As I cleaned the smooth surface, I heard Lena ask, “Honey, are you done?”
Leaning away from the bar, I turned toward her. I smiled, waving the cleaning towel in the air. “Almost. I just need to finish wiping down the bar.”
“Okay. Hurry up and finish, then you are done for today.”
It’s been a week since I started working at the estate. I didn’t know anything about cooking or cleaning. At my father’s house, I had maids who did it all while I was trapped in my bedroom.
But Lena helped me with the transition, and she was always gentle. When she assigned me to work, she made sure I was only doing the cleaning. And I was always with her, so the other maids wouldn’t judge me.
Even though I knew the house was filled with people, I was surprised that I barely saw anyone other than a few maids here and there, as if everyone was in the shadows.
Most of my time was spent in the kitchen, helping Lena make the food, and then I would clean when she was done. The first three days were horrible and I was sure Lena had a good laugh at all the messes I made. But I was finally getting the hang of it.
A few minutes later, I was done. Swiping at my forehead tiredly, I sagged against the counter. Most of the time, I was done around seven or eight. But we had guests over, so the estate was really busy. Now it was close to midnight.
After doing a quick check around the kitchen to make sure that I was finished, I turned off the lights and walked out. As I closed the door, I saw Lena coming toward me.
“I’m done,” I announced with a quick smile. She came closer and enveloped me in a hug.
“Good job,” she said as she pulled back. Lena was a very affectionate woman. In my short time here, she had become a mother to me.
My mom died when I was only a year old. I never knew what it was like to have a mother caring for me, so I hung on to Lena’s affectionate side. I let my heart accept the fact that there was someone who cared for me, like the lonely child I was.
Giving her a nod and after saying goodnight, I headed for my room. My legs felt heavy as I walked up the stairs, tiredness overtaking me.
I stopped when I noticed the door of the sitting room open. The sitting room was between my room and Alessio’s. I looked around me. No one was there. With a nervous gulp, I slowly made my way toward the room. As I got closer, I saw that the lights were on. Leaning forward, I peeked inside.
There was no one.
I walked in and went straight to the piano next to the large windows. Two days before, I had been assigned to clean the sitting room, which was also a library. When I walked in, the first thing that got my attention was the large piano.
Music had always been my solace. I used to play the piano every day at my father’s estate. It helped me forget.
The only way that I could block the memories of what Alberto did to me every night was by losing myself in music. The rhythm. The soft and gentle sounds that came through the keys.
As I got closer to the piano, my heart started to beat faster. I knew I shouldn’t have been there but I couldn’t stop myself. I stopped in front of the bench and leaned forward, placing my hand gently on the piano keys.
My fingers were itching to play. Just one song.
But I couldn’t. I was told not to come into this room, except for cleaning. Softly moving my fingers over the keys, I made sure I didn’t press down.
With a heavy sigh, I stepped away, my hand falling from the piano. Giving it a final sad glance, I walked away, my body turning into itself with desolation. Closing my bedroom door behind me, I leaned against it with a sigh and then shut my eyes tiredly. The lights were off, except for the tiny lamp on my nightstand.
While talking with Lena, I also found out that I was the only maid who didn’t live in the maids’ quarters. We were both surprised by it, but could I really question Alessio’s decision? I didn’t think so.
I started to undress, slowly removing my dress, my body languid. Throwing the black dress on the nightstand, I reached blindly for my night shirt on the bed.
Just when I was about to put it on, a deep rough voice came from behind me.
“I have to say, you have a lovely body.”
I shrieked loudly and swiveled around toward the voice. I tried to focus on the intruder, but he was effortlessly hidden in the darkness.
I didn’t have to see him to know who it was.
I knew that voice. My body knew that voice.
Alessio.
I took a step back in fear, my nightshirt pressed against my body, hiding my nakedness from his eyes. Shaking from head to toe, I swallowed hard and my stomach started to cramp in fear—maybe in anticipation too.
Suddenly, the lights were on. I had to blink a few times to adjust my eyes.
Alessio was sitting in my sofa chair, leaning back comfortably. His left ankle was crossed on top of his right knee and there was a small remote in his hand, which he probably used to turn on the lights.
He wasn’t wearing a suit. But he did have his black slacks on and a black linen shirt, which was unbuttoned at the top, to reveal some of his chest.
His hard, muscular chest. I forced away the thought.
Keeping my eyes on him, I saw his gaze intensely focused on my body. There was no embarrassment. No awkwardness. Alessio was completely calm and confident as his eyes raked over my body.
“Hmm,” he muttered, looking thoughtful as he watched me.
He leaned back against the sofa. His muscles were clear beneath his shirt, making him look big.
I forced myself not to fidget, but it was hard. I couldn’t show fear. Men like him fed on fear. They used it to their advantage.
My fingers tightened around my shirt. My throat felt heavy and dry. When I started to feel lightheaded, I realized I’d been holding my breath for too long.
I let it out in a loud whoosh and then sucked in a deep breath again, but it was pointless.
His heated gaze traveled all the way down my body. I was speechless and frozen where I stood. When my body started to warm up under his focus, I closed my eyes tightly. But the tingling didn’t stop.
When he stood and walked toward me, I shrunk away. His dark presence filled the room, and I suddenly felt hot. Sweat beaded on my neck and between my breasts as he moved closer.
When he stopped before me, I shivered in fear and my body tensed in alarm. Alessio stepped closer until we were half an inch apart, so close that my nose started to tingle with the scent of his cologne and I could feel his breath next to my ear.
My lips were suddenly dry. When I moistened them with my tongue, Alessio’s eyes followed the movement. If possible, his already lustful gaze became more heated.
He licked his own lips too, making the action appear so deeply sensual that I had to squeeze my legs together, trying to stop the sudden tingling between them.
What’s happening to me?
Alessio leaned his head forward until his lips were hovering over mine. My body froze, my mind went blank for a moment.