was it acting, or was it real? Who knows.

"Do you think we can trust her?" Sarah asked the bodyguard after the poor lamb returned to the main house with a pitiful gait.

"That remained to be seen," Hajin said, sighing deeply as he recalled the short teaching session that left him unsatisfied and annoyed.

In the end, she succumbed to the threat instead of his teaching.

"But it doesn’t seem like she was sent by someone," Hajin continued. "At least, so far."

It was only an investigation done in a short time, so new things might pop up in the future. But she did come through a normal channel, with an interview and everything. Three other people were hired along with her, thanks to Sarah’s tantrum. Her recommendation came from a rather reputable agent, who didn’t have a lot of ties with the family.

What convinced them the most, however, was where her mother was hospitalized.

"This is Yonghwa’s hospital, right?"

"Yes," Hajin replied before pausing for a bit, adding in a mutter. "I should tell them to up the security."

Sarah chuckled, flipping through the files Hajin had compiled on the tablet. If someone were using Mary’s mother as leverage--like them--there was a high chance the hospital would be moved. Seeing that the debt hadn’t been paid yet, it also didn’t seem like she received any payment from anyone.

"She wouldn’t talk, would she?" Sarah glanced at the bodyguard.

"Doesn’t seem so," Hajin nodded. He knew firsthand how much gratitude he felt for someone who kept his mother alive. "If it’s not for gratitude, she knew what we are capable of. Hopefully, it scared her enough."

That was why they were so open about knowing her information earlier. A power play to make the little lamb dance on their palm.

Sarah didn’t feel guilty about using the girl, however. If Mary did her job well, Sarah wouldn’t let her burn with the other staff while she set the house on fire in the future.

"Well, let’s just see," Sarah put the tablet away and slouched down on the couch. She had been feeling more relaxed lately, and her old habit had started to fade--much to Hajin’s delight. "It’ll be good if she can find out something about the third wife and the chairman’s brother, but at the very least, I want her to find out who was siding with whom between the staff members."

"I’ll make sure she earns her keep," Hajin nodded solemnly.

Sarah glanced at the man and chuckled lightly. "Don’t bully her too much."

"I’m doing just enough," Hajin pursed his lips, plopping to the ground beside his master’s couch.

Sarah pressed her lips to stifle a laugh, knowing full well why the big puppy was sulking. He was just a bout to carry his princess to the bedroom, after all. But the mood had shifted with Mary’s appearance, and Sarah also wasn’t that eager anymore.

That being said, the man showed enough patience not to immediately ask her for continuation. It was rather commendable, so Sarah granted the sulking puppy a head pat as a reward as she lay down on the couch, exhaling slowly.

It was quite enjoyable seeing the grumpy expression turned into one of delight. He truly looked like a big puppy when he was leaning into her touch and practically nuzzling her palm.

Sarah held back from laughing, knowing it would excite the puppy more. "Speaking about spying, has she contacted you this far?" she asked after stroking the fluffy black hair for a minute.

"You mean your aunt, Master?" Hajin looked at the girl in disappointment that the patting session had ended. "She did, but only to say we’ll see each other at Mirae’s party."

"Huh..." Sarah tilted her head. "Why does she talk as if you won’t be with me?"

"Maybe because she doesn’t think you’ll have the invitation? She probably plans to come and take me with her, leaving you here."

"Aha!"

Sarah laughed this time. Ah...of course they would think that. Mirae’s founding party was some sort of ’charity’ event, where people would need to buy a very, very expensive invitation to attend--the money, in which, would be donated to the foundation. Along with the result of an art auction held a week before the party, the total amount would be announced as the highlight of the party, along with the top donors.

What a way to make the wealthy people put in a lot of money as a show off.

At least it was put to good use.

Of course, some invitation was given out for free--such as for politicians and those regarded as national treasures. The rest of the invitation, however, must be purchased. To avoid much bloodbath, each prominent family was provided with several invitations, to which they could purchase.

If they wanted to make an additional purchase, however, they would need to compete in an auction where the price could be doubled or tripled the initial one.

Her father most likely received two, each with a plus one. One would be given to the successor, and the plus one would be her mother. Sarah had no idea who the chairman would bring, but it wouldn’t be Sarah, for sure. And while her allowance was generous, it was nowhere near enough to purchase an invitation in the auction.

Thus, it was obvious that people would think she wouldn’t get it.

Funnily enough, Sarah’s invitation was meant for Yonghwa, the host’s very own lover, who was still away somewhere.

"Hmm...then, the other might think so too," Sarah tapped her fingers in contemplation. "In that case, we should get away from the house before the party--at least for a few days."

"Oh?" the grey eyes lit up excitedly.

"I told you not to read into it too much," Sarah said, hitting the black hair lightly.

"Let a man dream, Master."

She rolled her eyes in response and twirled her red hair. "I need to retouch my hair and look for some clothes for the event," she said, musing about the list of stuff she still had to do. "Let’s visit my land while at it."

Hajin arched his brow. "Wouldn’t the family get suspicious?"

"Why would they?" Sarah smirked. "I’m just going to see if what my blind date bragged about the other day is true."

Hajin clicked his tongue at the mention of the blind date, even while knowing Sarah had no intention of doing anything but using the man. It soured his mood, but he wasn’t the only one whose day was ruined.

For not long after, the house manager came to tell Sarah that the chairman had invited her to play golf the next day.

That, in itself, was annoying enough. She used to play because she was told to during her school day--including stuff like horse-riding and archery, for some reason. But while she didn’t hate the game itself, the event always brought her the memory of being surrounded by executives while being told she had to do this and to do that.

The chairman, evidently, never played golf without at least one executive accompanying him.

Sarah just didn’t expect that the one accompanying him this time would be her nemesis.

Director Seo Joseph.

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