Cursed Facade

The Clock is Ticking

Lily's heart raced as she wiped her hands on her apron, her fingers slick with dish soap residue. The restaurant kitchen buzzed with the familiar clamour of clanging pans, hissing steam, and the sharp bark of orders from the head chef. She glanced at the clock on the wall—5:45 PM. Her shift was almost over.

Her gaze shifted to the folded flyer tucked into the pocket of her apron. The elegant lettering read: Housekeeper Position Available - Apply Now at 72 Willow Grove Estate. She had spotted it that morning while walking to work, taped to a lamppost near the bus stop. The neat, professional font and crisp design had drawn her eye immediately. This could be it, she had thought, pulling it down and slipping it into her pocket before hurrying to the restaurant for her shift.

Now, as she stood wiping down her workstation, her fingers brushed the edge of the paper. Don't get your hopes up too high, she told herself, but she couldn't help it. She had no family connections, no fancy education, but she had grit. She could clean, she could work hard, and she was desperate to escape the rut she'd been stuck in for years.

"Hey, Parker!" Chef Miguel's voice snapped her back to reality. "You gonna stand there daydreaming or finish cleaning that station?"

"Sorry, Chef!" she called back, quickly scrubbing the counter with renewed urgency. But her mind was elsewhere, on the flyer and what it could mean for her future. A way out of the endless grind. A shot at something better.

By the time she was done, it was nearly 6:00 PM. She untied her apron, grabbed her coat, and hurried out the back entrance. The cold evening air hit her like a slap, but it didn't slow her down. Her fingers curled around her phone as she pulled up the number printed on the flyer. No more delays. Just call.

Her breath misted the air as she pressed "call." It rang twice before someone picked up.

"Hello?" A man's voice answered, casual but direct.

"Hi, my name is Lily Parker," she said quickly, feeling the sudden press of nerves in her chest. "I'm calling to ask about the housekeeper position listed on the flyer at Willow Grove Estate. Is it still available?"

The man paused for a moment before answering. "Ah, sorry, that position's been filled."

Lily's heart dropped. "Oh. Do you know if they're looking for any other help or if anything might open up soon?"

"Doubt it," he replied, his voice businesslike but not unkind. "They hired someone two days ago. If something else comes up, they'll post a new flyer. Good luck, miss."

"Right. Thank you." The call ended with a soft click, and Lily stared at her phone for a moment, her fingers still hovering over the screen.

Her shoulders sagged with the weight of it. It shouldn't have surprised her—of course the job had already been filled. Good jobs like that didn't stay available for long. She shoved the flyer back into her pocket, teeth clenched tight against the bitterness that crept in.

With a deep breath, she stuffed her hands into her coat and started walking toward the bus stop, the glow of streetlights guiding her way. Just another day in the cycle, she thought. Maybe tomorrow will be different.

In the Montague penthouse, Sophia was lounging in the living room, lazily flipping through channels on the TV when her phone buzzed on the coffee table. She glanced at the screen and sighed heavily. Sebastian. Of course.

"What is it, Seb?" she answered, not bothering to hide the annoyance in her tone.

"Sophia, I need you to be extra careful today," Sebastian said, his voice tight and concerned. "I've got a bad feeling, and with most of my security team with me, I don't want you taking any unnecessary risks."

Sophia rolled her eyes, slumping further into the chaise. "Relax, Seb. I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying in tonight."

"Good. Just... be on your guard, okay? Call me if anything feels off."

"Fine, fine, worrywart. But you owe me for putting up with your paranoia."

She hung up with a frustrated sigh and tossed the phone back onto the sofa. Overprotective i***t, she thought. She loved her brother, but his constant hovering was suffocating.

Meanwhile, Olivia stood near the large bay window of the penthouse, her gaze fixed on the London skyline as the sun dipped below the horizon. Her phone buzzed softly in her hand—a message from Jasmine Harrington.

"Security light tonight. Only two guards on the main floor. Minimal staff on 15th and 16th."

Olivia typed back swiftly: "Understood. Cameras are frozen as planned."

Her eyes flicked toward Sophia, still lounging on the chaise, completely oblivious. Olivia's jaw tightened. This is just another task, another job. Jasmine had promised her everything: wealth, power, freedom. All she had to do was follow through.

Her phone buzzed again: "My men are 5 minutes away from the back door. Time to move."

Olivia hesitated for only a moment before she moved to unlock the door, careful to keep her steps light and silent. She glanced back at Sophia one last time, guilt flickering in her chest, but quickly pushed it down. Don't look back. Don't think about it. Just do what you need to do.

When Lily arrived home, she was tired, cold, and utterly deflated. She trudged up the concrete stairs to the tiny apartment she shared with Jamie, the smell of damp walls and stale cigarettes growing stronger with each step. As she approached the door, she noticed it was slightly ajar.

Her stomach clenched. Jamie must be home, she thought, though unease prickled at her skin. "Jamie?" she called softly, pushing the door open.

The sight of the man on the sofa made her blood run cold. He was tall, lean but solid, with sharp, dark eyes and an air of danger that seemed to fill the room. Matthew.

She recognized him immediately. She'd seen him once before—months ago—when Jamie had begged her not to ask questions about his dealings. She remembered the way Jamie had flinched under Matthew's sharp gaze, his voice trembling when he spoke. Now, here Matthew was, sitting in their apartment like he owned it.

"Evenin'," he drawled, his sharp eyes locking onto her. "Didn't think anyone would be back so soon."

Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag, her heart pounding in her chest. "What are you doing here?" she asked, though her voice shook.

Matthew tilted his head, studying her with mild curiosity. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice casual but edged with suspicion. "You his girlfriend? Friend? Roommate?"

Lily swallowed hard. "Sister," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Matthew raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Sister, huh? Didn't know Jamie had one."

Her stomach churned as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Your brother owes me five grand," he said bluntly. "Been dodging me for weeks, so I figured I'd pay him a little visit."

Lily felt her knees weaken. Five thousand pounds? Her mind reeled. Jamie hadn't told her the amount. It was so much worse than she thought.

"I—I don't have that kind of money," she stammered. "Please, just give him more time."

Matthew's expression darkened, his smile fading. "Five days. That's all he gets. If he doesn't have my money by then..." He stood, towering over her. "...I'll have to take something else as payment."

Her breath caught in her throat. "Something else?" she whispered.

Matthew smirked coldly. "Black market pays well for girls like you."

Lily's heart stopped. The room felt like it was spinning, her knees threatening to buckle. She clutched the strap of her bag, her entire body trembling.

Matthew took a step closer, his gaze locking onto hers. "Tell Jamie I stopped by," he said, brushing past her on his way to the door. "Clock's ticking."

The door slammed shut, the sound echoing in the empty apartment. Lily collapsed onto the floor, her legs giving out beneath her. Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath, her mind racing with fear and despair.

Five thousand pounds. Five days. She didn't know where Jamie was, and even if she did, what could she possibly do? Tears streamed down her face as she hugged her knees to her chest, trembling uncontrollably.

All she could do was hope Jamie came back in time—and pray he had a plan.