CHAPTER 1: HIRED

Lauren had always felt like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. She had always been a failure in life, never able to hold down a decent job or make enough money to support herself. She had become bitter and resentful towards the world, resentful that everyone else seemed to have it easier than she did.

One day, as she was walking down the street, she saw a poster that caught her eye.

"Wanted Maid for $100,000," she read. Lauren shook her head in disbelief.

Who in their right mind would pay that much money for a maid?

But as she read the poster's details, Lauren's eyes widened in shock. The job was with none other than billionaire CEO Damien Burlington, who was looking for a nanny for his children. Lauren hesitated for a moment before deciding to give it a shot.

Lauren rushed home and feverishly completed her application. She was confident that she would get the job, which would change her life and make all of her problems disappear. But before submitting her application, she decided to call her sister Fraulein to tell her the exciting news.

Fraulein, however, was not impressed and laughed at Lauren's idea, "You can't even handle my kids, Lauren," she said, "You'll just end up crying and quit after a week. You'll be just another maid of a rich person with spoiled brats."

Lauren felt a pang of insecurity at her sister's words, but she brushed it off and submitted her application anyway. She was determined to prove Fraulein wrong and finally make something of her life.

As Lauren anxiously waited for a response from Burlington's office, she decided to do some research on him. What she discovered left her feeling uneasy.

The billionaire's children were notoriously spoiled, and he had driven away countless maids with his demanding and inconsiderate behavior.

Despite the risk, Lauren was determined to get the job. She knew that working for Damien Burlington would be a challenge, but the $100,000 salary would be worth it.

She couldn't afford to let this opportunity slip away.

Finally, after several long and stressful days, Lauren received a call from Burlington's office. She had been selected for an interview.

Lauren was overjoyed and felt like her whole life was falling into place. She prepared herself carefully for the interview, making sure she presented herself as the best candidate for the job. When she stepped out of the taxi cab she was nervous approaching the huge mansion of the Burlington residence.

As she reached the front door, she noticed a group of women standing outside, who had tried their luck at the interview earlier but had failed to make the cut.

"Good morning, Miss," the butler, who opened the door, greeted her warmly.

"Good morning," Lauren replied, as she stepped inside the mansion. The place was grand and opulent, with expensive furniture and decor. Lauren felt like an outsider in such a grandeur but kept her composure.

She walked towards the room where the interview was to take place and found six other women already waiting there. They all looked nervous, and Lauren could see the stress on their faces. She pulled her shoulders back, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself.

It was then that Lauren heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Damien Burlington stepped into the room – and all thoughts of calming down vanished from her mind.

The man was more imposing than she had anticipated – tall, well-built, and cold. He gave the impression of a man who was always in control, always calculating his next move.

Lauren felt her heart skip a beat as he looked at her and took his seat behind the desk.

"Please state your name and why you want to work for me," he said, his voice cold and steady.

"My name is Lauren Young, and I want to work for you because I am passionate about housekeeping and making a home look beautiful," Lauren answered, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

She had always seen herself as organized and efficient, but the state of her own home told a different story.

How could she be considered a good candidate for a maid position when her own house was in such disarray? Maybe she wasn't cut out for this line of work after all.

Damien looked at her for a moment, then nodded, "Tell me about your background," he prompted.

Lauren took a deep breath and began to speak about her family's background, how she found passion in cleaning the house and kept every corner of her own home so tidy that she could eat her food even from the floor.

She also spoke about her prior experience while being in college, cleaning up for people living near her to make some extra money for her tuition fees.

"You mentioned you’re experienced in cleaning. How about dealing with children, particularly my spoiled brats? Can you handle them?" Damien inquired, looking at Lauren with curiosity.

Lauren didn't hesitate to answer, "Sir, I have worked as a babysitter before when my sister had her first born. I have patience dealing with children, and I am confident that I can manage your children's behavior with my understanding and calm approach.”

They began with the usual pleasantries before Damien abruptly changed the topic and asked, "Why do you think children are so spoiled these days?"

Lauren was taken aback by the question and paused for a moment before responding. "If I may, sir, I believe that children become spoiled when their parents don't give them enough love and attention."

Damien raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. And what makes you think that?"

Lauren met his gaze head-on and spoke with conviction. "In my experience, children who are given proper attention and love tend to be more well-behaved and less entitled."

Their conversation continued for what felt like hours as Damien pressed her with tough questions and Lauren answered with confidence.

The interview with Damien Burlington was grueling, but Lauren stood her ground and proved herself a capable and determined candidate. He even introduced her to his children, who seemed to take an immediate liking to her.

She may not be the perfect candidate on paper, but she knew she had what it took to excel in the role.

Lauren was offered the job, and she accepted without hesitation. She couldn't believe her luck. Finally, she had a chance to prove herself and make something of her life. She would show her sister and everyone else that she was capable of handling the most challenging jobs and overcome any obstacles.

"Thank you so much for hiring me," Lauren said politely. "I'm really grateful for this opportunity."

The CEO looked up at her and gave her a small nod. "I expect great things from you, Lauren," she said in a no-nonsense tone. "But I should warn you that there's another aspect to this job that you may not be aware of."

Lauren's heart sank as she tried to imagine what the CEO could be referring to. "What do you mean?" she asked hesitantly.

"You'll be working as a maid for my spoiled children only," the CEO said bluntly. "It's a very important job, and one that requires utmost discretion and responsibility."

Lauren nodded, feeling both relieved and terrified at the same time. She had heard stories about how difficult it was to work for the CEO's children, and she knew that one wrong move could spell disaster for her career.

"I understand," she said, hoping to sound confident. "I'll do my best to take care of your children and follow all the rules."

The CEO gave her a hard stare before finally nodding. "Good," she said. "Just remember, Lauren, that the rules are there for a reason. If you break them, you'll regret it."

Lauren left the CEO's office feeling both excited and apprehensive about her new job. As she walked through the hallways of the building, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she had just signed up for something much more difficult than she had anticipated. But she was determined to succeed, no matter what it took.

From that day forward, Lauren felt like she had shed the weight of the world from her shoulders. Working for Damien Burlington was an honor and a privilege, and she approached her new job with renewed determination and drive.

Finally, she had found her calling.