Elisa began the day with a quest in mind, to find out more about Ethan. If she could gather personal information about Ethan from the workers at the house then definitely she would be a step closer to finding out the password to his phone. She could only hope she was leaning in the right path; that the password was drawn out from a date of significance.
But she didn't want to raise suspicion, so she decided to organize a contest between the workers, who knows their boss the most. Then she told her nurse to inform the workers.
She started off with the butler. His name was Philip. He was a tall, reserved man, with years of service etched in his mannerism. Surely he would know one or two about Ethan.
" Good day Mr Philip," wheeling herself closer to him. " How are you today?"
" I'm quite alright ma'am, is there anything I could do for you?" He asked.
" Well not exactly… I understand you've been serving the Walker family for a long time," she paused. " You must know uh.. my husband better than anyone," she tried, softening her voice.
"I know his schedule. That's part of my duty."
"Okay."
" I'm sure you've heard of the contest I organised".
" Yes ma'am."
" I know you have quite a busy schedule, but you wouldn't mind if I asked you a few questions for the fun of it right?"
" Well I have a few minutes to spare ma'am."
She kept her voice airy, playful. " Do you think your boss might have a lucky number, you know everyone has one these days," she said, shrugging her shoulders casually.
The butler paused, the faintest crease forming between his brows. "Mr. Walker is not a man who indulges in superstition, ma'am."
Elisa made a little hum, as though disappointed. "No lucky number at all? Most people have one, even if they don't admit it."
His mouth twitched, the closest thing to a smile. "If Mr. Walker had one, I suspect it would be the number one."
' Oh I see, how original of him.'
She gave a soft laugh, masking her irritation. "Yes… that does sound like him."
" But then on second thoughts I think it might be four."
" Why would you say that," she asked.
Checking his watch. " Well he has always liked Wednesdays, which is the fourth day in a week. The wifi password at home seems to include the digits of four repeatedly, and he was the one that set it up. Well all I've said is just an assumption ma'am." He gave a smile and prepared to leave.
Philip dipped his head. "If you'll excuse me, ma'am, I must begin to make some preparations for some things."
…..
Elisa approached the head maid. Her name was Martha, she was definitely more outgoing and easier compared to Mr Philip. She smiled warmly when Elisa struck up conversation, telling her about Ethan's morning habits, his late nights at work, and the way he hated clutter around his study. The younger maids even chimed in, giggling about how meticulous he was about his suits. Elisa filed every detail away. The only problem was she knew all these already and these information weren't going to be of help to her.
She needed more.
She waited for her darling husband to come back as she had the thought "Why not drink directly from the vessel?"
She spent more than half of the day waiting for Ethan.
…..
The dining table stretched between her and Ethan. He ate calmly, as though she wasn't even there. Elisa picked up her fork, telling herself to breathe.
Okay, Elisa, just for the number. Bond a little, maybe he'll loosen up. Deep breath… smile. You're an award-winning actress, remember? Hmph.
"So," she began lightly, "how was work?"
Ethan looked up once, then down again. "Busy."
Busy? That's it? Heartless prick.
"Busy good or busy bad?" she pressed, forcing a bright smile.
"Busy is busy."
"You must be exhausted. You work so hard," she continued, ignoring the flatness in his tone. "I don't know how you keep up."
His knife scraped softly against the plate. "Hard work is unavoidable if you don't want everything you've built to collapse."
Elisa blinked. Relax, dictator, it's just dinner, not a corporate takeover. Out loud she said, "Still…don't you ever want a break? To breathe, maybe?"
That made him pause. His eyes lifted, pinning her with that cold, sharp stare. "And what would I do with a break, Ashley? Waste time? Indulge in distractions?"
Smile, Elisa. Don't roll your eyes. Don't throw the fork. You're an actress, remember. Just smile.
"Maybe," she said softly. "Sometimes distractions are necessary."
"I'd rather not do that."
" Well okay then."
Ethan raised a brow at her. " What exactly are you trying to get out of this Ashley?"
" Stop trying so hard, eat, don't force what isn't there."
" I'm just trying to get to know you better, what is wrong with that?"
Wiping his mouth clean, he said, "Stop it Ashley."
Elisa could feel her frustration welling up. This was so hard for her.
After dinner Ethan stood up and left for his room, that was when she noticed he left his phone at the dining table.
This was her opportunity to try again, she wheeled herself and grabbed the phone.
' You've got this Elisa.'
The screen of the phone lit up in her hands, 'Well that looks like an email notification.'
' Okay Elisa even though you haven't done this before, all you have to do is …. Think. Or better still try guessing the pattern by following the finger prints. Six numbers. How hard can it be?'
She typed in a random sequence that began with one. Wrong password.
' Alright no big deal. Just a warmup, breathe….'
Another attempt. Wrong password
Her palms began to sweat. ' Great, fantastic, at this rate this phone will lock itself and Ethan will know I've been pawing on it like some desperate racoon.'
She tried again. Wrong password.
' Okay, okay, calm down Elisa. Think.. think Elisa, what could it possibly be? His birthday?No, that's too obvious, his company's founding date? I don't think so.'
She leaned back letting out a frustrated sigh. Then it hit her. Wait a damn minute, that day in his office, before they got inside, the secretary had put in a string of numbers at the door for it to open.
' What was it…common, think Elisa. What is it…04…what came after that, think… I think I remember.'
Her fingers hovered over the screen. It better be right. If it was right then she has hit the jackpot.
She typed it in slowly. 10-10-25. The screen blinked then unlocked.
Her breath hitched. Yes, yes, you brilliant, sharp, gorgeous woman. Retentive memory for the win.
Without wasting time she darted to his call logs. There it was Anderson Byrns. Yes, jackpot.
She memorized the digits in an instant, repeating it like a silent mantra.
She quickly cleared the recent apps and locked the screen. Just as she placed the phone back. She heard Ethan's voice.
" What are you doing with my phone?"
Her hand froze.
Elisa's heart thundered. Shit, shit, shit…smile, think.
" Oh, I… I noticed you left it. Was just about bringing it to you."
Ethan stood close to the dining room, his expression unreadable.
" Sure," he said, walking over to the dining table. He picked up his phone, slipping it into his pocket. His eyes never leaving hers.
Elisa gripped the armrest of the wheelchair. Smile Elisa, smile.
He finally turned and walked away.
The moment his footsteps faded, Elisa wheeled herself back to her room with the help of her nurse. Once she got to the door, she told the nurse to leave her. As the door clicked shut behind, a grin spread across her face.