I wake up at 5 the next morning, feeling even more tired than the previous day. I'll need to get used getting 4 to 5 hours of sleep a night, although it's going to be difficult.

I drag my body out of the bed and into the bathroom, still having my eyes half closed when I get myself ready. I remember I need to put on my outfit and when I do, I feel even worse. God, I despise this thing.

I walk down into the kitchen, feeling like I could fall asleep standing, but I get myself together enough to make Mr Welch a breakfast.

I have everything on the table just at the right time this morning and I'm happy with that. I'm cleaning the kitchen when I hear Mr Welch's angry yelling my name.

My heart drops and I quickly run into the dining room, still holding the towel in my hands. "Yes, Mr Welch?" I ask almost fearfully.

His eyes come to rest on me, going down and up my body for a second. It makes me feel self-conscious and it takes a lot not to shuffle on my feet. "Why are there strawberries on the plate?"

"I ..." I start, my voice shaking. "It states in that book that you eat fruit with your breakfast. Any kind of food," I say quietly.

"Uh-huh," Mr Welch counters. "It also states that I'm allergic to strawberries."

"I -" Mierda. "Uh, I didn't ... I didn't know that, I'll bring you another fruit right away," I tell him quickly, my voice high.

Mr Welch looks at me for long moments before he sighs and gives me a nod. I hurry out of the dining room, my stomach in knots. I bring him peaches, cutting them in half, hoping that he's not allergic to them, too.

When I put it down on the table, holding my breath, Mr Welch nods. "Thank you, Cassandra."

I'm momentarily stunned. Is he not going to say anything further? No reminding me of my mistake? Or saying that he won't allow me any more slips? Or even worse, firing me?

I hold my tongue, though, not bringing any more attention to me. I want to leave the dining room, but his voice stops me again. "Stay."

I close my eyes as my brain whines, what for? I'm humiliated enough by wearing this dress, I humiliated myself yet again and made another mistake, I'm sleepy and I have a kitchen to clean. "Come sit down," Mr Welch invites.

I bite the inside of my cheek and sit down where I sat the previous night - on his right. I'm rigid, keeping my posture straight. I don't know where to look because looking at him eating might be awkward for the both of us, not only him. So I keep my look on the table.

"So, Cassandra," he starts and I hate how much I like it when he calls me by my full name. Rarely anyone does, people mostly call me Cassie, but hearing Mr Welch saying my full name ... I'm starting to love it and that's a dangerous thing. "How come you came to London to study?"

Jesus. Are we really going to involve in deep conversations and 6 in the morning? "Well, I've always wanted to at least visit London and I got the chance to live here so I took it." I shrug. "And here I am."

"And how glad I am," Mr Welch mutters and I look at him in question. His attention is on his plate, but I see his mouth is turned up into a secretive smile that I don't understand. I let my eyes roam over his perfectly sculpted face, admiring his long and dark eyelashes while he's looking down and how naturally messy his hair is and how it suits him.

He's dressed in yet another suit and he always looks so polished and so elegant. So powerful. It makes me nervous. "Are you here on your own?" he asks while lifting his gaze up and catching me staring.

I quickly cast my eyes down again but I remember he finds it rude when I don't look at him when he's talking to me, so I brace myself before looking at him again. It would be so much easier if my boss wasn't this hot. But he's married, I remind myself. Therefore, he's totally off limits - not that I would ever be in his league, married or not.

"Yes," I answer without further explanation.

"No family? Or boyfriend?" Mr Welch pierces me with his stare, his dark, dark eyes staring right into my soul, making me fidget on my seat from how intense his eyes are on me.

"No," I answer curtly yet again.

I see Mr Welch's eyes smoulder briefly, a serene expression falling over his face. He looks pleased and I don't let myself dwell on his weird reaction.

"Eat something with me," he offers again.

My stomach churns painfully. I could never put something it in this early and especially not in Mr Welch's presence that ties my stomach into knots anyway. "No, thank you," I reply politely.

Mr Welch's eyes snap to mine. "Cassandra," he says with a warning that causes shivers run down my body. I notice how his tone changes whenever he gets angry or frustrated with me, it gets lower and quieter. So bossy.

"I'm not hungry. It's too early for me," I mutter like a child.

Mr Welch sighs. "Later then," he says, piercing me with his eyes yet again.

I nod. "Later," I agree.

When Mr Welch finishes his breakfast, he stands up and I stand up with him. His eyes fall on me again, looking me from the head all the way down to my feet and then bringing his darkening eyes back on mine. "This outfit is a major turn on."

"For who?" I blurt out.

His eyes crinkle at the corners as he looks at me and then walks out of the dining room, leaving me blushing like a tomato when his words settle in my brain and I finally get their meaning.

Oh!

A very handsome man just told me that my outfit is a major turn on for him. A very hot and very married man. I cast my eyes down on the floor and sigh.

This is wrong on so many levels.

The next day I'm called into Mrs Welch's office. I served Mr Welch yet another breakfast today after staying up after 11 the previous night to serve him dinner, going to bed just after 12 and waking up at half past 5.

I have a hard time looking into Mr Welch's eyes now because I keep remembering his words. This outfit is a major turn on.

I also have a hard time looking at Mrs Welch's face, knowing that what her husband said to me was very inappropriate and if I were in her place, I wouldn't like it.

So I get quite nervous when I get called into the office. I think through everything I did wrong, anything that I could possibly get in trouble for.

I walk up the stairs with my heart beating fast, now being accustomed to the house more, although I'm still fascinated by it. When I stop in front of the massive door that leads into the office, I stare at it. Do I knock? Do I just go in?

I stare at the wood, twisting my hands as my nerves start working. I quickly knock two times before I could change my mind.

"Enter."

When I hear that voice - a voice too low that could belong to Mrs Welch, I just want to turn around and run down the stairs. I thought Mr Welch left for work. In the days I've worked here, he was never at home during the day.

I straighten my uniform. I've started to ignore it and I found out it doesn't bother me that much, it bothers me the idea that it gives to other people.

I open the door and step inside, my heart wanting to fly out of my chest now.

"Cassandra," Mr Welch's voice caresses my name.

"You wanted to see me." I sound uncertain and shaky even to my ears. Is he going to tell me that I'm fired now? Did I do something wrong? There were no complaints about dinner and breakfast. I hope I didn't screw up anything else, although Milena is a pretty good mentor.

"Sit down, please," Mr Welch offers, showing me to the chair in front of the table. He sits back in the chair and slowly licks his lips as he watches me walking forward.

I sit up straight, straightening my short dress so it's appropriate - as appropriate as it could be when meeting your boss.

"Do you have any idea why you're here?"

I shake my head. "No, sir," I answer like a trained soldier.

Mr Welch's lips lift up. He grabs some papers on his desk and suddenly puts them in front of me. I eye them suspiciously.

"What's this?" I ask quietly, my heart still beating faster than it's normal.

"A contract."

I look at the papers again and notice it's a job contract. I lift my head up to look at Mr Welch. "But ... I don't understand. Mrs Welch said I'll get it in a week if I'll do okay."

Mr Welch's eyebrow arches. "And I said my name is on the check you'll receive, not Mrs Welch's."

"Does it mean I got the job? Permanently?" I breathe out, fearing that if I say it any louder, it'll all disappear into the thin air.

Mr Welch shrugs. "I don't know why you act so surprised. You do the job well enough, you're a fast learner and I don't see why we shouldn't keep you."

A grin appears on my lips. "Where do I sign?" I ask giddily, my legs swinging on the chair from excitement.

A light appears in Mr Welch's eyes as he watches me and the corners of his eyes crinkle. "You won't even read it?"

I shake my head. "I'll decide to trust you," I tell him.

His eyes slightly narrow at my words and I admire his long, long eyelashes and his dark, full eyebrows that are pretty elegant for a man, although still strong and manly. "Excellent choice," Mr Welch forms the words with his sensual mouth and my heart speeds up its pace yet again, but this time for a completely different reason. I fidget in my seat.

Mr Welch hands me a pen, making sure our hands brush against each other as I take it from him. Something awfully familiar to electricity travels down my body and I quickly pull my hand back. Mr Welch notices and his nostrils flare.

I sign all of the papers and give the required information. I happily give Mr Welch the papers back, happy that I really got this job and I don't have to worry about messing up anymore. Well, I still can't mess up, I just won't get nervous about every slip I make.

"Thank you," I tell Mr Welch with a sincere grin that I haven't offered to anyone in a long while.

Mr Welch's eyes become gentle and soft. "Don't thank me just yet, Cassandra," Mr Welch breathes.

I blush at his strange choice of words and his deep look he gives me. I hang my head, partly in shame, partly from being nervous to be with him. Because this thing is getting dangerous.

I'm attracted to an older man that's also married. And rich. We couldn't be any more different and he shouldn't give me those hot stares. I'm not imagining it, I know that. Just because I'm attracted to him, doesn't mean I'm seeing things.

He's showing interest in me and I'm responding to it. What woman does that make me?

But, I tell myself, this is all just innocent. I mean, I can't look at a handsome man, even though he's married, as long as I don't do anything about that attraction, right?

"Is that all?" I ask Mr Welch quietly, trying to avoid his eyes, looking at his nose instead. That doesn't help much because even his nose is attractive to me.

I hear Mr Welch taking in a deep, sharp breath. "Yes. For now."

I stand up before I let his response confuse me. We're starting to swim in some dangerous waters. When I'm at the door, he stops me yet again. "Cassandra," he caresses my name like it's the sweetest word on his tongue. "We're expecting some company tonight. Milena will help you with preparation and further directions."

I nod. "Of course," I reply formally. And then I finally escape the office, finally being able to breathe.

I walk down the stairs to find Milena in the bathroom downstairs, a delicious smell coming from the kitchen. She's murmuring a song while she cleans and it's an interesting sigh. I wish I could be this content while cleaning.

"Milena," I call out softly, intertwining my hands on my stomach, twisting my fingers.

She quickly turns around to look at me, straightening up. "Yes, dear? Is everything alright?" she asks, concerned.

I quickly nod my head. "Yes, I just came from Mr Welch's office and he told me that he's expecting some guests tonight so I was wondering what needs to be done."

Milena's face becomes soft. "Come, we'll make a list and split the duties. There won't be a lot of people, but Mr and Mrs Welch require perfection at all times."

Ah, don't I know it, I think to myself as I drag my feet after her. I have a feeling about this night, I just can't understand if it's good or a bad one. 

A huge thank you to @_faith_lantin_ for creating these lovely covers below!! ♥