Chapter One
––––––––
Alessia
––––––––
Idon't do this withall the houses I clean, but I do with this apartment.
Set on top of a freakishly high and ultramodern building, the penthouse is to die for.
The style is pure opulence, luxury at its most expensive, as is expected of a billionaire's lair.Or three billionaires, in this case.
The usual trappings of floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views, everything in marble and exotic woods, are all existent, but it's their art that sets them apart.Art so beautiful it would make the Louvre jealous.
As I walk through their apartment, in my checkered maid uniform, which is just for show, I take a sip of my soul-indulgent coffee.Slow-steamed whole milk, vanilla bean syrup, with a generous supply of brown sugar reduction caramelized to perfection, a dollop of cream, and sprinkled with sea salt.If I were the dating kind, my barista would be it.If I were the marrying kind, I’d marry the owner of the Cinematic Ice Cream store.I literally work to pay for my fix of luxury ice cream.That is all.
I run my free hand down the frame of a Monet, then move onto a Rembrandt.It should be illegal that they own these pieces, but then again, who says no to Layton Carr, Garrison White, and Jasper Webb?Collectively, the owners of the conglomerate CWW.
Not only are they in the business of manufacturing luxury cars and five-star hotel franchises all over the world, they're also in private equity and own nearly half of all major companies in the world.
Yes, they are excessively, disgustingly rich.But their Monets and Rembrandts are nothing compared to The Red Sanctum.
My heart rate speeds up as I near the glass case, and I have to settle my thoughts before I open the case.
My breath catches as I glance at the masterpiece inside.It's not just a string of pearls.They don't even look real.Not like what a jeweler might have on display, but more like little globes of moonlight strung together.
Each one has a soft glow, the light emanating from deep inside.I tilt my head to catch the faint shimmer of pink and purple, and then I smile.
They're absolutely perfect, their shape and size uniform, as if each pearl is a twin of the one before it.I can't imagine the time it would have taken to string together such harmonious perfection.And not a flaw in sight.
As I reach for the pearls, a huge smile slips over my face and seems to radiate from inside me, just like the pearls themselves.
My fingertips glide over the globes; the ever-so-slight texture tickles my skin.They're so cold, I shiver with delight.And when I hold them up, the heavy weight of them adds to the feeling.They're not fragile in the least, considering how rare this piece really is.
Still smiling and feeling my usual thrill of excitement when I have these pearls in my possession, I slip them into the pocket of my maid's outfit, keeping them close.
Coming here to clean the three billionaires' penthouse apartment is my favorite thing to do.I get to drink my delicious coffee, lounge on their buttery-soft leather sofas, and play with the pearls in my hand.I live for these moments.
Okay, so I don't actually physically clean their apartment—I wouldn't know how to use a mop if my life depended on it—but my business model is flawless.
I have a website advertising my cleaning services, and my motto is: "Choose Alessia for a royal cleaning treatment because you deserve the best.The only girl you need to consult for all your needs."
Somehow it works because I get countless clients despite my truly exorbitant fees.Honestly, I didn't think it was going to work, so no one is more surprised than me that it's my most lucrative business venture so far, and I've dabbled in a few half-baked ideas before.
But since I also don't know how to use a vacuum, I then hire a legitimate cleaning company, pay them what they charge, and keep the rest as profit.I don't lose any sleep over it, because it's right there on my website in black and white—well, actually black and pink—that I'm the girl you need to consult for all your cleaning needs.Consult.Nowhere did I say I would actually clean your house myself.Besides, everyone wins, including me.
My business is thriving.My best friend in the whole wide world, Clover McAllister, just got married to all three her billionaire crushes and couldn't be happier.Currently, she's off on her honeymoon, and I won't be surprised if she returns pregnant.
I can't help the huge smile that fills my face at the thought of Clover.Husbands are so off-topic for me, but Clover just keeps blossoming with hers.I don't ever plan to get married.Ever.Just the way I like it.
I head to my favorite sofa, taking a sip of coffee as I do, and then I trip.If I weren't quick-thinking, I would have spilled the coffee all over their white sofa, but I quickly reverted gravity and spilled the cup all over my uniform instead.
