3_Isabelle

A few days passed.

The more I spent time – even if short – with my boss, the more I started to think that man really had no heart. The cold, piercing blue eyes that always stared me down when we haphazardly meet in the mornings lingered in my thoughts, making it difficult to concentrate on anything else.

Sebastian Kingston was every bit the man the rumors had painted him to be—aloof, arrogant, and intimidatingly handsome. His demeanor was like a wall of ice, and his cold, dismissive attitude was enough to send shivers down anyone's spine. It was stressful to work knowing he was somewhere in the house.

Anytime we met, he'd make hurtful remarks about one thing or the other. I tried to improve the breakfast but he either pour it away or just don't give it a glance. At least he drank his coffee. I wonder if he ate during the day because even the dinner he doesn't like it. He would always tell me not to do but it's on my contract and the man needs to eat. He is not a robot is he? He needed to eat. The time I tried to tell him, he told me that I was paid to clean and not to play the nanny.

It was getting harder not to snap back at him. But I always thought of my precious little daughter and shut my mouth. A man like Sebastian could destroy a woman like me with absolutely no effort. I couldn't let his mean, handsome face make me give up. I had more important things to focus on—my classes, my daughter, and building a better future for us. So I didn't care how much he scowled or spoke harshly to me about making breakfast or dinner, or arranging his stuffs, when he forgot to do so himself.

I will keep the job and make the most out of it, I think, as I smile to my little girl who excitedly bounce on our bed while I tie the bow of her dress. She's telling me about an exciting class art they have today. She makes all Sebastian's mistreatment worth it.

After dropping Chelsea off at school, I took the bus to Kingston's penthouse. The ride gave me a bit of time to think and make this month's calculations. I needed to stay focused. My tasks at the Kingston penthouse were simple: clean, make sure everything was in order, make his coffee and breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evening, then clean and go home. It was not really a lot to do, so I had time in the day to focus on my university classes and Rebecca's would pick her in the evening to her working place. She worked in a restaurant that had a space reserved for the employees kids so it was really a good timing. This job paid well, I mean really well, even if the boss was shitty and I needed the money for Chelsea's school fees and my own tuition.

When I arrived at the penthouse, it was as quiet as ever. I never got used to the stillness here. To think he sleeps here alone, what kind of human was he even? Right now, it was just me, alone in the vast, luxurious penthouse. The silence was almost oppressive, but I found solace in the routine of my work. I turned on the coffee machine and waited for it to brew. Everything was mainly spotless but I needed to justify my pay, right? I started scrubbing down the counters and making sure everything was spotless. I couldn't afford to let Mr Grumpy find any faults with my work.

When he came down for his coffee, I was nearly done. I didn't make breakfast anymore. I just made the coffee and he drank it, I think he really liked it because he never made any remark about it.

He quietly drank the coffee while looking through his phone. All the while, I made arrangements for the dinner. If he didn't eat breakfast, at least he would eat dinner. I'll continue until he finally ate it.

After finishing my tasks, I checked the time. I had just enough to get to the university. Weirdly he was still there, I wondered if he was going to work today or not. But I wasn't paid to take care of his agenda.

"I am done for this morning sir, I will be taking my leave" he didn't reply not even look up at me. I grabbed my bag and headed out. As I opened the door, I came face to face with another handsome man with cute blue eyes, he was about to ring the bell.

"good morning sir" I greeted.

"good morning, miss." he sounded nice.

"Sebastian's awake? Or should I come back later?" I frowned, what did he mean? Did he think I was… oh.

"oh huh.. I am not who you think. I am just the housekeeper"

"oh, my bad. I thought…" he chuckled and I forced a smile.

"it's nothing. And yes, Mr Kingston is awake, he's in the kitchen"

"thank you"

"you're welcome" I walked passed him as he entered the house and close the door.

Did that mean that Mr Grumpy used to bring girls to sleep over? I never saw any since I started working here, though sometimes he came home late, because I left before he came home. Of course, a man like him would surely have many women at his feet. But why do I feel like this now? I shouldn't. I didn't care.

I headed for the bus stop. My classes were a welcome distraction. They gave me something else to focus on, something that didn't involve icy blue eyes and an unsettling mix of attraction and annoyance. I threw myself into my studies, determined to make the most of the opportunity I had been given.

When classes were over, I headed back to Kingston's penthouse. Knowing that Chelsea was in good hands allowed me to focus on my work without worrying too much about her.

As I walked through the door, the silence of the house greeted me once again. I went straight to the kitchen and started preparing dinner. I wasn't sure if Mr Grumpy would be home tonight, he rarely was, but it was better to be prepared.

I set the table and left the food warming in the oven. With my tasks for the day complete, I took a moment to sit down and catch my breath. I wondered if I should leave or wait for him? There was no use, waiting, he'd make uselessly cold and mean remarks again.

Just as I was about to leave, the front door opened. I tensed, knowing it was him. Sebastian walked in, his presence filling the house with an almost tangible weight. I stood there. He glanced at me, his expression visibly darken upon seeing me.

"good evening, Mr Kingston. I... I made dinner," I stammered, feeling my cheeks heat up under his scrutiny.

He didn't respond. Instead, he walked past me, heading straight for his room. I decided to put the food on the table, maybe he needed to change before he ate. I had the right to wish for a miracle, right?

He came down a moment later and found me putting the table.

"you're still here?" he growled. Does he ever talk? I mean like a human being.

"I was waiting for you to finish so I can clean"

He looked at me like I was crazy and then he headed over to where I was.

While still looking at me in the eyes, he pulled the table cloth and every plates came crashing against the marble floor. Startled, I looked back with wide eyes, his expression one of barely contained anger. The sound of breaking china echoed through the house, and I froze in place, shocked by his sudden outburst. What the hell just happened?

He looked at me like I just made the biggest mistake I could make. His lips curl into a snarl and fear suddenly made me step back.

"What the fuck did I tell you?" He growled.

"huh… it was just your dinner, sir" I whispered but he heard me.

"I told you not to do that, didn't I?"

"it's on my contract, part of my task-"

"I don't want you to do this shit!" He snarled.

"but you need to eat sir. You don't eat in the morning, I don't know if you eat during the day but at least you need to eat a little before going to bed. You'll end up getting sick" I explained. Something flashed in his eyes but it was quickly replaced by icy-coldness.

"if I needed someone to feed me, I'd go back to my family. You're not here for that. Do what I tell you or leave!"

I stiffened up, the perspective of loosing this job making me come back to my senses. "yes, sir!"

"now clean this" Without another word, he stormed out of the room, leaving me to clean up the mess. My heart was pounding in my chest as I knelt down to pick up the broken pieces. What had just happened? Why had he reacted like that? I couldn't understand it. His behavior was baffling, and it left me feeling even more unsettled than before.

As I cleaned up the mess, I tried to make sense of everything. Sebastian Kingston was a puzzle, one that I wasn't sure I wanted to solve. He maybe rich and all but he had no right to pour this over, like this. Tears of frustration gathered in my eyes but I refuse to let them fall. I remember the times I fought to get out of misery. When I could barely feed my daughter anything, those cold nights with barely fed stomach. With the back of my hand, I wiped away my tears. I had this sudden urge to go and tell my boss a piece of my mind but I couldn't do that, fortunately for him. I had to keep my head down and do my job, no matter how difficult he made it. I couldn't afford to lose this position. It was my ticket to a better future for Chelsea and myself, I reminded my self every time.

With the dining room finally back in order, I grabbed my bag and left the house. The bus ride home was quiet, giving me time to reflect on the day's events. I remembered the look in his eyes. Sebastian was an enigma, one that was frustrating me more and more, if I had another choice, I'd not even see him again. He was as handsome as he was shitty.

As I walked through the door of our small apartment, I was greeted by Chelsea's smiling face.

"Mommy!" Her blue eyes sparkled with happiness, a stark contrast to the cold, piercing gaze of Sebastian Kingston. Though they look very much alike. Seeing her smile made everything worthwhile. I wrapped her in a tight hug, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort that I hadn't felt all day. She was making her homework.

"Where's aunty Becca?"

"Right here" called my friend and housemate walking out of her room in her pajamas. She have beautiful blonde hair and a light shade of blue eyes. "how was your day?" she asked, her voice sounded tired.

I smiled, brushing a strand of hair out of my daughter's face. "It was the usual." I already told her about my grumpy boss but I wouldn't go into details before Chelsea. "How was school sweetie?"

She launched into a detailed account of her day, her excitement infectious. This is what I have been working for, for this smile and happy gleam.