"I'm not hiring her."
The voice came from the darkest corner of the room.
Lucien sat back in his chair, half-hidden by shadows. When he lifted his head, gold eyes flickered, darkened by flecks that looked like dust drifting in low light.
John swallowed.
"Master, you know how hard it is to find a proper maid now," he said carefully. "Especially with the rumors surrounding the Voss family."
"Fire her," Lucien replied flatly.
"Sir..."
"Fire her, John. And send her away."
The finality in his tone made John's spine stiffen.
"You said you wanted to waste money," John tried again, choosing his words with care. Because the last time he had spoken out of line, his master hadn't been too kind to him. He still had no idea how he was still living till this very moment. "I found a way."
Lucien let out a short breath, almost a laugh. "Hiring an underage girl and paying her an unreasonable salary isn't wasting money. It's stupid. Clubs drain more money in one night."
"She's twenty-two," John said quietly, eyes fixed on the floor.
Lucien paused.
"Oh," he muttered. "So she is of age."
He leaned forward slightly. "And how does that change anything?"
John had no answer.
"Go fire her," Lucien said again.
"Yes, Master."
John turned and left the study, his steps heavy as he walked toward the lounge. Elise was still seated where he had left her, hands on her cellphone. Her face looked so worried, shoulders stiff, posture too careful.
She looked… worn.
Too thin. Too pale. Like someone holding herself together with effort alone. Like she could just die if he let her go.
John hesitated.
He imagined her standing outside the gate in the rain, waiting for hours. Only God knows how long she stood outside today. He imagined sending her back out into the cold night with nothing.
John who was a cold-hearted man like his boss had no idea why he was being... Empathetic.
When she looked up at him, jade-green eyes wide and hopeful, something twisted painfully in his chest.
"You're hired," he heard himself say and her face lit up. Though there was a little shock on her face.
John didn't know what possessed him.
He only knew he couldn't send her away. He would find a way to convince his master to let her stay.
When he returned to the study, Lucien was already going through paperwork. The lights were on now, revealing sharp features and an expression carved from impatience.
"Did you fire her?" Lucien asked without looking up and John froze by the door.
"She'll be on a one-month trial master," he said quickly.
The rustle of paper stopped and Lucien lifted his gaze.
John dropped to his knees instantly, his hands pressed to the floor. "I'm sorry, sir. I know I overstepped." The silence between them stretched.
"But you really do need a maid to care for you and... And make your favorite coffee while I'm working," John continued, voice steady despite the fear in his chest. "The workload is too much on me master. You need someone trustworthy. Someone who won't talk to the press. She has no connections, no family influence, and nowhere else to go."
Lucien said nothing.
"She won't cause trouble," John added. "She won't ask questions. And if she fails, even once, you can send her away."
Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And if she doesn't?"
John hesitated.
"You're in no position John to tell me what I need and what not," Lucien said.
"Then please one week. One week, and if she fails, then you can fire her." John pleaded.
"Get out John, I'll send her away myself," Lucien said.
"But can she at least stay the night? It's already very late to send a lady out in the night." Lucien narrowed his eyes at his assistant.
"Are you in love with her John?" John's eyes turned wide at his master's words.
"NO! I would never master. I just feel pity."
"Pity?" Lucien smiled.
"You little bastard." John opened his mouth to speak and...
"Get out." Came his master's words. "I'll get her fired tomorrow," Lucien added and went back to his papers.
----
Meanwhile, in the lounge, Elise quickly brought out her pills and took them. She had stayed outside all day and had forgotten to take them. All she needed now was a change of clothes which she hoped the mansion had, else, she had nothing else to wear.
"Alright, please come this way, I'll show you to your room. You start work as early as tomorrow." John said with a smile.
"Miss Elise, make sure you take your Job seriously. My boss, isn't maid-friendly." John said.
"If you make a mistake as much as coughing before him, you're fired. Try your best to be as invisible as possible." Elise nodded seriously, paying close attention to what he had to say to her.
"Now, my boss likes his coffee bitter and loves to drink it so early. So do well to be awake to deliver his coffee."
"Yes sir." Came Elise's response as they climbed up the stairs.
"I'll give you a room right next to my master's. Just in case he needs anything from you." John said now standing before a door. He brought out a key and unlocked the door before stepping in with Elise.
Elise's eyes went wide when she saw how big the room was. This was times four her room back in her father's mansion.
She isn't from a poor family, she was just not treated like a part of the family.
The child who would never even live past one year had survived childbirth than a woman who was so full of life. Till this day, everyone wishes she had died instead. So her father and sisters did things that would put her in trouble and end her life quickly.
Because of how ill she was, she couldn't go to school since she fainted all the time. It's a miracle she hasn't fainted since she arrived at this mansion.
"This is your room," John said. "I'll get you clothes to change into," John added and stepped out of the room.
In no time, John returned with a few clothes in his hands. But the problem was that, they all belonged to men.
"I'm sorry, but these are the only clothes we have available. I'll take you to the tailor tomorrow to get your attire sown, but until then. You'll have to wear this." Elise nodded without complaints.
The clothes we had given her were the best. At least, it'd shield her from the cold for the time being.