Betrayed Heiress, Mafia Queen

9

The night went by in a blur as I slept on the mattress given to me in the staff quarter.

The next morning, I woke up more energetic than the previous day, resigned to my new life as a maid in the Walkers’ quarter. "For how long will I be able to adjust to my new life?" I asked myself, sighing heavily.

Just then, a loud bang on the door interrupted my thoughts. "Mara, come out, it’s time to resume your job in the boss's quarter. You don't want to be kicked out, do you?" Helen’s voice was loud and firm.

I sighed even harder, feeling the weight of my situation. "I’m not cut out for this, how will I cope?" I muttered to myself. . The door creaked open, and I reluctantly stepped out, meeting Helen’s expectant gaze.

"Let’s go, boss is waiting," she said, her tone a mix of warning and sympathy.

Helen led me to Jason’s quarter. As we stepped inside, I caught glimpses of the other maids scurrying around the house. There was a petite girl with a bright smile, polishing a vase in the living room and a quiet, reserved girl about my age, dusting the staircase. They all seemed to know their roles, moving efficiently around the house. I wondered how they’d react to me, the new girl.

Just as I was lost in thought, I collided with a sophisticated-looking lady. Our shoulders bumped, and she turned to face me, her expression a mix of surprise and annoyance.

She was a tall, slender woman with skin as smooth as honey. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek, polished bun, and she had an air of confidence that commanded attention. She wore a fitted, designer dress that hugged her curves perfectly, and her heels clicked on the marble floor.

I looked up to her eyes flashing with irritation.

"Watch where you’re going," she snapped curtly, her voice sharp with irritation. I felt a flush rise in my cheeks as I mumbled an apology, bowing my head slightly.

She turned on her heel and left without another word. Just then Cecilia approached and exchanged greetings with Helen.

"Hey, Cecilia." I chimed in, still watching Olivia’s exit.

"Hey, Mara. You good?" Cecilia asked me. She leaned in, her voice low, "That’s Olivia, one of Jason’s girls. Her family’s super connected. He’s got a bunch of them, and they all think they’re the one." She chuckled, mockingly.

"Oh," I said, nodding my head, trying to play it cool. "What a jerk," I thought, shaking my head internally.

"Let’s go meet the others in the kitchen. Breakfast is almost ready," Cecilia said, turning to lead the way. I waved back at Helen as she turned to leave, then followed Cecilia to the kitchen.

The aroma of cooking food filled the air as I stepped into the kitchen, and I saw the other maids busy at work, all dressed in matching blue uniforms and caps.

"Everyone," Cecilia's voice drew everyone’s attention, and I felt a bit self-conscious as they all turned to look at me. "Meet Mara, our new team member." I smiled back, feeling a bit shy but relieved by the welcoming vibe, as they all greeted me with nods and quiet hellos.

Cecilia turned to me, her expression serious, "Mara, working here requires you to abide by a few rules and regulations. There’s a staff handbook you’ll get later, but for now, let me brief you on the basics."

Cecilia’s expression turned serious as she listed the rules:

"The first rule is you must wake up early to get your work done before breakfast. Rule two: the boss eats breakfast at 8:00 am every day. Rule three, the boss is allergic to cinnamon and ginger, so don’t include them in his food. Rule four: don’t open the door to outsiders unless the boss confirms it’s safe. Rule five: listen more, complain less – that’s the key to surviving here."

She exhaled slowly, and I nodded, "Got it."

"Come with me to change into your uniform," Cecilia said, turning to leave immediately.

I followed her into a cozy room, simple but comfortable enough to occupy three people. It is neatly arranged. Not fancy but okay.

Cecilia nodded towards the locker, "That’s yours. You share this room with two others." I followed her gesture, there were two other beds and two more lockers beside mine and a shared desk in the corner, cluttered with toiletries and lotions.

Cecilia strode over to the locker, flipped it open, and pulled out a crisp, folded uniform. "Change into this," she said, handing it to me before turning to leave. The door clicked shut behind her, and I was alone.

I quickly slipped into the uniform, smoothing out the fabric as I stepped in front of the medium-sized mirror carefully placed on the wall, my reflection stared back at me and I felt a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. I smiled slightly and nodded to myself, feeling a bit more composed, and I walked to open the door.

I opened the door to find Cecilia waiting patiently, her expression unreadable. We headed back to the kitchen, the scent of the breakfast filled the air, the table was set and ready.

We gathered around the table, the air thick with anticipation. Cecilia, the other maids and I, stood waiting, eyes down, heads bowed. The minutes ticked by, and then Jason finally came down to eat, the room falling silent. I kept my gaze fixed on the floor, not daring to look up.

The silence was oppressive as Jason took his seat, his movements almost imperceptible. He ate quietly. When he finished, we sprang into action. We cleared the table, washed the dishes, and got our own breakfast. The routine was smooth and practiced. Once everything was tidy, we were dismissed.

I entered my room and saw my two roommates chatting. I walked in and they stopped talking. Awkward silence hung a beat.

Then one of them piped up and broke the silence, "Hey newcomer, I’m Tessa."

"I’m Mara, nice to meet you," I said, feeling a bit more at ease.

The other girl’s gaze was intense, like she was studying me. "I’m Beatrice," she said finally, her tone a bit reserved.

"Nice meeting you too, Beatrice," I said, trying to be friendly.

She maintained an intense gaze, which was seriously weird. "I think I know you somewhere, Mara," she said, her eyes still fixed on mine as if she was trying to recall a memory.

My stomach knotted with unease, but I managed a composed response, "Ah, maybe I just resemble someone you know," as I suppressed the growing fear creeping into my heart.

I was freaking out inside, "Where does she know me from? Does she know I’m Smith?" I wondered.