Viviane, did you clean the dining room yet?"
"Yes, Mrs. Petras. I just finished," Viviane replied quickly, wiping her damp hands on her apron as she stepped away from the table.
Mrs. Petras ran her sharp gaze over the spotless surface, her manicured nails tapping lightly on the wood. "Spotless as always," she said with a small nod.
"Thank you, ma'am." Viviane felt a small wave of relief but knew better than to let it show too much. Mrs. Petras wasn't unkind, but she had high standards—higher than anyone else in the Petras household.
Just as Mrs. Petras turned to leave, Viviane's phone buzzed in her pocket. She hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one was watching before quickly answering.
"Hey, baby," Rick's cheerful voice came through.
"Rick," Viviane whispered, stepping into a corner. "I'm still at work."
"I know, I just… wanted to hear your voice. How's your day going?"
Viviane leaned against the wall, lowering her voice. "The usual. Cleaning, organizing, making sure nothing is out of place." She paused, glancing toward the sitting room where Mrs. Petras was inspecting the chefs' work. "I have to go now. I'll call you later."
"Okay," Rick replied, his tone soft. "Don't work too hard, alright?"
She smiled faintly. "I'll try."
Viviane ended the call and slipped the phone back into her pocket just as Mrs. Petras turned to her again. "Viviane, don't forget the windows in the east wing
Yes, ma'am," Viviane said.
The Petras family is one of the biggest conglomerates in the country and they equally live up to the task with their big mansion and multiple luxury cars, and their children heading different sub companies with the Petras City being the head company.
By the time Viviane finished the rest of her duties and headed home, exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders. She called Rick again as she walked.
" I'm on my way home "
"I'm just leaving the garage also " he said.
"That's nice, hope it wasn't too stressful?" Viviane asked.
"Not at all. Do you have some time this evening, maybe we can go watch movies." Rich suggested.
"Okay, I'll just head over to your place " Viviane said ending the call.
When she arrived, Rick wasn't home yet, so she waited on the porch. Twenty minutes later, he pulled up,
How long have you been waiting?" he asked, brushing oil-stained hands on his trousers.
"Not long," Viviane said, though she felt irritated. She tried to hug him, but he stepped back.
"Can't. My clothes are a mess."
Inside, Viviane noticed the empty kitchen. "There's no food," she said, opening the cabinets.
Rick rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding her gaze. "Yeah, I haven't had time to stock up."
Viviane sighed. "Let's go get something. I'll pay."
Rick hesitated, his face clouded with embarrassment. "I… I'm sorry, Viv. I'll pay you back as soon as I can."
"It's fine," she said, though the words felt hollow. As they walked to the store, a question lingered in her mind:
Can I really build a future with him?
When they got back home, Rick was checking the time to see if they could still watch the movies.
"I doubt we can still watch the movies"
"Nah, it's already late. I'll just head home, we'll go tomorrow" Viviane said.
Viviane left after eating and spending quality time with Rick. The weight of her family's present situation settled on her as she entered inside. Her parents and siblings were watching the tv in their small warm sitting room. Her mum turned to her;
"Welcome home, Viviane"
Her dad looked at her angrily
"Viviane, I've told you to stop seeing that Rick boy! He has no money. No ambition. How can he take care of you—or us?"
Viviane clenched her fists. "I love him, Dad. Isn't that enough?"
Her father scoffed. "Love? What will love feed us with? You work in the house of billionaires, Viviane! Find someone who can actually change this family's story!"
Her father left the sitting room while she heads to her room, tears stinging her eyes. Her mother followed, her tone softer but no less insistent.
"Your father's right, Viviane. We're all depending on you. You're young, beautiful, and smart. Someone like you deserves a better future."
Viviane didn't respond . She couldn't. The truth was, part of her agreed , but admitting it felt like betrayal.
Her mother sighed. "Sometimes, we don't have a choice." Then left the room
The next morning, Mrs. Petras called Viviane into the sitting room. "My eldest son is arriving today, and I need you to prepare his suite. Everything must be perfect."
Yes, ma'am," Viviane said, hiding her surprise. The eldest son—what was his name again? Lucid. He was the heir to the entire Petras empire, though she'd only heard stories about him.
Viviane got to work, hours later, Lucid Petras walked through the grand doors of the mansion. He greeted his parents warmly, his presence commanding. Viviane caught a glimpse of him as she served drinks—tall, composed, with sharp eyes that seemed to see everything.
As Lucid spoke with his father about a business deal, he explained to his father about the issue he's experiencing;
"I got an hint from the PA that the client only deal with people who are married."
His father nodded in agreement,
"There are lots of clients like that, especially if they're aged like me. You know….that shows some level responsibility ."
Lucid looked worried "but I've spent a lot on this contract and now I won't get it?"
His father started laughing,
"It doesn't mean a serious wedding, it could be an arranged one, just find one of your girls and hook her up till you're done with the client.
Lucid and his father started thinking of who, then Viviane brought them drink and left. Lucid was looking at her as she left, then faced his father.
She's perfect," his father said, gesturing toward Viviane.
Lucid raised an eyebrow. "Her?"
"Yes. She's young, presentable, and works directly in the house. No one will question it."
Viviane walked out of the room, oblivious to the conversation that would change her life forever. She gave Rick a call as she left ;
"Are you free tonight, maybe we can go watch the movies today?" she asked.
"Yeah," Rick replied. "Let's meet at my place. I'm just leaving the garage."
Mrs. Petras called Viviane's parents to the mansion. They arrived dressed in their best clothes, their awe evident as they took in the grandeur of the house.
Lucid and his parents were seated in the lavish living room. Mr. Petras spoke first.
"Thank you for coming," he said warmly. "We have a proposal for you. My son Lucid is looking to settle down, and we think your daughter, Viviane, would be a perfect match."
Viviane's parents exchanged stunned glances before her father stammered,
"You… you want Viviane to marry your son?"
"Yes," Mrs. Petras said, smiling. "Of course, we'll take care of everything. Your family will never have to worry again."
Her father quickly signed the papers they offered, while her mother struggled to contain her excitement. Gifts were handed to them as they left, their faces glowing with joy.
When Viviane returned home that night, she was startled by the sight of gift boxes everywhere.
"What's all this?" she asked.
Her father stood, beaming. "You're getting married!"
Viviane froze. "What?"
"To the Petras family's son," her father continued. "They've already agreed. This is your chance, Viviane! Don't ruin it."
Viviane's heart sank, her mind spinning.
"Have they sold me off?" she thought bitterly. She wanted to protest, but the look on her father's face stopped her. This wasn't about her—it was about the family.