Shadows of the heart 18+

12 surprise

The first thing serena did after waking up was to call the number Thomas had given her. Her hands trembled slightly as she dialed, but she took a deep breath to steady herself.

A woman answered on the third ring. "Hello?"

"Hi, my name is serena. I was given this number to contact about a job as a cook,"

"Ah, yes," the woman replied warmly. "We've been expecting your call. My name is Harris. Can you meet me at a Cafe today? We can discuss the details in person."

"Of course," serena said. "Just tell me the address and I'll be there."

She gave her the address, and serena quickly jotted it down. "Thank you so much. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Great, looking forward to meeting you, Serena ,"she said before hanging up.

Serena arrived early and chose a quiet corner table. She anxiously scanned the room, waiting for her to arrive. A few minutes later, a well-dressed woman in her early fifties entered the cafe and approached her table.

"Serena?" Harris asked with a warm smile.

"Yes, that's me," she replied, standing up to shake her hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, dear. Please, sit," Harris said, taking a seat opposite Serena .

Once they had ordered coffee, Harris got straight to the point. "You will be working as a cook for my employer's household," she began.

Serena hesitated for a moment, considering whether to ask the name of her new employer. Something held her back, and she decided she would learn more in due time. "I thought it was for a family," she remarked.

"No He lives alone, but he is very particular about his meals," Harris explained, handing Serena several pages detailing the preferences, allergies, and meal schedules of the employer.

Her eyes widened as she glanced through the long list. "This is quite detailed," she said, a bit taken aback.
Harris nodded. "Yes, he has very specific tastes. This list should help you understand his likes and dislikes."

She flipped to the last page and her breath caught when she saw the salary. It was 5 times what she had been making at the cafe. She felt a wave of gratitude wash over .With a grateful smile, Serena whispered a silent prayer of thanks to god had  guided her to this moment. Maybe, just maybe, there was a plan for her after all. Then she thanked  Harris

"You're welcome," Harris said kindly. "But there are a few things you need to be aware of. He is very strict about his rules, especially regarding time and the quality of his meals. He doesn't tolerate mistakes."

Serena nodded, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. "I understand. I'll make sure to be on time and follow everything to the letter. You don't have to worry."

"Good to hear," Harris replied, her tone softening slightly. "I'll text you the address. We need you to start tomorrow. Can you manage that?"

"Yes, absolutely. I'll be there,"

"Excellent," Harris said, standing up and extending her hand. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

Serena shook her hand firmly. "Thank you again,"
______

At 7 am ,The next morning, Serena reached the address provided by Harris. As she approached the gate, a security guard stepped forward and asked her name.

"Serena anderson. I've been assigned as the new cook," she said, trying to keep her voice steady despite her nerves.

The guard nodded in understanding and opened the gate, allowing her to enter. Serena found herself standing in front of a house—no, a mansion. She took a deep breath and walked up to the front door, which was opened by an elderly lady.