MAXWELL'S POV

Her green eyes looked into my blue ones. She was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. Her small frame and her face, which was filled with a delicate grace, instantly had my attention. The way she looked at me like she wasn't sure whether to be scared or fascinated by me—I'd advise her to be both.

We stood, looking at each other for a very long time. It felt like the whole world ceased to exist, and it was just the two of us. I could not remember the last time I'd had this reaction to any woman.

Finally, she spoke, “G.. Good morning, sir.” She stuttered. She was like a frightened bird. I could not blame her. My presence seemed to always have that effect on people, but for some reason, I didn't want her to be scared of me.

“You're the new maid?” I said softly, looking her over in her uniform. Her skirt was just above her knees, revealing her shapely legs. Her feet were covered by what had to be the most awful pair of shoes. They looked like she had walked all over London in them for a month.

“Yes, sir.” Her voice was soft like butter and had a warm effect on it. I looked up from her shoes, back to her face, to see her cheeks red with embarrassment. She'd caught me looking at her shoes.

“What is your name?” I asked as I took a seat to begin eating my breakfast. I was already running late for a meeting, but I wanted to know more about this woman who had captured my interest.

“Lily Carter.”

“Lily Carter,” I repeated, liking the way it sounded. She just stood there as if waiting for me to give my next command. A pretty little thing like her would faint if she knew what I would like to make her do.

“You may be dismissed,” I told her, but as she turned to walk away, I stopped her. “Lily?”

“Yes, Mr. Stone?” She responded.

“You will be the one to serve me from now on—breakfast and dinner, and if I am here, then lunch too.”

“Yes, sir.” She said and then rushed out of the room. I turned to look at Duke, who was scrutinizing me, but he knew better than to ask any questions. I wanted Lily Carter to be at my beck and call. Why? I didn't know, I just did.

***

LILY'S POV

“Well, that's never happened before,” Shayna said when I walked into the kitchen. She'd been watching everything that had been happening through a small crack in the door.

“What's never happened before?” I asked, trying to sound casual even though my heart was still pounding from the encounter. The way he looked at me like he was searching my soul for answers to something.

“I've been working here for almost four years, and I don't think he's ever asked me my name before. Plus, he only wants you to serve him from now on.” She said with excitement.

“What does that mean?” I asked, confused, wondering why she was happy about that. Maybe because it meant less work for her.

“Can't you see? The boss is smitten with you.” She said in a whisper because he was still at the table having breakfast and could hear us if he was paying attention, which I doubt.

“I highly doubt that,” I said, shaking my head at her.

“Oh, come on. The maid and her boss? That's the oldest love story. This could be yours.”

I looked at her like she was crazy and I suspected that she was. “I think you need to stop reading so many books. Mr. Stone would never want anything to do with someone like me.” I told her and went back to cleaning the already clean counters, probably because of how nervous I was.

“Oh, honey, you underestimate just how beautiful you are.”

“It doesn't matter. We are not in the same class, and I don't think he has such intentions towards me. Now, let's get back to work.”

***

MAXWELL'S POV

Green eyes followed me everywhere while I was at work. I could not rid my mind of my new maid. Something about her drew me like a moth to a flame. I wanted to be inside her mind and know what she was thinking about. I wanted to know the way her mind worked, the way her body worked.

Was it not crazy to be losing my mind over a woman I'd met today and only had an encounter of about sixty seconds with? I always tried my best not to have anything with my employees—that had always been my number one rule. Things could always get messy. But here I was fantasizing about my new maid when I was supposed to be paying attention to the meeting I was in.

“Mr. Stone, we'd really like to work with you on this project. It is a nice system for filtering water and it is very eco-friendly.” Ryan Greene, who was making a pitch to me, said.

“Why do you want to work with me? It seems like you already have everything figured out.”

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Well, you see, our company doesn't have enough funding for this project. We thought we could partner with you since you have the resources.”

“And what if it fails? Then I lose money and you only lose an idea? What is my assurance that this won't go under?”

Confidently, he said, “Because we've tested it, and it works.”

“Fine, we'll sign an agreement. If it fails, you'll give me back my money.” I told him, his face fell, and I could see the gravity of that responsibility dawning on him. He looked at his partners, and I could see the silent exchange between them. After a while of contemplation amongst them, he said, “We'll take the deal.”

I nodded and got up from my chair, my secretary, Anne grabbing my suitcase. “Good, my lawyers will be in touch with the documents.” I said and walked out.

When I got to my office and pulled out my phone to do the one thing I'd been wanting to do since I left the house. I logged into my home surveillance camera and watched Lily work.