BENEATH HIS ROOF

The gates of the Westwood estate loomed like the entrance to a different world—one Bella Hart wasn’t sure she belonged in. The wrought-iron arch, etched with curling vines and gold initials, towered above the long, paved driveway that wound its way up to a house so massive it looked more like a palace than a home. Bella stood at the edge of the gravel, her duffel bag hanging off one shoulder and her heart pounding with nerves. The air smelled of trimmed grass and lavender, and the late afternoon sun caught the stone columns of the mansion’s façade, making it look like something out of a dream. Or maybe a movie. She took a breath. This wasn’t a dream or a movie. This was her job. A second later, the front door opened and a woman stepped out, stiff-backed and severe in a navy-blue uniform. She had iron-gray hair pulled into a bun so tight it looked painful and eyes that scanned Bella like a barcode. “You’re the new girl,” the woman said. Not a question. A fact. Bella straightened. “Yes, ma’am. Isabella Hart. But I go by—” “Isabella,” the woman repeated curtly. “We use full names here. I’m Mrs. Hawthorne. Head housekeeper. Come.” Bella scurried to follow her across the wide marble entry hall, which was easily bigger than her entire apartment back in the city. Light spilled in through a chandelier that sparkled with crystal droplets. Everything was pristine, as if time itself wasn’t allowed to settle here. They passed polished wooden floors, velvet curtains, gold-framed portraits—each corner a glimpse into a life she’d never known. A life of money. Old money. Mrs. Hawthorne kept talking as she walked briskly. “You’ll be assisting in the kitchen during breakfast, then rotating with laundry duties in the afternoon. You’ll clean the second-floor hallway and prepare tea at four precisely. The master doesn’t tolerate tardiness.” Bella nearly tripped trying to keep up. “The master?” “Mr. Westwood,” Mrs. Hawthorne snapped. “You don’t address him unless spoken to. You don’t enter his study. And you certainly don’t ask him questions.” Bella pressed her lips together. “Understood.” They stopped outside a narrow staircase tucked away near the back of the house. “Servant quarters are on the third floor. You’ll find your room at the end of the hall. Shared bath. Dinner’s at six sharp in the staff dining room. Uniforms are in the closet.” Mrs. Hawthorne turned and, with no further word, disappeared down the hall. Bella climbed the creaky steps, her bag thudding against her side. Her small room was barely wider than a closet—twin bed, dresser, a narrow window with a view of the gardens below—but it was clean, and it was hers. She sat on the bed and exhaled. This was the job she needed. After everything—losing her barista gig, her roommate moving out without notice, rent overdue—this was stability. Food, lodging, a paycheck. Respectable work. Even if the staff gave her side-eyes when she walked into the kitchen for her first shift. Even if no one said more than a few words to her. Even if the silence in the halls was so thick it muffled even her thoughts. ⸻ By the end of the first week, Bella had memorized the schedule to the minute. Mr. Westwood’s coffee at 6:30 sharp. No sugar, splash of oat milk. Newspapers placed in a neat stack outside his study. No fingerprints on the silverware. Always fluff the pillows on the parlor chaise twice—never once. And still, she hadn’t seen him. He was a presence more than a person. His footsteps echoed in the hallway sometimes. His voice—deep, clipped—came through closed doors during meetings. Occasionally, Bella caught a whiff of his cologne lingering in the stairwell after he’d passed. But he remained elusive. Untouchable. A name whispered by staff with deference. Mr. Westwood. It wasn’t until her tenth day that she saw him. Bella had just finished polishing the second-floor banister when she heard a voice. “Mrs. Hawthorne, have we not discussed this paint? It’s chipping again.” She turned. And there he was. Damian Westwood. He stood at the end of the hall, tall and composed, dressed in a gray suit that hugged his frame in all the right ways. His hair was dark, trimmed close on the sides, tousled slightly on top. His expression was sharp. Intense. A man used to control. A man who expected obedience. Mrs. Hawthorne murmured a reply—something about placing an order for repainting—but Bella couldn’t hear over the roaring in her ears. Then his eyes shifted. Met hers. For one moment, Bella forgot how to breathe. His gaze lingered. Not long. Not indecent. But enough to make her heart thud hard in her chest. He turned and disappeared into his study. Bella exhaled, steadying herself against the railing. It was ridiculous, really. He was her employer. A man worth billions. A man with scandalous headlines and high-profile photos in glossy magazines. And she—she was wiping down banisters. Yet her fingers tingled where his eyes had passed over her. Like his attention had weight. Heat. She hated how it made her feel. Not small exactly. Seen. ⸻ That night, she had a strange dream. She was in the garden, barefoot, wearing one of the silk gowns from the dressers in the East Wing. The flowers around her were taller than usual, their petals brushing her skin like whispers. And Damian stood across from her, sleeves rolled, eyes soft—not like the stern businessman she’d seen. He extended a hand. She took it. They didn’t speak. They didn’t need to. She woke up with her heart aching for something she couldn’t name. The next day, she dropped a tea tray. The crash echoed like a gunshot through the Westwood hallway. The porcelain shattered, scattering fragments across the floor. Hot tea splashed up her arm. Bella scrambled to her knees, heart racing. “Oh no, oh no—” “Don’t move.” She froze. His voice. Damian Westwood knelt beside her. Inexplicably. His tailored trousers brushing the marble as he picked up a large shard of broken china. “You’ll cut yourself,” he said. His tone wasn’t angry—just firm. She didn’t speak. Couldn’t. He handed her a folded linen napkin. “Wrap your hand.” She hadn’t even noticed the blood. Bella mumbled, “Thank you,” as she covered the nick on her palm. He stood, looked down at her, and for a moment, he seemed to hesitate. As if he wanted to say something else. Then his face shut down. “Be more careful,” he said. And he walked away. ⸻ Bella cleaned up the mess with shaking hands. She didn’t know what unnerved her more—the accident… or the strange flicker of warmth in his eyes. It didn’t matter. It couldn’t matter. Because in this house, people like her didn’t get fairy tale endings. They followed orders. Cleaned up spills. Disappeared into the background. And still, she couldn’t stop the whisper in her heart. What if he’s different? What if something’s changing? What if…