CHAPTER 8 A Golden Cage Beckons
Fear danced in Lina's eyes as she stood frozen in front of the dusty mirror fixed awkwardly on the bathroom wall. Her fingers trembled as they clutched the edge of the porcelain sink. The cold porcelain bit into her skin, but she hardly noticed. Her reflection stared back at her, soaked and shivering, a girl who didn't look like herself anymore. Her wet hair clung to her cheeks, her lips pale, her skin ghostly.
She blinked fast. She didn't want to cry. But her heart was beating too fast. It pounded so loud, she could hear it in her ears, like a war drum. Every breath she took felt like it would choke her.
This wasn't what she signed up for. She came here to clean. That's what her father told her. Clean the floors, wash the windows, scrub the sinks. That was the job. She was supposed to be invisible, just a worker blending in with the background. Not this. Not this strange nightmare. Not this creepy silence filled with things unsaid.
She looked at the dress on the wooden chair. It was beautiful. But also terrifying. A pale cream dress, soft and smooth, like it belonged to someone rich and important. Not her. She had never touched something this fine in her life. It shimmered under the bathroom light, the gold threads catching every flicker. It didn't look like something for cleaning floors. It looked like something for a wedding. Or a sacrifice.
She took a shaky step back, hugging herself tightly. Why was she being asked to wear this? What kind of cleaner was made to dress like this? What kind of boss expected this?
Mr. Kade. The name alone made her chest tight. She'd only seen him once and it was yesterday from a distance and that was enough. He didn't look like someone you could say no to. He had power, like a storm held behind a smile. And everyone walked around him like they were scared to breathe wrong.
Lina didn't want to go downstairs. Her gut told her to run. She wanted to grab her clothes, sneak out the back, and disappear. But then she remembered Ethan. Her little brother. So young, so sick, lying in that worn out cushion with machines beeping all around him. She could see his face in her mind, pale and tired, still managing a smile for her when she left yesterday.
Her father, worn out, always quiet, always blaming himself.
They needed her. She couldn't run. Not when they were counting on her paycheck. Not when Ethan needed medicine. Not when her dad had already begged Mr. Kade for this chance.
A soft knock pulled her from her thoughts.
Then a voice. "What's holding you, Lina?"
It slipped through the door like a cold breeze. The maid. The tall, stiff woman who had given her the dress earlier. The one who looked at Lina like she was dirt that wouldn't wash off.
Lina's breath caught in her throat. Her fingers brushed the dress. It felt like it burned. Like it didn't belong in her hands. But she picked it up anyway. She didn't have a choice. Her hands were shaking as she pulled it over her head. The silk slid down her skin like cold water. She didn't feel like herself anymore. She felt like someone else—a puppet, a doll.
She stared into the mirror again. The girl looking back at her had wide, scared eyes. Her lips were trembling, and even though she tried to smile, it looked wrong. Fake. Forced.
"Breathe, Lina," she whispered. She placed a hand on her chest, feeling her heartbeat thud like a warning. "Just go. See what he wants. Maybe it's nothing. Maybe it's a misunderstanding."
Another knock. Harder this time. Sharp.
"Lina. I said, what is holding you?"
The maid's voice cut through the door like a knife. Lina jumped. Her nerves felt stretched thin like they could snap any second. She stumbled forward, grabbed the doorknob, and twisted it open.
The maid was standing there, arms crossed, eyes cold and sharp. Her gaze moved slowly from Lina's face to the dress, and then back up. She didn't say anything for a long moment. Just stared. Judging.
"You want to anger the master?" she said finally, her voice was like ice. "You think he likes to be kept waiting?"
"No ma'am," Lina whispered. She hugged herself, trying to hide how exposed she felt. "I just... I wasn't sure if this was for me. It feels like... something someone else should be wearing."
The woman's eyes narrowed. She didn't like the answer. Not one bit.
"Don't speak unless spoken to," she snapped. "You were told to wear it. So you wear it. Now come."
Lina followed her. Each step felt heavier than the last. Her legs trembled, her knees weak. The hallway stretched ahead of them, long and quiet, lined with paintings that seemed to watch her. The air felt thicker now, like it was pressing down on her. Her thoughts were a mess. She didn't know what was waiting. She only knew it wasn't good.
The staircase appeared at the end of the hall. It looked grand and beautiful, but right now it felt like a path to something dark. She walked down slowly, her feet bare, the marble cold and smooth under her skin. The woman walked ahead, stiff and silent.
At the bottom, voices. Deep, male voices. Talking low. Talking about something serious. Their words didn't reach her, but the tone did. Heavy. Intense.
Lina's stomach turned.
The maid stopped. Turned to her. Her expression changed—just a little. Not softer, not really. But less sharp. She leaned in, her voice a whisper.
"Smile. And keep your head down."
Lina nodded, not trusting her voice. She took a shaky breath and prepared to face whatever was coming.