Maeve Thompson tugged at her backpack strap, the one she'd stuffed with just the basics: a change of clothes, her toothbrush, a half-eaten granola bar, and her beat-up phone charger. The letter had been crystal clear: Pack only what is necessary. Nothing extra from the outside is allowed in the Moretti Estate. Everything will be provided.
She squinted at the crumpled paper in her hand as she reread the words. The wind blew against the paper ominously. The weather in the city had been awfully chilly for the past two days as well, which had never happened around here before. She remembered noticing it and thinking something must have shifted.
Her eyes never left the piece of paper, because even that felt ominous. It had shown up two days ago, and now here she was, standing in front of massive iron gates. She did not even know a place like this existed here. It looked like a gothic, man-bat-cave-ish mansion-cum-castle. It was completely unrealistic.
Moretti Estate? Sounded fancy, but something about it itched her brain. Why a maid's job was offering so much money? And why did the name ring a bell?
"Are they gonna sell my organs? she muttered to herself, and then nodded. "they are definitely selling my organs." clicking her tongue. But there was no way she could go back to her parents' house, because she had been practically kicked out.
Her mind rewound to two days back, She was sprawled on the couch, legs kicked up, crunching on a bag of barbecue chips that were probably stale. The TV droned some reality show in the background, but her eyes were glued to her phone screen. "How long are you gonna be jobless, huh?" her mom's voice cut through from the kitchen, followed by a flying cushion that smacked Maeve right in the shoulder.
"Ow, Mom! I just graduated, let me rest for a few more months," Maeve whined, not even looking up as she wiped chip dust on her sweatpants.
"Just graduated? It's been six months, Maeve! Get off your butt and apply somewhere!"
"Quiet it, Ma," Maeve muttered, tapping aggressively on her screen. She was in the comments section of 'Bound by the Blade', that trashy mafia romance she'd been tearing apart for weeks. "What sort of writer is so self-obsessed they name the main character after themselves? Cringe!!! level: infinite." She'd built a cult following over the last six months, sarcastic reviews that tanked ratings left and right. People loved her takedowns; writers hated them. This book? It was her latest victim.
She scrolled to the last chapter, shaking her head. "This is the worst piece of literature I've ever read. Wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy. One star, and that's only because I suffered through it, not because the writer deserves it. Even I could write a better story than this, and I'd do it with my feet."
She gave a snarky little smile and hit send.
The replies flooded in real time, likes pouring in, people agreeing with fire emojis, and a small mob trying to defend it with "You just don't get the tropes!" The book's ranking had already dropped ten spots since her first comment storm. Defenders raged in the threads, but Maeve just smirked and tossed her phone aside.
"Mom, what's for lunch?"
Before her mom could snap back, the doorbell rang. "Mom, get the door!"
"Do something yourself! You're way too lazy!"
"I'm not lazy! I have a review account writers are dying for me to review their books. I'm getting paid a good amount, okay? I don't need to work." Maeve grumbled, half-heartedly hauling herself off the couch while her mom scolded from the kitchen: "If you're paying that much, you should cover the bills next month!"
Maeve mimicked her under her breath."Bills next month, blah blah" as she yanked the door open. Some bored-looking mail guy stood there, holding a plain white envelope. "Anyone named Maeve Thompson here?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Mail for you." He shoved it at her and walked off like it was nothing.
Maeve blinked. "Mail for me?" She shut the door, turning the envelope over. No stamp. No address. No sender name. Just plain white paper. "Mom, who was it?" her mom called.
"I got mail," Maeve yelled back, flopping onto the couch and ripping it open. "And it has no name on it?" Her eyebrows narrowed. She was suspicious.
"Congratulations! You are one of the few selected for this exclusive opportunity. As stated in the description, your monthly pay will be $15,000, with all accommodations, meals, and necessities provided on-site. No prior experience required your unique perspective is what we need. You are awaited by the weekend at the Moretti Estate. Pack only what is necessary; everything else will be supplied. Luxury living, private quarters, and a chance to shape something extraordinary await.
Sincerely,
Moretti Estate Management.
Maeve stared. "What the... this has to be a scam. I never applied anywhere. And what is with the income?" She glanced up. "Mom, did you apply for me or something?"
Her mom came bustling out of the kitchen, ladle in hand, dripping sauce. "Why? Did you get a response?"
Maeve tried to stuff the letter back in the envelope, but her mom snatched it, eyes widening. She gasped, flopping back onto the couch like she'd been shot. "Oh blimey, they really responded!"
"Responded?" Maeve frowned.
"I applied for online jobs! I didn't know they'd like your CV. And they pay so well!"
"Why would you do that?" Maeve groaned. "You put my personal details just anywhere? What if it's a scam?!"
Her mom shrugged, waving the ladle. "Scam or not!! Your father and I are selling the house and going back to the village, and you're not welcome. So you have no choice but to go here!"
The flashback blurred out, snapping Maeve back to the present.
The gates of the Moretti Estate clanged shut behind her with a finality that made her gut twist. She frowned, staring at the plaque.
Moretti Estate.
She had definitely heard of it somewhere. Maybe some big company. That was probably why it sounded familiar. But why a mansion? Was she supposed to clean for CEOs or something? Or… wait.
Her phone was dead. No signal anyway. She shoved the letter into her bag and stepped forward, her heart pounding.
This better not be what she thought it was.
"No. I can't do this," she hissed to herself, suddenly terrified of the mansion looming ahead. "I'd rather rot on the road."
She turned around at the last moment, backing away, and grabbed the gate handle just to test it.
Locked.
"Hey! Open up!" she yelled, rattling it harder.
A sharp headache slammed into her temples out of nowhere, like someone had cracked her skull again. She winced, pressing her fingers to her forehead. The world tilted for a second, lights flickering at the edges of her vision even though it was broad daylight.
What the hell? She hadn't even bumped her head.
Shaking it off, Maeve spun back toward the mansion, muttering under her breath. "This is ridiculous. Probably just stress."
But as she walked up the driveway, the nagging feeling only grew stronger.
"Hey, please, someone open the gates. I need to get out of here," she said.
She paused instantly.
Something flared in front of her eyes the second she stepped onto the stairs leading to the main door.
Words appeared in glowing font.
Welcome to the Novel of 'Bound by the Blade.'
"Huh?" She gasped, stumbling back as her hand flew to her chest. "What is this? Am I hallucinating? This is… Moretti Estate… Dante Moretti… the brooding mafia boss with the tattoos and the growly voice…"
The words rang through her head.
A weak laugh slipped out as cold sweat started forming on her forehead. Her lips stretched into a stiff smile, like a defense mechanism, and she shook her head.
"No way. No freaking way. This has to be some sick joke."
A heavy gust of wind blew in, and out of nowhere a piece of paper flew straight at her, slapping against her face and sticking there. She yelped, reaching up and peeling it off.
Words were written across it.
"You said you could write a better story. Then write it!
IR"
It was a challenge. She could tell by the handwriting.
Maeve froze mid step, the realization hitting her like a truck. Her gaze rushed back to the blazing neon welcome sign in the mid air. She gulped in.
"This isn't some CEO's fancy house. This was the Moretti Estate from Bound by the Blade?" S small horrified laugh came out of her mouth.
Her stomach dropped. How did this happen? this can't be real. How can she have entered a book? That was absurd. It could only happen in cheap internet novels not in real life.
And what was this? "Write a better story?"
Heart racing, she turned around leaving her bag where it was and bolted back to the gate, pounding on it. "Let me out! This isn't funny!"
The headache roared back, worse this time, blurring her vision.