Chapter 1 You Get What You Pay For

A stack of financial statements slammed onto the coffee table with a dull thud.

"Sophia, I looked through the Shaw family's old financial records. You're a housekeeper making $50,000 a month. Do you honestly think that makes any sense in today's economy?"

I looked up.

The woman standing over me with her arms crossed was Bianca Vance, the fiancée of the Shaw family's heir, Arthur Shaw.

I had heard she had a master's degree from overseas and was a senior finance executive.

Regardless, I never expected the first thing she would do after joining the Shaw family was come after me.

"Ms. Vance, my salary was set personally by Old Mr. Shaw 10 years ago. That $50,000 covered all the work I performed as the family's all-around housekeeper," I said calmly.

"An all-around housekeeper? That's hilarious." Bianca laughed.

"You're just a glorified maid who serves coffee, cleans, and cooks. I could hire any middle-aged woman from an employment agency for $3,000 a month. Why should we pay you $50,000?"

I ignored her and turned to Arthur. "Mr. Arthur, is this what you want too?"

Arthur locked his phone and looked away.

"Sophia, Bianca and I are getting married next month. She'll be the lady of the house from then on, so she'll naturally be taking over household management. Business hasn't been doing well lately, and the family's expenses have been high. You should try to be understanding."

Audrey brushed dust off her freshly filed nails before speaking in an unhurried voice.

"That's right, Sophia. You've been with our family for 10 years. We've always treated you like one of us. Talking about money hurts relationships. Besides, you're a single woman with no family to support. $50,000 a month really is a bit much."

Frederick set his coffee cup down.

"Sophia, young people should know how to be grateful. The Shaw family gave you a roof over your head. You can't care only about money and forget the people who helped you. $3,000 isn't exactly a pittance. Plenty of college graduates out there don't even make that much."

I looked at the people I had served for the past 10 years, and a chill spread through my heart.

It had only been six months since Arthur's grandfather, Harrison Shaw, passed away. Yet, they were already frothing at the mouth to throw me aside.

"All right." I nodded.

Bianca froze, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily.

She had obviously prepared a whole speech full of cutting remarks, but every word died in her throat in the face of my easy acceptance.

"Where's the pay-cut agreement? Bring it over. I'll sign it."

Bianca pulled out a contract. "Read it carefully. Starting today, your monthly salary is being reduced to $3,000. Your only responsibility is cleaning. You won't be handling anything else."

I picked up a pen and signed my name without a moment's hesitation.

Arthur frowned. "Sophia, Bianca is an overseas-educated professional. She's applying the flat organizational structure used by major tech companies to optimize the way this household is run. Don't be so resistant."

I almost laughed. "Mr. Arthur, does flat organizational structure mean paying an employee $3,000 while expecting them to do $50,000 worth of work?"

"That's a ridiculous argument!" Arthur raised his voice. "Bianca already explained things to you. It's called cutting costs and improving efficiency.

"You only made $50,000 because no one in the family knew enough to manage you. You took advantage of our ignorance."

I didn't even bother responding. Instead, I turned to Frederick. The pain from his gout had left his face pale.

"Sophia, don't be upset," Frederick said. "Arthur has an international video conference tonight. It involves financing worth several hundred million dollars.

"Just handle the simultaneous interpretation first. We can discuss everything else later."

I pointed at the antique clock on the wall.

"Mr. Shaw, it's 6 p.m. The market rate for simultaneous interpretation is $3,000 an hour. If you need rush service, you'll have to sign a separate contract."