chapter four

The next morning, I was in the kitchen preparing breakfast when I heard a car pull into the driveway. I glanced through the window. A black car had stopped in front of the house.

few moments later, Vivian's voice came from the living room. “Xavier? What are you doing here so early?”

I continued arranging the plates, barely paying attention.

“I came to see Adrian,” a man's voice replied.

Something about that voice made me pause. I slowly looked toward the kitchen door. A tall, handsome man stood in the living room, dressed neatly in a dark suit. His face seemed familiar.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember where I had seen him before.

“Adrian is upstairs,” Vivian said. “I'll call him.”

Xavier nodded.

Then his eyes moved toward me. For a brief moment, we stared at each other.

“Who is she?” he asked.

“The new maid,” Vivian answered.

His gaze remained on me.

“What's your name?”

“Mia,” I replied quietly.

He nodded slowly.

“Mia.”

Before either of us could say anything else, Adrian came downstairs.

“Xavier.”

The two men shook hands.

“You could have called before coming,” Adrian said.

“I was nearby.”

They moved into the living room while I returned to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, I carried breakfast to the dining table. As I placed the plates down, I heard Xavier speak.

“How have things been since Elena's death?”

My hands paused. Adrian was silent for a moment.

“I'm managing.”

Xavier nodded.

“Elena was a good business partner. I still can't believe she's gone.”

Business partner. The words stirred something inside me. I looked at Xavier again.

His name sounded familiar, but my memories were still unclear after the accident.

I knew I had worked with many people before everything happened, yet I couldn't remember him. I finished placing the food on the table and returned to the kitchen.

After breakfast, Vivian called me upstairs.

“Mia, clean the study.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

The moment I entered the room, memories of the place came rushing back. I had spent countless hours there. But something was different now.

Several files were stacked on Adrian's desk. I began dusting the shelves, keeping my movements slow and careful. Then I noticed a drawer slightly open, I glanced toward the door.

No one was there. Slowly, I opened it. My heart began to pound. Inside were several documents. I pulled out one of the files.The moment I saw the papers, my expression changed.

They contained information about my company. Property transfers, Bank records and my Shares.

I quickly pulled out my phone and began taking pictures.

“So, this is what you do when no one is watching?”

My hand froze. I slowly turned around.

Xavier was standing by the door. My heart skipped.

He had seen everything.

I quickly put the file down.

“I was just cleaning, sir.”

His eyes moved from me to the documents.

“Cleaning?”

“Yes.”

He stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.

My fingers tightened around my phone.

“You seem very interested in business documents for a maid.”

“I only found them open.”

“Really?”

I nodded. Xavier walked closer. I took a step back without thinking.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“What are you hiding?”

“Nothing.”

He stopped in front of me.

“Then look at me.”

I slowly raised my eyes. For a moment, Xavier said nothing. He simply stared at me. His expression changed slightly, as though something about my face bothered him.

“Have we met before?” he asked.

My heart began to race.

“No, sir.”

He continued staring at me.

“I feel like I've seen you somewhere.”

I quickly looked away.

“You must be mistaken.”

“Maybe.”

But he didn't sound convinced. His eyes moved to my hand.

“You took pictures of those documents.”

I froze. I had forgotten my phone was still in my hand.

“I—”

“Give me the phone.”

My heart pounded. If he saw the pictures, he would know I was lying. And I couldn't afford for anyone to become suspicious of me.

Not yet.

I tightened my grip on the phone. Xavier looked at me carefully. For the first time since entering the house, I wondered if coming back as a maid had been a mistake. Because Xavier was looking at me as though he knew something.

Something even I couldn't remember.