Dropping The Crown

Adani's POV.

I mentally slapped myself out of the pondering thoughts.

"I apologize," I said.

"Have a seat, Miss. Prime," he spoke in a pensive tone. I sat down in a very comfortable chair in his opposite side.

"Your resumé."

I swallowed hard. It dawned on me how unprepared I was for this interview.

"I can have that email to you first thing tomorrow morning.. or even tonight," I answered.

His eyes narrowed in on me and he wrote something down on his piece of paper.

"Tell me about yourself, your education and your qualifications."

"I'm Adani Prime. I'm twenty-nine years old. I attended the University Of Southern California where I graduated with an associate degree in Administration," I answered with confidence. "What are your hobbies?" he asked without looking up from the paper.

"For fun, I like reading and writing. And cleaning," I answered.

He looked up from the paper with a lovely smirk. He then tent his fingers and looked at me. Like really looked at me. I felt vulnerable under his gaze, like he was reading me and seeing right through my soul.

"Have you any prior experience in housekeeping?" he asked.

I knew this was the question that would determine if I would get the job or not. I had zero experience in being a housekeeper or a maid... so I lied through my teeth.

"I have."

"Where have you worked as a housekeeper before?"

"At a small news station called The Cutting News. I would clean before and after office hours. Also, I was a housekeeper to Dalton's Guest Resort."

"Dalton and I are acquainted. If I call him right now and ask him to verify that you've indeed worked there and if he would recommend you, would he say yes to both?"

"Adani! What are you doing?" my inner thoughts questioned.

"No, he wouldn't," I answered Mr. Parriston.

"Why?"

"I.. Uh.. I lied."

"So... Miss. Prime, you had Peter Valenci vouch for you, I stayed here to have an interview with you when I should be at my home. You're unprepared and you're a liar too. And you're getting on my nerves with that awful makeup. Who is responsible for doing such an awful job to your face must be blind or they just don't like you."

I was stunned. His honesty was hurtful and I didn't know what to say or do anymore. Like a dog with its tail between its legs, I stood up to run away. It was obvious I wasn't going to get the job. "Thank you for your time," I said and turned on my heel to walk out the office.

"Miss. Prime, sit down," he commanded.

I turned to face him and he gestured to the seat I was previously sitting in. I sat down.

"Perhaps I was too forward in regard to your makeup application. I apologize. However, I would

like to grant you another opportunity to be honest with me. Keyword is honest."

"I understand. And I apologize for that. It's just that I'm in need of the job."

"But you're qualify as being an administrator. Why aren't you applying to be a secretary, general office manager or something along those lines, why a maid slash housekeeper?"

"Because I need somewhere to live. Somewhere to escape to," I answered.

"Are you running from something?"

"Someone."

"Who?"

I looked down at my engagement ring and his eyes followed to my finger, finding his answer. "May I please have a napkin?" I asked.

"Sure," he answered and kindly offered me the box. I pulled a few out and began wiping the makeup off my face.

Mr. Parriston was stupefy as he observed my revelation. After he gathered himself, he asked, "Why didn't you go to the police instead of my office?"

"I tried before. He can bail himself out and come right after me."

"And what about your parents, your mom, dad, siblings, why aren't they doing something to protect you from him?"

"It's always been my mom and me. I ran to her once. He knows her address and he would come there and get me and I would be on the receiving end of his wrath. He hates my mother and I don't want to put her in harm's way again."

"Miss. Prime, this is a lot, especially at an interview. I appreciate you being honest and I'm sorry you're in such an awful situation, however, I....."

"Sir, please, before you dismiss me, I know I don't have the experience. I know this is not what you expected when I walked in here, but you did ask for the truth, and this is my truth. I've been in an abusive relationship almost all my adult life. I'm scared. A young woman like myself I've met not even a month ago came to my aid. I'm sheltering in her apartment which isn't ideal because he knows I'm with her. All I have is the clothes on my back... which isn't even mine by the way. So I need this job and a place my ex fiancé cannot waltz into and drag me out by my hair." Mr. Parriston lean back into his chair and it swung from left to right in short motions. "Okay, here's what I'm going to do. I'll hire you as a live-in maid. My senior housekeeper would teach you the ropes but you would have to catch on very quickly. You'll be on a three months probation. Prove yourself and you'll be secure with the job and an increase in salary." "Oh my goodness. Thank you. Thank you so much," I beamed with happiness.

"I have one proposition," he said, cutting through my happiness and knocking it aside.

I gulped.

"Don't make me regret this, Miss. Prime," he finished and I exhaled slowly.

"You wouldn't," I answered.

"Do you need a day to gather your belongings or not?"

"All my items are at his house and I'm not stepping foot back in there."

"I can understand why. Well, I'll take you to my place then. You can call your friend and your

mom and inform them that you'll be okay."

"I will do that."

"You can right now if you wish."

"I no longer have a cellphone, currently."

"Okay. Use mine," he said. He slide a cellphone across the desk. I thanked him and called my mother informing her of the news.

Mr. Parriston and I left the office and made our way outside while I spoke to my mother on the phone.

"I'm so happy you've left that bastard. I can sleep well tonight."

"I'm sorry I've put you through this, mama. I promise I'll visit you soon. Just let this blow over."

"Of course, baby. Take care of yourself. I love you."

"I love you too, mom."

I hung up.

"Is it okay if I call my friend next?" I asked him.

"Yes."

I called Adonna and told her the news. She was delightful like my mom was. As we entered the

parking lot, I noticed Destiny was still waiting there.

I excused myself and told her the news in person.

"You deserve it."

"It's because of you this happened. Thank you so much for your help."

"You're welcome."

We exchanged a brief hug and parted ways. Within a few seconds, I was a passenger in Mr.

Parriston's luxury car, heading to his house.

House was an understatement.

"Welcome to Parriston's Estate," Mr. Parriston said as we drove through the secured gates and up the longest driveway I've been on.

I looked around in awe, and although it was dark out, there was no mistaken that the property was grand.

We walked through a tall pair of double doors and immediately, I felt like an ant in the big world. The ceilings were high, the floor of polished marble so clean that you can eat off it, a grand chandelier hung in the middle, drawing the attraction to itself like a queen on the throne. Around me, were couches I wouldn't dare want to stain, glass coffee tables I wouldn't want to scratch, bookshelves I wouldn't want to take a book off of and vase with flowers I wouldn't want to break.

The white painted walls were clean and clear from any marks.

"Sir, welcome," a woman said as she entered the foyer and found us there.

"Mavielle, thank you. This is Miss. Adani Prime and she would be joining the team as a live-in maid. Please make her feel welcome. Also, show her where she'll be sleeping, provide the uniforms and please give her something to eat before she goes to bed. She'll be starting first thing tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir. Of course. Right this way, Miss. Prime."

"You can call me Adani. Seems like we're in the same age group," I told her. She smiled pleasantly and I followed her to another quarters of the building.

"And this would be your room," Mavielle said as she unlocked a door, and we strolled on in. It

was much more than I was expecting. The room was big as Adonna's whole apartment.

"I take it yours is next to mine," I said.

"No. I don't live here. I work during the day and go home to my family at nights," she answered.

"Oh. How many employees are live-in maids if you don't mind me asking?"

"Just one."

"Oh. Well, at least I have company."

"With yourself?"

"Huh?"

"You're the only live-in maid."