Chapter Five

Maria's POV

“Hurry up sweetie, we are going to be late!” I called from the doorway, glancing at my watch.

“Oh Nikky, not today,” I muttered under my breath. “Mommy's running late.”

“I'm coming mommy,” Nicole replied from inside the room. “I'm trying to get my shoe lace tied.”

Today is my first day at ‘The Royale’s Hotel’ and the last thing I need is to show up late.

“I'm done!” Nicole shouted.

“That's good baby. Now, hurry, grab your coat, and let's go.” I picked up her bags and hurried out of my apartment, locking the door behind me.

“Mommy slow down,” Nicole complained from behind, “you are going to drop me.”

“I’m not baby, mommy is just… well nervous,” I assured her.

“Because of your new job,” she asked curiously.

“Yes baby, it's because of my new job, and I'm already running late on my first day”

“You are going to do great, Mommy,” Nicole squealed.

We arrived at the bus stop just as the bus was about to depart.

“Good morning Mr John,” I greeted the bus driver.

“Now be a good girl and pay attention to your teachers baby.”

“Yes, Mommy, good luck on your new job.”

“Thanks baby, I needed that.”

I kissed her on the cheek.

“Stop it mommy, I'm no longer a baby,” she giggled.

I laughed. “But you are still my little princess ain't you?”

Now hurry. Bye baby.

I took the next bus to work and walked straight to the front desk.

“Hi, I'm Maria Bennett. I'm the new housekeeper.”

“ Hello, welcome Maria, please wait, the manager will be here shortly.”

“Alright, thank you.”

After what felt like forever.

“Maria Bennett,” a voice called out to me.

I turned and saw him. “Good morning sir.”

“Come let me show you to your station.”

I picked up my bag and followed him immediately.

We went into the elevator and arrived in a very noisy room.

“Good day everyone” said, grabbing their attention.

“This is Maria Bennett, she is the new housekeeper, I want you all to put her through and be nice. Do you all understand?”

“Yes Sir” they all responded.

“Good. Sarah show her around and gave her all the necessary information she will need.”

“Where is Elena?” he asked one of the staff.

“She went to the restroom sir,” someone responded.

“When she is back she should assign Maria to a room, now get back to work.”

With that, he turned and left.

A blonde girl walked up to me.

“Hi, I'm Sarah, I'm a housekeeper and we will be working on the same shift.”

“Nice to meet you Sarah, I'm Maria.”

“So are you married?” She asked.

I raised my eyebrows. “No, I'm not.”

“Well that's good, so am I,” she giggled.

As we were talking, Elena walked in.

“Madame Elena, she is Maria the new girl” Sarah said.

Elena looked at me with a frown,

“You will be cleaning the executive suite today, no mistakes!” And she left.

“Don't mind her, she is always like that,” Sarah assured me.

“Follow me, I will show you to the restroom to get changed.”

Maria followed Sarah into the staff restroom. The room smelled faintly of detergent and perfume. Lockers lined up against the walls, each with a name tag.

“This is where we change,” Sarah said, handing her a neatly folded uniform.

“Your name tag for your locker will be given to you later, for now you can use mine.

I nodded and took the uniform.

After Sarah left, I stood in front of the mirror staring at my reflection.

“I can do this”. I said quietly.

I changed into my uniform and adjusted my hair, taking one last look at myself in the mirror.

“This is all for you Nicole” I whispered softly.

Stepping out of the restroom.

Sarah smiled “Not bad, you look like a professional housekeeper”

I laughed nervously.

She handed me a cleaning cart.

“Okay quick lesson each person cleans about ten to fifteen rooms a day.

“Fifteen rooms?!” My eyes widened in shock.

“What is it too much,” Sarah asked.

“Well…. Kinda,” I replied.

“Don't worry, you'd get used to it”

“And whatever you do, don't mess up the executive floor”

Sarah leaned in and whispered “That's where the VIP guest stays … and sometimes the boss.”

I paused.

“The boss? As in the owner?”

“Hell yeah. His name is Alex Carter”

I scrunched up my face in confusion.

“Never heard of him?” She asked.

“Well I have never seen him but rumor says he is as cold as ice and he is scary when he's angry.”

“And he is also handsome,” she giggled.

I rolled my eyes.

We stopped at the first room, where there was bold writing on the door. Room 310

“Alright let's start here,” Sarah instructed

“Basic cleaning. Beds. Bathroom. Vacuum. Restock towels. Got it?”

I nodded.

“You can do this. Good luck,” she turned and left.

I stood in the room. My first task.

I slowly picked up the sheet and began working carefully. Making sure everything is perfect and in the right order. There can't be any mistakes on my first day.

I took one more look at the room I just cleaned and everything looked perfect

“Are you done?” A voice pulled me from my thoughts .

I turned around and saw her, Madame Elena

“Yes mm…ma” I stuttered

Her eyes went wide as she inspected the room. “Hmmm…. Not bad for someone new.”

“What's your name?”

“Maria Bennett ma,” I replied.

She handed me a key card with a number tag on it

“Now go and clean the executive suite,” her voice sounded colder than before.

Fear crossed my face “The executive suite?”

“Yes, room 701,” she said and walked past me.

The elevator door opened and I pushed my cart slowly down the hallway. The executive floor was totally different from the regular ones. Everything looked more expensive, more elegant. Even the carpets felt softer.

I stopped in front of room 701, took a deep breath, and slid the key card into the lock. The door clicked open.

“No mistakes,” I whispered to myself.

“I slowly pushed the door open and went inside.

The room was huge, it screamed luxury. It's larger than my entire apartment. The giant window, well-polished furniture. A large king-sized bed sat in the center. Everything was arranged perfectly.

“Get to work Maria,” I muttered

I started with the bed, carefully removing the pillows, straightening the sheet, just the way I did in the previous room.

Then I heard the sound coming from the bathroom, and the door opened.

I froze.

A man stepped out in his towel. Tall. Dark hair.

Blue eyes.

I went pale.

It was him.

But he didn't seem to recognize me.

“I…I…I'm…I'm sorry sir” I stammered.

“I didn't know anyone was inside. I thought the room was empty” my words broke in between.

“Uhmm, I will come back later”. I said quickly and without any response I dragged my cart and ran out, my heart pounding in my chest.

No, no, it's… It's impossible…

This can't be happening.

He can't be the same person.

How can he be here?....