Chapter 2 THE MAID HE COULDN'T IGNORE
Bella stood frozen in the middle of her new room. The room was bigger than her entire apartment. Cream-colored walls, king-sized bed, a walk-in closet with fresh flowers arranged neatly beside the window. In fact she felt like a Disney princess. She was so in love with her new space. She slowly placed her suitcase on the floor. For a maid, this was luxury. For the first time in weeks, she felt hope. Maybe things will finally get better.
A knock sounded on the door. Before she could answer, a middle-aged woman entered. A warm smile immediately brightened the room.
"You must be Bella."
Bella smiled politely.
"Yes."
The woman approached and hugged her unexpectedly.
"I'm Mrs. Shirley."
Bella blinked.
The embrace felt strangely comforting.
"Welcome to Brown Mansion."
For the first time since arriving, Bella felt relaxed.
Mrs. Shirley spent the next hour showing her around the mansion. The estate was enormous. There were indoor pools, private gardens, three living rooms, a movie theater and even a library larger than Bella's old school. The place felt so unreal.
"Do people actually live here?" Bella muttered. Mrs. Shirley laughed. "You'll get used to it."
Bella doubted that.
As they walked down a hallway lined with expensive paintings, Mrs. Shirley suddenly lowered her voice.
"One piece of advice." Mrs Shirley added.
Bella turned.
"Stay away from Miss Lisa."
Bella groaned. "I already noticed she doesn't like me."
Mrs. Shirley sighed. "She doesn't like any woman around Mr. Brown."
Bella rolled her eyes. "I'm not interested in her boyfriend."
Mrs. Shirley smiled knowingly. "Love has a strange way of changing plans."
Bella nearly choked. "Love? With that man?"
Mrs. Shirley burst into laughter. Bella joined her. Neither woman noticed the figure standing at the end of the hallway quietly watching and listening.
A cold smile slowly spread across Lisa Jade's face.
Three days later, Bella was carrying a tray of coffee through the mansion when disaster struck.
She turned a corner, a maid rushed past and their shoulders collided. The tray tilted and coffee flew straight onto someone's expensive suit. Silence filled the place. Dead silence. Bella's heart stopped slowly. Very slowly.
She lifted her head. James Brown stood before her. Coffee dripped down his white shirt. His expression was unreadable. Bella wanted the floor to swallow her whole.
"Oh no." She gasped.
James stared at the stain. Then at her. Then back at the stain. The entire hallway held its breath. Bella swallowed.
"I'm sorry." She whimpered. But he said nothing.
"Very sorry." Still nothing.
A maid behind her whispered a prayer. Everyone knew James hated mistakes. Finally he spoke.
"Office." Bella blinked.
"What?"
"My office." His voice became colder.
"Now." He walked away.
Bella nearly fainted.
Ten minutes later, Bella stood inside James's office. Her palms were sweaty as she stood there very nervous. James sat behind his desk. The stained shirt had been replaced. His expression remained terrifying.
"You've worked here for three days." Bella nodded. "You've already damaged company property."
"It was an accident." She whispered. His eyebrow lifted.
"An accident?" Bella crossed her arms.
"Yes." James leaned back.
"And accidents excuse incompetence?" Something inside Bella snapped. Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe it was frustration. Maybe it was his attitude. Either way— She exploded.
"Do you enjoy talking down to people?"
James froze. Bella immediately realized what she'd done. Too late.
"Everyone makes mistakes," she continued.
"You're acting like I committed a crime."
For a moment there was grave silence. James stared at her. A very long, hard and dangerous stare. Bella was prepared to lose her job. But instead, something unexpected happened.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. James Brown was smiling. Bella looked around. Had she entered the wrong office? The smile vanished instantly.
"You're dismissed."
"What?"
"Leave."
Bella didn't wait for a second invitation. She practically ran. The moment the door closed, James laughed. A genuine laugh. The first one in months.
That evening, Lisa arrived at the mansion. The moment she stepped inside, she noticed something strange. James looked happier, relaxed and in fact almost amused. Her eyes narrowed.
"What's going on?" James barely looked at her.
"Nothing." Lisa wasn't convinced. Her gaze swept across the room. Then landed on Bella. Carrying flowers. Instantly she understood.
Jealousy twisted inside her stomach. "Who is she?" James didn't answer. Lisa hated being ignored. Especially by him. She marched directly toward Bella. Bella noticed her approaching.
"What are you doing?" Lisa demanded.
Bella frowned. "Working." Lisa smiled. But there was no warmth in it.
"Do you know who I am?" Bella already knew where this was heading.
"Mr. Brown's girlfriend."
"Exactly." The smile widened.
"Dont forget your position." Bella's jaw tightened. Lisa stepped closer.
"So stay away from my man." Bella stared. Then she laughed.
Lisa's face darkened. She couldn't believe it. To describe it she was disappointed.
"I'm serious."
Bella leaned forward slightly. "So am I."
The room became silent.
"I don't want your man." Bella smiled sweetly.
"But if he's looking at me instead of you, perhaps your problem isn't me."
Gasps echoed around the room. Lisa looked ready to explode. Bella walked away before things escalated. Behind her, Lisa's nails dug into her palms. Nobody had ever embarrassed her like that.
Nobody.
Days passed, James found himself watching Bella more than he should. She laughed with the staff, helped elderly workers, stayed late without complaining even when people were rude, especially him.
One afternoon, he caught himself staring at her through his office window. Bella was feeding birds in the garden. He was smiling, completely unaware.
For a moment, James forgot about meetings, business, pressure, everything. Then his phone rang. The spell broke. His expression darkened. The caller ID showed one name. ETHAN COLE.
James answered.
"What is it?" Ethan's voice came through immediately.
"We have a problem,"
James stood.
"What happened?"
"The competitor who has been stealing our information..." Ethan paused.
"We found a connection."
James's eyes narrowed. "What connection?"
There was silence for a while. "The information leak is coming from inside Brown Mansion."
James froze. His gaze drifted toward Bella outside. A cold feeling settled inside him. Someone close to him was betraying him. Someone living under his roof.
But who?
Later that night, Bella couldn't sleep. Something felt wrong. The mansion felt different. It felt quieter, darker and very cold.
She walked toward the kitchen for water. Halfway down the hallway, she heard voices. Two people arguing. Bella paused. The voices came from a room nearby. Curiosity got the better of her. She moved closer carefully. Then she heard a familiar voice. Lisa.
"...I told you to be patient."
Bella frowned. Who was she talking to?
Then another voice answered. A man's voice. Low, deep and dangerous.
"If James discovers the truth, everything falls apart."
Bella's eyes widened.
The truth? What truth?
She leaned closer.
The floorboard creaked beneath her foot.
The voices stopped. Bella's heart jumped.
A door suddenly opened. Then she ran as fast as she could without looking back, without seeing who stepped out, without seeing the man's face. But as she disappeared around the corner, the mysterious man smiled to himself. And inside his hand was an old photograph. A photograph of a young woman. A woman who looked exactly like Bella.
