Serena pov

The new maid

"Dad, please…." I begged with teary eyes trying to release my hands from my father's strong grip.

He dragged me, passing through the massive gate of the castle of the wealthiest family in our small town. This family already owned half of our town and maybe more.

My dad ignored my pleading, and he insisted on selling me… Yes, as a maid! And on my sixteen birthday already! How awful he was.

He dragged me from my hair and rang the doorbell. An old woman opened the door and immediately hollered at my dad "what are you doing to that young girl? Did you kidnap her or what?! leave her now." she commanded my father sternly. And I was thankful for her.

Innocently I ran to her chest and hugged her begging and sobbing "please madam. Please don't let him do that to me.”

She patted my head and yelled someone name "Mr. Thomas, please come over here now."

In just a minute, an elegant man stepped by the door, he roamed his eyes over me and over my father "what's going on here?" The man's face was blank but firm and sturdy.

My father coughed and bowed his head immediately, "please forgive me. She is my daughter. And I want her to work in the castle as a maid. Please we are so poor, and I need her salary to make our family survive and I …." my father was explaining to them.

Okay, she was a lair! He wanted my salary and at the same time. He tried to get rid of me because, from his perspective, I became a burden on him. He wasn't a good father, though.

The elegant man who was older than that woman bent his head slightly to me, okay, I was too short and tiny. "is he, your father?" he asked me nicely but still with dull expressions.I wiped my tears by my elbow and nodded my head, "yes, sir. He is. But I don't want to be sold as a slave."

The woman smiled lightly to me and explained "and who said that we would buy you? We don't have slaves here."

I pulled back my head tardily and blinked "really??"

She nodded and trailed off her words, "yes, I'm housekeeper here, I have been working way too long for years. Since the master and the mistress were still alive, God bless their souls." she sighed, and I could see the tears blocked in her eyes already when she remembered them.

Then she turned her eyes down to mine "I'm the head of the housekeepers. And Mr. Thomas is the butler here. So.. if you want to work here, we will gladly accept you. You will have a small room. And you will be gifted with clothes and perfect good meals, and we will treat you as one of us. We are all here, one family."

She smiled and finally the butler Mr. Thomas greeted too "yes we are one family, but if you don't want to work with us… then… it's up to you no one will force you."

That made me chuckle a bit "okay, and I want to, but…"

I was going to ask them not to give my father my full salary, but before I could spit those words. The butler raised his finger to my face, "but remember, if you started working here, then you can't get out without permission."

I freaked out and gasped "what? Is that a jail?"

And by that, I heard a sharp manly voice behind me and said immediately, "yes, it's my jail!"

I turned my eyes, and I figured out that it was not only me who did that.

They bowed and cheered, "Mr. Isaac! You came back finally! Welcome back to your home and your castle."

Back! From where?! He looked so handsome, but his eyes were so dark, and his features hardened! He looked like a killer to me. Or as a broken man who wanted to hide his wounds.

I was staring at him, and I didn't notice that he was the master of the house, and it was a shame for me to stare in his eyes. Mr. Isaac narrowed his eyes to me and leaned into my face "why are you looking at me like that?"

I shook my head and smiled lightly, childishly, "I don't know."

He groaned and said firmly annoyed, "don't look at me with your puppy eyes! Don't you know who I am ? I suggest you go out of my castle now. I don't want you to…"

I cut off his words immediately and raised my hands politely but still glaring intensely into his mysterious eyes that were like a magnet to me, "Mr. Thomas, I want to work here please."

Mr. Isaac leaned into my face, closer and warmer leaving no gap at all and said sharply, "Are you sure young girl?"

I nodded shyly, "yes,…., sir." I swayed my head.

He gulped then adjusted his tall feature and raised his brow "okay then, but I should warn, once your small feet will step in my castle and my farms.. you won't be able to get out unless you are dead or I kicked you out." he was warning me, but deep inside I wanted to start this adventure.I wasn't sure why, but even with his blunt and rude attitude, he looked like he wanted me. And yes….

I held up my hand and shook hands with him "my name is Serena sir, and welcome back home. I'm not sure yet where you have been but…"

He pulled his hand and rounded his fist, then blurted out while passing me "I was in the war, I have been there for seven years. So you better watch out. Because I killed everyday enemies more than I was drinking water."

"what!"

I wanted to turn my heels and run away, but something pushed me to stay, and no, it wasn't my father. Something deep in my chest... Something like a magnet! Stronger than I could resist. That tough master took my heart by just one look by his.

My father pushed me inside and intertwined his fingers and begged the butler "please accept her. She is a nice girl, and she will work and do her best... I will come at the end of every month to take her salary." my father waved. As if they accepted me already.

The older woman sighed, looking at me in pity, but my eyes were only on the back of Mr. Isaac, who already walked inside the house and was out of my sight.she whispered, "so, Serena, welcome to your new home."

I nodded mutely, and I walked inside slowly following them... But actually, I was searching for him. I wanted to know his full story. I wanted to get to know him. His age, his sufferings, his life. Everything!