♥ Chapter 4♥

Yara Blake.

14:00 '' Company. '' Eldoria.

Friday.

As soon as I leave the room, I follow Amelia down the long corridor, trying to process everything that has just happened. My steps are still hesitant, as if, at any moment, someone is going to call me back and tell me it was all a mistake. But Amelia keeps a steady pace, guiding me into a smaller room, where she finally turns to me.

''I'm going to explain to you how things work at Mr. Darkmore's mansion,'' she begins in a clear, professional voice. ''As soon as you arrive on Sunday evening, the head housekeeper, Mrs. Thompson, will assign you to the job that best matches your skills. If you're better in the kitchen, you'll probably be in charge of preparing meals. If you're better at cleaning, you'll be assigned to that.

I nod, trying to absorb all the information. Amelia continues:

''The salary will be fifteen thousand dollars a month, with all living expenses and food included. You'll have two days off a week, which will be Saturdays and Sundays. On the other days, you'll be at the house's disposal.

Fifteen thousand dollars a month? My eyes widen at the figure. That's more than I could ever imagine earning in a job like this. I try to stay calm, but inside, I'm ecstatic. Not only will this solve my financial problems, but it will also give me a chance to escape, at least temporarily, from Ronan and his suffocating control.

'' Right. '' I say, still a little dazed. '' I understand.

''Good,'' Amelia concludes, handing me a card with the address of the mansion and some instructions. ''This is the address. Please don't be late on Sunday night. Punctuality is very important to Mr. Darkmore.

'' Yes, of course. I'll be there.

Amelia gives me a small smile, one of the few moments when her professionally neutral face seems to relax.

''Good luck, Yara. I'm sure you'll do a great job.

I thank her and say goodbye, leaving the building still a little incredulous at everything that has happened. As I wait for the cab, I can't help but notice a smile forming on my face. Finally, after so long, a chance at freedom seems possible. A chance to get away from Ronan, even if only for a few days a week. This could give me the space I need to breathe, to think, and to be myself.

When I get into the cab, I give the driver my home address and settle into the seat, still smiling. My heart feels light, as it hasn't for a long time, but there's something I can't get out of my head. Why did the Darkmore brothers look at me like that? And why, as uncomfortable as it was, did I feel… attracted to them? I'd never been looked at with such intensity by such beautiful men. It's confusing, to say the least.

I take a deep breath, still processing everything that has happened. I look at our beautiful city, Eldoria. With its huge modern buildings and wide streets, it stretches out before me as the car pulls away from the building. I continue to observe the rapidly passing scenery. The trees that adorn the sidewalks are strikingly beautiful, bringing a bit of green to the concrete. The skyscrapers touch the sky with their imposing structures, reflecting the sunshine in their mirrored windows, as if they wanted to compete with the clouds.

Eldoria is a vibrant city full of life, where old and new meet uniquely. The modernity of the buildings blends with the elegance of the old ones, creating a landscape that never ceases to fascinate me. Cars and people move in perfect sync on the wide streets, where life never seems to stop. Everything here is grandiose, from the avenues that seem endless to the traffic lights that shine brightly, guiding the constant traffic. The stores selling sweets, clothes, and all their varieties are beautiful.

I've never been able to go shopping on my own, and I've never been able to enjoy the atmosphere of the city. But I hope that by working at the Darkmore brothers' mansion, I can have a little freedom to get to know my city better.

I get home in no time, but my mind is still lost in thoughts of what's to come. I take the money from my purse and pay the driver, thanking him before getting out of the car. Furthermore, I walk into my house and drop my bag on the sofa, as I always do, but today it feels different. There's a lightness in me, a hope I haven't felt for a long time.

I walk to the kitchen, remembering that Ronan will be here in a few hours, and as always, he'll want dinner ready. It's still three in the afternoon, but I like to leave everything ahead of time to avoid any complaints. I start preparing the ingredients, but my thoughts are still elsewhere.

How am I going to tell Ronan about the new job? He's never liked the idea of me working outside, let alone full-time, and living in another house during the week. The very idea of trying to convince him gives me a chill, but I know I have to be firm. This is an opportunity I can't pass up.

I keep chopping the vegetables, trying to focus on the task at hand, but my thoughts keep returning to the Darkmore brothers. The way they looked at me, as if they could see something inside me that I didn't know myself, and that smile of Damien's, however discreet, seemed to have a hidden meaning, something I couldn't decipher.

I take a deep breath, trying to push these thoughts away. I can't let myself be distracted by this. Furthermore, I need to focus on what's most important now: securing this opportunity and finding a way to deal with Ronan. But no matter how hard I try, a part of me can't forget the intensity of those looks or the strange feeling of attraction that arose inside me, something I'd never experienced before.

Finally, I finish preparing dinner and set the table, ready to face another night with Ronan. But this time, with a small flame of hope burning inside me, I hope that maybe things can change.