Welcome to Bayswater Subdivision, I read what was written on the entrance, then Kit powered down the window of his car to greet the guard on duty. A few meters from the gate, he turned right and parked his car in the garage of a two-story duplex, painted in brown and off-white.

“Is this where you live?” Excitedly, I went out of the car and waited for him to get out.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Kit answered as he walked towards the main door to open it.

If I was truly a witch, I would have cast a spell on him so he would fall on his face. I asked nicely, and he didn’t have to be sarcastic! Exasperated, I followed him inside and closed the door behind me. “I know you’re tired but we should draft the agreement now,” I ordered him to prioritize our contract because the man was moody, unpredictable and sarcastic most of the time.

“It has to wait until tomorrow, Ariana. I’m tired and I’m not sure if my brain would still function well after meeting you.” Kit implied that it was bad to meet me and I was offended by the tone he used.

“After meeting me? Can you clarify that Mister Kit? I don’t think I like your tone when you said it.” When he refused to comment on my statement, I thought it was best to let it slide. I reminded myself that I should be nice to Kit for the meantime because he’s the only person who could provide me with my basic needs. “If you’re tired, why don’t you go upstairs and take a rest?” I assumed that the bedrooms were upstairs because there’s only a living space and an open kitchen on the ground floor.

“I said I’m tired, Ariana. Why don’t you massage my back?” He ordered, and I thought that he’s gone crazy for a moment.

I looked at him and waited that he would take back what he said, but he remained calm like it was normal to ask a housemaid to give him a massage. What a boss! “Why would I do that?” I refused to obey him because it was unimaginable! Me? Massaging his back? No way! “A hot shower will certainly help you to loosen up your tired muscles, Mister Kit,” I suggested an alternative. Did he really think that I was a pushover because I needed him? I glanced at Kit and he was still sitting on the sofa. Was he really that tired? “Fine,” I stood up and went to him, then I started to massage his head gently, instead of his back. Kit groaned as I applied gentle pressure on his forehead. However, as much as I wanted to help him relax, it was improper and I stopped immediately and returned to my seat.

“Did I tell you to stop?” He glared at me like I did a huge mistake.

I regretted my decision earlier to massage his head. My eyes went to his jet-black hair and I could still feel how smooth they were on my hands. Even when I already distanced myself from him, his scent still lingered on my nose and I wondered why I just noticed it. “I’m just a housemaid Mister Kit, not your personal slave! If you will tell me which room to use, I would gladly appreciate that.”

“There,” he pointed his finger near the kitchen and I had no choice to follow it.

The ground floor of Kit’s home has an open layout, with the living room, kitchen and dining could be seen altogether, and about one meter from the kitchen was a tiny room with a single bed. I was aghast to found out that the room he wanted me to use was smaller than my walk-in closet in Oslob. I returned to the living room to complain about it.

The man was still on the sofa, and with his eyes closed, he looked gentle and harmless. I stood frozen from a distance while admiring his beautiful features. If only he was as gentle as he looked, but no, the man was mean and sarcastic and it should be enough reason for me to protect myself from eventually falling to him.

“There’s no toilet and bath inside the room,” I complained and he opened his eyes to look at me.

“Really Ariana? Where have you seen a maid’s quarter with complete amenities? You can use the toilet under the stairs,” he replied with an annoyed voice. What’s his problem? I only complained about what was lacking in the room, and he didn’t have to shout at me.

I wanted to enlighten him that in our house, the maid’s quarter was comfortable, but I held my tongue and went to check the toilet and bath he mentioned under the stair. Its door was facing the kitchen counter, and when I opened it, I was flabbergasted at how small it was! I was being punished for running away from home!

Okay, I had to calm down. Inhale, exhale. I did it several times before I closed the small space to list down the toiletries I need. “For the toiletries, will you shop alone or you’ll take me with you?” I asked, then I searched for a paper and pen I could use to list all the things I needed.

“In the kitchen cabinets, you check the last one from the left and you can get whatever you’ll need.” Kit replied and dismissed me by closing his eyes once again.

I went to check the kitchen cabinet he mentioned and when I opened it, I could only see at least few boxes of safeguard soap, and a bottle of shampoo which I hated the most because it made my hair dry – head and shoulders. I could take whatever I wanted? Was he trying to be funny? “I can’t find any shower gel or body wash here, Mister Kit,” I shouted at him.

“Use the bar soap, Ariana.”

I almost collapsed to the tiled floor when he ordered that I should just use the bar soap during shower. It was too much! Without a hair conditioner, I couldn’t imagine how my hair would look like. “Are you planning to make my life miserable Mister Kit?” I had to know why.

“My house, my rule. If you don’t like it, you can just go back to wherever you came from. You’re not my prisoner, Ariana.” He said.

Brute! I wanted to curse at him but I have to think twice before doing it! “How much are you going to pay me by doing household works?”

“Five thousand, with free food and lodging.” He replied.

“That’s cheap!” I complained because the amount he mentioned couldn’t even afford the brand of my favorite scent.

“I’m not rich, my dear and that’s all I can afford to pay for my housemaid.”

I narrowed my eyes at him and thought that he lied because I recognized the watch he wore and it wasn’t cheap! Or was it a gift from a rich girlfriend? “Do you have a girlfriend or a wife?”

“No girlfriend, and no wife. Please, can you just go to your room and let me relax for a while? We’ll talk later,” he dismissed me.

At least he has no girlfriend or wife! Wait, why would I rejoiced over the fact that he was not committed to anyone? “Hmmm I have nothing to wear Mister Kit, can you lend me some of your clothes?” Kit opened his eyes and the way he stared at me sent shivers to my inner core.