Page 25 of Ruby Malice

“Nothing vital. I’ll show you where you can change and where the utility closet is. Otherwise, it’s cleaning. Everyone knows how to clean a house, right?”

I shrug. “I guess we’ll find out.”

“I guess so.” She chuckles. “Honestly, my main goal today is to catch sight of the owner. He’s very mysterious, or so I hear. Have you met him?”

“No. I don’t even know his name,” I admit. “I responded to an advertisement and was hired through email. Today is the first day I’ve seen… whatever that woman’s name is.”

“Sonya,” Natalia offers. “She handles the seasonal hires. Before you got here, I asked if we could meet the owner and she said, ‘He’s a very busy man.’”

I wrinkle my nose. “He’s too busy to come meet the people who will be responsible for running his house? Classy.”

“Yeah. Maybe he works from the third floor? Sonya said we can’t go up there. Ever. It’s forbidden.”

“Weird,” I whisper. “Maybe he’s some kind of hideous monster. We’re in some real-life gothic story with a disfigured man who is too ashamed to be seen in the light of day. Or he’s a mole person. Only comes out at night to feed and—”

“Hello, everyone,” a deep voice interrupts, echoing across the group. “Welcome to my home.”

I don’t even have to turn around. Instinctively, my body knows who it is. Even though my brain is struggling to comprehend how this could be happening, my pounding heart is certain.

I turn and face Kirill Zaitsev.

He’s wearing a pair of dark blue trousers and a white button down. His hands are in his pockets, a dimpled smile pulling up the right corner of his mouth.

And when he sees me, his green eyes shine. Not with surprise, but with amusement.

Did he know when we met last night that I’d be working for him? He had to have known. And instead of telling me, he decided to delay my embarrassment. He wanted to humiliate me in front of all of my coworkers, to ensure I’d never live this down.

God knows he isn’t hideous.

But I’m definitely in the company of a monster.

6

KIRILL

Rayne is standing in my kitchen wearing a coffee-stained button-down and an expression of pure shock. I guess that answers the question of whether or not she knew she’d be working for me when we met last night. A definite ‘no.’

That makes two of us.

Sure, when I was standing in the doorway of her little hovel last night, I imagined seeing her in the morning. But the circumstances were different. My imagination featured significantly fewer clothes.

Now that she’s here, there’s no reason that thought can’t become a reality. She’s in my house. Close enough to reach. Close enough to taste.

Then I glance back up to her face and see her shock has shifted to a simmering rage.

So maybe there’s one reason. But that’s fine. I’ve always thrived on a challenge.

“I’m sure Sonya gave you all the details,” I say, addressing them all with a casual nod. There’s a murmur of confirmation, but Rayne doesn’t budge. Doesn’t even breathe. “A few of you are returning from last year, so you know the drill. To the new hires, you’ll only be here for three months. After that, I’ll return to New York City and the house will be closed to all but a skeleton crew for the remainder of the year.”

Rayne’s brow furrows. Disappointment, perhaps? Curiosity, for sure.

“But if you fuck up, you’re fired. It’s as simple as that. If you’re disrespectful or you steal from me, you’re fired. If you’re late or you’re clumsy, you’re gone.” I look back to Rayne. Her nostrils are flared. I point to her. “You. Have you worked for me before?”

Her eyes go wide. All the color drains from her face as everyone turns to look at her. For a second, her mouth flops open and closed, uncertain. Then she lifts her chin. “I don’t believe so.”

I tap a finger against my chin. “You remind me of a waitress I had last night. A real careless thing.”

“Is that right?” She arches a brow, feigning interest.

---