The black car waited.
It had been waiting since morning.
Daisy saw it when she arrived. She saw it when she carried buckets of gray water. She saw it when she wiped the last step.
The windows stayed dark. The engine stayed silent.
It did not leave.
She tried to ignore it. She failed.
Work began at 6:30 a.m.
She scrubbed the stairs until her back burned. She cleaned patient rooms. She emptied bins. She carried buckets heavier than her arms. Her uniform stuck to her skin. Bleach burned her fingers.
At 8:10 a.m., a nurse called her name.
"Daisy Daniels. Front desk."
Her chest tightened.
Two men in dark suits stood near the counter. One held a folder. One held a phone.
"Daisy Daniels?" the taller one asked.
"Yes," she said.
"Our madam asked for you," the man said. "After your shift, come with us."
"Why?" Daisy asked. Her voice shook.
"She will explain," the man said.
"I have work," she said quickly.
"Finish your shift. The car will wait," he said.
They left.
Nurse Brenda watched from behind the desk.
"What did they want?" she asked.
"They said their madam asked for me," Daisy said.
Nurse Brenda snorted. "Do not cause trouble. Rich people do not like mistakes."
"I understand, ma," Daisy said.
"Go clean Ward B. Twice if necessary. VIP visitors tonight."
"Yes, ma."
Daisy went. She scrubbed floors. She wiped tables. She emptied trash. Her mind kept returning to the car.
At noon, another cleaner whispered, "The car is still outside."
Daisy ignored her.
At 2:00 p.m., Nurse Brenda called again.
"Daisy Daniels. Private wing stairs. Twice. VIP visitors."
"Yes, ma."
Daisy climbed the marble steps. Gray water dripping. Her back throbbed. Her fingers stung.
Her phone buzzed.
She stepped aside and answered.
"Sis…"
Her brother's voice trembled. "I… I might be kicked out of the hostel. School fees… I won't write my exams. I have nowhere to go. Please help me."
Daisy closed her eyes.
"How much?"
"Everything. Hostel fees. School fees. I can't ask anyone else. I can't stay home. I begged them. They refused. I am scared."
She looked at the mop. Dirty water. Bleach smell. Empty pockets.
"I have almost nothing," she said.
"I need you. Please."
Her throat burned.
"I will find a way," she said. "I promise."
He went quiet. "Thank you."
The call ended.
Daisy stood still. The mop felt heavy.
She counted her coins. Not enough. Not close.
A senior cleaner walked past.
"You look sick," she said.
"My brother needs school fees," Daisy said.
The woman nodded. "Be careful with these rich people. A girl from the laundry once helped them. They blamed her for missing money. She lost her job."
Daisy swallowed. "What happened to her?"
"She left town," the woman said. "No work. No food."
The black car waited outside the hospital gate.
Daisy finished her shift. She signed out.
The same two men stood at the door.
"Ready?" one asked.
Daisy looked back at the hospital. "I… I will lose my job."
"You will not lose your job," he said calmly.
She followed them.
The car door opened. Cold air hit her face as the door opened. Soft leather inside. She sat and held her hands tight.
One man looked at her.
"You drink?"
"No."
"You steal?"
"No."
"Any police case?"
"No."
"Any boyfriend?"
"No."
"Any debt?"
"Yes," she said softly. "My brother's school fees."
He wrote it down.
"Why did you save our madam?" he asked.
"She was falling."
"You could have stepped aside."
"I did not."
He watched her face.
The city passed by. Loud buses. Screaming street hawkers. Market noise.
They turned onto quiet streets. Tall gates. Wide houses.
The car stopped at a gate taller than any building she knew. Guards opened it.
The car rolled inside.
The house was wide, white, gleaming. Marble stairs. Tall windows. Lights glowed behind them.
Daisy stepped out slowly. Her shoes felt too small.
A maid led her inside. Marble floors. High ceilings. Silent halls.
"Wait here," the maid said.
Daisy stood. She did not sit.
The old woman entered. Nurse beside her. Eyes sharp. Slow steps.
"Daisy Daniels," she said.
"Yes, ma," Daisy said.
"You came."
"Yes, ma."
The old woman took her hand. "You saved my life."
"I did my duty," Daisy said.
"You broke your back for me."
"I am fine," Daisy said.
The old woman studied her. "Where do you live?"
"Daisy told her.
"How much do you earn?"
Daisy spoke the amount quietly.
The old woman nodded. "Write it down," she said to the nurse.
Daisy felt fear. "Ma, please. I do not want trouble."
"You will not get trouble," the old woman said
Footsteps echoed.
The grandson passed the doorway. He did not enter. He did not look inside.
Daisy saw only his shadow.
The old woman spoke again. "I need someone I trust. Someone who does not run when danger comes. I chose you."
Daisy shook her head. "I am a cleaner."
"You are honest. That matters more than titles," the old woman said.
The nurse brought tea. Daisy did not touch it.
"I want you to stay here for some time," the old woman said. "Help me. Read to me. Walk with me. Watch the stairs so I do not fall again."
Daisy froze. "My job?"
"I will speak to your manager," the old woman said.
"My brother?"
"He will be cared for."
Daisy's chest tightened. Big houses hid bigger problems.
"My brother needs school fees."
The old woman looked at her. "How much."
Daisy said the amount.
The old woman nodded.
"I will pay you 200,000 naira each month. Food. Room. School fees today."
Daisy froze.
Her hands shook.
"That is too much," she said.
"It is fair."
"I cannot accept."
The old woman looked at her. Calm. Firm. "You will try. One week. If you hate it, you leave."
Daisy stayed silent.
Daisy thought of her brother.
"I will try," she said.
The old woman smiled. "Good. The room is ready."
Daisy nodded slowly.
A maid led her upstairs. Soft carpet. Quiet lights. A clean bed waited.
Daisy touched the blanket. Smooth cloth.
She sat on the edge. Her hands shook.
Daisy lay on the bed.
Her eyes stayed open.
Her phone buzzed.
"I am outside the hostel gate. My bag is here. Everyone is looking at me."
"Hold on. I said I will pay."
He whispered, "Do not forget me."
The call ended.
Daisy held the phone. Her hands shook.
A knock came.
A maid entered. She dropped an envelope on the table. "Madam sent this."
Daisy opened it.
Inside lay a receipt. Full school fees. Paid. Hostel fees. Paid.
She read it twice.
Her knees went weak.
She called her brother.
"I have paid," she said. "Go back inside."
He cried. "Thank you. Thank you."
She smiled. "Study hard."
The call ended.
Daisy lay back. She felt safe for one moment.
Two maids whispered outside.
"The madam chose a cleaner?" one said.
"Yes," the other replied. "The young master will not like this."
Daisy heard every word.
She lay down. She stared at the ceiling.
Her life changed in one day.
She did not know this house.
She did not know its rules.
She did not know its anger.
Downstairs, the grandson spoke on the phone.
"Check her records. Check her family.
"And prepare the contract "
"What contract, sir?" the lawyer asked.
He looked at her file. Name: Daisy Daniels. Job: Cleaner. Address: Small room near the market.
"The one she cannot escape."
He closed the call.
His face stayed cold.
Upstairs, Daisy slept.
Morning would bring a house that did not want her.