Chapter 2. Maid's Desk station 

Finally I got a job. Anita, the senior assistant of this house, drive me to Mr. Kusuma Adijaya's house. On the way, Anita explained about him. He is the eldest son of Great Madame, and has one daughter named Amelia Adijaya. His daughter is already in the second grade of junior high school. My job is to take care of the house from A to Z and once a week Anita will come to check everything in written reports. Including cooking, shopping, tidying up the house, until financial reports.

"Sorry Ms. Anita, there's a lot of work. Am I there alone?"

"Yes Ma’am you are who responsible with all. There is Pak Maman as a driver and Bik Inah as his wife who will help. There are three security guards, I have arranged the schedule, you can rearrange later. ”, Anita explained.

"This is a book that I have recap about Mr. Kusuma and Miss Amelia's schedules, It also explains here what they like and what to avoid. It's complete. There's also my telephone number where you can be contacted if you have to. Do you have any questions ma’am?"

She put a thick book on my lap. Rich people, looking for maid like this. No wonder they can't get employees for months. Just being trained is scary.

"Miss Anita, I want to ask you something, where is Mr. Kusuma's wife? Is she busy too?" I asked her surprised, because all the job desc seemed to be a wife's job, not a maid's job. Moreover, there is  also Bik Inah there.

 "Oh, I forgot to tell you. Mr. Kusuma is a widower. His wife died when Amelia was 5 years old. There is another special assignment also, which is to pay attention to Miss Amelia. She is already a teenager, Great Madame ordered to take care of her needs. Are you ready, ma'am?" Anita said, confirming my seriousness.

"Yes I am ready."

*

The car has entered the house which has a high gate, barely visible by people standing from outside. Classic Roman design house, looks luxurious with expensive accessories here and there. Ancient jars, crystal chandeliers and decorative sculptures that I know are expensive.

"Come on in, Miss Rani. It's still quiet at home. Amelia has full day school, Mr. Kusuma is at the office until late in the afternoon, so only Bik Inah is at home."

"In this big house, are they just  two alone? But Bik Inah lives here, right?"

"Bik Inah and Pak Maman are husband and wife, they live separately in the back of this house. This is your room, and this is Amelia's room, at the end near the garden of  Mr. Kusuma's office room. Mr. Kusuma's room is upstairs."

My room quite big, air conditioned and had a bathtub in it. Very comfortable. It's too luxurious for a maid's room. It is located adjacent to a room a miss of this house. Because of the special job, I had to get close to her.

Anita took me around the house. This two-storey house is very spacious and luxurious. I have to remember it clearly, for fear of getting lost. After she introduced me to Bik Inah and Pak Maman, we went to the room near the kitchen.

"Thi s is your work space Mrs. Rani. The files are all on the computer. The doc files are also in this folder. Sorry it's a bit messy, I didn't have time to tidy it up because I had to go back and forth to the Great Madame house," explained Anita at length.

This room is like an office. There is a desk station with a computer on it. Several folders are on the shelves neatly lined up. I'm a maid, but how come it's like an office job. A maid who has a desk workspace.

‘The important thing, the salary is quite big!’ My smile widens.

"Miss Rani, I have explained everything. Please find out for yourself. This is a cell phone for work, and there is a safe for cash and this is the ATM card. Balances can be checked on internet banking or mobile banking, the data is here. Is there any question Ma’am?"

"I understand. Yes, I can," I replied, nodding firmly.

My experience  as a restaurant manager, managing the finances of my ex-hubby company, and of course as a housewife, I'm sure I can do it.

"That's fine then. You have one week to ask me questions. I'm going on leave to get married," said Anita, blushing. She is still young, around 25 years old, it's great that she can take care of the great madame house and Mr. Kusuma's house even temporarily.

"So, all the needs of this house are becoming your responsibility Mrs. Rani, including taking care of all the needs of Mr. and Ms. Amelia, I have detailed and explained it in the file earlier. If there is no question, I'll excuse you to go back."

Anita nodded and excused me to go back  politely. I'm left here alone, Bik Inah is still behind washing clothes and Pak Maman tidying up the garden in front.

I returned to my desk to learn the files on the computer. There was Rp. 8,659,000 in cash, and a balance in the account of Rp. 35,879,453. Then I checked it with the previous report. So, I have to manage everything for household purposes. No wonder, the Great Madame said that you have to be honest because of this. Folder by folder I read and understood correctly. Ah, this is Hard work for a maid, and deserves high salary.

Already in the afternoon, with the help from Bik Inah I prepared food. According to the menu schedule: rendang, chicken opor, and cah kangkung. The menu already has a recipe to follow, I just modified it a little. Rendang is added with coconut flour, so it tastes savoury and drier.

Looks like all the side dishes are heavy. I checked in the fridge, there is sea fish, I think it's nice when I make grilled pepes -steamed fish with banana leaf and grilled-. I have my own recipe, sweet, sour and a little spicy, it tastes fresh. I tried to make this; I hope they like it.

 And, waiting for Mr. Kusuma and Miss Amelia to come home.

*****