The Nation’s Jackpot Girl (BWWM)

17

(unedited version)

Leela McCartney's POV

I am in my room when there's a knock on my door. I wonder why I am being disturbed by this time. Everyone knows this is the hour I like being alone.

Sighing, I stand to my feet and check my outfit. I'm not done dressing up but my maids can see me anyhow I am. They see me every day.

When I open the door, my chief maid is standing there looking prim as usual. Adelaide is a sophisticated French woman who has been trained in culinary arts and home management. I knew her worth thirty years ago when she was still as young as I was and I immediately employed her no matter how much she was charging.

She knows all that is happening in my family as she has been here for a long and we also created a bond over the years. Though she acts like she's my maid, we are both friends.

"What's it, Adelaide? I thought I said I didn't want to be disturbed?"

"The new maid has arrived."

Frowning, I raise my brow in confusion. I don't remember hiring anyone. "Maid?"

Adelaide nods. "Or you don't remember hiring anyone? Were you drunk when you blurted out that proposal?"

I roll my eyes. "You know I haven't gotten drunk in weeks. "

"Well, I think you might have without knowing. You hired a black woman. I never thought you would do that after what Jasper did to you."

Just as she mentions a black woman, I immediately remember the lady I had met outside Julian's company. She finally accepted!

Adelaide sees the look of realization as it dawns on me. "You remember."

"Yes! I do. I remember. I just didn't believe she would accept my offer."

"Why?"

I hurry back into my room and retouch my face. I slip my feet into my slippers in a hurry. "Well, she's a black woman who knows her worth. Julian didn't want her in his company because she's a black woman."

"I wouldn't want her to." Adelaide shrugged. She gets a stern look from me. "What?! Last time I checked, it was a black woman who took all you had."

"She didn't take all I had. Jasper wasn't all I had. He wasn't even up to ten percent of what I had."

"That's something."

Sighing, I decide that I need to end this conversation by keeping shut. Adelaide might look reserved and strict, but she's talkative whenever she wants to be.

"Well, why did you fancy her enough to want her to work as a maid?"

I sigh and shut my door. I am going to waste Jocelyn's time but I think Adelaide needs to know my reasons.

"She's a graduate with a mouthwatering degree and prospect but she's quite unlucky in the employment sector because of her race and most unfortunately her skin color. Julian didn't want her because of what his father did but I spoke to her and saw that she has potential. She isn't the regular black woman with three kids with different fathers. She knows what she wants and is stubborn about it."

"She wouldn't want to work as your maid if she knows her worth and has a mouthwatering degree though," Adelaide muttered under her breath.

"You're being judgemental again, Adelaide."

"Alright, I'm sorry." Adelaide immediately apologizes. "So, what's the main reason for having her here?"

"Julian," I say, and immediately, Adelaide facepalms and groans. She might be a French woman but I can see American culture trickling into her every day. She has learned to loosen up around me and adopt her French attitude around others.

"Julian's going to hate her and you know it. He's going to give her a hard time and probably find a way to hire her."

"Yes, he will. But I won't let that happen. This is my home and I can do whatever I want. He'll slowly warm up to her and see her potential. He just needs another good black woman to convince him that not all black women are like the slut that took his father."

"And your husband."

"Ex-husband," Adelaide adds.

"That wasn't necessary."

The conversation ends this way and we both leave my room.

"Where's she?"

"Waiting for you."

When I get to the gallery, I catch sight of her. She's dressed casually and that's hard to believe because I never pictured her this way.

Well, we greet each other and I am excited that she is here, honestly. I don't know why her working for me makes me happy. I feel like she's not just going to be a maid but a good companion and as I lead her toward the pool, Adelaide shakes her head and goes back to work.

After we talk about the details of how her job will be, I surprise her by telling her that she'll be receiving thrice the normal payment.

I can see the shock registered on her face and honestly, I find it quite amusing.

"But, isn't that quite a lot?" She asks, her mouth still hanging open.

"I know your worth and I won't pay you the same amount ik paying the others. "

I see the look of deep appreciation on her face as she hears those words from my mouth.

"Thank you so much, ma'am." She says but I stop her there.

"Now, I won't like it if you address me as that."

"But you're now my boss. Mrs. Leela?" She says with an innocent look on.

I shake my head, smiling. "No, Jocelyn. You shall address me as Leela and that's it. I'd be offended if you address me as ma'am."

Jocelyn nods. "Thank you so much. You're a lifesaver. Thank you so much."

I smile at her and stand to my feet. "When do you want to start working? Today, tomorrow, or next week?"

"Probably the day after tomorrow." She says "I'd have to arrange my stuff."

"Alright. You'll be given a room once you return. Have a nice day, Jocelyn."