All Chapters of Six Months to Fall: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

“Six months,” the man said. “Twice a week, every week, for six months. That’s how long I want you to clean this house.”Amy set down the vase she’d been dusting and turned. She hadn’t heard him come in, hadn’t heard anyone move that quietly in a house this size, but his voice left no room for doubt that he expected her to say yes.“I’m sorry?”“I don’t like repeating myself.” He was somewhere in his sixties, well-built for his age, though not the kind of well-built that made her look twice. Just the kind that made her stand a little straighter.“Sir, I…”“Five thousand dollars a month.”Amy’s mouth fell open. It had been two years since anyone had offered her money in the thousands, and her brain took a full second to catch up with her ears.“Are you going to answer, or just stand there?” He was already moving toward the door, unhurried, like the outcome was settled.Who was she to argue? Three months behind on rent. An eviction notice on her kitchen counter. Even her plants had given

Her alarm went off at 6 a.m. like it had personally chosen violence.“I need more sleep,” she groaned, squinting against the morning light. But rent didn’t pay itself, and eviction notices didn’t disappear just because she wished hard enough.She showered, dressed, and ate bread and jam standing at the counter, the last of what was in her cupboard, while sorting through a stack of bills that all seemed to be shouting at her at once.Two days.That was how long she had before the eviction notice stopped being a warning and started being real.“I should get paid today,” she told the bills, as if they might apologize.By 9 a.m. she was out the door, back to finish what she’d started.The mansion looked different in daylight, less like a horror movie set, more like an actual, functioning house.Chefs, butlers, security, drivers, all moving in and out with quiet efficiency.“Wow. These guys are rich rich,” she muttered.She stepped inside once more. Sunlight poured through the tall window

RICHARD WILLIAMS.That was when it fully landed.She hadn’t been cleaning just any mansion.This was the home of one of the most respected families in all of Beverly Hills, and by extension, California.The Williams family ran one of the most prominent aircraft companies in the country.She immediately regretted how casually she’d spoken to nearly everyone in this house, everyone except Zach, who she still felt had earned it for being rude first.“Amelia Grace Carter, correct?” Richard’s voice pulled her back.“Yes, sir,” she answered.“Here’s the contract. Read through it, and ask if you have any questions.”He slid a printed document across the desk, stamped with the company’s logo.If she hadn’t already put the pieces together before he handed it to her, she might have gasped out loud, and possibly jeopardized the offer, and the five thousand dollars along with it.“Okay, sir,” Amy said with a nod.The contract was dense and, frankly, overwhelming.Deep cleaning twice a week.Regul

“What?” Amy exclaimed in disbelief, standing up and turning to see whose voice that was. She turned, and it was Zach. “Three thousand dollars for two plates?” she said, genuinely shocked. “Yes, and since you said it’s your fault and it should be taken out of your paycheck, I’ll make sure to subtract that,” Zach said, and turned to head to the dining area for breakfast. Amy ran after him, she’d already done the math. Her pay was five thousand dollars. Two ridiculously expensive plates cost three thousand dollars. She’d only just made plans on how to spend her salary, she couldn’t afford a deduction like that. “I’m sorry, please, I can’t afford to lose that much,” Amy pleaded, causing Zach to stop walking and turn to her. ‘Did she just apologize and beg in the same sentence?’ he thought to himself. He wouldn’t have believed it if a fortune teller told him Amelia Grace Carter would beg him or apologize. At this point, he finally knew he had some power over her. “W

6 a.m. sharp, Amy’s alarm rang, but she was already awake.Seated in the chair in front of the vanity with her planner out, she was mapping out her day.Amy liked to allocate her time well, to keep her days productive. It was like a bucket list or a to-do list, but more sophisticated and complex.Her day-plan had specific timing for when to start something and when to finish it. For when she could take breaks, and when she couldn’t.She’d been doing this for years now, and to her, it was the reason for her achievements. She never forgot anything she planned to do, because it was written down, and she disciplined herself to complete it unless there was an emergency, and only then was she allowed to deviate from that day’s plans.Today, on her list:Dust the house and clean areas that need it. 8am–10amShower and change. 10am–11amBreakfast. 11am“I guess I have a lot of free time to myself today,” she said out loud, and smiled. “Hopefully my clumsy self doesn’t break anything.” She let