TERESA'S P.O.V.
The butler showed me to my room and told me to call him anytime I needed anything, I stood there blinking, my brain trying to process what he had just said. Call him? For what? I thought I was supposed to be the one answering calls, scrubbing floors, and probably doing a bad job of it. I muttered a thank you and shut the door behind me, the soft click of the lock feeling louder than it should have been.
And then I saw it, my room.
I had expected a tiny, cramped space with barely enough room to breathe—something befitting my supposed maid status. But what greeted me was a room that screamed royalty. The bed, for one, was massive, draped in silk sheets the color of champagne. Gold accents sparkled on the high posts of the canopy, and an extravagant chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a soft, warm glow over the plush velvet couches in the corner. The smell of fresh roses lingered in the air, their petals arranged elegantly on a table by the window. The walls were lined with intricate wallpaper, almost as if each design told a story of luxury. It was the kind of room I'd only seen in magazines—rooms meant for queens. Queens. Not maids.
Why was I, a supposed maid, given this room? The closet itself could've been a small apartment—who needed this much space? And then there was another smell. Lavender, fresh and calming, filled the air, which, oddly, did help with my spiraling thoughts.
Okay, Teresa. Focus.
I sat on the edge of the bed—no, I sank into it—and for a second, I almost forgot why I was here. My phone buzzed. Luke. Of course, he'd pick the worst possible moment. I glanced at the time—10 AM. Great, as if I didn't already have enough on my plate.
My heart skipped. What on earth was I going to tell him?
"Hello?" I answered, knowing full well what was coming.
"Teresa, what the hell do you mean by 'a weird live-in job'? Where are you?" Luke's voice shot through the phone like a missile. He didn't waste any time.
"I'm, uh… I'm at a place near Rockville. It's not far. Just a bit of a trip," I lied smoothly, but I bit my lip right after. Why did I think lying to my brother was a good idea?
"Near Rockville? Teresa, you've just barely began job hunting and all of a sudden you're taking one that has you living there? What if something happens? How the hell did you even get to know about this job? Do you know anyone there who can—"
"I'll be fine, Luke. Promise. I'll call you often, alright? Just relax, okay?"
Luke huffed, clearly not convinced, but before he could argue more, I heard a knock at the door. "I have to go," I quickly said and hung up before he could protest.
I stared at the door, heart pounding. Was this it? Was someone coming to yell at me for not being dressed in some maid outfit and scrubbing the floors? Slowly, I opened the door, and to my surprise, there stood the most gorgeous pair of people I'd ever seen.
The man was tall, blond-haired, and his blue eyes sparkled with so much energy I thought he might bounce off the walls. His grin was wide, and his whole body radiated friendliness. The woman next to him was just as stunning—perfect waves of brown hair, a figure that looked like it was sculpted from marble, bright brown eyes, and an outfit that screamed sophistication.
"Hi! I'm Rylan," the man said, holding out his hand eagerly.
"And I'm Juliette," the woman chimed in, her voice like silk. She smiled warmly, but there was something in her eyes, a glint of excitement that I couldn't quite place.
I took their hands, muttering my name. "Teresa."
Rylan practically bounced on his feet, and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "I'm Lucian Blackwood's best friend and right hand man," he said, like that explained everything. "I take care of things around here, and if you need anything, I mean anything, I'm your guy. A tour? Done. Help with anything? I've got you."
What was happening? I was supposed to be working here, right?
"Uh, thanks?" I managed, still in shock. But before I could even process Rylan's enthusiasm, Juliette jumped in.
"And I've been assigned to look after you! Whatever you need, I'm here. I'll follow you around, but don't worry, I'll give you space if you need it. Just think of me as your personal assistant... or a friend." She winked.
My head was spinning. These people were excited—excited that I was here. What on earth was happening? I felt like I'd stepped into an alternate universe. They were treating me like royalty. I quickly snapped out of my shock and politely asked, "Is it possible to meet Mr. Blackwood?"
Juliette nodded, a little too enthusiastically. "Of course! I'll go let him know you'd like to see him!" Before I could even react, she dashed off down the hallway like a woman on a mission.
"Uh... okay then," I muttered, staring after her. Rylan chuckled beside me. "She's... very excited."
"Why?" I asked before I could stop myself. "Why are you all so excited?"
"Why wouldn't we be?" he asked with a grin. "Now, let me get your phone real quick."
I hesitated, but then handed it over. He typed in his number, called himself, and handed it back. "Now we have each other's numbers. Convenient, right?" He winked.
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This was all so bizarre. Rylan seemed way too friendly, almost as if he had been waiting for me his whole life.
"Thanks," I muttered, still dazed. What was going on?
"So, is there anything you'd like to do right now?" he asked, still bouncing with excitement.
"I... uh, actually, I'd like to talk to Mr Blackwood first. Then maybe we can take that tour?" I said timidly.
His face lit up. "Deal! I'll be waiting." And with that, he practically skipped away down the hall.
I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, utterly dazed. What in the world was going on? Everyone here acted like I was the guest of honor, and yet… I was just Teresa. Right? What in the world had I gotten myself into?