Chapter 8 New Work

“WHAT?!”

My eyes widened in surprise at what I had just heard.

“I- I still have two days left to pay for my father’s debt. Why did you pay him?”

“How much have you saved to pay off your dad’s loan? Have you reached one million?” he asked.

I was lost for words. I only have twenty thousand, not enough to pay my dad’s debt. And I don’t have enough time to earn more unless I sell my organs to the black market. But even the tiniest needles made me pass out, what more if I will undergo an operation. It will be the death of me. It’s cringy to imagine those big needles poking in my body.

“I bet you won’t have enough money. And you only have two days left.”

My mouth opened, wanting to talk, but he interrupted me. “So you have no choice but to accept your defeat and work with me,” he stated.

I sighed in defeat. “You’re right. My money is not enough to pay my father’s debt. But please don’t tell Mico about this matter.”

Mr. Reed clicked his tongue. “Which one? About your father’s debt? Or about you working under me?”

“Both,” I said, which made his brows raise. I knew he had something to ask. But he chose to zip his mouth and didn’t bother to ask anymore, making me sigh in relief.

After our conversation, he dragged me back inside the bar, but this time, he called the owner to inform him that he would take me and asked the owner to sue Genevieve for hurting me. Right. I forgot. He had a wound on his arm from the broken glass that hit him. 

I excused myself to get a first aid kit to treat his wound. Fortunately, he’s still talking to my boss, who I think is his friend too. I came back and saw Genevieve kneeling on the floor. It made me frown in confusion.

“What is happening?” I immediately asked when I reached where they were sitting and where Genevieve was kneeling.

“Why is she kneeling?”

Without any words, Genevieve looked at me, and she was asking for help from me. With her messy hair and smudged makeup from crying, I noticed a wound on the side of her lip. My eyes widened in surprise.

“Did you just hit her?!” My voice raised. I do not condone violence against women.

“How did you do that? You hurt a woman and let her kneel?!” I shook my head in disappointment.

“Look, Ms. Smith. We let her kneel to apologize to you for what she did-”

“She didn’t have to. I am used to people who bully me, and I don’t mind. Let her go, please.”

I helped Genevieve to stand. She mouthed thanks and promised she would never hurt me again. She paid for the broken bottle and the damages she caused earlier before she left. And my boss allowed me to go home and pack my things. I may be free from those shark loaners, but I’m still in debt to Yvan Reed. The man who I slept with and the uncle of my ex. I asked Mr. Reed to give me his address so I could just go there by myself, but he refused. He told me that he would pick me up at Eight o’clock sharp.

The next morning, I put my suitcase at the door, so I could easily bring it out of the house. I talked to the landlady and told her that I would still pay the house rent every month even though I would not live there first.

I still need a house in case I take a day off. Especially, since I have nowhere to put my other things. Maybe I will visit it at least once a month to clean the unit. Miss Lewis has also fixed the door with the help of Mr. Reed. We have also reported the threat to the police.

At exactly eight in the morning, Mr. Reed. Without a word, he took my suitcase and immediately put it in the trunk of the car. It was an hour of awkward silence. Nobody opened a conversation, and I was too occupied thinking why he chose me to be his housekeeper. He could have hired someone from the agency. But why it has to be with me? He even paid off my father’s debt and hired a private investigator so we could find out who came into my house and threatened me.

“We’re here,” he said before getting out of the car.

I took my luggage from the trunk and followed him inside his house. I looked around the two-story house. Hmmm, there's nothing much to clean. It looks like this house was well-maintained by the professional cleaners. He only has a few decorations and a bachelor’s pad design, with an accent of dark blue, white, gray, and gold colors.

“There is not much to clean, but I want no dust even in the corners of this house,” he ordered.

He gestured to the chair for me to sit and discuss what we should agree on. I noticed the paper that looked like a contract, which was lying on the table. He handed it to me and mentioned the contents one by one.

“I rarely eat breakfast here, but if you want to cook something to eat, there’s no problem. You don’t have to wait for me when I get home because I don’t come home early.”

I immediately nodded in agreement with his condition.

“I don’t want you to ask about my matters. And I also don’t want you to talk about what you notice here at home. I also don’t want you to let any man or friend of yours in here. Not unless they are my guests.”

“You can count on it, sir. I won’t let a stranger in.” I said with full confidence.

“Good.”

“On the next page, I will deduct your salary every month.” I nodded in agreement. Of course, I have to pay my debts.

“You have health insurance. And apart from your salary, you will receive a Christmas bonus. Usually, my housekeeper’s contract is only for six months. But since you will pay me your debt, I am extending your contract for two years. In two years, you will have fully paid your loan.

So, I’ll be here for two years? It doesn’t matter, time flies so fast. For sure, I can save money and shorten my stay here.

“Deal,” I said, as I agreed to his terms.

“There’s more. Avoid any attempts to seduce me. You’ll suffer the consequences if not. Also, don’t fall in love with me.”

“You can count on it. I will not seduce you, and even more so, I will not fall in love with you.”

I am confident that what I said would never happen. So, I’m here for work and I want to live with my mother and take care of her as soon as I earn enough money and live simply.

“Good,” he said.

Mr. Reed asked me to sign the contract and handed me a copy. He told me where my room was, on the second floor, across from his room. He instructed me to clean the house while he would have to go to his office.

While my boss was away, I unpacked my things and put them in the closet before I went downstairs and started cleaning.

It was already ten in the evening, and he hadn’t arrived yet. So, I walked into my room and got ready to sleep. But unfortunately, I couldn’t sleep. Argh! Maybe I’m new to the place, so I can’t fall asleep right away. I heard the door across my room, clicked open and it closed again. He’s arrived. I don’t need to go out of my room, since he told me I should not wait for him. But I am thirsty and I need water before I get dehydrated. So, I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. I just turned the flashlight on my phone and didn’t bother to turn on the lights.

It was dark and only the light from my phone and the refrigerator gave me light to see the part of the kitchen where I was standing.

Blag!!!

I jumped in surprise when I heard a loud thud from the second floor. What was that? From the bottom of the stairs, I hurriedly looked up and watched to see if anyone would come down from the second floor. I didn’t make a mistake! A woman was wearing only her underwear, and holding her clothes, hurrying down the stairs as if being chased. She didn’t even look at where I was standing and hurriedly put on her clothes, before running out of the house. What had just happened? Is she his girlfriend? I wondered.

‘But why was she in such a hurry to get out? Did they fight?’