The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress
[Book 2] Chapter 6

Lorelai POV

I stand outside the building and swallow hard, clutching everything I possess in the way of ID and references. The building itself is impressive but if they cater to the wealthy it's not surprising. I hesitantly step foot inside and a woman walks in, alerted by the jingle of the bell on the door. She has a wide smile on her face and a pleasant expression on her face. I like her instantly.

"I'm Lorelai," I say hesitantly and her eyes begin to sparkle.

"Lorelai," she says cheerfully and holds her hand out "I'm Constance, why don't you follow me" she suggests and we walk to a small office-like room in the back.

We sit. She regards me for a moment. "Now tell me Lorelai, do you have any experience in cleaning professionally?" she chirps.

I shake my head "I'm afraid not, but I'm a quick learner" I hastily add.

She frowns. I quickly hand her my resume and letters of reference. "That's not necessarily a bad thing, some of our clients can be particular about whether chemicals are used or not" she admitted, glancing through the resume "but I do have to ask and forgive me for being blunt, but we do thorough background checks, so if there's something missing on this resume, now would be the right time to tell me, before we replace out that you've conveniently left it off."

I let out a slow exhale. I wonder if she's going to judge me for this. She c***s her head and eyes me steadily. "I also work for a strip club" I decide to be honest, knowing I've lost my chance for a job, my shoulders slumping "I'm sorry, I thought if I left it off...." I trailed "I'll just go, this was a mistake."

Jackson was going to kill me. I could feel tears pricking the corners of my eyes. But Constance surprised me "That doesn't necessarily mean we won't offer you a job. I'm glad you were honest with me" she murmured and I sat back in the chair stunned. "But won't that upset whoever employs me?" I asked confused.

"They don't have to know. I'm the one employing you and then subcontracting you out" Constance explained "They trust me to do the thorough background checks and I would never judge a woman simply because she worked as a stripper." Wow. She continues to peruse my resume and letters. She raises a brow "You've been working since the age of sixteen?" "Didn't have a choice" I said quietly "I was on the streets by then."

She looked sympathetic now, but I didn't need her sympathy. I was a survivor. She put the papers down and cleared her throat. She drummed her fingers on the tabletop looking thoughtful. "It might just work" she murmured talking to herself.

What might work? What was she thinking? I didn't want to interrupt her line of thought. She continued to eye me, nodding quietly to herself.

"May I ask what you're thinking?" I asked slightly desperately.

She smiled at me. "We have this client," she said delicately and I straight away knew that there was a lot she was choosing not to divulge "and he can be difficult."

Somehow I suspected that was an understatement. I glance at her suspiciously. If I was going to be a newbie why was she already thinking of a client for me? But she continued to look thoughtful. "Look I can divulge that he's already managed to get rid of six maids in the last two months" she admitted wryly.

"Six maids," I said stunned "Then what makes you think that I would be any different?"

"You have perseverance," she said bluntly, making me gape at her "You've had to survive the streets and you've worked hard all your life. You're not about to let a wealthy man run you off from what you need to do."

When she put it like that, I had to admit she might be right. "How difficult is he?"

She hummed under her breath "I'm not allowed to divulge too much due to confidentiality reasons" she said ruefully "but his personality can leave a lot to be desired" she admitted.

"Is he old? Set in his ways?"

Maybe he was a crotchety old man. That was easy to picture.

The woman snorted. "Hardly. He's 28 years old."

5 years older than me. Hardly old then, I thought dismally. What kind of personality did he have that sent six maids scurrying from him? He had to be awfully mean.

"Does he have a um" How did I phrase this "disability or mental..."

She shook her head. "No, but he's very specific about how he likes things and heaven forbid you don't listen to him" she warned.

"Am I cleaning for the whole household?"

I was still confused. She sighs. "I've been informed this time you will be this man's personal maid. The last six were cleaning the entire house but this man's family feels that having a personal maid" this was said with emphasis "might be better suited for him." "I'm not having s*x with him" I was quick to tell her.

"No, I would never expect that from you," she said hastily, sensing where I was going "and that's not what they meant by personal maid. Simply that you will be attending to his room and his needs which also means making and preparing food, tidying, whatever else he may need during the day."

I relaxed. "What would the hours be?"

She raised a brow "Providing these references work out and your background check the hours would be early morning to late evening."

There was no way I could work two jobs, I thought. I coughed and gave her a winning smile.

"What exactly is the wage?" I asked trying not to sound too eager.

Please let it be enough to quit dancing. Please.

"$1500 after tax," she said promptly.

"Per month?" I was slightly disappointed.

She looked bewildered "Per week" she corrected and my hopes rose "After a month if you are successful at keeping your job and getting past the trial period it will increase by another two hundred."

My jaw almost hit the ground. $1700 per week for being a maid and cleaning! I was almost rubbing my hands in glee. It was more than enough to cover rent and whatever else we might need. I wouldn't need to dance around a stripper pole and subject myself to constant groping anymore. So long as I could make the client happy that was.

"The clients are generous with their wages but as I said they can be difficult to work with" Constance warned me again "so you have to be certain that this is something you want. I would hate for you to quit a position to replace that this one is not as you imagined. You are expected to work hard, be cheerful, and be punctual. You must be polite, willing to go above and beyond, and to maintain confidentiality. Do you think you can do that or am I wasting my time?"

"I can do that" I was quick "I swear, if you give me the chance, you won't regret it. I'll do whatever it takes to make this client happy. Well, "I almost anything" I amended "And I'm a good cook" I added trying to increase my chances "I'm good with children so maybe that will come in handy?"

She laughed "Well maybe it will with this particular client."

She began to shuffle the papers and then reached into her desk and pulled out something.

"I need you to fill out this contract, along with this non-disclosure agreement and your bank details for prompt payment. I'm going into another room to make those reference calls and get your background check started. If it goes through the position is yours." I nod eagerly. She hands me a pen and then swiftly leaves the room while I fill out the paperwork. It takes me a while to get my head around the non-disclosure agreement and I'm aware of the amount of time passing.

I've just finished signing the contract and putting the papers back on the desk when Constance comes bustling in. "Well you check out," she said calmly "so the position is yours."

"When do I start?"

"How does tomorrow sound?" she asked sweetly "they really need a new maid."

"That soon?"

She nods. "Can you? You get paid weekly" she added "you're my last option. I have no other maids to send frankly."

"I guess," I said, "what do I wear?"

"Oh, I forgot" she exclaimed, "what size are you?"

"Six," I said and she vanished.

She comes back with three uniforms which she swiftly hands to me. Black dresses with white aprons and black stockings. "Wear appropriate black shoes and have your hair back in a ponytail" she instructs "Minimal makeup. You are not there to seduce the client and I want my maids to look professional. If you need another uniform it will cost you, but the first three here are provided free of charge."

I take the uniforms gratefully. At least I don't have to wear my own clothes. It will make things easier. "Now your house are 8 am to 6 pm or later if the client wants."

"The address?" I asked doubtfully.

She hurries to the desk and scribbles it down on a piece of paper, handing it to me. "Do not give this address to anyone else and make sure you have transportation."

I nod. She shakes my hand with excitement in her eyes. "Good luck" she exhales "you're going to need it. I will be checking in with the client regularly to see how you are going as well. I always do with my maids. Anybody not performing to standard is immediately let go" she warned.

That seemed fair. I nod and she walks me out. "Have a great first day and thank you Lorelai, I truly hope that it all goes well for you" she said frankly "you seem like a nice girl and I have a feeling that you're going to be a good match for this particular client. I have a good feeling about this" she exclaimed, opening the door for me and ushering me out.

I made my way back home, anticipating flooding through me. Tomorrow, I had a new job to start. How bad could this so called client be?