The vase... the fucking vase lay shattered on the floor, each piece glinting up at me like I'm some kind of loser.
Seriously, of all the things to break, it had to be the antique vase that probably costs more than my entire life savings. Great job, Y/N. Just great.
I glanced up... and what do I see? Oh, just at the three most intimidating women to ever exist.
Arlecchino's eyes, sharp and calculating, focused on me, her lips quirking into a smirk.
La Signora, perched elegantly on the arm of a chair, arched an eyebrow, her gaze cold and assessing.
Kafka, leaning against the wall, watched with an unreadable expression, her fingers tapping a steady rhythm on her thigh.
"I'm so, so sorry," I managed to squeak out. "I didn't mean to-" I cut off, realizing that nothing I said would fix this. I'm so dead.
La Signora's icy gaze bore holes into me, and she crossed her arms. "Do you have any idea how much that vase was worth, Ms. Y/N?"
Her voice was smooth, almost seductive, but the menace beneath it was clear. Oh fuck!
I swallowed hard. "I- I can try to pay for it," I blurted.
My maid's salary wouldn't even cover a fraction of it. But oh well, here goes nothing. "I'll work extra hours, take on any task, clean the toilets with a toothbrush if I have to, but please, don't fire me!"
"Pay for it?" Arlecchino chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "I doubt you could afford to replace something so irreplaceable."
I felt a cold sweat forming at the back of my neck. La Signora's gaze didn't waver. She sighed, exuding an air of immense patience being tested. "This is precisely why I was against hiring someone with no experience."
Kafka, her voice a calm, interjected, "Accidents happen." She took a step forward, her expression softer. "We need to remember that."
"And accidents are expensive, Kafka. I cannot believe we let someone so inexperienced handle such tasks," La Signora snapped, her eyes narrowing.
"We're the ones who hired her, so let's give her a chance," Kafka said, patting the dust off my uniform. "But do try to be more careful in the future, Y/N."
I nodded furiously. "I will, I promise."
Arlecchino's smirk widened. "See that you do. Clean it up, and don't let it happen again."
I dropped to my knees, gathering the pieces with shaking hands. "I'll clean it up right away," I said, my voice steadier. "And I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."
La Signora's expression softened slightly, but the disappointment was still there. "See that you do," she said before turning and sweeping out of the room.
Arlecchino watched her go before looking back at me. "You heard her," she said with a hint of amusement. "Clean it up."
As I bent down to gather the broken pieces, I couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of determination. I may not be perfect, but I'm not giving up. I'll prove to them that I belong here, no matter what it takes... Yeah.
=A Few Weeks Earlier=
I was desperate for a job, okay?
Bills were piling up, and my savings were almost gone. When I saw the ad for a live-in maid at a luxurious mansion, I knew I had to apply. The salary was generous, and it came with room and board. It seemed too good to be true.
The interview was nerve-wracking. The mansion was more grandiose than I had imagined, and the women who lived there were nothing short of intimidating. Each of them radiate power, authority, and mommy vibes.
Arlecchino, with her sharp wit and piercing gaze, asked most of the questions.
La Signora, elegantly composed, scrutinized me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.
Kafka, more laid-back but no less intimidating, observed quietly, her eyes never missing a detail.
"So, why do you want this job?" Arlecchino asked, as she leaned back in her chair, twirling a pen between her fingers.
"I... I need the money," I admitted, feeling my face heat up. "And I can do a good job. I'm hardworking, good at cleaning, and willing to learn."
Lame... so lame... but what else can I say? I don't have any real experience.
La Signora exchanged a glance with Arlecchino, a silent conversation passing between them. Kafka nodded, a small smile playing on her lips.
Arlecchino chuckled, finally looking up from her chessboard. "Honest. I like that. But do you understand the level of responsibility this job entails?"
"Yes," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "I know it's a big responsibility, but I'm ready for it. I won't let you down."
Kafka's eyes softened slightly. "We need someone trustworthy and hardworking. Let's give her a chance."
La Signora wasn't convinced, but she didn't argue. "Fine. But one mistake and she's out." She looked at me, her gaze piercing. "You're hired," she declared, her voice dripping with a mixture of condescension and indifference. "We expect nothing but perfection here."
"The real test is the actual job. We will give you a month to prove yourself, and then we'll decide whether we'll keep you or not," Kafka added, smirking.
No pressure, right? Just be perfect. Easy peasy.
=Present Day=
Easy?! Hah! Yeah right!
Now here I was, barely a week into the job, and already screwing up royally. I crouched on the floor, picking up the last of the vase's remains.
Each shard felt like a tiny knife twisting in my gut. This job was my lifeline, and I couldn't afford to lose it. My mind raced with a whirlwind of self-doubt and frustration.
Why did I have to be so clumsy?
"Y/N," Kafka's voice sliced through my chaotic thoughts. I looked up to see her standing over me, a small, sympathetic smile on her face. "Don't worry too much. Just be more careful next time."
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice trembling slightly.
Kafka nodded and walked away. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. This was just a minor setback, I told myself. I could bounce back from this. I had to.
After cleaning up the mess, I went back to my small room at the 2nd floor of the mansion. It wasn't much, but it was cozy, and it was mine. I collapsed onto the bed, letting out a long sigh.
Working for these three was more challenging than I had though...
They were all so different, yet equally demanding in their own ways.
Arlecchino, with her sharp mind and quick wit, always seemed to be testing me. She was the one who set traps for me, asking tricky questions or giving me tasks that required more than just basic maid skills. It was like she was constantly assessing my worth, waiting for me to slip up. I could still hear her chuckle from earlier, the sound of amusement that sent chills down my spine.
La Signora, on the other hand, was all about precision and elegance. Everything had to be perfect. From the way the table was set to how the towels were folded, nothing escaped her keen eye. Her standards were impossibly high, and meeting them was a daily struggle. Her disappointed gaze still lingered in my mind, a constant reminder of how far I had to go.
Kafka was a bit of a mystery. She was quieter than the other two, often lost in her own thoughts or busy with her writing. But her calm demeanor belied a sharp intellect and a deep understanding of people. She could see through my facade, reading my emotions with unsettling accuracy. Her gentle smile from earlier felt like a lifeline in a sea of doubt.
Despite the challenges, I couldn't deny that there was something neat about working here. Each day brought new tasks and new interactions.
And then there was the mansion itself, a maze of fancy rooms and hidden corners that seemed to hold countless secrets. The grandness of the place was a bit overwhelming, yet there was an allure to it that I couldn't resist.
As I lay there, my mind drifted back to the incident with the vase. I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of fear and excitement.
The way Arlecchino had looked at me, with that sharp, assessing gaze; the intensity of La Signora's disappointment; and the gentle, knowing smile from Kafka - it all sent shivers down my spine.
I knew I had to do better, to prove myself worthy of this job. But deep down, a part of me was also intrigued by these women. There was something magnetic about them, something that drew me in despite their intimidating presence.
I closed my eyes, letting the exhaustion of the day wash over me. Tomorrow was a new day, another chance to prove myself. I wasn't going to let one mistake define me. I'd show them that I belonged here, that I could rise to the challenge.
With a final deep breath, I drifted off to sleep, determined to face whatever trials awaited me in the morning.