LOGINRosa's racing against time ⏰ Marie's teaching her the ropes ☕ The other staff are already judging 👀 And Michael... well, he's watching EVERYTHING 😬 Coffee = 180 degrees ✅ Timing = 5 minutes late ❌ Scattered beans on the counter = Michael noticed 👁️ What do you think he'll do? Fire her on day one? Give her a warning? Or... something else? 🤔 Drop your thoughts! 💬 Library 📚 | Follow | Gems 💎 Next chapter coming soon! ❤️
**CHAPTER 010** **6:25 AM** I stared at the red numbers glowing on the clock face. What… what… how was this even possible? I asked myself. No. No, no, no, no. I threw off the covers and stumbled out of bed, my legs tangling in the sheets for a moment before I caught myself against the nightstand. I was so freaking late. I was going to be damn late. Should I brush my teeth first? Get dressed? No—there was no time for any of that. The coffee. I just needed to make the coffee. Black. Two shots of espresso. 180 degrees. Don’t. Be. Late. Michael's words echoed in my head like a warning bell. I grabbed the robe hanging on the back of my door and threw it on over my pajamas, not even bothering to tie it properly. My hands were shaking so badly I could barely get my arms through the sleeves. Then I yanked open my bedroom door and rushed out into the hallway. The mansion was silent. Perfectly, oppressively silent—and a bit dark. I hurried down the corridor toward the stairs, my bare
**CHAPTER 009** I heaved a heavy sigh as I remembered what the doctor at the hospital had told me. *"Living with him might be difficult. He has strict routines, strict rules about how his home is kept. He's not cruel, but he's not flexible either. Everything must be perfect, controlled, organized."* I shook the thought off, trying to reassure myself. I could make a cup of coffee. How hard could it be? Just coffee. Black. Two shots of espresso. Exactly 180 degrees Fahrenheit. For one very perfect, entitled man. *You can do this, Rosa,* I told myself firmly. *It's just coffee.* “Woof…what do we have here” I whispered as my eyes roamed the room. I'd been so overwhelmed when Michael first showed it to me that I hadn't really taken everything in. Now, looking around with fresh eyes, I was shocked all over again. Everything about the room was perfect. And I mean *everything.* The bed was made with precision—sheets tucked at exact angles, pillows fluffed and positioned symmetrical
**CHAPTER 008 ** Only the doctor and I were left in the room after Michael left. The silence felt heavy. Oppressive. I stared at the closed door, still trying to process what had just happened, what I'd just agreed to. "Why?" I asked finally, turning to look at the doctor. "Why is he helping me?" The doctor sat back down in the chair beside my bed, her expression thoughtful. She seemed to be considering how much to tell me. "Because it's the right thing to do," she said simply. Then she added, "And because that's who Michael Cross is, even if he doesn't always show it." I frowned, raising a brow up. "You know him well?" "I'm more or less his personal doctor," she explained waving a hand at me. "I've been treating him for minor illnesses for years. So yes, I know him fairly well." She paused, studying my face carefully. "Which is why I feel I should warn you about something." My stomach tightened. "Warn me about what?" The doctor leaned forward slightly, her voice gentle but s
**CHAPTER 007** "You're joking," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. He had to be joking. he was a stranger—a man whose name I didn't even know until a few minutes ago—couldn't possibly be serious about letting me stay with him. The doctor's eyes went wide. She stood up from the bed, turning to face him with an expression that was half shock, half concern. "Mr. Cross, I appreciate your generosity, but this is... well, it's legally not appropriate," she said carefully, her professional composure slipping slightly. "She's a patient, you're not family, and there are protocols—" "I've made up my mind," he cut her short, his voice firm but not unkind. "That's my decision." The doctor opened her mouth to protest again, but he continued before she could speak. "I'm the one who put her in this condition," he said, his jaw tightening slightly. "I hit her with my car. She's pregnant, injured, and.... obviously she has nowhere to go. The least I can do is provide her with a safe place
**CHAPTER 006** "I..." The word died in my throat. I tried again. Opened my mouth. but nothing came out except a choked sound that was more sob than speech. How could I say it? How could I admit out loud that I had absolutely no one? That I was completely, utterly alone in this world? The doctor was still waiting, her pen poised over her clipboard, her eyes patient but expectant. I felt the tears welling up before I could stop them. They spilled over, hot and fast, streaming down my cheeks. My chest heaved as I tried to hold back the sobs building in my throat, but it was useless. "I don't..." I gasped, my voice breaking. "I don't have... I don't have anyone!." The words came out in a rush, barely coherent between the sobs that were now shaking my entire body. I covered my face with my hands, shame burning through me like fire. "I'm completely alone," I whispered through my fingers. "There's no one. No one at all." The sobs took over then, wracking my body so hard the bed shoo
**CHAPTER 005***Off course he wouldn't know I was pregnant I said to myself*I stared at him, though I couldn't really see. My eyes were still blurry, everything swimming in and out of focus like I was looking through water.I closed my eyes again, leaning my head back against the pillow as a tear slipped free. *My child will be okay,* I whispered to myself trying to be positive. *It had to be okay. It has to be.**Click.*The door opened.The chair beside me scraped against the floor—harsh, sudden. He was standing up.I heard him speaking, his voice drifting across the room. Deep. Controlled. Professional."Doctor, she was saying something earlier saying she's pregnant, have you done the test?,how is she? What's her condition?, what….what are the results?."A woman's voice responded, but I couldn't make out the words. They were talking about me like I wasn't even there, like I was just another case, another patient, another problem to solve.I forced my eyes open. My vision was fin







