chapter 5

Chapter 5

Lisa’s POV

Morning came too quickly.

I barely slept a wink. Every time I closed my eyes, those piercing green ones filled my mind. Cold. Sharp. Beautiful.

Why was I even thinking about him?

I told myself it was just curiosity. The mystery. All the things I’d heard about him for two years… it was only natural to want to see for myself. But now that I had, I wished I hadn’t.

Because now he was there. In my head. In my chest.

Clara had already started teasing me at breakfast. “You looked like a deer caught in headlights yesterday,” she giggled between bites. “Don’t worry, Lisa, he stares at everyone like that.”

I forced a laugh, but my heart wasn’t in it.

What she didn’t know was that his gaze didn’t feel casual. It felt personal. Like he had seen me. Like he had looked through me.

And that scared me more than anything.

By the time I picked up the cleaning supplies and checked the room assignments, my stomach dropped. The master’s room. Of all rooms, it had to be his?

I stood frozen in the hallway for a full minute, silently debating my life decisions. I could ask Clara to switch. Or fake a headache. Or run.

But Madam Mary’s voice echoed in my head. “One more strike and you’re out, Lisa.”

I sighed and made my way up the grand staircase, each step heavier than the last. Maybe he wouldn’t be in. Maybe he’d gone out early for a meeting.

Please, please, please let the room be empty.

I pushed the door open gently, peeking in first.

The lights were off. Curtains drawn. Quiet.

Good.

I stepped in, my heartbeat slowing just a little. His scent lingered in the air—something clean, sharp, and undeniably masculine. I tried not to breathe it in, but it was everywhere. On the sheets. In the silence.

As I moved toward the bed to adjust the pillows, a deep voice sliced through the quiet.

“You’re late.”

I jumped so hard, I almost dropped the cleaning spray.

My eyes darted to the far corner of the room—and there he was.

Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, shirt half-buttoned, watching me.

Lord have mercy.

“I—I’m sorry, sir,” I stammered, bowing my head slightly, unable to meet his eyes. “I thought… I didn’t know you were in.”

“I gathered,” he said dryly, eyes still fixed on me.

I bent quickly and began adjusting the sheets, pretending to focus, my hands trembling slightly. I could feel his gaze like heat on my skin. Heavy. Unblinking.

He said nothing for a while, just watched.

It made my skin burn.

I wasn’t used to this. To being seen. Most of the upper staff barely glanced my way. But this man? He looked at me like I was something he couldn’t figure out—and it was making me unravel.

I turned to leave, needing to escape.

“I didn’t catch your name yesterday,” he said suddenly.

I froze.

“Lisa,” I replied softly without looking at him.

“Lisa,” he repeated slowly, like he was testing how it sounded in his mouth. “How long have you worked here?”

“Two years, sir.”

“And in two years, you’ve never tried to see me?"

I blinked, confused by the question. “No, sir.”

“Hm.”

Silence again.

I turned toward the door, my hand on the knob.

“Lisa.”

I stopped.

“Yes, sir?”

“Next time, knock before you enter. And don’t be late again.”

His voice was calm. Cool. But it carried weight.

“Yes, sir,” I replied, barely above a whisper.

And then I walked out, feeling his eyes on my back until the door clicked shut behind me.

Only then did I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding...