Chapter Three - Everything?

Maddox Laurier’s sleek white Rolls-Royce entered the enormous gates of a sprawling estate in Beverly Hills. It stopped in front of a mansion that looked like a French chateau. Paul Reed alighted and held the door open for her. “We’ve reached, Ms. Hansley. Please come this way.” 

Iris walked out of the car in a dazed state. The sprawling estate and the mansion were a sight to behold. Did her mom work here? Would they recognize her? A feeling of dread clutched at her heart. She shouldn’t have come here, to the enemy territory. A million questions erupted in her mind, but she couldn’t utter a single word. A strange fear gripped her tongue as well. 

Paul Reed led her up the marble steps towards an ornate teakwood door. He unlocked it and led her inside the luxurious foyer. Expansive paintings adorned the walls, but Iris’s eyes searched for the members of the Laurier family. She knew how they would react at the sight of her. After all, Iris bore a striking resemblance to her mother. Even a layperson would know who she was. Then how did Maddox Laurier not recognize her? 

“Please wait in the great room. Mr. Laurier will join you in five minutes.” 

Iris panicked and shook her head. “Mr. Reed, I’ll wait for him here, please. I don’t want to disturb the members of his family.”

Mr. Reed gave her a weird look. “Mr. Laurier lives alone here. So you can wait in the great room. There’s no one you could disturb.” He led her to the great room and went inside to summon his employer. 

Iris stared at the expensive designer sofa and at her shabby clothes. Should she stand and wait for the master of the house? After all, she was just a maid here. 

An idea hit her. Would he cancel the contract and throw her out of his lavish home if she broke the rules of the house? 

Iris sat down on the plush, expensive sofa, a sense of satisfaction spreading all over her. She was sure her stunt would infuriate the elusive playboy, Maddox Laurier. 

Footsteps echoed around the still house, making her nervous. Her wide eyes focused on the doorway when Maddox entered, clad in a pair of designer jogger sweats and a t-shirt that looked equally expensive. The scent of his aftershave sent her head reeling, and she forgot her animosity towards the man. 

Surprisingly, he smiled at her. “Iris, right? Why did you disappear on me?” 

Iris cleared her throat and stood nervously. Why wasn’t he mad at her? “I was tired, Mr. Laurier. You hadn’t informed me about my duty hours.” 

He nodded, gesturing towards the sofa. “I see. Please sit.” 

Iris sat down, feeling perplexed by his behavior. “Umm, what would be my scope of work?” 

He leaned a little, his eyes dropping to her lips. Or did she imagine it? “Everything.”

“I’m sorry, I’m not good at everything.” She licked her lips nervously. 

He leaned further towards her. “I’m an excellent teacher.” 

Iris blinked, trying to focus on the conversation. Were they still discussing work or something else? Why did everything he spewed from his lips have a sexual connotation? “I’m a lousy learner.” She couldn’t stop herself from drowning in his mesmerizing olive eyes. He was too close, almost in her personal space. It took every ounce of her strength not to lean into him. 

How could she react this way to the enemy? It seemed he had her under a spell, making her feel things she had never felt in her life. 

His lips twitched while his eyes sparkled with amusement. “Oh, you’ll learn soon. So when can you move in?” 

Her mouth hung open with horror. Why would she move in? “I can’t move in, Mr. Laurier.” 

He frowned, leaning back to regard her with a suspicious stare. “Why? Boyfriend issues?” Why did he sound so annoyed? 

“No. My underage siblings are in their final year at school. I can’t leave them. So, I can’t accept the job if it requires me to move in here.” 

A nerve clenched in his jaw. “I’m sure your parents can look after them.”

Iris stood abruptly, ready to walk out. “I wouldn’t have been here to work as your personal maid if my parents had been alive.”

He softened a little, yet his unwavering gaze swept over her. “Hmm. You should have been in college like all nineteen-year-olds.” 

Iris felt insulted. Did he consider her a teenager? “I’m twenty, for your information.”

He smiled and nodded. “It’s the same. You’re too young to handle the work I have in mind for you.” 

Iris seethed at the insult. “You can cancel the contract in that case. I’d be happy to leave. If it’s just a housekeeper’s job, I can handle it, but not beyond that.”

He shook his head. “It’s everything – housekeeping work, among others.” 

Iris wanted to tear her hair out of frustration. Why couldn’t he specify? “Others? I won’t warm your bed, Mr. Laurier. I’ll just change the sheets and clean.”

“That won’t be enough, Iris. I’ll pay you a generous amount not just to clean and cook.” The brooding look in his eyes took her breath away. He looked dangerously powerful – the kind who always got what he wanted. 

“If you’re looking for physical proximity, why don’t you hire someone who’s experienced?” Iris was about to leave when he rose and grabbed her hand. 

“Does that mean you are a virgin at twenty?” He looked thunderstruck, as if it was a feat indeed to be a virgin at twenty.

Iris yanked her hand free. “So what if I am? And how is this related to my job?” She opened her mouth to protest, but only a sigh came out. Was she ready for this?

The answer was loud and clear. 

No.

He stopped inches from her, staring at her with an intensity that set her heart pounding. He looked older, maybe in his late twenties, and much more experienced. Then why did he choose a maid like her for everything? What did everything include?

Was she getting into a trap? Would he take advantage of her the way his uncle had abused her mom? 

“You’ll see.” He raised a hand to trail along her soft, plump cheek. 

Iris stepped backwards. Mustering all her courage, she met his unwavering gaze. “Will you use force on me?” 

He shook his head yet held her gaze. She couldn’t fathom the strange look in his eyes. “I never use force, Iris. You’ll surrender yourself to me willingly.” 

She took another step backward. “No, I won’t. It’s true I need this job to support my siblings. But I’m not ready for everything, Mr. Laurier. If you need only a housekeeper, I can join work right now.” 

“I see. You can start now. But when can you move in here?” His reaction confused Iris. 

It was difficult for her to understand what he had in mind. Would he just let her work as his housekeeper? 

“Not until the twins turn eighteen. Their birthday is next month, and so is their graduation ceremony at school.” Iris stood awkwardly, waiting for his instruction. Why did she need to move in here? “Don’t worry, Mr. Laurier, I’ll be punctual.” 

He frowned and whirled around to leave. “Fine, your duty hours will be from 8 am to 8 pm. You can start now by making dinner for four. The kitchen’s that way, and I’m allergic to seafood.” He gestured towards the right and walked out abruptly, as if the devil were chasing him. 

“Yes, Mr. Laurier.” But he had already left while Iris stood dumbfounded. 

Why did he ask her to make dinner for four people? Didn’t he live here all by himself? Maybe he was expecting guests. She walked out to figure it out all by herself in the enemy’s den. Did she do the right thing in coming here? 

What if she found herself in the same situation as her mom? 

Strangely, not once did Maddox Laurier check on her. She made dinner and cleaned the ground floor. Should she clean the other floors too? It would take her a lot of time. She stood at the foot of the enormous staircase, still in a dilemma. Where was Maddox Laurier? Should she inform him before leaving? She went upstairs, her heart pounding with apprehension. 

She opened a few doors to find guest rooms that looked like they belonged to five-star hotels. There was an upper lounge at the top of the stairs, complete with a bar, leather couches, pool tables, and a poker table. However, her gaze fell on a dark wooden door at the far end. 

Iris walked up to the door and stood for a second. It seemed something was pulling her towards it. She could get a distinct scent of his aftershave even outside the door. 

It had to be Maddox Laurier’s bedroom. Should she walk into the devil’s lair?