07

Ayla

As I cleaned the smooth surface, I heard Lena ask, “Honey, are you done?”

Leaning away from the bar, I turned toward her. I smiled, waving the cleaning towel in the air. “Almost. I just need to finish wiping down the bar.”

“Okay. Hurry up and finish, then you are done for today.”

It’s been a week since I started working at the estate. I didn’t know anything about cooking or cleaning. At my father’s house, I had maids who did it all while I was trapped in my bedroom.

But Lena helped me with the transition, and she was always gentle. When she assigned me to work, she made sure I was only doing the cleaning. And I was always with her, so the other maids wouldn’t judge me.

Even though I knew the house was filled with people, I was surprised that I barely saw anyone other than a few maids here and there, as if everyone was in the shadows.

Most of my time was spent in the kitchen, helping Lena make the food, and then I would clean when she wa