Maid to Serve Them

Chapter 1

I close my eyes as the sun warms me, it's only April and the temperatures are much cooler up here than in San Diego where I'm from. I look around the rest stop, I'm used to palm trees, agave, and manzanita. I guess there is still manzanita up here it's just different from the type of tree I'm used to. Plus there are dogwoods and huge lilacs that rival the rest. The smells here are more fragrant than the congested city desert, and it's nice.

A sign says only fifty more miles to Sacramento, apparently the mansion I'll be staying at is twenty miles south so really I'm thirty miles away from my next home!

My parents are livid that I decided to skip college and become a maid. Why would I want to do that when we have plenty of money for college? Maybe if I had went right after high school college would have been an option. Instead after high school I went to take care of my great nana, mostly doing...maids work! And that's where I learned I really like taking care of people. I cried for a solid month when she passed away. I know then I couldn't do home care. Working in a house cleaning and as an assistant, that I could do.

The ad popped up right after I started working for this high end maid service. Being twenty-one and pretty got me the original job, this particular one has had a high turn around rate plus it's eight hours from our main location, so that left it empty. It was passed on down the ranks to lowly little new hire me.

I personally am thrilled, excellent pay, plus housing, and it gets me away from my family. I just hope my new boss is nice. The only information is that they work at night. Which isn't too weird, after all even in northern California the temperature in the summer can be 114 degrees. I can't imagine working out in the vineyard in that heat.

I sigh as I do one more stretch then get back in my little honda civic.

I double check my map quest three times, the exit I get off on literally has tiny road off of it. It's paved at least, so I guess that's something. The smallness of it still makes me uncomfortable. After ten minutes I see rows and rows of what must be grape vines, and a huge gate looming ahead.

As I pull up to the gate I see a security booth with two guards in it. I roll down my window. "Hi." I say cheerfully.

"I.D and reason for visiting ma'am?" The closest one says.

I hand over my I.D and work agreement with a big smile, "Here you go."

"Ah, Miss Mooney, the head of the estate is waiting for you. His name is Mr. Eric Von Don."

I frown, "I thought Mrs. Poll was who I report to?"

He gives me a devilish grin, "She was yesterday, today is Mr. Von Don. Fast turn over here miss. Go on through, the valet will park your car for you."

"Thank you sir." As I pull away I mutter, "Fast turn over indeed."

The mansion is a full fifteen minute drive from the gate. They must have thousands of acres to have a driveway like this. I first see the mansion in black and white sort of a dutch style architecture. With lilac bushes lining the circular driveway, they are all in bloom and smell amazing even with just one window rolled down.

I pull up under the awning, a valet appears from seemingly nowhere. "Hi." I call out to him as I grab my purse and phone from the passengers seat.

"I'll take your bag up Miss Mooney. Mr. Von Don is waiting in the foyer."

"Thank you sir."

"My pleasure miss." He whisks away my car to a large opening which must be an underground parking garage. How crazy?

I stand straight, fix my long black hair, combing my fingers through it as best as I can. Then attempt to straighten out my dress suit, and enter the mansion with a smile.