"Babe, just know you're welcome back home anytime if things get rough over there. No pressure." Danielle's voice crackled over the line, sounding distant and warm.
Liam's voice broke in sharply before I could respond. "Stop acting like she lost someone," he scoffed so loudly that I had to hold the phone away from my ear.
"Oh, shut up!" Danielle shot back, laughing. "Ignore him, he's way too excited about you moving out."
"She's got a job now, get used to it," Liam cut in again, followed by the sound of something clattering to the floor. "And trust me—I made sure he's not coming back here."
A laugh burst out of me, uncontainable. "Wait, did you throw out his little Celtic trinket box?"
"I did."
"Come on, the guy's trying to start a fantasy YouTube channel," I said, catching my breath between giggles.
Danielle chuckled. "And he knows better than to butt into my conversations now."
"Is Steve home?"
"Not yet," she replied. "He'll be more shocked that you took this job than that you actually moved out."
"I know, right?" I shook my head, still a little stunned by it myself.
Just then, I heard footsteps approaching and was suddenly reminded of where I was. I glanced around the enormous bedroom assigned to me, with Rose's warning in mind: this room was the farthest from Mr. Aiden, and I'd better be careful not to make a sound. The spacious, minimalist room felt almost sterile, with clean lines and modern lighting, the bed made up in stark white linens that only emphasized the emptiness. I realized it was probably larger than Steve and Danielle's rooms combined—and those were the biggest bedrooms in our house.
"Okay, I should probably keep it down before my boss decides I'm too loud to work here."
Danielle laughed. "I'd suggest soundproofing his room, honestly. They're acting like even your breathing might disturb Mr. Aiden."
I laughed, lowering my voice. "Seriously, though. Yesterday, I coughed, and the house manager turned into this grumpy grandma, scowling at me like I'd sinned. I might need to win Rose over if I'm going to survive here."
"You've got this, babe. I'm rooting for you!"
"Thanks," I said, a little more reassured. "I should finish unpacking. Oh, and don't expect pictures—I'm pretty sure taking any would be against the rules."
"Ugh, what a bore," Danielle complained. "No fun at all."
"Everyone has their boundaries, I guess."
"But this whole 'stay out of my sight' thing is a bit much, don't you think?"
I rolled my eyes. "Listen, being rich and handsome lets people get away with rude and grumpy. It actually makes some people more curious."
"Are you one of those people?" Danielle asked in a whisper, teasing.
"Ew, gross!" I said, feeling my face heat up. "That's my boss. My rich, grumpy boss who won't even look at me. Trust me, nobody who actually works here would be swooning over him. He's a hard no."
"Uh-huh. Yesterday, didn't you say you found him charming?"
I felt myself bristle. "I said he looked charming, not that I was charmed," I replied, sharper than I intended.
"Charming is charming, admit it," she teased, knowing exactly how to push my buttons.
"He was shirtless with ridiculous abs, okay? That's all. The whole 'charming' comment was just me being practical."
"There's no need to stress over it," Danielle replied with a smirk in her voice. "If I were there, I'd have him all to myself— I could handle a little competition from the other employees."
"I'll let you know if they need another housekeeper," I shot back, laughing. "Maybe you'd actually have a shot with him, since your taste in men is questionable anyway."
"Hey, the hottest ones always have issues. You win some, you lose some. Pick your battles."
"Yeah, keep on battling, girl. I'm rooting for you." I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help grinning.
"You'll be so bored without me around, and with no one whispering flirty nonsense in your ear. You're going to hate that remote place, trust me."
I sighed, glancing out the window. "You always have an answers for everything. And if my boss gets on my nerves, I might just find an opening here for you after all. You could be my backup plan, wreaking havoc in this place."
"Oh please, I'm only trying to live my life, not create chaos."
"Same difference for you," I teased.
"Ugh, whatever."
"I'll miss you," I said, meaning it more than I expected.
"I miss you already! Come visit me soon, okay?"
"Of course. But first, I should unpack and get used to this house before Mr. Aiden arrives."
"Alright then—good luck!"
The call ended with a soft click, and I stood there for a moment, letting the quiet settle around me as I took in my new surroundings. Stepping up to the floor-to-ceiling window, I drew the curtains back to reveal the view. The balcony extended out in front of me, overlooking a vast, beautifully landscaped garden and acres of pristine land. I slid the window open and stepped outside, admiring the elegant railing with its sleek, modern design. This was a whole new world.
On impulse, I pulled out my phone and snapped a few photos of the landscape, wanting to capture the view despite knowing it was against the rules. I caught a glimpse of Rose down below, tending to the garden, and quickly remembered: I wasn't here on some luxurious vacation. I slipped back inside, dragged my unopened suitcase into the closet, and tiptoed out of the room.
As I walked down the hallway, I remembered the boundaries Rose had set for me. She'd laid out my paths carefully, as if I were a guest in a museum rather than an employee. But the house itself was too mesmerizing to restrict myself to a single path. Every inch of it exuded minimalist luxury, stark and pristine, like it belonged on the pages of a design magazine. Yet there was a strange emptiness to it, too—a feeling that this vast, beautiful space would swallow any noise, leaving only an echo. It made me feel oddly empty, as if the quiet might seep into me if I stayed here too long.
"My coworkers must work overtime to keep this place spotless," I murmured, glancing at the immaculate surfaces around me.
I looked toward the staircase Rose had specifically told me to avoid, the very one she had led me up when we arrived. I recalled the study door she'd pointed out, the invisible boundary she'd drawn around it. But I couldn't help feeling drawn to it.
I took a cautious step forward, my heart skipped a beat. I had only just started this job, and here I was, sneaking around. This wasn't exactly what I'd signed up for. Rose had been very clear about her rules earlier—stern, even. I sighed, turned around, and retraced my steps toward the kitchen.
After a few turns and moments later, I arrived at my destination. The chefs were already heading out, and as I looked around, I noticed everything was spotless. Counters gleamed, and supplies were tidily stashed away—nothing like the bustling scene I'd walked into earlier when food was being prepped, and every surface seemed cluttered.
I moved closer, hoping to catch one of the chefs to ask about the daily routine. And, honestly, I wanted to know if I'd end up in one of those Halloween-worthy uniforms I'd glimpsed earlier. Just as I was about to speak up, Rose appeared out of nowhere, freezing me in place for a few awkward seconds. "Goddamn," I muttered under my breath. Rose hadn't even let me start the job yet, but she was already starting to terrify me.
How could the warm, middle-aged woman who'd welcomed me at the interview transform into this grumpy taskmaster? She even wore a perpetual scowl now, as if she'd just finished scolding someone.
I took a step back as she closed the gap between us.
"You took your time putting things away," she said, her voice sharp.
"Oh, I thought I started tomorrow…"
"You're here now, so you might as well be diligent and start learning today," she cut me off without missing a beat.
I forced a smile. "Right, of course."
"You could have learned from your other two colleagues if you'd been here half an hour ago," she added with a hint of a nagging tone.
Another woman appeared, a little older, maybe in her late forties or early fifties. Honestly, I wasn't great at guessing ages these days; beauty standards and all had blurred those lines. She gave me a polite smile as she came to stand a step behind Rose, almost in line.
Rose whipped around to look at her. "Lilian, is she still in that room?"
"She just needs to change. She'll be here shortly," the woman replied in a high-pitched, almost sing-song voice. I did a double-take at her. Her voice was surprisingly cheerful, almost Barbie-like, making me curious, but Rose's gaze was still on me, so I quickly looked back at her, feeling an odd urge to stand at attention.
What was this place? My eyes darted around the room, catching the last of the chefs slipping out. Was I in some military camp? I shifted my stance, awkwardly mimicking Lilian's rigid posture.
Dear lord, I thought, this was not what I'd signed up for.
"Everyone will leave now, including me," Rose continued, "but you're to stay here. Don't meddle with anything. Maintain order and stay out of sight. Mr. Aiden can take care of himself."
I nodded, though her instructions felt… contradictory.
Another middle-aged employee, Lilian maybe? bustled in, quickly falling into line next to Lady in line, and I suddenly realized no one here was anywhere near my age.
Rose threw Lilian a stern glance before looking back at me. "Remember, do not go to his quarters. Mr. Aiden can handle his own needs. I'll check his room tomorrow."
"Got it," I said, although something told me I'd need a lot more than a simple "got it" to survive here.