Xiaver knocked on her door before sunrise.
Daisy woke up at once. No one knocked on her door at that hour. She sat up and held her blanket tight.
"Yes," she said.
He spoke through the wood. "We need to talk."
She opened the door. He stood there with tired eyes.
"I am sorry," he said.
She stared at him. "For what."
"For shouting. For blaming you."
She crossed her arms. "You spoke ill of me in front of others. You shamed me."
He nodded. "I was wrong."
Silence sat between them.
She stepped aside. "Talk fast. I have work."
He walked in. He looked at her small bed. One thin pillow. One metal box for clothes.
"You sleep here every night," he said.
"Yes."
"No fan."
"No light when power goes."
He breathed in. "I never knew."
"You never cared."
He nodded. "I am sorry."
She did not smile. She did not cry. She picked up her bucket and walked past him.
The next few days changed his routine.
He woke early. He walked through the house. He saw her scrub floors at five in the morning. He saw her lift water drums.
He looked at her hands. Small cuts. Dry skin.
"Does it hurt," he asked
"Yes."
"Why not use gloves."
"No gloves in store."
He went quiet.
He spoke. "Eat first."
She answered. "Work first."
He started small actions.
His tone changed. He said please. He said thank you. He called her name with respect. He carried trays. He filled water.
The staff noticed.
They whispered in the corridor.
Daisy ignored them. She kept her head down. She finished tasks on time.
One evening rain fell. Power went out. The house went dark.
They sat in the kitchen with one candle.
He asked, "What did you want to study."
She said, "Nursing ."
"Why nursing."
"Some months before my parents' accident. My father was very ill. No nurse showed care because we looked poor. I wanted to be able to help people no matter their situation ."
He asked, "Why did you leave school."
She said, "Fees rose as my brother entered college. I needed to work more ."
He said, "I studied business in London."
"Was it hard."
"Yes. I failed one year. My father shouted. I drank a lot."
She asked, "Do you still drink."
He looked at the table. "Too much."
She said, "Stop. It will kill you."
He laughed once. "You talk like a doctor."
They shared tea. They shared stories. They spoke for one hour. No shouting. No orders.
Silence stayed in the room. Rain hit the roof.
Weeks passed.
Stephanie walked in with a gift bag.
She walked to his study.
She knocked once. She opened the door
"Surprise," she said.
He stood up. "What are you doing here."
"I missed you," she said.
She placed the bag on his desk. "Open it."
He opened it. A leather watch strap.
"You like brown," she said.
He nodded. "Thank you."
She sat on his table. Her legs crossed. She leaned close.
"You work too much," she said.
"I have meetings," he said.
She touched his tie. "Cancel them."
He laughed. "I cannot."
She held his face. She kissed him.
As he was about to pull out from her embrace.
The door opened.
Daisy walked in with a tray. Tea and biscuits.
She froze.
Stephanie sat on the table. Their faces close.
The tray shook. Cups rattled.
No one spoke.
Daisy placed the tray down. Her eyes stayed low. "Your tea, sir."
Stephanie looked at her. She smiled. "Hello, Daisy."
"Good afternoon," Daisy said.
She turned to leave.
Stephanie said, "Wait."
Daisy stopped.
Stephanie asked, "Don't you know who I am?."
"I do."
"Then greet me well."
Daisy bowed her head. "Good afternoon ma."
He stood up fast. "Stephanie, stop."
Stephanie slid off the table. She faced Daisy. "Our marriage will be next month. Our families have already concluded everything ."
Daisy felt her chest tighten. She said nothing.
He spoke fast. "Daisy, listen. It is not like it looks."
Daisy said, "I saw you with your soon to be wife."
Stephanie looked at him. "Wife. Good. She knows."
He rubbed his face. "This is awkward."
Stephanie crossed her arms. "Why? She is a staff. She will serve us tea after the wedding."
Daisy picked the tray. "I will leave."
Stephanie watched her walk out.
The door closed.
Stephanie turned to him. "Why did you panic."
"Get out," he said.
"Why, because of her?," she said.
He walked to the window.
Stephanie hugged him. "You will end up marrying me, whether you like it or not."
Outside, Daisy stood near the wall.
Her hands shook.
"Why all these feelings suddenly."
She went to the kitchen. She washed plates. She worked in silence.
He came later.
"Daisy," he said.
She kept washing.
"Look at me," he said.
She turned.
"I need to explain," he said.
She asked, "Explain what."
"Stephanie and I are nothing. Our parents are forcing marriage on us for business."
Daisy nodded. "I understand."
He said, "What you saw was a mistake."
Daisy said, "I saw you with your future wife."
He spoke fast. "You matter to me too."
She stopped. "Do not say that."
He froze.
She washed the last cup.
He stood there. He knew trouble had started.
After a long day at work, he drove to the bar immediately. He couldn't concentrate at work. He needed to clear his head.
He reached the bar. The air smelled of smoke and alcohol. He sat on a stool. He ordered whiskey.
He called his best friend.
"Hey," he said.
"Which girl is making you like this," his friend asked. "You sound off."
"It is complicated," he said.
"Complicated how," his friend asked. "You never act like this."
"I feel trapped," he said.
"Who is she," his friend asked.
"Daisy," he said.
"The maid," his friend said. "Are you serious?"
"Do I sound funny?," he said. "I don't know why I can't stop thinking of her."
"You are insane bro," his friend said. "Stephanie is your soon to be wife. You have plans."
"I know," he said. "I know. I cannot help it."
"What do you plan to do now," his friend asked.
"I am confused ," he said. " I like Daisy. But Stephanie… I cannot loose this business collaboration ."
"Just relax bro, I will come over to the mansion tomorrow," his friend said.
He gulped his drink. The glass shook on the counter. He ordered another. He drank fast.
Hours passed. He stumbled out. The rain had started. He did not notice it.
Xiaver walked into the mansion.He entered the kitchen. Daisy was there. She dried plates. Her hair fell over her shoulders.
"You are home late," she said.
"I needed air," he said.
"You look exhausted ," she said.
"I am ," he said.
He stepped closer. "I cannot stop thinking."
"About what," she asked.
"About you," he said.
"Me?" she whispered.
"Yes, I feel guilty. I feel confused. But I want you."
"You will be getting married soon," she said.
"I don't care anymore ," he said. "I cannot fight this any longer."
She set the tray down. "You should go to be."
"I cannot," he said.
Her lips trembled. "I should walk away."
"Do not," he said.
She closed her eyes. "This is not right."
"I know," he said. "But I need you."
He cupped her face. She kissed him. He kissed back.
They moved to the counter. Plates clattered. Cups fell. They did not care.
Her hair touched his face. He held her close.
"I never imagined myself in this position with you ," she whispered.
"Neither did I," he said. "But I cannot stop."
They fell onto the table. Hands found each other. Hearts raced.
The rain fell outside. The house was quiet. Only their breaths and whispers filled the room.
After, they lay together. Hands intertwined.
"I am sorry," he whispered.
"I am here," she said.
"You should not be," he said.
"I wanted to be," she said.
"You make me lose control," he said.
"Then you are human," she said.
"You make me want things I should not want," he said.
"I do not care," she said.
He carried her in a bridal style to his room.
The night stayed quiet. They held each other. The world outside disappeared.
He knew morning would bring questions. Consequences would come. But for now, the house belonged to them.