Chapter 4:- The setup

OLIVIA

Chris stood in the doorway with that wicked smirk I was growing to hate, his eyes darting between Daniel and I like he'd just caught us doing something fishy.

“How touching,” Chris sneered as he strolled into the room uninvited. “But maybe you should remember, dear brother, that you’re engaged to a beautiful woman from one of the wealthiest families in the country. Emily Thompson isn’t someone you want to upset... for a nobody, like her.”

Daniel’s jaw clenched. I could see his fists tightening at his sides.

“Get out, Chris. Now.”

“Or what?” Chris laughed coldly, his eyes locking onto mine. “You’re going to throw away everything for this street rat? Forget Emily, her father practically owns half the shipping industry in this city. But sure, toss all that aside for someone who probably steals from us when no one’s looking.”

“That’s enough!” Daniel shouted, stepping forward.

For a second, I truly thought Daniel might hit him. His face burning with anger, his whole body tense. Chris must have noticed too because he backed off slightly.

“Easy, brother,” Chris muttered, though his tone wasn’t as confident anymore. “I’m just reminding you of reality. Don’t forget who you are… and where you belong.”

With that, he left. But his words lingered in the room like poison. Daniel stood there, breathing heavily, eyes fixed on the door.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I never meant to cause problems between you and your family.”

Daniel turned to face me, his expression softening. “You’re not the problem, Olivia. They are.”

But I saw it, the conflict in his eyes. Chris was right about one thing: Daniel was engaged, and I was just a maid.

:::::::::

Later that evening, I was clearing the dinner plates when Emily cornered me in the kitchen. She waited until the other staff had left before speaking.

“So,” she began, her voice sugar-sweet but her eyes cold. “I hear you’ve been getting a little too cozy with my fiancé.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” I said, not looking up from the dishes.

She suddenly grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet her eyes. “Don’t play dumb, you little tramp. I saw the way he looked at you during dinner. And don’t think I haven’t heard about your little first aid moment earlier.”

“Nothing happened,” I said honestly. “He was just helping with my burn.”

“Listen closely,” she hissed, tightening her grip on my face. “Daniel is mine. This house? It belongs to people like me. You’re just hired help. And if you think you can steal what’s mine, you’re even dumber than you look.”

She shoved my face away. “I’m going to make your life hell. And if you so much as whisper a complaint to Daniel, I’ll make sure you and that sick brother of yours end up on the streets.”

My heart pounded, but I kept my voice steady. “I understand.”

“Good,” she smirked. “We’ll be staying here for the week, some business deals between our fathers. Plenty of time to teach you some lessons.”

::::::::::

The next morning, I woke to a harsh slap across the face. Emily stood over me at four in the morning, flashlight in hand.

“Wake up, lazy girl,” she hissed, careful not to wake Johnson, who slept on the other bed. “A real maid would already be working.”

“But Maria said I start at six...”

“I don’t care what that old hag said,” Emily snapped. “You work on my schedule now. Come.”

She led me to her room and pointed to a basket overflowing with delicate undergarments.

“Wash all of these. By hand. And they better be perfect, or you’ll do them again.”

For three painful hours, I scrubbed her lacy clothes in cold water until my hands were raw and bleeding. But it didn’t end there.

“Now clean my bathroom,” she ordered. “On your knees. I want every inch spotless.”

Two more hours passed as I scrubbed the marble floor with a small brush, my knees aching on the hard stone. Emily lounged on her bed, filing her nails and hurling insults.

“Scrub harder,” she said. “Girls like you should be grateful to clean up after someone like me.”

When I was done, she made me reorganize her massive walk-in closet, every dress, every shoe, every accessory. I hadn’t eaten since dinner the night before, and by the time I finished, it was afternoon.

“Oh, one last thing,” she said as I turned to leave. “Iron these dresses for tonight’s party. And don’t wrinkle them.”

Exhausted, I carried the heavy garments to the laundry room, where I carefully ironed each one, even as my hands trembled.

That’s when Daniel found me, slumped over the ironing board.

“Olivia!” he rushed to my side. “I’ve been looking for you all day. Where have you been?”

I wanted to tell him everything. But Emily’s threats echoed in my mind, if I said a word, Johnson and I would be out on the streets.

“Just working,” I said weakly.

He frowned. “You look terrible. And your hands... they’re bleeding.”

“I’m fine,” I lied.

“No, you’re not.” He gently helped me into a chair. “Listen, there’s going to be a party tonight. A big one. I want you to look beautiful.”

He handed me a box I hadn’t noticed he was carrying. “I got this for you. Thought maybe... you’d like to wear something nice for once.”

Inside was the most stunning dress I’d ever seen, deep blue silk, elegant and soft, the kind of thing that belonged in dreams.

“Daniel, I can’t accept this,” I whispered.

“Please,” he said softly. “You deserve to feel beautiful.”

His words made my heart race, but I pushed the feelings aside. He wasn’t mine.

:::::::::

That evening, I wore the dress and helped serve at the party. The mansion was filled with elegant guests, laughter, and expensive perfume. I kept my head down, trying to stay invisible.

Then Emily’s shrill voice cut through the noise like a blade.

“Stop everything!” she screamed from the staircase. “Someone has stolen from me!”

The room went dead silent.

“My golden necklace is missing!” she announced, trembling with fake rage. “The one my grandmother left me. It’s worth fifty thousand dollars. And I know exactly who took it!”

Her finger pointed straight at me. “That girl! She was in my room this morning!”

I felt the blood drain from my face. “I didn’t take anything,” I whispered.

“Liar!” Emily shrieked, storming down the stairs. Before I could react, she slapped me so hard the room gasped.

“Emily!” Daniel roared, pushing through the crowd.

“She stole from me!” she yelled.

But Daniel’s eyes were full of fire as he grabbed her wrist. “Don’t you ever lay a hand on her again,” he said, voice dangerously low.

Then he shoved her back, and she stumbled.

“Daniel!” Chris shouted, rushing to Emily’s side. “You’re defending this thief?”

“She’s not a thief,” Daniel said firmly, stepping in front of me.

“Then let’s check the security cameras,” he added coldly.

Xavier Blackwood stepped forward. “Excellent idea. Marcus, pull the footage from Emily’s room.”

Minutes later, the TV in the lounge showed me entering Emily’s room, cleaning, and leaving. At no point did I touch her jewelry box.

“Well,” Xavier said, turning to Emily. “Looks like Olivia is innocent.”

Emily turned crimson. “The cameras must be wrong!”

“Then show us where you last saw the necklace,” Daniel demanded.

Upstairs, we watched as Emily fumbled through her jewelry box. Then her face went pale.

“It’s... here,” she whispered, holding up the golden necklace.

Silence.

“So,” Daniel said, voice cold, “you falsely accused her, slapped her in front of everyone, and nearly ruined her life... over a necklace you misplaced?”

Emily opened her mouth, but Xavier’s phone rang, cutting through the tension.

He answered, frowned, then looked straight at Emily. “Interesting,” he muttered. “Emily, darling, I think you and I need to have a private conversation. Right now.”