Chapter 3 Home Sweet Home

• Emma's POV
• Six o'clock my ass! I had to be at his place at six, which basically meant that I would have to leave home at 5:00 a.m., which basically meant I would have to be awake by 4:00 a.m. or earlier. So I rested for the remainder of the afternoon. Moving away from this place wouldn't be difficult; I owned a small amount of clothing and supplies. I set the alarm on my phone before I forgot, then began reading a romance novel.
• My phone rang and I looked at the number. It was unknown but I answered anyway.
• "Miss Cole, I need you."
• I couldn't believed what I was hearing. "Mr. Hollen?" I asked to make certain this wasn't a joke.
• "Yes."
• "But I told you I will start in the morning."
• "Do you want the job Miss Cole or not? Because if you're no longer interested I can easily find a replacement with a snap of my fingers."
• "I'll be there," I blurted. I leaped out of bed and headed for the shower. "I cannot afford to lose this job before I even start," I told myself as the water washed over me.
• I was out of my apartment by 6:30 p.m. He had instructed me to meet him at his office, and he'd take me to the mansion since I had no idea how to find it on my own. I met him in the private parking lot outside of the building and followed him to a black Lamborghini.
• "You drive your own car?" I asked as I got in the passenger side.
• "I'm capable," he answered shortly.
• I kept my mouth shut for the remainder of the ride, and he was quiet and attentive to the road.
• We arrived at a pair of golden gates that opened automatically and revealed the most beautiful mansion my eyes had ever seen. My mouth opened wide with awe and amazement.
• He parked the car and I slowly opened the door and got out. I followed him through the entrance and into the living room. I had to stop to take it all in. I wasn't expecting all this beauty. There was a huge chandelier in the middle of the foyer, and I wondered, if a light went out, how tall of a ladder one would need to fix it. Luxury furniture, rugs, and paintings decorated the rooms I could see. Mr. Hollen had expensive taste, yet the homey scent was so soothing.
• "Halley!" he called as he left through another door.
• Who's Halley? I wondered. Is he married? Does he have kids?' I knew nothing about his personal life, but here I was, already crushing on him. You need to stop it , you pent up virgin! I commanded myself.
• A young woman around my age appeared with him.
• "This is Emma Cole. She's a new maid and my personal coffee maker," he introduced then left.
• She looked at him wide-eyed as he went on his way, as if she couldn't wrap her head around what he had just said, then looked at me and glared as if I had taken something away from her.
• "Hello, I'm Emma," I greeted, trying to break the silence.
• "I know, he said that," she responded rudely.
• "Well, um, can you show me where I can make his coffee?" I asked, hoping she would be nicer.
• "Follow me." She turned on her heels and I followed suit.
• "Ah, he finally brought some more help?" an older woman asked as we entered the kitchen. She was a fit woman with a beige complexion and low flowing blonde hair with light brown eyes like mine.
• "This is Emma, maid and coffee maker."
• By the way she said it I sensed she wasn't happy about me being there or preparing coffee for Mr. Hollen, or something along those lines because she had no idea who I was. We'd never met before, so what the hell was her problem?
• "Hello Emma, I'm Agnes. I do the cooking and cleaning. Halley, here, assists with the cooking and cleaning as well since this place is so big. It's nice to meet you."
• Agnes was much more welcoming than Halley.
• "It's nice to meet you too, Miss Agnes."
• She smiled sweetly. "Just call me Agnes or Aggie," she laughed.
• I nodded.
• Halley snapped her fingers in my face, "Stop dreaming. The coffee machine is right over there. Get to it."
• I walked over and prepared a cup of coffee for Mr. Hollen. I was happy I knew what I was doing instead of having to ask Halley for help. At least Carl's Cafe gave me experience on a few things in the kitchen.
• I had no idea what to do when I was finished.
• Should I bring it up to his room? No, that's his personal space. Should I call him down? What? No, I'm not his wife. Should I wait? What if it gets too cold? I shouldn't have made the coffee until he told me so, but that's what he hired me for-- coffee.
• I sighed with relief as the door opened and he entered. He came right over, took the coffee then left.
• I went over to Agnes. "How did he know I was finished?" I whispered.
• She pointed to the ceiling where there was a camera rotating at a three-sixty angle. He could see everything that was going on.
• "Wow," was all I said.
• A red light started blinking and the phone rang.
• "Someone get that," said Agnes; she had her hands in a flour mixture.
• "I'll get it," Halley insisted and rushed over to the phone, but before she could answer the call stopped. She ran out of the kitchen.
• "Is she always this eager?" I asked once she left.
• "Mr. Hollen doesn't like slackers, and he doesn't like to repeat himself; so, when he speaks you better listen, and don't interrupt," she warned. "He fired the previous maid before Halley because she turned away when he was talking to her."
• "How long has Halley been working here?"
• "Oh, just over eight months."
• "And you?"
• "Ten years. I was chef to his parents."
• I wanted to know more about him, and Agnes had been around long enough to know a lot about him, but I didn't want to give the wrong impression on my first day. I would know in due time.
• "Emma, you're wanted in the office," Halley let out sharply when she came back.
• "Where's the office?"
• "Halley, show her to the office. You know its her first day here," Agnes instructed.
• She led me up a flight of stairs then turned left on the second floor. She pointed to the sign on the door which read: "The Office". Her point indicated that I should look the next time I was needed there, or anywhere really. She went back downstairs as I knocked.
• "Come," he commanded.
• He was sitting at a desk, on his computer with reading glasses on. He looked so intelligent.
• "Yes, sir?"
• "Emma, whenever you are to make my coffee, I will instruct you when to so and where to bring it. Is that clear?"
• "Yes, Mr. Hollen."
• "Also, you're staying the night."
• I had seen the servants' quarters when we'd pulled up. It was along the right side of the mansion-- a nice, warm place, like a big cottage, with separate rooms and personal spaces. I couldn't wait to see the inside.
• "Help Halley prepare a guest bedroom for you downstairs," he continued.
• I was taken aback. I would be staying inside the mansion? In a guest bedroom?