The Billionaire's Maid

$4.32. Amelia stared at her phone. That was all she had left. It wasn't even enough for dinner. Everything she owned was inside the small basement room: one bed, an old plastic chair, a small table, and a fridge that was almost completely empty. It had been raining since morning, and cold air filled the room. Amelia lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She hadn't slept much the night before. Her stomach hurt from hunger, but she ignored it. She hadn't been eating well for weeks, trying to save enough money for transportation to her job interviews. Now, she had only $4.32 left. Even if she had to choose between food and her grandmother's medicine, there was never any question. Her grandmother would always come first. Amelia reached for the old picture on the table. She held it close to her chest. She was fifteen in the photograph, standing between her parents while her grandmother hugged her from behind. They were all smiling. Her parents had died in an accident years ago. She pulled the photograph away from her chest and gently wiped the dust from the glass. "I wish you were here," she whispered. Tears threatened to escape her eyes, but she couldn't afford to break down. Her grandmother's hospital bill was due before next week. If she couldn't pay it, the hospital would stop her treatment. She hugged the sweater tighter around herself and walked to the fridge. Half a loaf of bread was all she had. "So much for breakfast," she murmured. She took a few bites and returned the bread. Her phone buzzed on the table. She picked it up. Hospital Bill Overdue. Amelia closed her eyes and sighed. The treatment had already cost more than $4,000. She had $4.32. "What am I supposed to do?" she whispered. She looked at the time. She couldn't stay in bed feeling sorry for herself. She had interviews to attend. Amelia bathed quickly and changed into her only office clothes—white blouse and black trousers. Her shoes were old, but she cleaned them until they looked presentable. She tied her hair back, grabbed her folder of certificates, and left. Four hours later, she had visited five different offices. Nobody had hired her. At one company, the receptionist barely looked at her before telling her they had already found someone. At another, she waited for almost an hour only to be told that the position had been filled. The last interviewer smiled politely and promised to call her. Amelia knew what that meant. Another rejection. She stood at the subway station, exhausted, with her phone in one hand. It buzzed. A call from the hospital. She answered immediately. "Miss Carter?" "Yes?" "This is the nurse taking care of your grandmother." Amelia's heart skipped. "The insurance appeal was unsuccessful," the nurse continued. "The hospital needs $5,000 before Saturday. If you can't make the payment, we'll have to stop the treatment." "Please. Give me until next week. I'll find the money," Amelia pleaded. There was silence before the nurse finally said, "Next week, Amelia. After that, we'll have no choice." The call ended. She stared at the screen. Five thousand dollars. By next week, she could lose her only family. Amelia looked at the time. 4:15 PM. She opened the job listings again. Most of them were rejection messages. She scrolled through them without much hope. Then one unusual listing caught her attention. PRIVATE LIVE-IN HOUSEKEEPER NEEDED Salary: $5,000/month Signing Bonus: $7,000 Must be willing to follow strict household rules. At the bottom was a phone number. Amelia stopped scrolling. She read the listing again. Five thousand dollars a month. Seven thousand dollars just for signing. Her heart began to race. That kind of money could pay her grandmother's hospital bill. It could solve almost every problem she had. Her thumb moved toward the phone number. Then she noticed the employer's name. Nicholas Vance. Amelia stopped. She knew that name. Everyone in the city knew it. He was a powerful billionaire business tycoon whose name and picture often appeared in newspapers and business magazines. He was known to be cold and ruthless. Amelia stared at the number. She desperately needed the money. But working for Nicholas Vance? No. Her thumb hovered over the call button. For several seconds, she considered it. Then she locked her phone. "No." She shook her head. "There has to be another way." She couldn't put herself in a situation like that just because she was desperate. She would find another job. Somehow. Amelia put her phone away and started walking toward the subway. A few minutes later, her phone buzzed. She ignored it. It buzzed again. With a tired sigh, she pulled it out. A message from Mr. Henderson, her landlord. Amelia opened it. FOUR-DAY EVICTION NOTICE. She quickly read the message beneath it. You have four days to pay the $200 you owe. If you don't, you will have to leave the room. Amelia stopped in her tracks. She stared at the message. Her grandmother needed $5,000. She had $4.32. And now she had only four days before she would have nowhere to live. Slowly, her mind went back to the job listing. $5,000 a month. $7,000 signing bonus. And one name. Nicholas Vance. Amelia bit her lower lip. Maybe she had been wrong. She really didn't have another choice. She stared at his name for several seconds. Then she opened the job listing again.