would never
uture. I would take the envelope on the tabl
with my head down, feeling both relieved and ashamed. I paid my rent that same day
eded a real job. A job that would not make
the city. I stood in long lines with other girls who wer
mansion. Rich family. Need someone immediately.
ant no more rent. Food and accommodatio
ll. Richest part of the city. Houses th
bag on my shoulder. I wore my cleanest shi
on inside was huge. White walls, tall pillars, green garden, endless. A fo
waited at the main door. She
new girl from
s,
t around. The men are inside. You will meet th
s. My room was small but clean. Much better than my old apa
guest rooms. Assist the cook. Never enter the mas
s,
one. Be ready with water and arrange the tab
ht it was one fam
cars arriving. Two car
were slightly shaking because I wanted to make a good
eps behind
I would ne
ing so long
ood f
, commanding. The voi
I turned
t. His hair neatly combed. He looked even more powerful and cold in daylight. His icy
I stared at him.
ietly. The word c
nswer, another v
? Lunch is g
er, in a different way, warmer face. Casual shirt, jeans,
nded on me and h
rom college? Second r
class two years ago. He sat behind me. He helped me carry my books
gnoring the tension. "What are you doing here? I h
e me. Unlike his brother, hi
ow," I said softly.
? You were top of
ed. His voice was ice. He had not moved fr
een us, confused. "Do y
d quickly.
he same time, his eyes loc
ks burn. I looked down immediat
He pulled a chair. "Come, sit with us. You mus
id sharply. "Staff does not
eat with us. One week ago, I w
nger frowned at his brot
d, his voice harder. "Employees have ru
y. I wanted the ground
d. "I will go to the ki
d to escape. I could feel the olde
d to me and placed it in my hands. "I got this for you, actually. I got it yesterday for
s. Inside was a delicate silv
t accept
onsider it a welcome gif
n heavily. His face was dark, his jaw tight. He was
tly to the younger, not
red, his voice low, cont
chen, my heart pounding, the
ned against the wall
the penthouse again. Now I lived in his house. And his you
tty, innocent. But I remember
brothers. One owned my se
ob I needed to survive had become a
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