Page 3 of Maid to Desire
“Sorry,” I whispered before running up the remaining stairs and opening the door that led to the main floor. I closed the door softly behind me and prayed I hadn’t disturbed her.
“One sister down, six more to go,” I muttered to myself then listened for some sort of noise. To my surprise, the house was quiet.
Just like the basement steps, the floorboards leading me to the front door seemed to be on the settingextra loud.If anyone was asleep, they probably weren’t now.
“Sorry,” I whispered, turning the handle to the front door.
Creak!
“Oh for fuck’s sake!” I growled. A soft giggle captured my attention. I glanced over my shoulder to find Luna standing in the doorway of the kitchen. She wore an amused look on her face.
“One of those days?” she whispered.
“You can say that,” I smiled. “I’m off to work but I’ll see you later. Okay?”
She rolled her eyes and laughed. Probably because that was my famous lineI’ll see you later. I’d say it then come in super late that way I’d see no one.
“Sure. See you later, Melinda,” she smiled then walked into the kitchen.
That’s what I liked about Luna. She didn’t try to pressure me into a conversation or get onto me for being anti-social. She just let me be me.
That’s why you’re my favorite,I chuckled to myself then made my great escape out the house and into my car.
The sun was barely peeking over the horizon. Normally, I’d still be in bed but ever since I moved back home, I found myself tossing and turning. My heart was heavy and my mind was full of dreadful what-ifs.
A tear trickled down my cheek and I quickly swiped it away.
“No, we won’t lose her!” I gripped the steering wheel and headed towards the hospital. Visitation wasn’t for a couple more hours, but maybe if I bribed the nurses with coffee or cash they’d let me see mom. Even if it was just for a little bit.
* * *
After talking to my mom, I felt like a million bucks. She always had the magic trick to snap me out of my moods. Today had been no different. She told me to lean on my sisters for strength because family was everything.
Now, two hours and four nurse-bribery lattes later, I was finally at my first cleaning assignment for the day.
“Holy shit!” I gasped, looking past the iron front gate at the mansion.
I glanced down at my phone’s G.P.S. then back at the house. A groan escaped me. This was a big ass house for one person to clean by themselves.
“Just get it over with,” I sighed heavily and entered the gate code I had been given into the keypad.
The black gate slowly slid open, allowing me access to drive down to the house. The instructions I had been given asked that I park on the backside of the house. I assumed it was wherethe helpparked. However, there weren’t any other cars.
“Maybe they don’t drive to work?” I wondered, placing my car into park and looking around for any sign of life.
Disappointed in knowing I’d be the only one working at the house, I sighed heavily then tossed my keys and phone into my purse. I gave myself a once over in the rearview mirror then climbed out of my car and made my way to the back of my car.
In the trunk, I had a box of cleaning supplies. They were specifically for this house. The owner was very particular about which chemicals were to be used in his/her home. Everything about the job assignment was methodical. When I was a teen and helped my mom clean houses, she didn’t have clients like this. But then again, she didn’t clean mansions back then.
“Times have changed, Melinda,” I reminded myself, grabbing the supplies and shutting the trunk. With my hands full, I carefully made my way over to the large double doors on the side of the house.
The same doors the instructions had talked about. Whoever had messaged me the details of today’s assignment was very thorough. They even put down the times the sprinklers came on and when the mail ran. Both were things that wouldn’t concern me, but still, the person had taken the time to note it.
“Five-Two-Two-One,” I whispered under my breath as I punched in the numbers on the keypad. The keypad lit up blue and I heard the door unlock. “Fancy,” I giggled, opening the door.
The scent that escaped the house struck me like a five-ton brick. The only thing I could compare the smell to was a frat house. My stomach churned and I fought the urge to throw up.
What the hell had I gotten myself into?
