Page 1 of The Brutal Arrangement

1

LUCY

The staffing agency manager cringed as she gave me another once-over after I hurried into her office.

“You know…” she began in that nasally tone I couldn’t stand.

I nodded. “Yes. Yes. I understand punctuality is important.” It wasn’t my fault that the assisted living facility was behind on their schedule. I couldn’t have missed that meeting with the director who’d go over my mother’s care program. But I couldn’t miss this, either. It was a godsend that this whiny-sounding woman had another position for me so soon. Money was running out, and I was grateful for another maid assignment.

Not that it’ll really help Mom in the long run…

I needed a lot more money to get her into the decent facility where she’d fare better. But hey, beggars couldn’t be choosers, right?

“I’m sorry I was late to get here,” I added when the woman still judged me. A glance at my watch showed that I wasn’t tardy. It was exactly four thirty on the dot, so I was on time. She seemedto be one of those types of people who considered being five minutes early as punctual.

“No. Not that,” she replied, sighing as she indifferently gestured for me to sit in the chipped plastic chair across the desk from her. “It’s just…”

“What?” I sat. If there were any issue, I’d figure out how to deal with it. I needed this job. I had to have income flowing in from somewhere to keep Mom in that building.

“It’s just that you’re…” She shrugged, shuffling through papers. “You’re one of those natural beauties.”

It should’ve been a compliment, but from the way she said it, I took it as the negative remark she meant it as. Considering I had been fired from my last gig a few days ago because the woman of the house was jealous of her husband ogling me, I understood that having an attractive maid was a hindrance, not a bonus. Nobody wanted an attractive maid who would be present as a lure for the men of the household. It sucked that women could be that insecure and feel so threatened, but I understood the dilemma.

I’d never spent effort to emphasize what others had also called my “natural” beauty. If anything, I tried to hide my best features—like a high-necked shirt to avoid cleavage and a sports bra to flatten them. Not a speck of makeup was on my face, and I threw my hair into a messy ponytail on the run in here.

I didn’tfeelbeautiful when I always gave it my best to be as plain as possible, to blend in as nothing special.

I only felt desperate. Desperate to keep going, to do the best I could for the only family I had left.

“Sorry.” It seemed like such a dumb thing to apologize for.

The woman shrugged again. “I can tell you’re not one of those promiscuous kinds of girls we get in here. But at any rate, this place will suit you. The owners aren’t there often.”

I accepted the papers and didn’t recognize the address. It had to be another fancy building somewhere I’d never be able to afford. As the woman carried on, droning unenthusiastically about the details of this new placement, I paid attention to what I’d expect tomorrow when I’d start first thing in the morning.

“Report to Joann,” she instructed. “She’s the head of the household staff, and she will assist you as you settle in.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied, wondering ifthisassignment would last. If I could rely on this live-in position to be a steady situation, I could probably cancel my month-to-month rental obligations at my apartment. It was already so small that I wouldn’t have much to get rid of. I’d already sold so much to afford Mom’s care. Not having to worry about rent would be one more way to better pay off all the medical expenses.

Even though this staffing agency didn’t seem to give a damn about the people they placed, they were super-strict about all their rules. After signing more contracts and NDAs, I was deemed ready to go.

“Good luck,” she said once all the necessary paperwork was done and I stood to leave.

I doubted she cared about my success, but I smiled nonetheless and hoped it wouldn’t be a matter of luck determining how I’d do as a new maid at another fancy mansion. I wanted to have faith in my ability to do a good job and keep my head down, not whether or not I was lucky.

The next morning, I tried to keep that attitude fresh and bold in my mind. I’d show up, do my job, and avoid any drama or jealous wives.

This has to last. Mom deserves to stay in a decent facility for as long as possible.

Icando this.

Iwilldo this.

Dressed in my best jeans and white blouse, I got in the Uber with a couple of suitcases for the ride to my new place of employment. I knew better than to take many things, and after this initial orientation day, I’d have uniforms to wear.

Anxiety and slight dread kept me tense and stiff on the ride toward the wealthy area of the city. Further from the ordinary and busy, bustling streets, the scenery changed to show the stark contrast between the commoners of the world and the wealthy members of the elite crowd. Mansions replaced apartment buildings. Smoothly paved roads stretched out instead of pot-hole-riddled paths. All the streetlamps worked in this gated community, and no homeless begged for change at the corners.

It was a whole different world, one I’d never belong in—except as a lowly maid. But that didn’t matter. Ever since my father died seven years ago, my sense of belonging somewhere had faded.Homebecame an illusion. And when my mom started to show signs of mental decline, I knew I would never have a real family again.

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