TRANSFORMATION D'UNE BURGEOISE 7

TRANSFORMATION D'UNE BURGEOISE 7

Blushing all over again and excited at the same time I repeated :

"Yes Madame, I accept to become your cleaning woman for a year!"

"Very well Maria, I am your employer from now on!!" she said triumphantly

and she continued : "Now you asked before about practical matters,

you are right we have to sort them out. First of all you will put our

agreement in writing and send it to your solicitor. Not everything of

course, just write simply that due to a prolonged absence abroad you are

authorising me, Monique Perreira dos Santos to handle all your financial

affairs, pay all the bills and run the household paying the domestic

staff (that is you!) etc,etc. Then you notify in writing all the people

that you think they might contact you, telling them that you are going

abroad for an indefinite amount of time to recover from the shock of

loosing your husband to another woman. Also you will apply to your bank

to issue credit cards in my name. Of course I'll take your credit cards,

and your car keys, your are not allowed to drive anymore, only public

transport for you. You will receive all the money that I earn from my

various domestic and cleaning jobs which you are going to undertake from

now on." She stopped seeing me getting more and more uneasy.

"But Mon.... I mean Madame aren't we moving a bit too fast here? Probably

I should stay at home for a few days to adapt to my new role and then..."

She interrupted me abruptly in an annoyed manner : "Leave that to me

Maria, I'll organise everything for you. I have lots of close contacts

and trusted friends among the Portuguese community of maids and cleaners,

soon you will be part of their world.". She looked at me again and became

more formal : "Now finish what you are doing here and run upstairs and

clean the bathroom I just used, and tidy up the bedroom. I have a few

phone calls to make, then we'll talk again." She turned and walked back to

the Living Room her heels clicking elegantly. She was 'la patronne' now.

(7- a suivre)