Chapter 2: Rules and Whispers
The first morning at the Montague estate arrived quietly, almost eerily. Sunlight filtered through the tall, arched windows, casting patterns of gold and white across the marble floors. Amara rose early, her mind already running through the meticulous schedule she had prepared. Every family she had worked for had rules, but Edward's mansion demanded more than skill—it demanded intuition, subtlety, and discretion.
Amara stepped out of her quarters, folder in hand, and walked down the polished corridor. Her footsteps echoed softly. A faint rustle behind her made her pause.
"Good morning, Amara," a soft, measured voice said.
She turned to see a young woman, barely older than Amara herself, dressed in an equally neat uniform. Her name tag read Clara, and her eyes held a mixture of curiosity and guardedness.
"I'm Clara," she said. "I work in the household. You're the new hire, I assume?"
"Yes," Amara replied with a polite smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Clara studied her for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Be careful. The house… it has rules, yes, but it also has eyes. Watch carefully whom you trust."
Amara's pulse quickened. She had expected strictness and high expectations, but Clara's words hinted at something more. "Thank you for the advice," she said cautiously.
Before Clara could reply, Edward appeared in the doorway, perfectly timed as always. "Amara, we start the day with a tour of the house and staff introductions. I expect attention to detail."
The next hour passed in a blur. Amara met the rest of the household: the stern cook, the quiet gardener, the meticulous butler Jasper, and even Edward's sister, Miranda, whose eyes seemed to weigh her like a scale. Miranda's smile was polite but thin, almost dismissive.
"Welcome," Miranda said smoothly, her tone clipped. "I hope you understand the responsibilities that come with working here."
"I do," Amara replied confidently, though she sensed the underlying hostility.
Once introductions were done, Edward led Amara through the daily routines. Cleaning, organizing, and preparing the house for the Montague lifestyle were tasks she could handle with her eyes closed. Yet, subtle oddities kept her on edge:
A locked door on the second floor that Edward never mentioned.
Faint sounds of movement at night when the mansion was supposedly empty.
Whispers among the staff that stopped whenever she entered the room.
By late afternoon, Amara was exhausted but undeterred. She understood that earning Edward's trust wasn't about speed—it was about perception, skill, and intelligence.
As she prepared dinner in the grand kitchen, Jasper, Edward's loyal assistant, approached her.
"You've caught Mr. Montague's attention," he said quietly, leaning against the counter. "That's a dangerous position in this house. Some who gain it… don't keep it long."
Amara raised an eyebrow. "Are you warning me?"
"I'm telling you to be careful," Jasper replied, eyes serious. "The house isn't just about luxury and wealth. Secrets run deeper than you can imagine. Watch and listen more than you speak. Learn before you act."
That night, as Amara lay in her room, the mansion was alive with sounds: distant footsteps, a door creaking somewhere above, and faint murmurs that seemed almost human. She pulled her blanket closer, realizing for the first time that working at the Montague estate was far more than a high-paying job—it was a test of wit, courage, and resolve.
And deep down, she couldn't deny it: part of her was drawn to the mystery, to Edward himself, and to the challenge of surviving a house that demanded perfection… at any cost.