Chapter 3

The next morning, before I left for work, I pointed to the white, dome-shaped device in the living room corner and instructed Brenda.

"Brenda, this is the baby monitor I installed last night. I can check on the baby anytime, so please don't touch it."

Brenda rolled her eyes.

"What do you need a monitor for? Are you afraid I'll abuse your son? That's completely pointless!"

I ignored her comment.

"Brenda, don't forget to fill out the baby's daily record sheet. I'll check it when I get home from work."

With that, I opened the door and left, heading straight to the office.

At 10 AM, I was in a meeting, and during a break, I opened the monitoring app on my phone.

On the screen, the baby in the crib was crying loudly, kicking his arms and legs.

Brenda wasn't nearby.

The scene shifted, and three unfamiliar middle-aged women were sitting on the living room sofa.

Brenda threw down a pair of cards, then shouted towards the crib.

"What are you howling about, you little terror!"

I immediately dialed the home phone.

It rang over ten times before Brenda's impatient voice answered.

"Who is it? Are you trying to rush me to my grave?!"

"Brenda, it's me."

"Clause four of the contract states that bringing outsiders into the house is strictly prohibited during working hours, and engaging in recreational activities is also not allowed."

"You violated the rules today. According to the penalty details in the contract addendum, five hundred dollars will be deducted from your salary this month."

There was a second of silence on the other end, followed by Brenda's furious curses.

"Audrey, you little hussy! How dare you deduct my money?"

"What's wrong with having a few friends over? You really treat me like your servant!"

I held the phone away from my ear, waiting for her to finish cursing before bringing it back.

"Brenda, you signed that contract yourself."

"I've saved the security footage. If you continue playing cards, your afternoon pay will also be deducted."

With that, I hung up.

When I got home from work that evening, as soon as I pushed open the door, a throw pillow flew at me.

I dodged it.

Brenda was sitting on the floor, slapping her thighs, sobbing uncontrollably.

"I can't live like this! I work so hard taking care of your child, and this vicious woman monitors me and deducts my pay!"

Kevin crouched beside her, anxiously handing her tissues.

Seeing me enter, Kevin stood up and pointed a finger at me.

"Audrey, you're going too far! How can you treat an elder like this?"

I changed into my slippers, walked to the table, and picked up the blank baby's daily record sheet.

"How many ounces of milk did the baby have today? How many bowel movements? What was his temperature?"

I looked at Kevin and slapped the record sheet against his chest.

"She's taking a $1,500 salary from me, and she hasn't even done her most basic job. I'm deducting $500 for breach of contract. How is that going too far?"

Brenda scrambled up from the floor, rushed to me, and pointed her finger at my face, cursing loudly.

"You heartless wretch! Kevin makes so much money every month, how dare you withhold my hard-earned pay!"

She became more agitated as she cursed, flailing her arms in the air.

Suddenly, her palm landed heavily on my left cheek.

The living room fell silent.

I felt a burning sting on my cheek.

Kevin was terrified and quickly pulled Brenda back.

"What are you doing? Why did you hit her?!"

Brenda's eyes darted around, then she stuck out her neck defiantly.

"I... I didn't mean to! Why was she standing so close to me?!"

I calmly looked at Brenda, pulled out my phone from my pocket, and turned on the recording function.

"Brenda, that slap you just gave me, it was an accident, right?"

Brenda, seeing that I wasn't angry, became bolder.

"Yes! It was an accident! What's wrong with an elder teaching a younger person a lesson, hitting you once?"

I nodded and pressed the save button.

"Alright, I've noted that."

I turned and walked into the nursery, picking up the baby, whose cries had become hoarse.

Kevin followed me, his voice pleading.

"Audrey, Brenda didn't mean to. Please don't hold the contract over her head. Just give her the five hundred dollars back, I'm begging you."

I prepared formula for the baby, answering without looking up.

"Kevin, rules are rules."

"Once you break one, that contract becomes a piece of trash."