Chapter 1 - Knees on the Cold Stone
The blue rag smelled of diluted bleach and stale vinegar.
Elena pushed it across the marble, leaving a wet streak that dried too fast under the grand chandelier.
Her knees were numb.
The cold from the polished stone seeped straight through the thin fabric of her grey maid uniform.
A heavy pair of leather oxfords stepped into the reflection of the chandelier.
The leather was dark grey, polished to a mirror shine, free of any dust.
Elena stopped wiping.
Her soapy hands remained flat against the wet floor, fingernails rimmed with red.
The shadow of the man stretched over her kneeling form, tall and broad across the vaulted foyer.
Julian looked down at the frayed hem of her black apron.
His chest heaved once, drawing in the sharp scent of chemical soap.
A silver cufflink caught the warm indoor light as his hand clenched into a tight fist at his side.
The silence between them stretched, thick and suffocating.
"Elena!"
His voice ripped through the open hall, echoing off the double curved staircases.
A single tear slipped from her lash, splashing directly into the soapy bucket beside her knee.
"I'm sorry, sir."
Her chin brushed the collar of her uniform.
She did not look up to meet his eyes.
May you like
Instead, her eyes fixed on the small yellow wooden duck tucked inside her apron pocket—its beak broken off years ago.
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