His Maid His Enemy

The first thing Audrey Miller noticed about the Ashford estate was the security. Two guards stood at the entrance, while cameras covered the tall stone walls surrounding the mansion. Beyond the gate lay green lawns, tall trees, and a driveway leading to a house that looked more like a palace. Everything was expensive. Perfect, even. Audrey hated how easily the place made her feel small. She stepped out of the car and collected her suitcase. “Name?” one of the guards asked. “Audrey Miller. I’m the new housekeeper.” After checking her identification, the guard confirmed her details and allowed her inside. As Audrey passed the stone sign beside the driveway, her fingers tightened around her handbag. ASHFORD. She remembered her childhood home, its peeling walls, and the nights her father spent staring helplessly at documents that had ruined his career. Grayson Miller had once been a respected employee of Ashford Holdings. Then came the scandal. He was accused of leaking company secrets, lost his position, and watched his reputation collapse. Their family never recovered. Her mother’s health had already been fragile, and the financial struggles that followed made everything worse. Whenever Audrey asked what had happened, her father gave her the same answer. “The Ashfords took everything from us.” She had believed him for years. Now, she was standing inside the estate of the family she blamed. “You must be Audrey!” A cheerful woman in a neat uniform approached her. “I’m Ella. I help with housekeeping here.” She reached for Audrey’s suitcase. “Come on. Let me show you around before someone decides you’ve disappeared.” Audrey managed a small smile. “I wouldn’t want to cause trouble on my first day.” “Good. Save that for your second week.” Ella’s easy manner surprised her. Audrey had expected everyone in the mansion to be cold and formal, but Ella made conversation as though they had known each other for years. Inside, the mansion was even more impressive. Polished floors stretched across the hallway, an elegant staircase curved toward the upper level, and expensive paintings decorated the walls. Ella showed Audrey the main rooms, introduced her to a few workers, and explained the housekeeping routine. Audrey listened carefully. She needed to learn the estate’s layout without revealing that she was interested in more than cleaning. She noticed the security cameras, the guarded corridors, and the doors that required key cards. She would not break any rules. Not yet. Her room was small but comfortable, with a bed, wardrobe, desk, and a window overlooking the garden. “Mr. Ashford likes things done properly,” Ella warned before leaving. “He notices everything. If he looks at you like he’s trying to solve a puzzle, don’t panic.” Audrey’s stomach tightened. “Is he always like that?” “Pretty much.” Once she was alone, Audrey sat on the bed and removed a photograph from her handbag. It showed her parents standing outside their old home, smiling as though their future was secure. She traced the edge of the photograph with her thumb. When she had told her father about the job, he had gone silent before warning her to stay away from Jason Ashford. But Audrey had made her decision. She would earn her place in the estate, learn what she could about the Ashford family, and find answers about the scandal that had destroyed her father’s life. “I haven’t forgotten,” she whispered. Then she returned the photograph to her bag and changed into her uniform. By lunchtime, she was helping Ella arrange the dining room when Ella leaned closer. “Have you met Mr. Ashford yet?” “Not properly.” “Well, you probably will today. He’s home.” Before Audrey could respond, footsteps sounded in the hallway. A tall man in a dark suit entered the dining room, speaking into his phone. His tie was slightly loosened, but his expression remained controlled. Jason Ashford. He ended his call and glanced at the table before his eyes settled on Audrey. “You’re new.” “Yes, sir. Audrey Miller. I started today.” “Have you worked in a private residence before?” “Yes. For nearly a year.” “Why did you leave?” “The family relocated.” Jason studied her briefly. “Privacy matters in this house. Staff are expected to do their jobs without involving themselves in things that don’t concern them.” “I understand.” “Good. I expect people to take their responsibilities seriously.” “I will.” He turned to leave, but his phone rang again. “Lucas,” he answered. “I’m listening.” Audrey returned to the napkins, trying not to pay attention. Then she heard a name that made her hands pause. “What do you mean the information reached Damon?” A silence followed. “I want to know exactly what was sent and who had access to it. Keep the circle small until we know what happened.” Jason ended the call and walked away. Audrey recognized the name Damon Whitmore. He was one of Jason’s business rivals, and she had read about their competition while researching Ashford Holdings. She wondered what information had reached him, but she forced herself to concentrate on her work. She had no proof that the business problem had anything to do with her father’s case. She needed facts, not assumptions. Later that afternoon, Ella sent Audrey upstairs to return some clean towels. “Use the corridor on the left,” she instructed. “The other one leads to Mr. Ashford’s private study. Staff aren’t allowed in there without permission.” Audrey followed her directions and placed the towels in the linen cupboard. On her way back, she noticed the private corridor. Cameras covered the area, and a card reader stood beside the study door. She did not approach it. A guard appeared at the far end of the hallway. “Miss Miller, are you looking for something?” “No. I was returning the towels.” He glanced at the cupboard and nodded. “Staff areas are downstairs and to the left.” “Understood. Thank you.” Audrey walked away calmly, knowing she had already been warned to stay within her limits. That evening, she helped Ella prepare the dining room and completed her duties without attracting further attention. She needed the people in the mansion to see her as an ordinary employee, not someone searching for answers. That night, a message from her father appeared on her phone. How was your first day? It went well. I’ve settled in, she replied. His response came almost immediately. Good. Remember why you’re there. Don’t let Jason Ashford fool you. Audrey stared at the message. She wanted to ask him more about the old scandal, but she deleted the question before sending it. Their conversations about the Ashfords always ended in bitterness, and she needed him to trust her enough to share more someday. I won’t forget, Dad. She placed her phone beside the photograph of her parents and looked toward the window. The estate was quiet, but the security patrol continued moving across the grounds. She had met Jason Ashford, learned the basic routine, and discovered that the mansion guarded its secrets carefully. Tomorrow, she would continue earning the staff’s trust and learning everything she could without raising suspicion. She had not come for an easy job. She had come for answers. And she would not leave until she found them.