Chapter 4 - The Invisible Maid
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Only a few hours earlier, Mia Carter had believed her biggest problem was simply surviving another grueling shift at the Russo mansion.
At twenty-seven, Mia had learned the hard way that being a curvy, quiet woman working among the ultra-wealthy meant constantly hearing cruel comments she was expected to silently ignore.
Mrs. Gable, the strict head housekeeper, constantly criticized how her black uniform fit, claiming it was "inappropriate." The other maids whispered in the laundry room that she was too clumsy and slow for such an expensive household.
And Vanessa seemed to take a very particular, sadistic pleasure in humiliating her at every opportunity.
“Try not to break anything with those enormous hips,” Vanessa had remarked just that afternoon as Mia squeezed past her in the narrow hallway.
Mia had simply lowered her eyes, swallowing her pride. “Yes, ma'am.”
But Damian Russo had never treated her that way.
Despite his terrifying, bloody reputation in the Chicago underworld, he always spoke to her with quiet, measured respect. He remembered her name on her second day. He always thanked her when she brought his meals to the study.
And once, when Vanessa had loudly mocked Mia's appearance in front of the entire kitchen staff, Damian had looked up from his financial newspaper.
“Vanessa.”
His voice was perfectly calm.
“Don't speak to her like that.”
Vanessa had laughed awkwardly, her cheeks flushing. “I was only joking, darling.”
“Then find something funny,” he replied without blinking.
Nobody in the room had dared to even smile.
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That was Damian Russo. At thirty-eight, he ruthlessly controlled legitimate businesses, shipping warehouses, and massive private security operations across Chicago. Men twice his age visibly lowered their voices when he entered a room. His enemies feared his quiet patience far more than his explosive anger.
But three years earlier, a devastating, fiery car accident had changed absolutely everything.
