Chapter 6 Mission: General Cleaning

"Charity, are you really sure Maverick won't be home until later this evening?" Roseline asked again, just to be sure. Her eyes were full of excitement and nerves.

"Yes, that's exactly what he said," Charity replied, glancing at the time on her phone. "He told me I should be finished and out of the condo before he returns."

"Is that so?" Roseline smiled. "Well then, you should take the chance to enjoy yourself! Go out and relax-I'll take care of everything here."

Roseline took out some money from her small purse and placed it into Charity's hand.

"Are you sure about this?" Charity looked both touched and worried. "Oh no, if Sir Maverick finds out, I might really get in trouble. And you-do you even know how to clean? Or cook?"

Roseline gave a playful grin and shook her head. "Charity, do you really think my mom raised me not knowing how to wash dishes or sweep the floor? Don't worry about me. I can handle it. But... promise me something, okay?"

"What is it?" Charity asked as she placed her bag down.

"Please don't tell Maverick I came here with you. And especially don't tell him I cleaned his condo."

Charity chuckled, half nervous, half amused. "Of course not! I'd lose my job if he found out. He might never call me to clean again!"

Roseline laughed too. "Right? I didn't think of that! But don't worry-I'll make sure the place looks perfect."

Before leaving, Charity handed over her cleaning tools-mop, rags, disinfectants, and even a pair of gloves.

As soon as Charity stepped out the door, Roseline tied up her hair and got to work. She started in the room she was most curious about-Maverick's bedroom.

"Hmm... What am I supposed to clean here?" she murmured as she looked around. To her surprise, the room was already very neat. The bed was made, the floor was spotless, and even the books and personal items were arranged just right.

The only thing she found out of place was a small pile of clothes tossed near the laundry basket-probably what Maverick had worn earlier that day. She picked them up and carefully placed them into the washing machine. The machine beeped to life as she turned it on.

While the laundry was spinning, Roseline continued with the room. She decided to change the bedsheets and pillowcases. She picked out clean ones from the closet-soft white sheets with a slight floral scent. Then, she replaced the heavy black curtains with cheerful yellow ones, giving the room a brighter, more welcoming look.

She vacuumed every corner, wiped down the furniture, and made sure there wasn't a speck of dust left. Once everything was cleaned and arranged, she turned on the air conditioner and sprayed a light lavender scent into the air.

"There," she whispered to herself. "Now his room feels warm and calm... not cold and sad."

Next, she moved to the kitchen. There wasn't a lot to clean-Maverick clearly didn't make a mess-but she wiped down the counters, cleaned the stovetop, and opened the refrigerator to organize the food inside.

Inside the fridge, she saw a lot of packaged and frozen food-easy meals, nothing too fresh or healthy. That gave her an idea.

"Maverick deserves something home-cooked," she said to herself.

Since she didn't have time to go out shopping, she used her phone to order ingredients online. While waiting for them to arrive, she took the clean clothes from the washing machine and hung them up neatly to dry.

Not long after, the doorbell rang. She wiped her hands on her apron and rushed to the door.

"That'll be three hundred fifty, ma'am," the delivery guy said, holding up the bags of groceries.

"Here you go," Roseline said, handing over the cash from her small coin purse. "You can keep the change."

But the man didn't move. He just stood there, blinking at her, staring too long.

"Excuse me? Here's the payment," she repeated, raising her eyebrows in confusion.

The man snapped out of his daze, looking a bit embarrassed. "O-oh! S-sorry, ma'am. It's just that... you're really beautiful," he blurted out.

Roseline gave a small, polite laugh. "Oh... thank you," she said softly, stepping back inside. "I'll be going now-I still have cooking to do."

She gently closed the door without slamming it, not wanting to seem rude. She carried the bags into the kitchen and started preparing the ingredients.

She washed the meat and sliced the vegetables with practiced hands. She set the meat to boil first, making sure it softened just right. Then she added in the cut-up vegetables, followed by spices, tasting the soup now and then to adjust the flavor.

When she tasted it one last time, she smiled, surprised by how delicious it turned out.

"I really hope Maverick likes this," she whispered, looking around the freshly cleaned kitchen.

The place now smelled of warmth, comfort... and a bit of hope.

Roseline moved carefully and quietly around the kitchen, making sure everything looked perfect. She placed the hot dishes on the table one by one, arranging them neatly in the center. The rice was in a clean serving bowl, and she made sure to place the plates, glasses, and utensils evenly on both sides of the table. She paused for a moment and smiled to herself, already imagining the look on Maverick's face when he saw the dinner she had cooked just for him.

After setting the table, she returned to the kitchen to clean up. She washed the pots and pans, wiped down the counters, and dried everything with a soft cloth. She even swept the floor and took out the small trash bag. Once the kitchen was spotless, she turned her attention to the rest of the condo. She dusted the living room shelves, fluffed the couch pillows, and straightened the books on the coffee table. Everything looked fresh, clean, and welcoming.

Just as she placed the final cushion back into place, she checked the time.

"Five o'clock... just in time," she whispered with a proud smile.

She felt her body growing tired after hours of moving around, cooking, and cleaning. Her feet ached slightly, and her arms were sore from scrubbing and lifting. Deciding to rest for just a little while, she tiptoed into Maverick's room. It still smelled faintly of the lavender air freshener she had sprayed earlier.

She sat gently on the edge of the bed, intending to rest for a few minutes. But the softness of the clean sheets and the cool air from the air conditioner made her eyes grow heavy. Before she even realized it, Roseline had drifted off to sleep, curled up on Maverick's bed like a tired kitten.