Eli's POV
Three hours later…
I was starting to understand why they hired the whole crew to clean the mansion.
I had cleaned five rooms in three hours.
And now, my arms and back felt sore.
"Okay, Eli," I picked up my broom, stretching my back. "One more room to go."
The last door on my list stood at the end.
I pushed it open. And immediately froze.
Oh no.
This room looked like a crime scene.
Clothes were thrown over the chairs..
And why was the floor sticky?
I sighed.
"Fantastic."
I picked up a shirt with two fingers.
"Do rich people not believe in laundry baskets?"
Something crinkled under my shoe.
I looked down.
And immediately jumped back.
"Oh my god." I stared at it in horror.
"…Is that a used condom?"
I gagged.
"Who the hell slept in here?"
I grabbed a new pair of gloves, disinfectant, and a tissue, and threw it into the trash bag immediately.
"Okay. Deep breaths. You've seen worse."
Which was true.
Then I reached the bed.
And things somehow got worse.
Something shiny glinted between the blankets.
I pulled the sheet back.
"…Is that a handcuff?"
I held it up slowly.
"Wait."
I frowned.
"Is the owner of this room a cop or something?"
The metal cuff dangled in my hand.
Then I noticed the second one.
Connected by a chain.
Oh no.
My brain connected the dots.
"…Oh."
I carefully placed it back on the bed like it was cursed.
"Not a cop."
I lifted another object from the floor.
A small round device.
I pressed the button by accident.
The thing started vibrating in my hand.
I threw it across the room.
"Holy shit!"
I caught it before it hit the wall and stared at it.
"…Right."
I sighed slowly.
Then crossed my arms.
"Well."
As someone who worked night shifts in an adult store, I unfortunately recognized professional equipment when I saw it.
Which meant…
Whoever stayed in this room?
Is a certified professional.
"I don't even want to know what happened here. I am not paid enough for this level of investigation."
And if I survived frat houses, college chaos, and that one guy who tried to return a "used product" to the adult store…
I could survive this room. I rolled up my sleeves.
"Alright, Eli. Channel your inner motivational speaker."
I grabbed the trash bag.
"We clean."
I stripped the sheets.
"We disinfect."
I vacuumed the carpet.
"We pretend we didn't see anything, or touch the vibrating thingy."
An hour later…
The room finally looked like a civilized human being lived there.
Fresh sheets, not so sticky floor, and no weird object in sight.
I wiped sweat from my forehead.
"I turned a crime scene into a luxury bedroom."
My body immediately reminded me that I had been working nonstop for hours.
My legs started shaking.
I stared at the bed.
Then at the clock.
Then back at the bed.
"…Five minutes."
Just five.
Five minutes of rest before the party started.
I sat down on the mattress. It was ridiculously soft. Like sleeping on a cloud.
"Okay," I murmured.
"This is the nicest thing that has ever happened to my back."
My eyes closed.
Just for a moment.
Just a tiny….poke.
Something poked my cheek.
I frowned.
"Hey."
Another poke.
"Is he dead?"
My eyes slowly opened.
And suddenly…..
Someone's face was very close to mine.
So close I could feel the warmth of his breath brushing my lips.
For a second I just stared.
Because the man leaning over me had the most offensively perfect face I had ever seen. So perfect it didn't look real.
Long curly eyelashes.
Smooth skin.
Plump soft lips.
Grey eyes watching me.
The kind of face that probably caused traffic accidents.
I blinked slowly.
Then smiled sleepily.
"This is such a beautiful dream," I murmured.
The stranger blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
I sighed.
"My brain finally gave up and gave me a hot guy."
His eyebrows slowly lifted.
Then his expression turned dangerously amused.
"Hot guy?"
I nodded lazily.
"Yep."
I reached out and lightly poked his cheek.
"Hi, handsome dream man." I yawned.
His face went completely blank.
Then he leaned back slightly.
And that's when my eyes traveled down.
Broad shoulders.
Those veins on his arms.
And absolutely nothing covering him except a towel wrapped around his waist.
"Very good casting."
He grabbed my wrist instantly.
His grip was firm.
My face instantly turned red.
"…Oh."
The man leaned closer.
His voice dropped into something dangerously smooth.
"You done staring?"
I swallowed.
"…I'm evaluating the situation."
"Are you?"
"Yes."
"And what conclusion have you reached?"
I cleared my throat.
"You're definitely real."
His lips twitched.
"And?"
My eyes widened in realization.
"And I might be in trouble."
"Very."
He looked down at me, still lying on his bed.
"You fell asleep in my room."
I sat up immediately.
He crossed his arms, which did very dangerous things to his shoulders.
"It was five minutes!"
"You were drooling on my pillow."
"I was not drooling!"
His gaze swept over my cleaning uniform.
Then the spotless room.
Then back to me.
"…You're the cleaning staff."
I nodded defensively.
"Yes."
"And you decided to take a nap in my bed?"
"It was clean!"
"That's because it's my bed."
"Correction," I said quickly. "It was your disgusting bed."
His eyes narrowed.
"…What?"
I pointed dramatically toward the trash bag.
"Used condom on the floor."
His jaw tightened.
"Handcuffs in the drawer."
His ears turned red.
"Also something that vibrates. Who are those stains in the previous bedsheet?"
Then he dragged a hand down his face.
"…You went through my things."
"I cleaned your crime scene."
He stared at me. Then suddenly laughed .
"Your attitude is quite impressive for someone who just got caught sleeping during workhours."
I smirked.
"Your bed is really soft..by the way."
He stared at me for another second.
Then said slowly….
"That doesn't explain why you're still in my bed."
I jumped up quickly.
"Right."
I grabbed my broom.
"And what exactly is your name, sleeping beauty?"
I paused.
Then looked at him. And my face turned red.
Did he just call me sleepy beauty?
"…Eli." I smiled, softly.
He nodded slowly.
"Well, Eli."
His gaze sharpened.
"You have exactly five seconds to get your filthy ass out of my room."
"Ohhh?"
His smile turned dangerously calm.
"Or I call security."
I grabbed my supplies.
"Wow. Mr Handcuffs in Bed."
I walked toward the door.
"Rich people really have no sense of humor."
Behind me, his voice followed.
"You insulted my room, my belongings, now my personal life."
I opened the door.
"Your room started it."
Then I walked out.