Chapter 8
1174 Words
Geraldine’s Point of View
The following day, I was inside a taxi on my way to the Muller mansion, nervously biting my lower lip as I stared out the window.
What should I do first? Luckily, I had seen a job post online— they were looking for a maid at the Muller estate. Not a personal maid for Mike, but a general housekeeper. The perfect cover. Still, how was I supposed to get close to him, to uncover what I needed and finally end this mission?
“Miss.”
My thoughts were broken by the driver calling out to me.
“Yes?” I turned to him, confused.
“You know where you’re going, right?”
His tone made my brows furrow.
“Yes, of course. Why?”
“Do you even know what kind of place that is?” His eyes flickered toward the road ahead as if he wasn’t sure whether to continue. “People say the mansion is cursed. They say there are gunshots echoing from inside every so often, and bodies… well, let’s just say, they don’t always leave in one piece.”
I blinked, my heart quickening.
“Really?”
“That’s what they say. No one lasts long working in there. The servants are said to be treated harshly, worse than prisoners. But no one can really prove anything, since the entire estate is sealed shut. Nobody from the outside ever sees what truly happens within those walls.”
A strange thrill tingled through me. This was no ordinary mission. It was going to be dangerous— and exciting.
The driver glanced at me again, shaking his head. “Aren’t you scared? What exactly are you going in there for?”
“I’m applying as a maid,” I said simply.
His jaw tightened. “Then you’d better be careful, Miss. If I were you, I’d turn around right now.”
I only smiled faintly, keeping my composure. Before I could respond, the taxi slowed down and came to a sudden stop.
“One more corner and we’d be there, Mr. Driver,” I said lightly.
“Sorry, Miss. This is as far as I can take you.”
I sighed softly and nodded. I paid the fare, stepped out, and retrieved my small suitcase.
“Please, take care,” the driver said, almost urgently, before he sped away without looking back.
Left alone, I turned toward the looming sight before me.
A massive wall stretched endlessly along the property— tall, gray, and foreboding. It almost reminded me of something out of Attack on Titan. Despite the rumors that the family had gone bankrupt, the grandeur of this estate told a different story. This wasn’t just a mansion; it was an entire hacienda.
Gripping the handle of my suitcase, I walked until I reached the main gate.
“Hello? Anybody there?” I pressed the doorbell.
A sharp voice rang out almost immediately. “Who are you?”
I froze.
“Ah, hello! I applied online for a maid position here. I submitted all my documents,” I replied politely.
“Are you Miss Gerlie Dell?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
The gate creaked open and my heart thudded when I saw several armed guards standing there.
This is it.
“Good morning!” I greeted them brightly, slipping into my role. Today, I wasn’t Geraldine the undercover agent. I was a simple, cheerful province girl who just wanted a job.
The guards exchanged puzzled looks but didn’t speak.
“May I go inside?” I asked sweetly.
“Let me see your ID.”
“Of course.” I handed it over with a smile. After a tense pause, one of them nodded and gestured for me to enter.
My eyes immediately landed on a small golf cart nearby.
“Wow, this place is huge!” I exclaimed, gawking like a newcomer in the city.
One of the guards pointed at the cart. “You’ll be taken to the main house by that.”
Feigning amazement, I widened my eyes. “Really? A golf cart? Who’s the driver?”
The driver was already seated behind the wheel. He was young, stern-faced, and admittedly handsome.
“Oh my! What a handsome driver I have. I’ll leave my safety in your hands, Mr. Driver.” I gave him a playful smile as I hopped in.
The guards loaded my suitcase into the back, and soon the cart hummed to life. The vast grounds rolled past us— manicured gardens, tall trees, perfectly aligned hedges.
“Wow, everything looks so well cared for. You must have an army of gardeners.”
The driver ignored me, his eyes fixed ahead.
“I didn’t realize I was in the presence of royalty!” I teased, grinning at him.
For the first time, his head turned slightly, his brow furrowed.
“See? Not such a snob after all,” I chuckled.
His lips pressed into a thin line. “Stop talking. It’s irritating to my ears. And remember this— our master despises talkative people.”
A nervous laugh escaped me. “Really? That makes me even more curious. Is he the strict type? Handsome? Muscular? Or maybe… already old?”
His glare darkened. “Do you want to lose your tongue?”
I instinctively touched my lips and mimed zipping them shut, nodding quickly. From then on, I kept quiet until we finally reached the mansion.
Waiting at the entrance was a stern-looking woman. Her aura was sharp, commanding— she reminded me of Miss Minchin from Princess Sarah.
“So you’re the new maid?”
I blinked, then pointed at myself. “Me?”
“Who else?”
“Ah yes, that’s me. I’m Ger—”
“I already know your name. It’s on your bio-data.”
“Right. Of course.”
“I’m Estrella, the head maid of Master Michael’s household.”
I nodded politely. “Nice to meet you.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she took a long breath as if she needed patience just to deal with me.
“Follow me.”
Grabbing my suitcase, I trailed after her, gawking at the ornate chandeliers, the grand staircase, and the gleaming marble floors. Wealth and power oozed from every corner of this place.
“Uh, what should I call you?” I asked innocently. “Madame? Chief? Maybe… Big Sister?”
She stopped in her tracks and turned to me with eyes sharp as blades.
“You talk too much.”
“I’ll be quiet now, Sister,” I said with a cheeky smile.
Her eyes widened in annoyance, clearly hating the nickname. She was about to scold me further when suddenly—
The maids cleaning nearby bowed their heads. Their movements were swift, almost instinctive. Even Estrella bowed, her posture stiff with respect.
My heart raced.
There, standing at the doorway, was the man who had stolen something I could never take back.
Mike.
And with that, the mission had officially begun.
******
LMCD22
- Writer
