Emma's POV
Six o'clock my ass! I had to be at his place at six, which basically meant that I would have to leave home at 5:00 a.m., which basically meant I would have to be awake by 4:00 a.m. or earlier. So I rested for the remainder of the afternoon. Moving away from this place wouldn't be difficult; I owned a small amount of clothing and supplies. I set the alarm on my phone before I forgot, then began reading a romance novel.
My phone rang and I looked at the number. It was unknown but I answered anyway.
"Miss Cole, I need you."
I couldn't believed what I was hearing. "Mr. Hollen?" I asked to make certain this wasn't a joke.
"Yes."
"But I told you I will start in the morning."
"Do you want the job Miss Cole or not? Because if you're no longer interested I can easily find a replacement with a snap of my fingers."
"I'll be there," I blurted. I leaped out of bed and headed for the shower. "I cannot afford to lose this job before I even start," I told myself as the water washed over me.
I was out of my apartment by 6:30 p.m. He had instructed me to meet him at his office, and he'd take me to the mansion since I had no idea how to find it on my own. I met him in the private parking lot outside of the building and followed him to a black Lamborghini.
"You drive your own car?" I asked as I got in the passenger side.
"I'm capable," he answered shortly.
I kept my mouth shut for the remainder of the ride, and he was quiet and attentive to the road.
We arrived at a pair of golden gates that opened automatically and revealed the most beautiful mansion my eyes had ever seen. My mouth opened wide with awe and amazement.

He parked the car and I slowly opened the door and got out. I followed him through the entrance and into the living room. I had to stop to take it all in. I wasn't expecting all this beauty. There was a huge chandelier in the middle of the foyer, and I wondered, if a light went out, how tall of a ladder one would need to fix it. Luxury furniture, rugs, and paintings decorated the rooms I could see. Mr. Hollen had expensive taste, yet the homey scent was so soothing."Halley!" he called as he left through another door.
Who's Halley? I wondered. Is he married? Does he have kids?' I knew nothing about his personal life, but here I was, already crushing on him. You need to stop it , you pent up virgin! I commanded myself.
A young woman around my age appeared with him.
"This is Emma Cole. She's a new maid and my personal coffee maker," he introduced then left.
She looked at him wide-eyed as he went on his way, as if she couldn't wrap her head around what he had just said, then looked at me and glared as if I had taken something away from her.
"Hello, I'm Emma," I greeted, trying to break the silence.
"I know, he said that," she responded rudely.
"Well, um, can you show me where I can make his coffee?" I asked, hoping she would be nicer.
"Follow me." She turned on her heels and I followed suit.
"Ah, he finally brought some more help?" an older woman asked as we entered the kitchen. She was a fit woman with a beige complexion and low flowing blonde hair with light brown eyes like mine.
"This is Emma, maid and coffee maker."
By the way she said it I sensed she wasn't happy about me being there or preparing coffee for Mr. Hollen, or something along those lines because she had no idea who I was. We'd never met before, so what the hell was her problem?
"Hello Emma, I'm Agnes. I do the cooking and cleaning. Halley, here, assists with the cooking and cleaning as well since this place is so big. It's nice to meet you."
Agnes was much more welcoming than Halley.
"It's nice to meet you too, Miss Agnes."
She smiled sweetly. "Just call me Agnes or Aggie," she laughed.
I nodded.
Halley snapped her fingers in my face, "Stop dreaming. The coffee machine is right over there. Get to it."
I walked over and prepared a cup of coffee for Mr. Hollen. I was happy I knew what I was doing instead of having to ask Halley for help. At least Carl's Cafe gave me experience on a few things in the kitchen.
I had no idea what to do when I was finished.
Should I bring it up to his room? No, that's his personal space. Should I call him down? What? No, I'm not his wife. Should I wait? What if it gets too cold? I shouldn't have made the coffee until he told me so, but that's what he hired me for-- coffee.
I sighed with relief as the door opened and he entered. He came right over, took the coffee then left.
I went over to Agnes. "How did he know I was finished?" I whispered.
She pointed to the ceiling where there was a camera rotating at a three-sixty angle. He could see everything that was going on.
"Wow," was all I said.
A red light started blinking and the phone rang.
"Someone get that," said Agnes; she had her hands in a flour mixture.
"I'll get it," Halley insisted and rushed over to the phone, but before she could answer the call stopped. She ran out of the kitchen.
"Is she always this eager?" I asked once she left.
"Mr. Hollen doesn't like slackers, and he doesn't like to repeat himself; so, when he speaks you better listen, and don't interrupt," she warned. "He fired the previous maid before Halley because she turned away when he was talking to her."
"How long has Halley been working here?"
"Oh, just over eight months."
"And you?"
"Ten years. I was chef to his parents."
I wanted to know more about him, and Agnes had been around long enough to know a lot about him, but I didn't want to give the wrong impression on my first day. I would know in due time.
"Emma, you're wanted in the office," Halley let out sharply when she came back.
"Where's the office?"
"Halley, show her to the office. You know its her first day here," Agnes instructed.
She led me up a flight of stairs then turned left on the second floor. She pointed to the sign on the door which read: "The Office". Her point indicated that I should look the next time I was needed there, or anywhere really. She went back downstairs as I knocked.
"Come," he commanded.
He was sitting at a desk, on his computer with reading glasses on. He looked so intelligent.
"Yes, sir?"
"Emma, whenever you are to make my coffee, I will instruct you when to so and where to bring it. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Mr. Hollen."
"Also, you're staying the night."
I had seen the servants' quarters when we'd pulled up. It was along the right side of the mansion-- a nice, warm place, like a big cottage, with separate rooms and personal spaces. I couldn't wait to see the inside.
"Help Halley prepare a guest bedroom for you downstairs," he continued.
I was taken aback. I would be staying inside the mansion? In a guest bedroom?
Emma's POVWhy were the other maids in the staff house, and I would be in the guest room? It was what I wanted to ask him but didn't. I took the coffee cup and headed back to the kitchen where I found Halley mopping the floor where flour had spilled."Um, Halley," I began. She made me uncomfortable, like a tiger ready to pounce and attack at any minute.She looked over to me, mop still in hand. "What?""Mr. Hollen instructed that we should prepare a guest room downstairs.""He's having visitors again, Aggie?" she asked her, turning from me."Not that I know of.""Actually, it's for me," I let out.Both women looked at me with awe."Mr. Hollen is having you sleep in a guest room?" Halley asked, dropping the mop.I nodded.She looked up at Agnes before Mr. Hollen appeared in the kitchen."Halley, what's the hold up?" he demanded."Nothing," she replied quickly and took my hand in hers, lead
Emma's POVI woke up at 5:30 the next morning. I brushed my teeth then combed my thick hair before heading to the kitchen to make his highness's coffee.The clock struck 6:00 and the telephone rang. He instructed me to bring the coffee up to his bedroom on the top floor. I walked, carefully, with the coffee on a tray so it wouldn't spill over from the exhausting journey I had to take up the stairs. His bedroom door was slightly open.I pushed through and called for him. "Mr. Hollen, I brought your coffee!"Silence."Mr. Hollen?" I called again.He appeared from the area I assumed was the bathroom with a red bath towel wrapped around his waist, and another drying his wet hair. His chest screamed come lick me. The lush V-line carved out his six pack perfectly. I couldn't help admiring him. Everything moved in a slow motion then the stupid coffee just had to fall over onto the floor."What the actual fuck, Emma!""I'm...
Ethan Hollen's POVWho puts salt in coffee? Should I regret ever hiring Miss Cole?My heart had felt her pain when she came to my office for the interview. For a young woman she had already experienced a very difficult life. My grandmother had taught me when someone is down in life it is not wise to throw more bricks at them, but, instead, it would be wise to help them up. Growing up, I rarely saw both of my parents. They were usually busy traveling on business deals, vacations, and having holiday celebrations without me. I'd been forlorn, but my grandmother took me under her wing and grew me up as the man she felt I ought to be.I had been looking at Emma in the kitchen while she made my coffee. She was very slim and all she wore were big clothes that looked like rags. Her face was always the same, no makeup or lipstick to pop her facial features. Yesterday she'd spilled the coffee all over the floor in my bedroom. I noticed she had remade it, but I wa
Emma's POVWho would do something like this? He could have fired me!Agnes entered the kitchen. It was already after 12:00 noon. All she had scheduled was to prepare dinner for Mr. Hollen. She was in a jolly mood, humming to herself.I, on the other hand, was left with a mystery to solve, and it all pointed to one person. Haley. She got the groceries yesterday so she could have easily spiked a bottle of milk with salt. From here on, I would have to taste his coffee before I delivered it, just in case.I left the kitchen and found Halley in the storeroom where the cleaning supplies were kept. I closed the door loudly behind me, making her jump."What the hell, Emma! What are you doing here?""When it comes to my job, I don't play around. Mr. Hollen hired me to make his coffee and assist with the cleaning, so what's your damn problem?""What are you talking about? Are you drunk?""Admit it, you put salt in the milk I us
Ethan's POVI've already had a shitty ass morning at home and a terrible day in the office. I lost a very important deal that I was looking forward to for six months. Lunch was a drag-- I didn't enjoy it-- and Sharon wouldn't shut up about the Bahamas. I told her I would take her, that was before she got bitten by a mosquito. I lost my cool at the damn restaurant and yelled at her; one could only imagine what I had said to her. To my surprise, she didn't respond. She just got up and kissed my cheek and told me she'd be at the house when I calmed down.Arriving home, I remembered the conversation I had with Agnes before hiring Emma.I had Emma prepare another cup of coffee and met her in the kitchen for it where the others were assemble as well.I'd let go Agnes. Why? Because she was getting up there in age had spoken to me about her retirement plan. She knew the drill. I had already placed a large sum of money in her account for the years she had
Emma's POVThough I was supposed to be off on the weekends, I did minor cleaning here and there just to keep myself occupied and ahead while Halley rested.My mind kept on reminiscing back to what happened last night. Mr. Hollen kissed me! He actually put his priceless lips on mine. I didn't know how to kiss him back, I had no experience and was caught off guard. What if I had drooled on him or bit his lips? I'd just stood there, afraid to react._________It was the beginning of a new week. I was in the living room cleaning the coverings on the chairs when Sharon appeared with a bundle of bags. She tossed them onto the chairs I was supposed to clean."Put these in the closet for me. Don't ruin a thing with your filthy hands." She went upstairs, heels hitting the polished marble as she walked.That woman is so...There wasn't a word to describe her. She was going upstairs to where the closet was, why couldn't she just
Ethan's POVI woke up wrapped in the arms of my beautiful fiancee. I looked at her as she was fast asleep. Tonight we would be going to the Bahamas for our week long vacation. I had promised her that. I didn't break my promises. I rolled her aside, gently kissed her forehead lightly, and got out of the bed.I whipped up a fluffy batch of pancakes with eggs and bacon. I poured two large glasses of orange juice just as the kitchen door was pushed open."Good morning, sir.""Hi Emma."She stood there, staring blankly at me like she had something she wanted to say."What is it Emma?" I asked impatiently."Sir, there's something I have to tell you.""Oh yeah, I'll have your paycheck ready before I leave. After all, I wouldn't be here for the week and the month's end would approach by then.""That's not... Um, okay.""There're some left over pancakes and eggs. Help yourself. Halley can have some too."&nb
Emma's POVWhen I saw him in the kitchen preparing breakfast I wanted to tell him. I had to tell him what I heard last night, but when he told me about the paycheck, my mind state changed. I was so looking forward to buying some new stuff, from underwear to clothes to getting a new hair-do; so I let it be.And Sharon was sort of scary with her judging eyes, sharp mouth and long nails. She would slap me back to Africa if I had told him about her conversation. Besides, it wasn't my business. Mr. Hollen was capable of taking care of himself and his relationship was above my pay grade.The next day I looked at my paycheck. I wanted to cash it out so badly. One thousand dollars in just one week was indeed generous. I didn't make that at Carl's Cafe in a month.I found Halley in the backyard watering the plants."Um, Halley," I began. I was still mindful of how I approached her. "I really want go to the bank and cash this so I'm taking my half day