Y/N pulled her hoodie tighter around her body, the thin fabric doing little to shield her from the biting chill of the early morning. The sky was painted in muted greys, a perfect reflection of how she felt inside. The school hallways were mostly empty, a small blessing she didn't take lightly. The fewer people around, the better her chances of slipping through unnoticed. She gripped the straps of her worn-out backpack, its weight a physical reminder of the burdens she carried—homework she barely had time to finish, part-time job uniforms she'd stuffed in for later, and the crushing reality of her life.
High school had always been a battlefield. The endless taunts from her classmates echoed in her mind, a relentless reminder that she didn't belong. Every day, she had to navigate through the crowd of people who either ignored her or made her the target of their cruelty. Blending into the background was her only defense, a skill she had mastered over the years.
"Hey, loser!" A sharp voice shattered the temporary calm. Before Y/N could react, a hard shove sent her stumbling forward. Her textbooks slipped out of her grip, falling to the floor with loud thuds that echoed through the hallway. A chorus of laughter erupted behind her, and her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Y/N bit her lip, refusing to let the tears welling in her eyes spill over. Slowly, she bent down to gather her belongings, her fingers shaking as she reached for a notebook that had skidded across the floor. A pair of polished sneakers stepped into her line of sight, blocking her way. She knew who it was without even looking up—one of the more relentless bullies who made her life a living nightmare.
"Well, well, look who's making a mess," he sneered, his friends snickering behind him. Y/N kept her eyes down, willing herself to stay calm. Her silence was her shield, but she could feel it cracking as her frustration grew.
The bully kicked one of her books further away. "Oops," he said mockingly. "Better hurry before the janitor cleans it up."
Y/N clenched her jaw, biting back a retort she couldn't afford. Arguing or fighting back would only make things worse. Taking a shaky breath, she forced herself to finish collecting her things. The group finally got bored and walked away, leaving her in the middle of the hallway, humiliated but still standing.
By the time she made it to her first class, she felt drained, and the day had only just begun. The hours crawled by, each lesson blurring into the next. The words on the blackboard might as well have been written in another language, her mind too occupied with worries that had nothing to do with school.
When the final bell rang, Y/N felt a rush of relief. She slipped out of her seat and hurried toward the exit, desperate to escape. But her relief was short-lived. Instead of going home to rest, she had to head to her part-time job at a local diner. The bills weren't going to pay themselves, especially not the mountain of debt her mother had left behind.
The scent of greasy food and coffee hit Y/N as she walked into the diner. The familiar sounds of clattering dishes and the low hum of conversation should have comforted her, but today, even that didn't lift her spirits. She changed into her uniform in the cramped staff room, her body aching from the long day. Wiping down tables, taking orders, and forcing a polite smile had become second nature to her. It was a routine that left her exhausted but distracted, and she needed every distraction she could get.
"Y/N, table four needs a refill," her manager called out, snapping her back to reality. She quickly grabbed a fresh pot of coffee and made her way over, pasting on a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Here you go," she said, refilling the customer's mug. The older gentleman gave her a kind smile, and for a moment, she felt a little less invisible.
Hours passed in a blur, and Y/N finally began to close out her shift. The diner was nearly empty, and she was wiping down the last table when the door chime rang. Two men walked in, and a chill ran down her spine. They were dressed sharply, their expensive suits at odds with the humble diner setting. But it wasn't their clothes that unsettled her—it was the way they carried themselves, like predators searching for prey.
One of them, a man with dark hair slicked back and a scar running across his jaw, scanned the room until his eyes landed on Y/N. A slow, unsettling smile spread across his face.
"Y/N?" he called, his voice smooth but carrying an edge that made her blood run cold.
She froze, the rag slipping from her hand and landing on the floor with a dull thud. How did he know her name? She looked around, hoping someone would notice or help, but the other staff members were either in the back or too preoccupied to pay attention.
The man stepped closer, his companion following behind. "We've been looking for you," he said, his tone too casual for the menace it carried. "Your mother's debts have transferred ownership, and the new boss has some... expectations."
Panic surged through Y/N. The diner felt too small, the walls closing in around her. She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice failed her. All she could think about was running, but her legs felt glued to the floor.
Before she could make a move, the man grabbed her arm, his grip like a vice. "You're coming with us," he said, and there was no mistaking the threat in his voice. Y/N struggled, but he only tightened his hold, dragging her toward the exit.
"No!" she finally managed to scream, but the diner was empty, and no one came to her rescue. Tears streamed down her face as she was pulled out into the cold night, her mind racing. What kind of plans did they have for her? And who was this new boss?
As the men forced her into a black car parked by the curb, Y/N whispered to herself, "Just survive." It was a mantra she had repeated countless times, but she had never meant it more than she did now. Little did she know, surviving was about to become the most dangerous game she'd ever play.
Hey readers! Thank you for diving into the first chapter of His Maid. This is just the beginning, and I'm so excited for what's in store. Your feedback and support mean everything, so don't hesitate to share your thoughts. There's a lot more coming up, and I hope you'll stay with me on this journey!
See you in the next chapter!
Love,
LavenderVale
