LOVE BEYOND DUTY

– The Weig

fore the sun had even

enced the shrill beeping. For a moment, she stayed there, eyes half-open, staring at the faint outline of the cei

aid in their sprawling estate for nearly three years now, long enough to know that Leonardo Castellano, the heir and CEO of Caste

sed to tight spaces and tighter budgets. Her room fit a bed, a wardrobe, and a small desk cluttered with textbooks. The books were her one indulgence bu

she ha

the city, but Sofia Alvarez was not going to be a maid forever. She was going to work,

ng back the stubborn strand that always fell over her eyes. She checked the clock. 4:58 a.m. If she start

aircase. The air smelled faintly of polished wood and last night's rain.

tal chandelier above catching the first shy light of dawn. To her, this w

l-trained shadows. And later today, according to the butler's whispered announcement last nig

ot with excitement, but with the low-level

d been enough to form an impression. Tall, broad-shouldered, dark-haired, and sharp-eyed, Leonardo was the

an who could make a mista

soft clink of porcelain against the polished table was almost hypnotic, and for a moment, she imag

the sound of a door slamm

ng. He wasn't supposed to b

ser, and before she could move out of

do Cas

he'd stepped out of a magazine. His dark hair was slightly tousled, his jaw dusted with stubble. B

r as if she'd trespa

dropped to the cof

eel it the sudden, horrifying slip. The cup tipped forward before she could reac

hat followed

ic shooting through her c

ou have any idea how

ks. "I I didn't see y

looking. You work in a house where precision is ever

d. "Sofia. S

g it to memory likely so he could r

n at the spreading stain on his shirt. "And tr

walked away, his long str

a lifeline, her heart pounding in her ears. She wanted to b

ion with Leonardo Castellano, a

, Sofia. Re

c motion of the cloth instead of the lingering sting of his words. She'd been scolded before plenty

was the way he spoke, like every sylla

ted to the kitchen, where the early

her and raised an eyebrow. "What happen

a little too firmly. "Not a

him?" Marta'

a no

then smirked. "Well? Did the famous Leonardo Ca

you mean nearly fire me for sp

eryone in the estate had heard stories about the CEO how he could negotiate a

asn't entire

tting the breakfast trays, made a mental note to replace the

at the tall window in the laundry room, folding crisp, white shirts with practiced precision. She tried no

ple like him live in a different world.

g she wasn't allowed to attend. She managed to avoid another encounter with Leonardo, though she overheard him once, speaking sharply int

e was no time to rest. She changed into jeans and a simple blouse, gr

forty minutes forty precious minutes she spent reviewing her notes. Tonight's lecture wa

n a position where knowing the right thing to

ouse was quieter now, most of the lights dimmed. Sofia tiptoed

ade it witho

mo

, she heard footsteps. He

her. He wasn't wearing the stained gray shirt anymore this one was crisp

second, th

oss his face before he looked back

aid before realizing how s

again, sharp. "B

s to know she was taking classes especially Leonardo. In his world, ambition mig

said finally. "

she'd picked up cleaning

n gave a curt nod. "Be careful walking

ike a statement of fact but it c

" she said quietly, slipping

l the weight of his gaze, even if h

red at the ceiling again. Only this time, she

rt, and a voice that could slice through her defenses

rself it di

they were from

one could hear, she also t

ure she beli

fferent worlds could stil