Trapped Between the Twin Masters

With long strides, Thalia led Moza away from the foyer. They arrived at the back kitchen which was equipped with advanced stainless steel appliances, high-tech ovens, and two young maids busy chopping vegetables.

​"This is Moza. She is an applicant. She will be preparing the soup and pudding for Master Markus. Both of you stay quiet and let her work."

​Without wasting a single moment, Moza donned an apron and washed her hands. With practiced skill, she cleaned high-quality shark fins from the refrigerator. She boiled them for two hours with fresh ginger, pandan leaves, and lotus root slices to eliminate any fishy scent and to improve blood circulation.

​Next, Moza sautéed a blend of spices and incorporated them into the shark fin broth. She stirred slowly with a wooden spoon to ensure the texture of the broth remained silky and did not break.

​For the pudding, Moza used fresh pomegranate seeds that Thalia had provided. She mixed them with almond milk, natural gelatin, and forest honey before pouring the mixture into a rose-shaped crystal mold. After chilling it for an hour, she garnished the dessert with mint leaves to enhance its aesthetic appeal.

​Without saying a word, Thalia approached with firm steps. She inspected every detail starting from the temperature of the soup to the color of the pudding and even the presentation on the porcelain plate. Finally, Thalia took a small spoon and tasted the soup before moving on to the pudding. Slowly, her eyebrows rose as she chewed.

​Moza’s heart thundered against her ribs as the older woman set the spoon down.

​"You have passed the first stage. Your soup and pudding are worthy of being served to Master Markus. Now you will enter the second stage of selection," Thalia stated with a flat expression. "Follow me to the main mansion. Our Young Masters will see you in person."

​Moza took a deep breath. Finally, the opportunity she had been waiting for had arrived. For the first time, she would stand face to face with one of them. Whether it was Dastan, Rezon, the twins, or Kageo, she did not care.

​Without hesitation, Moza followed Thalia out of the kitchen. They walked toward the east wing of the mansion where the young masters resided. After entering the main doors, they headed toward the central hall which served as the heart of the magnificent palace. Moza had no time to admire the luxury spread before her eyes because Thalia moved incredibly fast.

​Thalia stopped and knocked on a tightly closed, carved wooden door. Silence reigned for a moment before a man's baritone voice echoed from within.

​"Come in."

​Granted permission, Thalia opened the door. She did not enter but turned to Moza instead. "You may go in. But remember to watch your manners and use polite language."

​"I understand, Ma'am," Moza replied with a slight bow.

​She took a deep breath and stepped inside with her back straight. As soon as she crossed the threshold, Moza smelled the scent of sandalwood wafting from the room diffuser. The space was a blend of a private office and an exclusive lounge. On one side stood a black wooden desk with a laptop and neatly arranged documents. On the other side were leather sofas, a minibar, and a large screen displaying real-time stock market data.

​However, it was not the room that shocked Moza but the presence of the twin brothers sitting behind the desk. They were remarkably alike yet their different personalities were evident in their appearance.

​With a single guess, Moza recognized them as Elbara and Elzen Limantara. She had not expected both of them to be present for the selection at the same time.

​The man on the right wore a white polo shirt and jeans. His hair was slightly disheveled and he radiated the aura of a casanova. This was undoubtedly Elzen, the pilot and conqueror of hearts. His eyes immediately fixed on Moza with a sharp and curious gaze.

​Meanwhile, the one on the left wore a black suit. He was Elbara Limantara, the undefeated lawyer and the legal mind of the family. Thin glasses rested on the bridge of his nose and his expression was cold and vigilant. Truly, Elbara’s style and demeanor were as different as heaven and earth compared to his twin.

​Moza walked stiffly and stopped in the center of the room. Her hands instinctively balled into small fists while her gaze remained fixed forward. Secretly, she observed the two men and tried to match them with the mysterious figure who had touched her years ago.

​"Good afternoon, Young Masters. I am Mozarella, the applicant called for the selection. You may call me Moza."

​Hearing Moza mention her name, Elzen let out a short laugh and leaned forward. "Miss Cheese, why are you standing there like a statue? Sit down if you like. We won't bite you."

​Moza did not budge. "I am waiting for orders, Sir."

​Elzen nudged Elbara with his elbow and his eyes sparkled with mischief. "As a master lawyer who is used to detecting lies, what does your instinct say? Are you sure a woman this beautiful wants to be Grandpa Markus’s maid?"

​Elbara did not answer immediately. He slowly removed his glasses and stared at Moza thoroughly as if he were analyzing a fingerprint.

​"Logically, it makes no sense. Why would you, a college graduate, want to work as a maid?" Elbara asked in a low tone.

​"Maybe Miss Cheese is humble, or perhaps she is seeking an escape from a broken heart," Elzen teased.

​"I need a job to make ends meet, Sir. I do not come from a wealthy family and I have no business network. All I have are these hands and my resolve. To me, any job is acceptable as long as it does not violate moral boundaries."

​Hearing Moza's answer, Elbara raised his thick eyebrows while Elzen laughed out loud.

​"Wow! I like your style, Miss Cheese."

​"In that case, I will ask a few questions. Answer them honestly," Elbara added as he rose from his chair.

​He stood and walked silently around Moza like a predator observing its prey. Elbara’s tall stature made Moza look tiny as he circled her.

​"First question: Grandpa Markus suddenly flies into a rage because his soup is too salty and throws the bowl onto the floor. How do you react?"

​"I would remain silent, carefully clean up the broken glass, and then prepare a new soup without defending myself," Moza answered firmly.

​Not yet satisfied, Elbara continued. "If one of us asked you to keep a secret that could destroy the family’s reputation, what would you do?"

​Moza’s expression shifted instantly. She wondered if the question Elbara just asked had anything to do with the tragedy that had befallen her at the resort.