Maid For Him

Julia Tears blurred my vision as I stared at the door. I did not want to do this. After remembering everything she did, I would rather sleep on the street. She was the reason why I moved out in the first place, but now I had to move back in with this green-eyed witch all because of one old pervert.

Mr. White was old enough to be my grandfather, and he was nothing but an old geezer. I had to quit my job after he tried to make a move on me for the fourth time. I know I should have quit the first time, but I desperately needed the money. I had rent and bills to pay but ended up getting kicked out of my apartment anyway because the rent was due, and I was unable to get another job in time.

I wiped my tears and knocked twice. I called her yesterday after having to search all over for her number. I had it written down on a piece of paper two years ago—the very same day I left the horrible town of Greengrove.

There wasn't much opportunity in Greengrove for a young girl to make something of herself, so I had to move. Education here was limited and so were good jobs.

Gina Parks opened the door and leaned against the doorframe. A cigarette hung from the side of her mouth and her hands folded across her chest as she looked at me. It was one p.m., but that did not stop her from dressing in an ugly green nightdress, pink and orange hair rollers, and blue house slippers. Her nails were every cat’s dream, and if it weren't for the wrinkles on her face along with her taste in fashion, no one would believe that the witch was forty-five-years-old with a twenty-three-year-old daughter.

She happened to be one of the worst mothers to walk earth.

“Well, well. Look at what the dog barfed up. Little wannabe princess had to return to mother dearest. What happened, did the kitty get overworked?"

I roll my eyes at her. It's not like I was expecting a warm welcoming hug. The only time this woman ever hugged me was the one time in freshman year when she got so wasted that she had to use me to support her feet. I'm not even surprised she thought that I was a prostitute. The saying did go, like mother like daughter, but this was not the case. In no way or form would I ever be like this woman.

"I won't be here for long. I'll pay you for my stay, beer or cigarettes?" I asked before grabbing one of my suitcases and pushing past her.

"Both," I heard her say as she followed me to the basement, otherwise known as my bedroom. The house is a small two-bedroom with a basement, two bathrooms and a kitchen that she made into a living/dining room. The other room was too good for me, so she rented it out to perverts, criminals, and prostitutes.

"After you're done putting your shit away you can go to the store and get them. You're in charge of dinner too."

Dragging the suitcase in my old room, I slammed the door in her face and leaned my back against it. I didn't want to stay here for long, but there wasn't much in my savings, and I had no idea what I was going to do.

I have never felt so lost before.

Rome "Berkeley, can you hurry the fuck up? I'm already running six minutes late."

"It's Bentley, sir, and there's a bit of traffic," my new driver replied.

Indeed, there was traffic. There was a large delivery truck six cars up and the damn driver was driving as if the road belonged to him.

"Overtake them!" I yelled at him. It was a bad idea to get a driver since I liked driving myself. I don't know what came over me to get one in the first place. "Never mind, stop the fucking car."

"Sir, what do you mean?" the imbecile asked.

"Stop the car and get out Berkeley. I'll do the driving my damn self."

At this point I was beyond irritated, he was young, yet he drove like a seventy-year-old.

As soon as he pulled over, I got out of the backseat and pulled the driver door open, dragging the scared man out. I wrote him a cheque for five thousand dollars and drove off, leaving him. I was heading over to Greengrove to see if that old woman finally decided to sell her grocery store. I bought out the four other businesses that were there to build my new hotel. I wanted the children there to have more opportunities and not a shitty future, but the old woman had a ridiculous sentimental bond with the damn place.

Overtaking the truck, I increased the car’s speed. I didn't purchase a fast car that wouldn't even be available for the next three years, so that I could drive slowly. I slowed down on the road right at the entrance of Greengrove. The welcoming sign was destroyed. Four of the letters were missing and the lights that surrounded the remaining letters were broken.

This place wouldn't be like this for long. It will soon be like Livingston, where I reside. The name would be changed, the roads fixed, and the schools upgraded with better teachers and classrooms. My lawyer was already working on getting rid of the low-class people around here.

I increased the speed once more, turning on a new road in the direction of the grocery store. But just then my car jerked. My anger increased. An idiot coming from the other direction turned at the same time and crashed into my car.

I parked the car and rushed out to see the damage. My fucking taillight was broken and there was a dent. The person from the old, cheap beat-up car remained in it. The hood of the car flew open because of the impact and smoke was coming from it along with weird sounds.

Walking over to the driver’s side, I realized that there was a woman at the steering wheel. I rolled my eyes. She seemed to be in shock as she stared ahead with her mouth agape and her small brown hands gripping the steering. I would knock on the window, but it was broken. Some of the glass was in her lap and there was a small cut on her right cheek.

"Are you going to get out of the car and pay me for the damage you cost or are you going to stay in there until this old tin can decides to blow up?"

Big hazel eyes met mine, and she pushed her door open, ignoring the broken glass and the blood staining her cheek. She stumbled out of the car almost falling on her face. This woman was obviously a clown.

"Who do you think you're talking to? You were going too fast mister. This is all you fault," she says finally, acknowledging the cut on her cheek.

I watch as she frowns at the blood on her index finger. Her curly chestnut hair is in a messy pile on top of her head. She’s wearing blue shorts with a white blouse and blue converse. Her only jewelry is a beaded anklet.

I place my hands in my pockets while watching her. "I should be the one asking you that."

Her big eyes look up at me, and she places her hands on her waist and glares. "I don't give a fuck who you are."

I raise my brows. “Well, you will once I sue you for damaging a car that cost more than your old rust bucket."

I walk to my car to get my phone to call my lawyer. I heard her small feet following me.

"You can't do that," she yells.

I found his number and put the phone on speaker as it began to ring.

"I'm Rome Livingston, little girl, I can do anything."

Her eyes widened when she finally realized who she was dealing with. She looked at me, then back at my car and right as Josh answered, she grabbed the phone from me and ended the call.

"Fine. I'll pay for your car if you pay for mine."

I couldn't help but find her words amusing. Did she even think before she spoke?

"You mean that tin can? The junk yard is where it belongs." I snatched my phone from her hand.

"Obviously it's not the best, so how do you think I'll be able to fix your car, especially when I just lost my car?"

"That's not my problem." I leaned against my car and watched her.

"This was all your fault," she whined.

I thought about her words. I'm not a people person, but I had a feeling that I should make an exception for this one.

"I'll hire you to work for me. The money you save you can use to replace your tin can and I'll let bygones be bygones."

From the amount of housework I had, I might as well hire her and forget what she did. Besides I could just send the car back to the company and they would fix it for free.

"What will I have to do?" she asked curiously.

I smirked. "You'll be my maid."

Rome "Do I have to live with you?"

I was already starting to regret my decision. She was so annoying. The last person who annoyed me had his nose broken, but obviously I couldn't break her small one. I might not get along with people, especially women, but I would never abuse one.

Unfortunately, she was going to the same grocery store, and she managed to convince me to take her along. It was a scary, yet amusing sight when she threw herself on the windshield and held on to it, saying it was all my fault she crashed into me, and she wouldn't let go until I drove her to her destination.

"No, I'll give you a schedule with the address stating the date and time when you should come by."

I would make it so that we wouldn’t run into each other. The last thing I wanted to do was see her every day.

"Then I'll have to say no."

I glanced at her to see her frowning while looking out the window.

"What do you mean no? This is for your own good, girl. Either you work for me, and I forget about what you did, or I sue you. And believe me, you will lose."

"It's Julia," she says with a bit of attitude, "and the only way I'll do what you want is if you allow me to stay with you until I'm back on my feet."

"Hell no."

"Please," she begs, "Please."

I ignored her.

"I can do this the entire day," she sings.

"Then it's a good thing we’ve arrived," I say, pulling into the parking lot.

"Please, please, please," she says, getting out of the car and following me.

Again, I ignored her and pushed the glass door open, before entering the store and leaving her behind.

"I see chivalry is indeed dead," I heard her say. She's lucky I gave her a ride and didn’t let her walk all the way here. Now she wanted me to hold the door open for her as if her damn hands didn't work.

"Julia, sweetheart, is that you?" The old woman who owned the store says, running past me. Normally, she would stop to throw useless threats and run me out of the store, instead she pulled the annoying woman into a hug.

"I haven't seen you in years, honey. You're still as beautiful as I remembered. How are you?"

Julia smiled at the woman while holding her at arm’s length. “I’m great, Mrs. Chancellor, and you don't look a day older."

The old woman laughed. It was clear that she liked Julia.

“Oh, child you're too sweet."

"Not as sweet as you, Mrs. C. I'm just here to pick up a few items," she told her while picking up a red shopping basket, "I'll catch up with you later."

"Alright love."

Julia I narrowed my eyes at Rome who was watching us before walking towards the liquor section. I don't like him. He's an asshole, but not as much as the woman who birthed me into this wicked world. I thought a man like him would have already had a maid. Even though this was not the job I was looking for, I saw it as an opportunity to get away from mother beast.

I don't know what business he has here, but I need to hurry before he changes his mind about giving me the job and leaves. Although he was adamant about calling his lawyer, so I don't think he would just leave like that. He is a strange man though, so who knows.

Grabbing a few beers from the shelf, I placed them in the basket, along with a few toiletries, cranberry juice, water, pasta, pasta sauce, rice, peas, a veggie bowl, chicken, and of course, my good old seasonings. I hoped this would be enough to last me until I got back on my feet. Knowing Gina's wicked ways, I would have to hide some of it in my room.

I walked towards the cash register where Mrs. C was arguing with Rome.

“For the last time, I'm not selling my store."

I raised a brow in curiosity, before placing the basket on the counter and unpacking the groceries for the young girl at the cash register to scan the items.

"Can I get two boxes of cigarettes?" I asked, pointing to the white and red box on the shelf behind her.

"You don't look like you smoke," she says before scanning them.

"I don't. They’re not for me," I told her while listening on what was happening not too far from me, “What’s going on?"

"Oh, Mr. Livingston just wants to purchase the store so that he can knock it down to build his hotel here. He already brought the four other stores next to this one."

Building a hotel here didn't seem like a bad idea if he provided the young locals with jobs instead of those who had more privilege.

"But CeeCee's is the only grocery store in Greengrove. Would we have to go all the way to Livingston to shop?"

Livingston was owned by the very man who was standing a few feet away from Julia, and it was also the closest one to Greengrove. According to history, his ancestors were the ones who bought the land for a small amount of money and built houses and small businesses. Of course, Rome came along and turned it into the prestigious gated neighborhood that it is today.

"That would be too expensive," the girl says, scanning the last of my items.

I had to agree with her.

"I own this entire community. Everyone has sold me their property. The building a few blocks away will be yours at no cost, and I will still pay you for this store."

"You mean that large new building we passed by a couple minutes ago?" I asked in surprise.

Mrs. C was going to get that building plus money for this one, yet she refused to sell. There was no reason not to sell. If she did, she would make way more than she lost.

Rome's dark eyes glared at me for interrupting him. I walked over to him and grabbed his arm, ignoring how tense he got the moment I touched him.

"Excuse us for a bit," I told the two women, before pulling Rome to the back of the store. As soon as we stopped, he pulled his arm away.

"What the hell are you doing, you idiot?" he says smoothing out his grey three-piece suit.

I resisted the urge to slap him on his head for insulting me.

“How will the people here benefit from whatever you are planning to do?"

His dark eyes met mine.

“That’s not your business."

"Nope," I said taking a step closer. He seemed freaked out when I did this, but I ignored him. "You will never get Mrs. C to sign any paperwork you have, so wrong answer. Try again."

He stared at me as if he was trying to figure something out, then he took a step away from me and instead focused on the different candies on the shelf.

"More jobs, better opportunities, and a brighter future. Not just for the children, but the grown folks who are willing to work to change their lives."

I smile and pat his back.

“Now that wasn't so hard, was it?"

"Keep your hands to yourself, little girl," he says, glaring.

"Whatever, Mister. Just know that this little girl is going to change Mrs. C’s mind, and when I do, you will have to do something for me."

"And what will that be?" Rome says, arms folded, eyes narrowed.

I smirk. "You will have to allow me to stay with you."

I watched as he ran his hand over his short black hair. He seemed to be deep in thought.

"Fine, but I doubt you will be able to do so. The woman is as stubborn as a mule."

I cross my arms and smile up at him. “That is where you are wrong, Mister, but you will soon learn never to underestimate Julia Roderick."

With my final words, I left him to finish paying for my groceries and talk to Mrs. C. This would be one easy task.