Chapter 4 Aubrey

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Although I noticed her fear and panic, I couldn't care less; she seemed rather dull anyway. I found an odd sense of solace in her quandary.

I quickly grabbed the wine, gulped it down in one go, and placed a thousand-dollar note beside it. Outrage bubbled within me as I realized I had been conversing with and feeling an attraction toward a chambermaid. Roaring with indignation, I bellowed, "Get out!"

AUBREY'S POV

I was in Room 302 with Rhea and a few other workers, busy vacuuming and replacing the linens, when Mr. Brown suddenly appeared.

Though my eyes were focused on the quilt I was changing, I could feel his gaze fixed directly on me.

"Aubrey, Mr. Brown is here," Rhea whispered as she continued vacuuming.

Her words barely left her lips before I turned to face him. A cold chill ran through my bones, and I was certain I'd pass out if he spoke.

Had Mr. Hunts really told him about my clumsiness? Was I about to lose my job? A flood of possibilities raced through my mind. Despite my inner turmoil, I struggled to keep my expression neutral.

Contrary to my fears, a bright smile crossed his face, and the furrow in his brow eased as he raised his hand in a complimentary gesture. "I'm elated, Aubrey! You've done an excellent job pleasing Mr. Hunts. It's a remarkable achievement-well done!"

His praise was unexpected, and my eyebrows shot up in surprise. Rhea stood silently in the corner, listening intently.

"To be precise, Aubrey, I'm proud of you," he added with a smile.

I was bewildered. His hands tucked into the pockets of his brown trousers, he stared at me for a moment before continuing. "You've earned a promotion, Aubrey..."

He trailed off, his eyes momentarily wandering, and I noticed him struggling with his balance, likely due to his paunch.

A gentle smile tugged at the corners of my lips at the news, and I was about to thank him when he added one more thing.

"From now on, you are released from all room duties. You'll be Mr. Hunts' personal maid."

My fleeting happiness crumbled. My eyebrows knit together in shock, and I shot him a bewildered glare.

"What... do you mean, Mr. Brown?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

Mr. Brown disliked repeating himself, but I couldn't help asking. The widening grin on his face was both unsettling and infuriating. He had anticipated my reaction.

"You heard me, Aubrey. You are Isabella's replacement. She should have been the one serving Mr. Hunts..." He paused mid-sentence and sighed deeply. "I trust you won't disappoint Swiss Heavens, Aubrey. I believe in you completely."

Should I feel happy? Excited? The thought of being chosen as Mr. Hunts' maid sent shivers down my spine. Heaven knows what might happen. I was already faltering just hearing his name.

"I promise to increase your pay, Aubrey," Mr. Brown assured me, though his tone turned firm. "But I won't tolerate any idleness or errors from you." With that, he was gone in a flash.

The moment he left, I sank to the ground, overwhelmed. How had I ended up as Mr. Hunts' personal maid? Being a room attendant was challenging enough, but now I had to deal with that cold, intimidating billionaire?

It was just one drink, and he had already terrified me. What would happen now?

"Are you okay?" Rhea asked, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. Her concern was genuine, but I also detected a flicker of jealousy in her eyes. She had always dreamed of an opportunity like this, and I knew she would have jumped at it. Life, it seemed, was utterly unfair.

"How can I be okay, Rhea? We're talking about Mr. Hunts, and he isn't even from here," I said as tears welled in my eyes.

Before Rhea could respond, Danielle's piercing voice interrupted from across the room. She had always competed with me in everything, her disdain for me palpable.

"Well, look at that! Miss Aubrey got promoted to be Mr. Hunts' personal maid," she sneered, her arms crossed.

Her lackeys, Sydney and Gabi, joined in, their laughter grating. "She's probably dying to crawl under his arms," Danielle mocked, her tone dripping with malice.

"Don't listen to them, Aubrey. They're just jealous," Rhea snapped, stepping in front of me protectively.

Danielle, however, was undeterred. Marching forward, she grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin. "Stay away from Mr. Hunts, Aubrey. He's out of your league, and you're nothing but a loose, immoral little cricket, trying to climb the social ladder."

I felt humiliated, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. But I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

"Let her go!" Rhea shouted, her voice fierce. When Danielle refused, Rhea slapped her hard across the face, the sound echoing in the room. Everyone froze, stunned.

"Do you want more?" Rhea asked, her voice cold and her glare unwavering. Danielle and her cronies quickly retreated, though they left with threats of retribution.

Rhea helped me to my feet, her grip steady. "Don't worry, Aubrey. I'll always be here for you," she said softly, pulling me into a comforting embrace.

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When I entered my room, I tried to calm myself down, but my thoughts were spinning uncontrollably.

Why does Mr. Hunts want me as his personal maid?

"You're moving into Mr. Hunts' penthouse, Aubrey," Mr. Brown had informed me on my way home. The news felt surreal. Why would a man of his status want me by his side? I was nobody, nowhere near his level. I had heard rumors about the maids who worked for him in New York-flawless, beautiful, classy women. The thought of serving him terrified me.

"Calm down, Aubrey. It's not like they're asking you to commit murder," Rhea called out from the kitchen.

I paced back and forth in the living room, clutching my chest, trying to steady my breaths.

"If you didn't want this job, Aubrey, you could have objected," Rhea said, approaching me with a bowl of spaghetti. She set it down on the table and crossed her arms. "You shouldn't panic like this. It's going to be fine. Besides, maybe the rumors about him firing workers aren't even true," she added, her tone comforting.

I leaned against the armrest of the couch, exhaling deeply. "Rhea, you're impossible. When will you accept that Mr. Hunts doesn't even know you exist in a romantic way?"

She forked a bite of spaghetti into her mouth and smirked. "I can't lose hope, can I?"

"You're a hopeless dreamer," I muttered, a soft laugh escaping my lips.

Even though I didn't talk much, Rhea's words always managed to make me listen. I chose to ignore her playful remarks as she continued eating.

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**Authors POV**

"I told you, Grandma, I'll consider your offer!" Austin yelled, leaning against the balcony railing. Despite his irritation, his thoughts drifted to the girl he had seen earlier that morning.

"We'll get engaged once I'm back, okay?"

"Austin, this is for your own good," his grandmother insisted, her voice firm yet affectionate. "Alexa is a nice girl. If you marry her, your future as a CEO and the number one billionaire will be secured."

He scoffed, flipping through the documents in his hands. "A political marriage? You're suggesting a loveless arrangement with no mutual feelings?"

"You and Alexa have been childhood friends, Austin," she replied calmly. "This isn't just a political marriage but a union that was agreed upon by both families. Your marriage was decided when you were five."

He froze, her words sinking in. His grandmother's tone softened slightly as she gazed at her small pot of lilies. "Honor your parents' wishes, Austin. Love can grow in time."

Frustrated, Austin slammed the files onto the table. "Did you send me here just to meet Alexa?"

Jane smiled smugly. "Would you have gone if I'd told you the truth?"

His body trembled with rage as he slammed the door shut. "You lied to me, Grandma! My work, my responsibilities-everything!"

"You're a CEO, Austin," she said, unfazed by his outburst. "Whether you're present or not, the company runs. But I'm getting old, and I won't always be here. You need a partner who matches you-someone strong, beautiful, and capable. Alexa is perfect for you."

Austin's fists clenched. He hated being reminded of the Hunts' family traditions-alliances built on political convenience, not love.

"Fine, Grandma," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll agree to this alliance on one condition."

Jane's smile widened, a triumphant gleam in her eyes. "Anything for you, my dear."

"Don't bring this up again until I'm back," he stated firmly before ending the call.

As he entered the bathroom to shower, the weight of his family's expectations bore down on him. He thought of his mother, whose arranged marriage had almost destroyed her sanity. Was he destined to follow the same path?

He shook the thoughts away as cold water cascaded over him, soothing his nerves. By the time he emerged from the bathroom, exhaustion had overtaken him. Crawling into bed, he glanced at the clock-it was 1:00 a.m. He let out a deep sigh, closed his eyes, and drifted into a restless sleep.

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**Aubrey's POV**

The honk of a car startled me as I pushed my luggage out of the apartment. My heart was heavy, my mind restless. For the first time, I was leaving Rhea to live with a stranger.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I almost didn't notice how quiet Rhea had become. Her confidence seemed to falter as her gaze locked onto the limo parked outside.

"I guess this is our final goodbye," she said softly, her smile barely hiding her tears.

I turned to look at the driver, whose polite demeanor and professional appearance only added to my unease. When I glanced back at Rhea, I caught her wiping her tears with her fingertips.

"I'll visit you whenever I can, Rhea," I promised, pulling her into a tight hug. She responded immediately, her arms wrapping around me.

"I'll miss you, Aubrey. I didn't think it would be this hard to say goodbye," she sobbed, her voice breaking.

We were both crying by the time we let go of each other. My luggage was already packed into the car.

"Take care of yourself, Rhea," I said, giving her one last wave before stepping into the limo.

"I will, Aubrey!" she called out, her voice filled with emotion.

As the limo pulled away, I leaned against the window, watching her figure grow smaller in the distance. I raised a hand to the glass, waving back until she disappeared from view.

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