AVERY POV

It was already the next morning. Hours run so fast, days seem longer, but the night seems like it barely lasts an hour. The tapping sound of the rain on the windowpane woke me up earlier than usual. It was still a bit dark outside, but my body had already adjusted to this new rhythm of my life, the early mornings, the big distinguished uniforms and the recurring tight-lipped silence.

It has been barely two weeks working at the Stalwart Mansion, but one thing I would say is that it feels like working in a museum, because here I feel like I am both the cleaner and the exhibit. Scary!

Time was running fast as I was just lying on my bed and staring at the blank ceiling, thinking of all the times I had before this routine of a job, but well… I shrugged.

I rolled out of bed and pulled on my gray uniform which was a bit rumpled. I brushed the creases flat with my palms and headed out.

Another day, another struggle!

As I stepped into the hallways, the house felt a bit different from the previous days. It was definitely not a positive feeling. Maybe it’s just the weather.

SECRETS IN THE SHADOW

After washing and cleaning the kitchen, I wiped down the marble staircase, which was a big task as I felt a bit exhausted after, but I knew I was far from finished. I was assigned to clean the guest bedroom on the west side of the house. I have stayed here for almost two weeks now, but I have not been to the west wing before, so I was eager to see that side.

Mrs. Meyers handed me a ring of keys without so much of a glance.

“Start with room 27. Be quick and do not go wandering around”

I grabbed the keys and began climbing the staircase. I could hear her warnings repeatedly in my head.

When I reached the hallways, I started counting the doors.

25…26 And then, nothing else.

“No Room 27?” I asked myself, surprised.

I checked both sides of the corridor to be sure of the same result.

At this point, I did not want to be a cause to Mrs. Meyers' anger this morning, so I knew I had to turn back to inform her.

“Mr. Lucas” He was standing at the staircase, leaning against the rail watching with his hands crossed like he was there monitoring me the whole time.

“There is no room 27” I said before he could stop.

“Exactly” he responded, his voice low and amused.

“Then why did she send me here?” I asked curiously, blinking.

“To see if you would notice” he responded.

“Notice? Why” I said, frowning.

At this point, he pushed off the railing and walked towards me with slow and deliberate steps.

“Because most people do not notice it. They follow orders blindly but you don’t.”

I stood there, blank, not knowing what to say or how to react with his presence becoming so close, the clean-cut jaw, the way he smelled like fresh cedar, I flinched.

He moved past me and unlocked a door I had not seen earlier. It was flushed with the wall almost impossible to recognize, and I could see the number etched into the wood, despite faintly reading 27

“I thought…”

“Sometimes, things are hidden for a reason” he said, then opened the door and walked in.

I stood there for a moment, trying to process what had just happened and unsure whether to follow. Then, curiosity got the best of me, so I went in.

INSIDE ROOM 27

This was not just a guest room. It was something different.

There were no beds, no chairs, no wardrobe. Just a large desk, heavy curtain that ran from the ceiling down, and bookshelves lined with thick leather-bound volumes. Among all of these were surveillance feeds from every hallway, every room and even the servant quarters.

I stood there, with an obvious surprise on my face. I swallowed hard

“You spy on us?”

“Not all the time,” he said, clearly amused.

“Only when it is completely necessary”

I took a step back, looked at him with a shock in my face.

“That is a violation of privacy”

“This is my house” he said, turning to face me.

“Everything that happens here is mine to see”

I could sense the possessiveness in his tone and this just made the air in the room tighter than usual.

And then just a moment, his eyes dropped to my lips.

I felt my breath getting stuck in my throat.

Then he snapped, the moment was gone and he turned back to the monitors.

“Get out” he said casually.

“How about the cleaning?” I responded.

“Don’t worry about it”

I left the room and did not argue.

THE WARNING

All through the afternoon, I could not focus because I kept asking myself several questions.

“Why did he show me that?”

“Why me?”

And most importantly, what else was he hiding?

Later that evening, I passed Lizzie in the kitchen where she was peeling potatoes with very obvious quick and angry movements, but when she saw me, her eyes narrowed.

“You are getting too close”

“To what?” I blinked, curiously.

“To him” she said, stabbing the knife she was using to peel the potatoes onto the cutting board.

“Girls who get close to Lucas Stalwart do not last longer here”

“I’m not getting close. " I just…work here” I said, trying not to laugh it off.

“Sure, I bet” she said, wiping down her hands on her apron.

“Just don’t say I did not warn you. " That man does not just break hearts, he buries them,” she added, leaning in.

I walked away, feeling gloomy. That night, I lay in my bed staring deep into the ceiling in the dark room as the moon illuminated my room, casting lines across my blankets.

Somewhere in the house, I knew he was awake. I could feel it.

He was watching and waiting.

And I had this feeling inside me that kept whispering that the real danger in this mansion wasn’t the surveillance camera or the locked doors, it was him.

And you know the worst part?

Part of me didn’t want to run.

Part of me wants him to keep watching.