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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