Chapter 2

The Russo mansion was still the same as I remembered.

Standing tall and proud, with its large pillars at its entrance posing as a grand complement for the white mansion, with its perfectly manicured lawns and red rose gardens surrounding the property. Its symmetrical design exuded a sense of opulence, grandeur, and wealth.


"Boy oh boy," I hear Erica say as she gawped in awe while we walked in from the gigantic gates protecting the building.


"I know, right? I remember my first time here as well. I felt like an absolute peasant," I say to her. “Wait till you get inside." I continue, knowing fully well that she was in for the shock of her life.


The interior was just as breathtaking as the exterior. Entering the mansion, you are greeted by a spacious foyer with a magnificent chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The walls were adorned with ornate gold moldings and timeless artwork.

Moving through the mansion, you find yourself in sumptuous living rooms with high ceilings and luxurious, plush velvet sofas.

The windows are draped in silk curtains, which allow the sunlight to filter in and illuminate the space. The floors are made of polished marble, embellished with a patterned rug in the center. You could also notice delicate crystal vases and sculptures placed strategically across the room.


The dining room was fit for royalty, with its long wooden table, which was surrounded by upholstered chairs, and a stunning crystal chandelier hanging above it with the warmest yellow lights. The room is decorated with ornate wood paneling and tasteful draperies.


The property wasn’t huge but elegant enough to boast luxury and indulgence, offering an exquisite lifestyle for those fortunate enough to call it home. Maybe one day I will be fortunate enough to have something nearly as close to this.


We were welcomed by a middle-aged woman who happened to be the senior household staff. She seemed to have recognized me instantly.


"Ah, hello there. They haven’t sent you over here in ages! She smiled and said, "Welcome back." Her gaze shifted to Erica.


Hello, Miss, I fancy having you here. Welcome to the Russo Mansion. She said this and ushered us into the living room as she called for the other household staff.


"We will commence our tasks soon; I have your duties right here with me," she said, pointing at the journal in her left hand.


"As you all know, whenever we have an important function in the Russo Mansion, we usually seek helping hands from JD Cleaning to assist the in-house staff. And we have," she said, initiating that we introduce ourselves as she pointed to myself and Erica.


"Jasmine," I said, fumbling with my pendant.


"Hi, I’m Erica."


"And we have Thomas, our chef, and Gladys, our baker. You should try her banana bread divine," she stated, causing everyone to let out a laugh.


"And of course, Ms. Maureen, our head housekeeper, Janet, and Penelope, our housekeepers. And there I am, Senior Household Staff, Mrs. Parkerton" She finished calling out our expected to-dos and assigning the cleaning between Ms. Maureen, Janet, Penelope, myself, and Erica.


“Girl, you’re going to help me take some pictures before we leave?” Erica threw me a questioning look. I roll my eyes at her statement and get to work.

It was already past noon; it had been about two hours since I got here. I had already covered all the rooms on the floor assigned to me. All I had left was the hallway, and then I moved to the kitchen with Ms. Maureen to clean as the chef and baker did their thing.


The crystal vases across the hallway did look so delicate. I didn’t know much about expensive vases, but I believe I can detect them when I see them. I also noticed when they arrived how Mrs. Russo was constantly throwing death glares at the movers for not breaking her priceless pieces. She also authoritatively instructed them on how strategically she wanted them arranged. I never hope to cross paths with her again, though.


As I carefully wiped a gold minimalist lamp placed on a white wooden chest, I felt this weird sense as though I was being watched by someone. Turning around, I come face-to-face with someone I assume to be Mr. Russo based on the pictures I spotted around the house.


My insides immediately felt tangled up, and I felt like my knees were going to unbuckle and give up on me. I needed to get myself together; that is someone’s husband! But in all honesty, his intimidating appearance was so good to look at.

His imposing six-foot-tall figure was enough to leave me speechless. His chiseled jawline and piercing black eyes, which seemed to be looking right through my soul, didn’t help either.


"Beautiful, isn’t it? He asked, moving towards me.
I was still struggling to understand what he was referring to; I couldn’t appear to be so lost in his appearance.


Ye—s, it—is," I stammered. I felt intimidated as he moved closer to where I stood.


"It was from my sister. She has always been a lover of minimal décor." He pointed out that he was looking straight at the lamp he was referring to.
I wasn’t sure how to reply to that.

There was something about his dominant figure that exuded confidence. My goodness, this was someone else’s husband.


"You’re doing a great job; well done," he said as he went away.


I wish I had said something to keep the conversation going; at least that would have kept him here for a while. So much wishful thinking. At least his departure reminded me to get back to reality.


It was finally time to leave, and I needed to find Erica. She was probably busy making TikTok videos somewhere around the house, as she said she was going to do. But I wasn’t ready to waste my time here waiting for her. I promised Mom I was going to spend some time with her today.


Since her tasks were basically on the first floor. I proceeded to check all the rooms; even if she wasn’t ready, at least let me tell her I was ready to leave. I could have texted her, but for some reason, I didn’t have service at all.


I realized I was only sticking my head in the rooms and not checking the bathrooms to see if she was in there as well.


"Well, I could start checking with this room," I said as I entered the final room on this corridor.


As I walked in and scanned the room, I noticed that the door that seemed to lead to the bathroom was slightly open, and I could hear faint movements in there. I found her! I leaped with joy from within. Little did I know I was more than wrong.

From the slight opening, what I saw shocked my entire existence. I spotted Mrs. Russo sitting on the bathroom sink with her legs parted and a slim, curly-headed man's face in between her legs.

That wasn’t the man I had assumed to be Mr. Russo. Earlier, or was I wrong? Was this the real Mr. Russo? Was I missing something? But the man from earlier? Who was he? Who is this? I’m pretty sure I saw pictures of this woman and the man earlier; that’s why I assumed they were the couple. What then am I witnessing?


As I processed my train of thought, I felt weak in my knee and unsure of what to do. I would melt to the ground if I was caught witnessing this.


She kept biting her lower lips as she held tightly onto the man’s curly hair, probably to control herself from being loud.

Witnessing it was so uncomfortable; the man kept going, and I could see how he was thrusting his tongue into her. I was conflicted with a lot of emotions and scared of what I had just witnessed.

I should leave right now and leave quietly. I’d just wait for Erica in the living room; I’m done searching for her.