Tainted Love

g on a cold, hard floor, her head throbbing with every beat of her heart. As s

e? How did s

the desperation in her grandfather's eyes. Sophia's heart sank as she realized sh

-

ears E

ghter, Sophia, from the salon. They had dropped her off earlier to get her hair done before heading to churc

e-Sophia's grandfather, who was already in his late seventies. Upon arriving at the hospital, he was informed that his son an

ophia bombarded him with questions about her parents, but he had no answers. That night

to the only place he could think of-his old place of work. Swallowing his pri

d him the money. The old man rushed to the hospital to settle the bill

*

Years

are for her aging grandfather. When Grandpa Ronan saw her again, he fell to his knees and wept.

"you can't stay here with me. You must

ed everything-the unpaid debt to the Russo fami

sed to leave. "I'm not going anyw

randpa Ronan with brutal force. Sophia tried to intervene, but her strength was n

g to her knees before a man in

he sobbed.

with mild curiosity

aughter," one of

do you have to offer in e

ut, "Myself! I'll work for you-I'l

one condition," she added quickly, "you must

said with a

k and helpless. After a tearful goodbye, Sophia was taken away. Bru

, underground room. Alone and exhausted, sh

awake. A man stood over her,

oung lady. The bos

run-but she knew better. The

aze. "Let's go," she said, tryi

ornate doors, lavish artwork, and plush furni

topped at a lar

," the m

at a man cloaked in shadow. As he leaned fo

his family. You'll be working fo

ened and a young man entered. His r

he asked, his voice laced with

touch her," Bruno replied sharpl

lowed hard.

led, amusement twi

ur name, b

sir," she

r for the tasks ahead. And thus, Sophi

cal. She said little, offering only the occasional nod or grunt of direction. Eventu

instructed. "The young ma

dress with a white apron-fit snugly but not provocatively. When

m now on. You speak when spoken to, move w

ia n

and old-world wealth. They stopped in front of a door slightly ajar. Sh

" Leonardo cal

expensive furniture, books, and the overwhelming scent of cologne. L

slowly and walking toward

sture straight and

," he comma

ob

predator sizing up prey. "D

r," she

er to the window, sipping his drink. "Your job is to do everything I ask-wi

wed hard but

brow raised. "A

ze with quiet

Then his face darkened. "But don

n stepped in-tall, lean, dressed in black

curtly. "Your fath

his drink. "Duty calls." He glanced back a

mained standing. She looked around the room, taking in every detail-not out of curiosity, bu

onger just ab

about sta

rning came

shown to late the night before. She woke to the sound of a bell-sharp, commanding,

means you're to repor

embled as she tied her apron, nerves rattling in her chest like a caged bird. S

and scrolling through his phone. A pair of wireless headphones hung around h

he said witho

ophia replied quick

her coffee. Bl

sitated. "May I ask w

de him

the kitchen is, and yet you're late? Ts

ted out key areas of the mansion-the kitchen, laundry room, and his fathe

h a smirk. "Let's see if you know ho

phia prepared the drink with shaking hands and ret

ever leaving hers. "Hmm. No

ed compliment gave h

nder the supervision of his assistant, and cleaning areas of the suite most maids weren't even allowed to touch. Leo

calculated. Measured. As if he

she refused to let it show. She would not give him-or a

n his dinner, Leonardo spoke a

ther maids," he said,

d. "How do y

ut not reckless." His eyes met hers

parted, but sh

ng her. "You might jus

ed her with a f

hallway, heart pounding, she k

rang, determined not to repeat her first-day mistake. She had memorized his routine,

window, Leonardo emerged from the bathroom, towel slun

he barked, point

. "Your brea

him poison. "Where's the honey for the tea? And t

t told," Soph

"Do I look like I have time to teach

rry, si

w it across the room. The ceramic dish shattered

ely stepping back. Her he

y, little maid," he hissed. "You're here because I allowed it. You don't ge

deeper than

pered, struggling to kee

nt, then scoffed and turned away. "Cle

oset, Sophia stood frozen amidst the

eyes, but she bl

reminded herself. For Grandpa

, she began to pick

last sliver of normalc