This house, it’s not by early morning

Oh, it’s by surviving Madam’s mouth

Right on cue, they heard the slippers

Soft, controlled, angry

Madam Rose entered the kitchen with a silk robe tied tight around her waist and her phone in her hand

“Where’s my lemon water?” she asked sharply

Mama Ronkey rushed forward

I was just about to

I wasn’t asking you

She cut in, turning her gaze to Naomi

Naomi wiped her hand and bowed slightly

I’ll get it now, Ma

Madam Rose narrowed her eyes

Room temperature, not cold, not warm, just right

Do you understand? Yes, Ma

Because if I take one sip and my throat feels like it entered sauna, you will regret your life

Naomi nodded

“Yes, Ma

” She picked a glass, poured water from the dispenser, and carefully added two slices of lemon

She walked slowly, steady hands, quiet feet up the marble stairs to Madame Rose’s room

She knocked, “Ma, your water

Come in

” The room was spotless

Gold curtains, perfume bottles shining on a dresser

A small white dog sat on the bed like royalty

Naomi placed the tray gently on the side table

Madame Rose didn’t say thank you

She took the glass, sipped, paused

Naomi’s heart beat fast

Then Madame Rose smirked

“You’re lucky,” she said

“You got it right

” But just as Naomi turned to leave, Madame Rose spoke again

“There’s a stain on the bathroom sink

I hate stains

” “I’ll clean it now, Ma

” As Naomi entered the bathroom, her eyes caught a faint rust stain on the sink

likely from someone’s ring

Without hesitation, she reached for the cleaning spray and began to scrub gently, careful, and focused

Then, thud! Her shoulder brushed a perfume bottle

It wobbled

She caught it just in time, her breath hitching

A quiet sigh of relief escaped her lips

But when she turned around, Madame Rose was standing by the doorway, arms folded

Without a word of warning, she walked forward and slapped Naomi hard across the face

Naomi’s head turned with the force

“You’re clumsy,” Madame Rose said coldly

“I don’t like clumsy people

” Naomi’s eyes burned, but she didn’t cry

She bowed her head and whispered

“I’m sorry, Ma

” Then gently, she picked up the perfume bottle and placed it back in perfect line with the others, hands trembling, spirit steady

You’ll clean the guest room next, Madame Rose said, already sinking into her bed, phone in hand

And iron the bed sheet while it’s on the bed

I don’t like rumples

Naomi nodded again

Yes, Ma

As she left the room, Mr

Femi was standing in the hallway

Gray beard, neatly ironed a calm face

He had heard everything

Their eyes met

He didn’t speak, but Naomi could see it

that small flicker in his eyes

Pity

But she didn’t need pity

She needed that salary

She walked past him without a word and went straight to the guest room

Because in Naomi’s heart, one thing was clear

She would not leave

Not until her daughter could live

By the third day, everyone in the house was watching

Naomi hadn’t cried

She hadn’t shouted

She hadn’t packed her bag and run like the others

But Madame Rose wasn’t done

Not even close

She didn’t like being ignored

She didn’t like being studied

And something about Naomi’s silence felt like defiance

So, she turned the temperature up

First, it was the missing uniforms

Naomi had just finished cleaning the guest room

When she returned to her quarters and found her uniform gone, all that was left in the cupboard was a see-through lace night gown that obviously wasn’t hers

Naomi didn’t say a word

She came out wearing a faded t-shirt and her own wrapper

The housekeeper gasped

“You’re going out like that?” Naomi only replied, “It’s clean

It’s decent

It’s enough

” Later that day, Madame Rose came downstairs, took one look at her, and smiled

Her slow, mocking smile

“Did you sleep in the gutter, or are you just dressing to match the mop?” Some of the staff chuckled nervously

Naomi didn’t respond

She bowed, picked up the mop, and kept working

But the more she didn’t react, the more Madame Rose became unsettled

Then came the accidents