"Who are you?" My eyes snap open at the sound of that deep, authoritative voice.
I turn to see a tall boy standing right in front of me. He is strikingly handsome with black hair and dark eyes, though I can't quite discern their color at the moment. I'm guessing they're gray. Dressed in a black suit, white dress shirt, and black tie, he stands with his hands in his pockets, looking at me blankly. He's the same boy from the picture, and he appears just as young.
I quickly rise from my seat, smoothing my maid dress.
"Hello, sir. My name is Lisa. Your mother hired me this morning to be your personal maid. I've been waiting for you to come home so I can serve you your dinner," I say quickly, my voice shaking.
His gaze is intimidating, making it hard for me to meet his eyes.
I feel his eyes roam up and down my body, then he lets out a deep hum. "Hmm, so you are a maid? Ah, my mother has hired a maid. I just heard about that. Alright, I'll have dinner now then." He pauses, and I feel his eyes linger on my legs. Despite my dress reaching my knees, I suddenly feel self-conscious and start fidgeting. "And why are you sleeping on the couch?"
My heart skips a beat at his question. Still looking at my feet, I reply, "I'm sorry. I was told to wait for you until you came home to serve your dinner. Again, I apologize for dozing off on the couch. I've been waiting for you until midnight."
I hold my breath, waiting for his response. He sighs deeply. "Never mind then. I'm hungry and in the mood for food. So, what's for dinner?"
"Spaghetti and meatballs," I say nervously, daring to look up at him.
He smirks sarcastically. "Very nice, you even made my favorite. I love spaghetti. Should we eat now? I'm starving."
His look is intimidating—he's so handsome, with full pink lips that he bites and an eyebrow arched in curiosity. God, he's stunning, and it's intimidating.
I glance away, unsure why I suddenly feel so shy around him—my boss. "Of course, let me go serve you." I rush to the kitchen, warm up his food, and bring it to the dining room, placing it at his chair. "Your dinner, sir." I take a few steps back.
He steps into the dining room, examining the plate as he approaches the table. "Hmm, it looks tasty." He sits down, takes his fork, and begins to eat. I'm about to stand in a corner when Nikolai suddenly says, "Have a seat with me. I don't like to eat alone." He grabs my wrist and gently guides me into the seat next to him.
I'm taken aback, my eyes widening. His hand on my wrist feels electric, warmth radiating from his touch and spreading through me, even to places it shouldn't.
"I... um... I don't think I should be sitting—"
"Midnight? You're coming home at midnight? What is wrong with you?!" Meredith's voice pierces the air as she storms into the dining room.
I quickly pull my hand away from Nikolai's grip and look away awkwardly. Well, Meredith, that's one way to welcome your husband home, I suppose.
Nikolai rolls his eyes and sighs. "Calm down, Meredith. Can we talk about this tomorrow? I'm trying to enjoy my dinner."
She stands on the other side of the table, hands on her hips, glaring at him. "Oh, so your dinner is more important than my feelings?" She throws her hands up in frustration.
He closes his eyes, exhaling deeply. "My god, I married a drama queen, huh?" He mutters under his breath, and I don't think Meredith hears him. "You know I'm busy. I've already heard enough from you about this topic, Meredith! Yes, I was busy, so I came home late! Why are you always mad at me like this?! I don't even do anything wrong!"
"Nothing wrong? Nothing wrong?!" Meredith screeches, her voice so loud it makes me wince. "You're my husband, you jerk! Yet you're never here. We've only been married for a month!"
A month? I hadn't expected that. Nikolai puts his fork down, resting his elbows on the table and intertwining his fingers under his chin. "And for the billionth time, Meredith, I'm busy. I have school, first of all. And this is my new job; I need to do it. Why can't you understand that?"
His eyes narrow. "And don't talk to me like that. Do NOT call me a jerk!"
I can see Meredith glaring at Nikolai, her expression like a volcano ready to erupt. "Why are you talking about this in front of the maid? Why are you speaking to me like that in front of her?" Suddenly, she turns to me, snapping, "And you, Lisa! Did I tell you you could sit at the dinner table? Do you want to stain the chair with your filth? Get up!"
I quickly stand from the chair and move behind Nikolai, my gaze fixed on the ground.
"This brat…" Nikolai sighs. "'Filth'? You're really pissing me off." To my surprise, he turns back to me and offers a small but comforting smile. "Don't listen to her. Sit next to me again!" He pats the chair beside him gently. "Come back, Lisa."
I look at him awkwardly, unsure of what to do. Before I can react, Meredith screams at Nikolai, "Are you serious right now?" She then turns to me. "I said stand there. Don't sit down."
I feel so uncomfortable. Is there nowhere to hide in this room? Maybe under the table?
Nikolai's tone remains low and calm, but there's an unmistakable warning in it. "Meredith, leave Lisa alone," he says, surprising me. "She's my maid and my subordinate. And I said it's fine for her to sit at the dinner table. Understand? You're being jealous for no reason and blaming it on my maid. It's not her fault I came home late. It's mine."
With a deep sigh, he adds, "Now, get out of here, Meredith. Take a rest; it's midnight already. Let me have a chat with Lisa."
I'm taken aback, my jaw dropping slightly. Shouldn't he be siding with his wife? Is he serious right now, or is he saying this just to provoke her?
Meredith looks at him, her expression strained as if she's holding back an explosion. Her fists are clenched, and she grinds her teeth. "She is not sitting with you at the dinner table. I don't care if she is your personal maid."
I turn to Nikolai and notice a smirk playing on his lips. "What are you going to do, hm? Beat Lisa up? Don't try to pick a fight with me, Meredith. You can't win."
Meredith opens her mouth to respond, but he cuts her off, irritation threading his voice. "Stop it. I won't repeat myself. Now, I said get out. Shoo. Go rest in your bedroom. I don't want to hear your whining anymore. And don't order my maid around. She's my maid and takes orders only from me."
He turns to me. "And you, Lisa, come on, sit next to me. Don't make me repeat myself again because that was an order." His tone is firm, clear, and authoritative.
I'm shaking in my boots as I slowly sit down beside him, squeezing my legs together in an effort to remain calm.
The next sound I hear is a bitter scoff from Meredith. "So you'd rather sit with the maid than with your lawfully wedded wife? Heh. I knew it. From the moment I saw her, I knew something like this would happen. I just didn't think you'd start on the very first night you meet her. First thing tomorrow morning, I will tell your mother to fire her."
My heart skips a beat, then races, threatening to break free from my ribcage. Am I going to be fired? On my first day?
Nikolai responds to her in a calm voice, and I can't help but wonder how he manages to stay so composed while someone is screaming at him. "Don't you understand, Meredith? My mother is the one who hired this maid. If you tell my mother to fire her, I'll just hire her again tomorrow. Understand? Now, get out." He stares at her coldly.
I see a tear fall from Meredith's right eye. She quickly wipes it away, her voice dripping with rage. "You are such a jerk. If you don't treat me like a husband should, I will tell my father about this. And you know what that means."
She doesn't give Nikolai a chance to respond to her threat; she turns on her heel and storms out of the room, leaving me sitting there, stunned. What did that mean? What would telling her dad accomplish?
I hear a deep sigh escape Nikolai, and when I turn to look at him, our eyes meet. "Anyway, just sit next to me and continue eating dinner. Don't pay any attention to Meredith. You are my maid; I am your master. I'm the only person who orders you around."
I try hard to hold his gaze, but I feel too intimidated and shyly look down. Suddenly, I feel his hand gently touch my chin, lifting it to meet his gaze. I flinch, perhaps too noticeably.
Nikolai raises an eyebrow, confused. "Hey, why do you look so scared? I won't hit you. You even flinch when I touch you. Is there something in your past that makes you act like this?" His voice is calm and soft.
Wait, what? Was my flinching that obvious?
I quickly shake my head. "No, I just... don't want any trouble with your wife, you know." I smile nervously as I meet his dark eyes. There's something about them that draws me in, not in a way I expect. I squeeze my legs together and press my lips tightly, wondering why I feel so hot all over.
"Oh, don't worry about that. She's all talk, no action. Just ignore her." He suddenly takes my hands in his, caressing them gently. "You have such small and soft hands. You must be a gentle person. How old are you, though? You look and feel young."
My entire body responds as if he just did something electrifying, despite merely touching my hands. "I am 18, sir," I manage to say, struggling to keep my voice steady.
"Oh! 18, I see." He smirks, releasing my hands only to lift one and stroke my hair softly. I freeze in my seat. "Uhm, sir... what... what are you doing?" I try not to flinch at his touch.
He meets my gaze, his smirk lingering. Our eyes lock, making me hold my breath. "I just want to be your friend. That's all," he whispers, sending butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
His words leave me confused. "Friend?"
He chuckles softly. "Yes, a friend. I haven't had a genuine and kind-hearted friend before, and I feel like you could be the one. So... could you be my friend?"
He speaks softly, gently looking into my eyes. I notice his gaze darkening with interest. "Or maybe, more?" he adds, a playful glint in his eyes.
I watch as his thumb traces his lower lip, and my eyes follow the motion, thoughts flashing through my mind that are anything but innocent. Is it just me, or is there some kind of tension between us? He must notice because his lips curve into a smirk—caught. Realizing what I'm doing, I quickly look away, but it's already too late.
"More?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, my heart racing wildly in my chest.
I watch him lean in a little, his eyes never leaving mine. My breathing hitches, and I fidget in my seat. His gaze shifts to my lips, lingering for a few seconds with a small smirk before he leans closer until his lips brush against my ear. I feel his breath against my earlobe. "Yes, more like friends with a dirty secret," he whispers, and the unexpected intensity of his words sends a shiver down my spine.
What is happening?
I quickly push back my chair and stand up. "Sir, if you're done with your dinner, I'd like to wash the plate," I say, my voice shaky.
He raises an eyebrow, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. "Running away, huh? Is that it, Lisa?"
His words make me feel uneasy, and I take a step back. When he notices my reaction, he stands slowly and reaches for my hand. "Wait, wait, Lisa!" He stops me from backing away. "Just sit down, please. I still have something to talk to you about." His smile softens as he gently pulls my hand. "Please, hear me out."
Confused but wary of getting fired, I nod gently. "Okay." I sit back down next to him, my heart racing.
He smiles at me. "You're a good girl, and I like you." My heart does a flip, and a blush creeps onto my cheeks. I try to hide it, not quite believing that he likes me. After a moment, he continues, "I'm not being a creep or a pervert. I just want to be friends with you, sincerely." His smile is warm.
"But we just met. How can we be friends?" I ask carefully.
"People can become friends after the first meeting, Lisa. That's not unusual. I want to be your friend. Will you let me?"
I blink repeatedly, feeling nervous. I bite my lower lip and look away, trying to hide my blush. "Okay," I whisper.
I turn to look at him, and he smiles gently. "You won't mind being my friend, will you?" He waits for my answer.
Being friends with my boss? Would that have some benefits? I hope so. "I'll... I'll be your friend," I say, smiling nervously.
His smile widens. "That's nice to hear!" I blush again, feeling warmth spread across my cheeks. He chuckles, then suddenly stands and offers his hand. "You've done a lot today. I think you deserve some rest. Let me show you to the SQ."
I want to tell him that I should clean his plate first, but I hold back. I look at his hand for a moment before slowly placing mine in his, standing up.
He gently clasps my hand in his, his warm smile never leaving his face. The sensation of his hand holding mine sends butterflies fluttering in my stomach, and I do my best not to fidget or blush. With a gentle and reassuring grip, he leads me to the maid's room in the SQ. He opens the door for me, revealing a small but cozy space with a single bed, a dresser, and a nightstand. A small window in the corner lets in soft moonlight. He guides me inside, and with a final squeeze of my hand, he lets go once I'm in.
I turn to him, my voice small. "Thank you, sir."
He smiles warmly and nods. He watches me for a moment longer before saying, "Oh, of course!" He gently shuts the door, humming softly to himself. "Good night, my new friend," I hear as the door clicks closed.
I'm left standing there, unsure of what to think about everything that just happened. Nikolai Romanov stood up for me when his wife confronted me, invited me to sit with him, touched me, and asked me to be his friend.
As much as it pains me to admit it, I might actually enjoy being the maid of that charming Romanov boy.