THE MAID

Chapter One

#Stay longer if you can# a tale of fierce terror with burning hidden desires.

Ork land city, 2:00am, Julian had jerked up from a terrible nightmare. His room was still covered with darkness, the evening birds kept chipping non-stop. He reached out for his lamp, a quick turn on it, to brighten the room. The disturbing dream kept him awake for hours, before he eventually ended up sleeping back.

9:00am, the morning was still shrouded in an eerie darkness, a stark contrast to the usual brilliance of the rising sun. The weather had changed so badly from last night, heavy wind kept slamming the windows to Julian's room, but not a single strength he had to sit up.

A slight beep on his phone eventually woke him up. Rolling over to his phone, he sat motionless, his fingers clenching around his phone, his jaw tight. The message on his screen burned into his mind, each word a dagger twisting deeper into his chest.

“From Lucy

9:00am

14/2

It's over between us Julian”

His suspicions between Lucy and his close friend Christian, eventually dawned on him.

"It’s been two years, yet she saw it as nothing, what does she even see in him?" His voice was low, bitter. Rage simmered beneath the surface. Beyond the eerie darkness, it was a total blackout for him, at least for the moment, not until a sharp knock disrupted his thoughts.

It was one of his servants, they had brought his meal, just within seconds, the scent of fried egg filled the room. The food tray was placed before him. With a cautious glance, he took a bite, his expression contorted with disgust.

“What's this trash?”. He said coldly.

“Um—”

Not even a word from the servants, before the food tray crashed to the ground, the ceramic plate shattering into jagged pieces.

“Who prepared this disaster?!” His voice echoed, a sharp blade slicing through the silence.

Frightened, the servants instinctively stepped back, their faces pale. Only Alex, his assistant, dared to respond.

“That must be the chef, sir. I’m so—”

“Fire her” he mumbled. “Immediately.” He added, cutting off Alex’s attempt at justification.

Alex hesitated. “Sir, this is the fourth maid you've fired this week.” he finally let out in his weak, frightened voice.

Julian’s gaze snapped to him, cold and lethal. He took a closer step to Alex, grabbed his Jaw and raised it slightly.

“And who are you to tell me that?” He whispered. Alex swallowed hard, his throat dry. “I meant no offense, sir, but we’re running out of staff. Finding someone willing to work here… it’s becoming a challenge.” he mumbled choking.

“I don’t care if this is the last maid in existence. I want her gone.” Julian’s breathing was heavy, controlled fury emanating from him, before he let go of Alex.

With a nod, Alex immediately adjusted away from him. “Understood, sir.” He let out, signalling the other servants to leave.

Julian leaned back, inhaling deeply, as though the storm inside him had settled.

“What does my day look like?” He said softly.

“You have a meeting with De Ville from 8 AM to 10 AM.” Alex said sharply.

For a moment the room became quiet, before Julian's heavy breath interrupted, and he spoke up.

“And after that?”

“A scheduled meeting with your parents.”

A shadow passed over Julian’s face. He raised his eyes with annoyance, Alex could read his thoughts through it.

“Cancel it.” He eventually let out.

Alex blinked. Almost quite for a second, before he spoke up again

“Sir?”

Julian’s voice was ice. “ I said, cancel the meeting with my parents.”

“But—”

Julian’s stare cut through him. Alex exhaled sharply and lowered his head, sensing the danger ahead. “Okay, sir.” He eventually let out with a slight bow.

Julian pushed back his hair abruptly and exhaled deeply. He looked out of his window.

“Where is my driver? Why isn’t my car ready?” His voice was dangerously quiet as he turned back to Alex.

Alex checked his phone. “He called earlier. There was an issue with the car, but he went to fix it. He should be back any minute—” He paused, relief washing over him as the driver pulled into the compound. “Oh! He’s here now.” Alex said with a smile.

With a glance, he left the room. Julian was quick to dress up, he stormed out angrily out of his room at about 10:00am.

The second the driver stepped out to greet him, Julian stalked toward him.

“The keys.”

The driver hesitated, he took a quick glance at Alex who stood by his side.

“Sir?” He said saddened.

“You’re fired”. He let out, rudely grabbing the keys from his hands, then turned towards Alex. “I want him replaced before I return. And if I get to the office before you, consider it your last day as well.” Angrily, he grabbed his files from Alex, slid into the driver’s seat, and sped off without another word.

The driver stood frozen, his face twisted with disbelief. “What just happened?! Didn’t you tell him the car had issues?” He turned to Alex, desperate. “You need to beg him… please, I need this job.” he went on his knees.

Alex sighed“You don't have to do that” He said, pulling him up. “I tried. He’s in one of his moods. Just wait around—I’ll talk to him later.” He added.

The driver nodded weakly, disappointed, he watched as Alex left the house in hurry.

~~~~~~~~

At the road, Julian gripped the steering wheel, his mind racing.

“Bunch of ingrates”. He let out annoyed. His fingers tightened. “Didn’t he know how important this meeting was?“ He lamented at the thought of the driver.

And then, there was her, The woman he had given two years of his life to, only for her to betray him with some low-life nobody.

His chest burned. “What a fool I was”.

His frustration swelled as he tugged at his tie. “Why is this thing so damn tight?!”

Just by glaring at the rear-view mirror,

His thoughts were abruptly shattered by the blaring scream.

“HEY! What’s wrong with you?! Do you want to get me killed?!”

A woman’s furious voice rang out as she stumbled backward, her bag nearly slipping from her grip.

Julian exhaled sharply.

He glanced through the rearview mirror and scowled. “Who the hell is this now?“ He whispered, watching her as she approached angrily with crossed arms.

“Are you even going to apologize?!” She let out annoyed, tapping on his window.

Julian scoffed, then shook his head with a slight grin. The boldness was really intriguing.

“And who the hell are you?”. He asked rudely.

“Someone who almost died because of your reckless driving!” she let out an exaggerated sigh.

Julian gave her a slow, unamused once-over.

“Then you should consider it a blessing. You’re still alive.” He rolled up his window and drove off, leaving behind the lady’s string of curses, which eventually faded into the background.

By the time he reached his company, Alex had managed to catch up.

“Sir, your father is calling,” Alex said as he hurried to match Julian’s long strides.

“Pick it up.” Julian didn’t slow his pace.

The deep baritone of his father’s voice filled the air. “Julian.”

“I can hear you, Dad.”

“You canceled our meeting. Why?”

Julian’s fingers curled around his phone. “I’ll call you later.” Without waiting for a response, he ended the call and tossed the phone to Alex.

“Busy my line. I do not want to speak to anyone”

Alex nodded, tucking the phone away as they reached the office doors.

“Good morning, Boss.” A young woman greeted him with a polite smile, but Julian didn’t spare her a glance as he strode into his office.

His employees whispered as Alex emerged moments later.

“Is he okay?”

Alex forced a smile. “Just not in the best mood.”

Before he could say anything else, Julian’s voice rang from his office.

“Alex!”

Alex sighed. “Here we go again”. He whispered to himself, as he stepped inside. “Sir?”

“You handle the De Ville meeting. I have something more urgent to attend to. If there’s a problem, solve it. Do not call me.”

Julian was already walking past him before Alex could even process the order.

Julian had barely been gone an hour before fate decided to test his patience again.

“HEY! You scum! Do you have eyes, or are you blind?!”

A woman’s furious voice rang through the crowded street as they stumbled into each other.

Julian tensed. Not again.

Slowly, he raised his head, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the very same woman from earlier.

His gaze dropped to his now coffee-soaked suit.

The woman gasped, her own eyes widening in recognition.

“Oh no.”

Julian’s fingers flexed at his sides, his jaw tightening. Then a gradual dusting of his shirt. “You again?” He mumbled in disbelief.

She gulped, realising she had poured her coffee on him .

“I—”

“Apologize.” Her tone hardened, her earlier hesitation vanishing.

Julian let out a dark, humorless chuckle. “You must be joking right?.” he let out, still looking at the fearless, rude woman in front of him.

Her brows furrowed in frustration. “You nearly hit me earlier, and now you bumped into my coffee, and I’m the one who should apologize?”

Julian took a slow, intimidating step forward. “I don’t apologize.” He said rudely.

The woman scoffed. “Rich fool. That’s what you all are. Entitled and arrogant.”

She turned to leave, but before she could take another step, Julian’s guards intervened, blocking her path.

Julian watched, amused, as she glared at them.

“Oh, you’re one of those people.” She crossed her arms. “You think money makes you untouchable?”

Julian smirked. “No. I just don’t waste my time on insignificant people.” he responded, asking his guards to let her go.

Her lips parted in shock, but before she could respond, Julian stepped past her and went into his car.

As he drove away, he found himself gripping the wheel harder than usual.

But why Julian was still on the ride, an anonymous call came in.

“Speak”. He let out, upon picking the call.

“The deal is done, you have thirty days to complete yours, you know the rules, don't be late”. The cold, thick voice echoed through the phone.

With a deep breath, Julian tightened his grip over the phone, almost squeezing it.

“No—ted”. He said and angrily ended the call.