THE MAID

Day one

Chapter One

The morning was shrouded in an eerie darkness, a stark contrast to the usual brilliance of the rising sun. Julian sat motionless, his fingers clenching around his phone, his jaw tight. The message on his screen burned into his mind, each word a dagger twisting deeper into his chest.

"It’s been two years, yet she saw it as nothing..."

His voice was low, bitter. Rage simmered beneath the surface, an untamed storm ready to break loose. A sharp knock on the door disrupted his thoughts, and within seconds, the scent of food filled the air.

The servant placed the tray before him with a cautious glance, but the second Julian took a bite, his expression contorted with disgust. The tray crashed to the ground, the ceramic plate shattering into jagged pieces.

“Who prepared this disaster?!” His voice echoed, a sharp blade slicing through the silence.

The servants instinctively stepped back, their faces pale. Only Alex, his assistant, dared to respond.

“That must be the chef, sir. I’m so—”

“Fire her. Immediately.” Julian’s command was final, cutting off Alex’s attempt at justification.

Alex hesitated. “Sir, this is the fourth maid you've fired this week.”

Julian’s gaze snapped to him, cold and lethal. “And who are you to tell me that?”

Alex swallowed, his throat dry. “I meant no offense, sir, but we’re running out of staff. Finding someone willing to work here… it’s becoming a challenge.”

“I don’t care if this is the last maid in existence. I want her gone.” Julian’s breathing was heavy, controlled fury emanating from him.

Alex nodded quickly, sensing there was no room for argument. “Understood, sir.”

Julian leaned back, inhaling deeply, as though willing the storm inside him to settle. “What does my day look like?”

“You have a meeting with De Ville from 8 AM to 10 AM.”

“And after that?”

“A scheduled meeting with your parents.”

A shadow passed over Julian’s face. “Cancel it.”

Alex blinked. “Sir?”

Julian’s voice was ice. “Cancel the meeting with my parents.”

“But—”

Julian’s stare cut through him. Alex exhaled sharply and lowered his head. “Okay, sir.”

Julian pushed back his chair abruptly. “Where is my driver? Why isn’t my car ready?” His voice was dangerously quiet.

Alex checked his phone. “He called earlier. There was an issue with the car, but he went to fix it. He should be back any minute—” He paused, relief washing over him as the driver pulled into the compound. “Oh! He’s here now.”

The second the driver stepped out, Julian stalked toward him.

“The keys.”

The driver hesitated, startled. “Sir?”

“You’re fired. I want you replaced before I return. And if I get to the office before you, consider it your last day.” Julian didn’t wait for a response. He grabbed his files from Alex, slid into the driver’s seat, and sped off without another word.

The driver stood frozen, his face twisted with disbelief. “What just happened?! Didn’t you tell him the car had issues?” He turned to Alex, desperate. “You need to beg him… please, I need this job.”

Alex sighed. “I tried. He’s in one of his moods. Just wait around—I’ll talk to him later.”

The driver nodded weakly, clinging to what little hope he had left.

Julian gripped the steering wheel, his mind racing.

Bunch of ingrates. His fingers tightened. Didn’t he know how important this meeting was?

And then there was her. The woman he had given two years of his life to, only for her to betray him with some low-life nobody.

His chest burned. What a fool I was.

His frustration swelled as he tugged at his tie. “Why is this thing so damn tight?!”

His thoughts were abruptly shattered by the blaring of a horn.

“HEY! What’s wrong with you?! Do you want to get me killed?!”

A woman’s furious voice rang out as she stumbled backward, her bag nearly slipping from her grip. Julian exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples.

He glanced in the rearview mirror and scowled. Who the hell is this now?

The woman glared at him, arms crossed. “Are you even going to apologize?!”

Julian scoffed. “And who the hell are you?”

She let out an exaggerated sigh. “Someone who almost died because of your reckless driving!”

Julian gave her a slow, unamused once-over. “Then you should consider it a blessing. You’re still alive.”

He rolled up his window before she could respond and pulled away, the woman’s string of curses fading into the background.

By the time he reached his company, Alex had managed to catch up.

“Sir, your father called,” Alex said as he hurried to match Julian’s long strides.

“Pick it up.” Julian didn’t slow his pace.

The deep baritone of his father’s voice filled the air. “Julian.”

“I can hear you, Dad.”

“You canceled our meeting. Why?”

Julian’s fingers curled around his phone. “I’ll call you later.” Without waiting for a response, he ended the call and tossed the phone to Alex.

“Busy my line.”

Alex nodded, tucking the phone away as they reached the office doors.

“Good morning, Boss.” A young woman greeted him with a polite smile, but Julian didn’t spare her a glance as he strode into his office.

His employees whispered as Alex emerged moments later.

“Is he okay?”

Alex forced a smile. “Just not in the best mood.”

Before he could say anything else, Julian’s voice rang from his office.

“Alex!”

Alex sighed. Here we go again.

He stepped inside. “Sir?”

“You handle the De Ville meeting. I have something more urgent to attend to. If there’s a problem, solve it. Do not call me.”

Julian was already walking past him before Alex could even process the order.

Julian had barely been gone an hour before fate decided to test his patience again.

“HEY! You scum! Do you have eyes, or are you blind?!”

A woman’s furious voice rang through the crowded street.

Julian tensed. Not again.

Slowly, he turned his head, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the very same woman from earlier.

His gaze dropped to his now-soaked suit, the coffee dripping onto the pavement.

The woman gasped, her own eyes widening in recognition. “Oh no.”

Julian’s fingers flexed at his sides, his jaw tightening. “You again?”

She gulped. “I—”

“Apologize.” Her tone hardened, her earlier hesitation vanishing.

Julian let out a dark, humorless chuckle. “You must be joking.”

Her brows furrowed in frustration. “You nearly hit me earlier, and now I ruin your expensive suit, and I’m the one who should apologize?”

Julian took a slow, intimidating step forward. “I don’t do apologies.”

The woman scoffed. “Rich fool. That’s what you all are. Entitled and arrogant.”

She turned to leave, but before she could take another step, Julian’s guards intervened, blocking her path.

Julian watched, amused, as she glared at them.

“Oh, you’re one of those people.” She crossed her arms. “Think money makes you untouchable?”

Julian smirked. “No. I just don’t waste my time on insignificant people.”

Her lips parted in shock, but before she could respond, Julian stepped past her and into his car.

As he drove away, he found himself gripping the wheel harder than usual.