4

“You’re useless. Utterly useless. Why are you still sleeping? Get up.”

I was already wide awake from his yelling, but I didn’t listen to him. I was still mulling over the notion of why Pa had abandoned me.

Three million dollars. What in the eggshell did he do with all that money? And why must I be the collateral? I have to go to school, too. Doesn’t he know that? And where has Amelia gone to? Ahh. I can’t wait to find him. When I do, I’ll give him an earful for sure.

“I said get up. Don’t pretend to faint,” he growled, and in the next second, a cushion smacked me right in the face.

Bastard!

I got up slowly and followed Giovanni as he took me around the mansion, explaining what kind of jobs I’d have to do during my stay as a maid here. Although, most of the time, I just stood admiring his tall, lean form.

Hotness overload. Totally captivating. This guy really was the epitome of perfection. From where I stood, he looked to be about six feet one. Such a tall man. I was so jealous. I looked like a midget standing next to him with my five-foot-two status.

Finally, after touring the whole house, or should I say mansion, he decided to take me to see his bedroom, since it would be my duty to clean his room. And his bedroom was huge. It was the size of our whole house. And when I saw his bed, I gaped.

Is this how rich people live? With a king-size bed fit for a... well, king?

I paced around the bed, mesmerized, feeling the soft fabric between my fingers. Oh, it’s pure silk. What a rich bastard. I want to sleep on this bed, too.

“Oh, boss, your bed feels so nice.” I rubbed my palm on his pillowcase. In all my life, I’d never touched material this rich before.

I hadn’t a clue how Giovanni saw me at that moment. I was enjoying my fantasy of sleeping on that bed too much, and I didn’t realize I messed up his bed sheets until a soft cough startled me.

“Ah, boss, I’m so sorry. I mussed up your bed. I’ll tidy it.” I flipped out.

But Giovanni still didn’t say a word. He just observed me as if I were an object on display. He looked as if he were lost in another world altogether.

“Ah, boss.” I waved my hand in front of his face to check his response.

“What?” he shouted, freaking the soul out of me.

“You’re staring at me,” I muttered.

Giovanni blinked, then shook his head. “Let’s go to your bedroom.”

My bedroom. Finally. My legs are about to cave in already. The first thing I’m going to do is jump on the bed and rest my feet.

“This is your room.” Giovanni led me to a—

What the hell is this? Why is he opening the door to the hallway closet?

“We’re in a closet,” I said stupidly, looking around the tiny room with a small cot on the far wall. “Why are we in a closet?”

“It’s your bedroom.”

I was gob smacked.

“Come on. I’m an award-winning barista. I deserve better than to live in a closet,” I argued.

“You’re a coffee machine and my maid. You’re staying in the closet.”

“I don’t think I can get used to this. Can’t I live in a normal room?” I bargained, tilting my head back to give him my puppy dog pleading eyes.

“No. Get used to it.” He blinked, then shook his head again. “You’ll be living here until every last cent is paid.” And then he strode across the room like a male model on a catwalk, slamming the door so it rattled on its hinges.

Why must he always be so dramatic when he enters and exits the room? Tsk. That Adonis with few words. Just wait. I’d make him such delicious coffee that he wouldn’t be able to drink another coffee again. And then when he was so sucked in, I’d bargain for my freedom.

Ha-ha. I grinned an evil smile. I couldn’t wait for that day.