Chapter One

                                    

                                          
Chapter One 
                          
I stared at his captivating brown eyes, then his thin firm lips... inviting to be kissed. I wondered how it would feel kissing those lips. Would it be deliciously warm and moist just like what I'd read in romance novels?
                          
I ran my fingertips from his dark brown, unruly hair to his ruggedly handsome face... the sensation I felt made me shiver. Then I touched his lips... feeling him... and very slowly I brought the picture frame close to my face and kissed his sensual lips.
                          
"Rachel?"
                          
I jolted, hearing Mrs. Diaz' voice behind me and accidentally, the picture frame escaped from my grasp and went crashing down onto the tiled floor. The loud sound of broken glass makes me squirm.
                          
Darn! I broke the picture frame.
                          
I cupped my face with both hands in disbelief. My eyes widened in shock. Oh... I'm in trouble now. I hope this is not a rare piece.
                          
"Oh dear..." Mrs. Diaz shook her head and looked at me disappointedly. She was in her fifties and the head among us housekeepers in the Niarchos mansion. Yep, she was strict when it came to our work but overall she was nice and motherly.
                          
"I... I'm sorry, Mrs. Diaz. I... I'll replace this." I stuttered and my fingers played with the lace at the edge of the apron of my black and white maid uniform.
                          
"You can't afford it, dear. This is an antique frame. But don't worry, I'll explain it to Mr. Niarchos, I'm sure he'll understand. He always does anyway."
                          
I felt bad about myself. It was my second day at work in the mansion and I had already broken a picture frame. That wouldn't give my employer a good impression. I just hoped Dad wouldn't find out about this. He would surely get mad at me.
                          
"Just clean this mess, dear. I'll go upstairs to look for an empty picture frame."
                          
"Thank you, Mrs. Diaz. I promise, I'll be very careful next time."
                          
"You should because we're surrounded with priceless rare pieces here."
                          
I nodded sheepishly and watched Mrs. Diaz go upstairs.
                          
I worked as a housekeeper at the Niarchos mansion while waiting to hear about the jobs I'd applied for in Manhattan – mostly clerical and cashier jobs.
                          
Dad helped me get the job at the mansion. He also worked here as a gardener and oftentimes fixed minor problems like leaking roofs, clogged sinks, loose wiring and so on. During weekends when some of the guards were off duty, he helped secure the mansion.
                          
I recently graduated from a public high school here in New York. Since Dad couldn't afford to enrol me in a university, I had no choice but to work - to save money for my tuition fees. I dreamed of becoming a pediatrician, but I knew it would be impossible because medical courses were quite expensive. I guess I'll have to settle for an affordable degree course like being a prep school teacher, because I love children.
                          
After a few minutes, Mrs. Diaz came back holding a brass picture frame. I was also done getting rid of the broken pieces of glass on the floor and put aside the ceramic frame that was now in two pieces.
                          
"I think this will do. I found it in the Rose room."
                          
The Rose room. It was one of the guest rooms in the mansion overlooking the gazebo, the pond and the rose garden. The furnishings were so feminine and elegant, with touches of red and gold everywhere. I cleaned the room the day before and instantly fell in love with it.
                          
I took the picture of a young man, which I had put on top of the classic console table a while back, and gave it to Mrs. Diaz. I watched her put the picture inside the frame and set it on top of the table together with the other picture frames.