Hired As His Maid

The alarm on Aveline Rhodes's old phone rang at exactly five in the morning. She groaned beneath the thin blanket, reached blindly across the small wooden table beside her bed, and slapped the phone twice before finally managing to turn it off. For a few seconds, she remained completely still, her eyes closed as she tried to convince herself that she could sleep for another ten minutes. Then reality returned.She had work.Aveline opened her eyes and stared at the cracked ceiling above her.“Five more minutes,” she whispered. She paused.“No. Five more minutes means I'll be late.”With a tired sigh, she pushed herself out of bed. The small room was barely large enough for the narrow mattress, a wooden cabinet, and the tiny table where she kept her phone and a glass of water. The paint on the walls had begun to fade, and one corner of the ceiling had a small dark stain from a leak they still couldn't afford to repair. Aveline grabbed her uniform from the chair and quickly changed. She tied her long hair into a neat ponytail, washed her face with cold water, and looked at herself in the small mirror hanging beside the door. Dark circles were visible beneath her eyes.She smiled anyway.“You look beautiful.”She tilted her head.“Okay... maybe not beautiful.” She examined her reflection again.“Alive?”A pause.“Barely.” She laughed quietly at her own joke.It was easier to laugh than to cry. Aveline stepped outside her room and quietly walked toward the kitchen. Their house was small, old, and crowded, but it was home. Her mother was already awake, sitting at the table while sorting the few bills they had received during the week. Aveline noticed the papers immediately.She stopped walking.“Mom?” Her mother quickly gathered the bills into one pile.“You're awake already?”“I have work.”“You should eat first.”“I will.” Her mother looked at her with tired eyes.“You're losing weight.”Aveline smiled as she opened the small cabinet. “That's good. Maybe I'll finally fit into those jeans I bought three years ago.”Her mother didn't laugh. Instead, she looked down at the bills.Aveline's smile slowly faded.She understood.Money was becoming a problem again.It had always been a problem. But lately, it felt as though every day brought another bill, another expense, another reason to worry. Her younger brother needed school supplies. Her mother's medicine had to be bought before the end of the week. The electricity bill was already overdue. And Aveline was the one everyone depended on.Not because she wanted to be.Because there was no one else. She took a piece of bread from the table and stuffed it into her mouth. “I'll bring some money home tonight.”Her mother looked at her.“You don't have to give everything you earn.”“I know.”“You need money too.”“I know that too.”“Then keep some.”Aveline smiled. “I'll keep enough for transportation.”Her mother frowned.“Aveline—”“Mom, it's okay.” She reached across the table and gently squeezed her mother's hand.“We'll get through this.” Her mother stared at her daughter for a long moment before finally nodding.Aveline stood up, grabbed her bag, and slipped her worn shoes on. Before leaving, she looked back at her family.“I'll see you tonight.”She didn't know it yet, but that would not happen. The small restaurant where Aveline worked was already busy when she arrived. She pushed through the front door, slightly out of breath, and immediately tied her apron around her waist. “Sorry! Sorry!”Her co-worker, Mina, looked at her.“You're two minutes late.”Aveline glanced at the clock. “Two minutes is not late.”“It is when Mr. Carter is watching.”Aveline's face fell.She looked toward the counter. The restaurant manager was standing there with his arms crossed. Mr. Carter wasn't an evil man, but he was strict, impatient, and obsessed with everything being perfect.Aveline quickly approached him. “Good morning, sir.”He looked at the clock.“You're late.”“By two minutes.”“Late is late.”Aveline pressed her lips together.“Understood.” “Table six needs water. Table three is waiting for their order. And someone spilled coffee near the entrance.” She nodded quickly.“I'll take care of it.”Aveline hurried toward the dining area. For the next several hours, she barely had time to breathe. She carried plates, cleaned tables, took orders, refilled glasses, apologized to impatient customers, and smiled even when her feet began aching. At one point, a customer waved impatiently.“Waitress!”Aveline hurried over.“Yes, sir?”“My soup is cold.” She immediately looked at the bowl.Steam was still rising from it.She blinked.“Sir... it's actually still hot.” The customer frowned.“I said it's cold.”Aveline looked at the soup again.Then at him.Then back at the soup. “Would you like me to... convince it to become hotter?”The man stared at her. Aveline realized that was probably not the correct answer.“I'm sorry.”She quickly took the bowl away. From behind the counter, Mina covered her mouth to hide her laughter.Aveline glared at her.“Don't laugh.”“You're going to get fired.”“Don't say that.” Unfortunately, someone had already heard.Mr. Carter.He walked toward them.“Aveline.”She turned.“Yes, sir?”“Come to my office.”Her stomach dropped. The smile disappeared from her face.She followed him. Ten minutes later, Aveline walked out of the office holding her bag.Her eyes were fixed on the floor. Mina immediately rushed toward her.“What happened?”Aveline swallowed.“I've been fired.”Mina's smile disappeared.“What?”Aveline forced out a laugh. “Apparently, being two minutes late, dropping three spoons, and nearly starting an argument with a bowl of soup is not considered excellent service.” Mina looked heartbroken.“Aveline...”“It's okay.”But it wasn't. Aveline stepped outside the restaurant and stood on the sidewalk. The afternoon sun was bright, but she barely noticed it.She looked at the small amount of money inside her wallet. It wasn't enough.Not for rent.Not for food.Not for her mother's medicine.She took a deep breath. Then another.She refused to cry.Not here.Not in front of strangers.Aveline looked up at the sky.“Okay.” Her voice trembled.“One problem at a time.”She wiped the corner of her eye before the tears could fall.“First, find another job.” She adjusted her bag on her shoulder.“Then panic.”She took one step.Then stopped.“Actually... maybe panic while walking.” And with that, Aveline began searching for another job.She didn't know where it would lead her. She didn't know that losing her job would eventually become the reason she entered the world of the richest man in the city. And she certainly didn't know that the man she would soon work for had already heard her name. Somewhere across the city, inside a luxurious office overlooking the skyline, a man in a black suit placed a photograph on his desk. His fingers rested against the edge of the old picture.His expression remained cold. But his eyes were fixed on the young woman standing beside a little girl.A younger version of Aveline. Kael Donovan quietly whispered her name.“Aveline Rhodes.” Then he picked up his phone.“Find her.” The person on the other end hesitated.“We found her already.”Kael's eyes narrowed.“Where?” “She just lost her job.”For the first time that day, something changed in Kael's expression. “Good.”He looked at the photograph again.“Then maybe she'll accept the offer.” The call ended. And Aveline, completely unaware of what was waiting for her, continued walking down the street in search of a job she desperately needed. She thought she was simply looking for a way to survive. She didn't know she was walking toward the beginning of the biggest secret of her life.