In case you all are wondering...I am updating so quickly because I need this story to be done as soon as possible so I could submit it for the Wattys 2021.

Alfresca's POV:

I took a shower in the luxury bathroom of that room and changed into a fresh pair of jeans and a crop top.

Drying my hair with the towel, I let it open only and I opened the door stepping out.

I saw a few maids walking here and there busy with their work and looked around for Geordi.

I walked out to the main living room and thought of asking one of the maids about Geordi when I heard him speak behind me all of a sudden. "You ready?"

It startled me and I turned around placing my hand over my heart. He looked amused by my reaction and gestured me to follow him.

Rolling my eyes I followed him upstairs while the other maids gave me a curious look.

Ignoring them I went upstairs with Geordi and as he did before, he again pressed his thumb against that digital screen and the door opened.

Going inside he knocked on the door to his office and when he told us to come in, Geordi pushed open the door and gestured me to go inside.

I walked inside and the door was closed behind me and I kept standing there looking at Mr Searlus who was busy typing on his laptop.

"Sit down, Alfresca." He said, his eyes still fixed on his laptop.

I sat down on the same chair I was sitting before and nervously fiddled with my fingers.

He sighed and closed his laptop and leaned forward fixing his gaze on me. "A few things you need to know."

My eyes were still lowered and I nodded but he gritted his teeth. "Look at me while I am talking."

My eyes immediately snapped to him, obeying his command. His jaw was clenched but he continued anyway. "You have been given your phone back but all your calls will be recorded plus the messages you will send or receive so be careful. You are not allowed to tell anyone your location. Not even your friend Lucy."

How does he even know her?

I wanted to protest but didn't so kept my mouth shut and nodded for which he didn't look pleased. "Use your mouth, Alfresca."

"Yes." I spoke. "I understand."

"Better." He muttered.

"That's it?"

"No." He leaned back. "You are not allowed to leave this mansion as long as I don't allow. Anyway you have your friends waiting for you outside so you wouldn't go out."

"Can't you just scare them away?"

He raised an amused brow at me. "Scare them away? More like kill them?"

"No! Don't kill them!"

"Those guys are ready to kill you the moment you step out from here. And you asking me to spare their life?"

"Um...I mean...they didn't hurt me in anyway till now... so killing them won't be justified..." I tried explaining my point. "Plus I don't wanna be responsible for anyone's death." I mumbled the last part.

For a second, an unreadable emotion flashed across his face but he composed himself promtly. "Hmm...I will deal with them later. And even if they are not there you are not allowed to leave."

"Why?"

"I have my reasons." He said nonchalantly.

"So I just traded my freedom to you?"

He ran his fingers through his hair. "I am saving your life. That's the least you could do."

"Okay..." I whispered softly. "And what am I supposed to do here?"

He stared at me intensely and thought for a moment. "You can do the household chores."

"Work as a maid?"

He nodded. "You will be payed for it."

"Oh..."

Work as a maid here? At least it's better than living here doing nothing.

"Okay." I agreed. "I'll do it."

He didn't reply instead thought about something and then spoke. "You will be my personal maid."

"What?"

"You will be my personal maid." He repeated in a firm tone. "So that I can keep an eye on you."

"Why do you need to keep an eye on me? I am not a threat."

"You will have to earn the trust, Ms Leonard. You are in the Searlus Mansion, you can't blindly trust anyone here." He explained.

I stopped myself from groaning and muttered. "Fine."

"Good. You may leave now." He opened his laptop again and resumed working.

"I have a question." His looked up at me. "Yes?"

"Why did you save my life?"

"Because you begged me to." He said in a duh tone.

"No. I mean... I never knew who you are actually and you are a Mafia leader. You don't go about helping people like that."

"I saved your life. That's it. Don't question it." He almost gritted his teeth.

"Please. I need to know." I can't believe I am arguing with a Mafia leader.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "Don't argue with me. And now leave."

Not wanting to face his wrath I got up to leave. I pulled open the door when he called. "And Alfresca?"

I looked at him over my shoulder. "Y-yes?"

"I'm twenty five years old." He answered my previously asked question, a tiniest of smile grazing his lips and my eyes slightly widened in surprise.

"Oh..." I whispered not knowing what else to say.

He was back to his cold demeanor again and gestured me to leave and I quickly left closing the door behind me.

.
.
.

I found Geordi standing at the bottom of the stairs waiting for me and when I reached him, he asked me to follow him.

I walked beside him as he lead me inside the huge kitchen with a lots of maids walking here and there.

"Arthur." Geordi called out and a man in his mid twenties maybe stepped out to us. He had emerald eyes, light brown hair and a clean shaven face.

"Yes, Geordi?" Arthur said and glanced over me curiously.

Geordi gestured to me and spoke. "This is Alfresca Leonard. Sir has appointed her as his personal maid. You are in charge of instructing her and teaching her about the things here."

"And Ms Leonard, this is Arthur Canning, the head of all the maids and servants here. You will be under him." Geordi added and I nodded in understanding.

Arthur gave me a warm smile and held out his hand. "Nice to meet you, Ms Leonard."

Smiling back, I shook his hand. "Same here, Mr Canning."

Geordi then stepped closer to Arthur and whispered something in his ear and Arthur nodded while looking at me and Geordi left leaving me alone with Arthur.

"So, Ms Leonard..."

I interrupted him. "Oh, please call me Alfresca."

"Sure, Alfresca. And as everyone else here you can call me Arthur."

"Okay." I smiled.

"So, do you have any work experience?"

"Yeah...I used to work as a waitress before."

He walked over to the dining table and pulled out a chair for me. "That's good."

Thanking him, I sat down and he also took a seat beside me.

"Um...how do you guys get recruited here?" I asked him, curious to know the answer.

"Well..." His voice turned low. "No one would willingly like to work in a Mafia leader's residance so only those who are in a desperate need of money. Who are almost dying of poverty are targeted and offered the job. And yes, they are payed a good amount of salary plus they are provided free food three times a day."

"Oh...but it must be scary to work for the Mafia leader. Who knows when you piss him and he just kills you without any second thought."

Arthur chuckled and shook his head. "Yes, everyone's scared but fortunately there hasn't been such an incident."

"How long have you been working here?"

"Around half an year." He answered.

I nodded. "So... actually I am not allowed to leave this mansion...are you also not allowed?"

"Initially when I started working, I was also not allowed to leave. It's a rule here. Once you start to work, you can't leave the mansion for a month or so, you have to earn everyone's trust only then you can leave."

I rolled my eyes. "Stupid rule."

"Be careful with your words." He warned. "Sir won't like you questioning his rules. Believe me, you don't wanna face his wrath."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes again. "Sure."

He then got up. "Come on. Let me show you around. Your shifts start from tomorrow morning."

.
.
.

"This area belongs to Mr Searlus. It has his home office and his bedroom." Arthur told me pointing to the locked door leading to his office and other rooms. "No one has access to it except Mr Searlus himself and Geordi."

"Is Geordi close to him?"

He nodded. "Yes. He's basically his right hand and the most trusted person."

"Oh."

We started walking back down and Arthur followed me towards my room.

Before I could go inside, he instructed me. "You have to give him his breakfast in his bedroom every morning at eight. So, set your alarm accordingly."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah. You told me that hundred times before only."

He chuckled softly but then turned serious. "I know...I just don't want you to mess up."

"Thank you, Arthur and don't worry. I'll be up on time."

He nodded and smiled. "Goodnight, Alfresca."

"Goodnight, Arthur."

Chapter completion on: 12/8/21