Chapter 1 - THE MAID IN THE GOLDEN CAGE
"**“FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE MAID IN THE GOLDEN CAGE!”**
My employer's fiancée locked me inside a golden cage, forced a silver mask over my face, and sold me at a secret auction attended by America's most dangerous mafia bosses. She told everyone I was a worthless servant who had stolen from her, but when a mysterious mafia king offered fifty million dollars for me, the entire ballroom fell silent. Then he removed my mask, recognized my face, and whispered the name of a woman who had supposedly died seven years ago.
My name is Isabella Rose.
I was twenty-four, an ordinary maid working inside the magnificent Blackwood mansion in Manhattan.
Every morning, I wore the same elegant black maid's dress, white lace apron, and little white collar.
I polished marble floors.
Served expensive dinners.
And avoided looking directly at the powerful men who visited my employer.
Especially Adrian Blackwood.
At thirty-eight, he was New York's most feared mafia king.
Six-foot-six, devastatingly handsome, with massive shoulders, a muscular chest, and black tattoos covering both arms and climbing his neck.
His icy gray eyes could silence an entire room.
But his fiancée, Vanessa, hated me.
One evening, she caught Adrian helping me pick up a shattered crystal vase.
The next morning, she accused me of stealing her diamond necklace.
""I didn't take anything!"" I cried.
Vanessa slapped me.
""You're just a maid. Nobody will believe you.""
That night, two armed guards dragged me into the basement.
They dressed me in my black-and-white maid's uniform, covered my face with a delicate silver mask, and locked me inside an enormous golden cage.
When the curtains opened, I nearly stopped breathing.
Hundreds of mafia bosses sat beneath glittering chandeliers.
An auctioneer raised his hammer.
""Tonight's final prize! A beautiful young maid from the Blackwood household!""
I gripped the golden bars.
""PLEASE! SOMEBODY HELP ME!""
The audience laughed.
""ONE MILLION!""
""THREE MILLION!""
""TEN MILLION!""
Then Vanessa stepped onto the stage.
""She's worth nothing,"" she announced with a cruel smile. ""But perhaps one of you can teach her obedience.""
Tears streamed beneath my mask.
Suddenly, the ballroom doors slammed open.
A towering man entered, dressed entirely in black.
His tattooed arms strained beneath his tailored shirt.
Armed guards followed him.
Adrian Blackwood.
My employer.
My heart nearly stopped.
""FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS,"" he said coldly.
The auctioneer trembled.
""Mr. Blackwood, surely you don't intend to...""
""Open the cage.""
Vanessa rushed forward.
""Adrian! She's only a maid!""
He turned toward her.
""Then why did you hide her from me?""
Nobody spoke.
Adrian approached the cage and unlocked the door himself.
His enormous hands gently removed my silver mask.
The moment he saw my face, his expression shattered.
""No..."" he whispered.
He reached beneath his shirt and pulled out an old photograph.
A beautiful woman stood beside him, smiling.
She looked exactly like me.
""Isabella,"" he said, his voice trembling. ""Who was your mother?""
I swallowed.
""Her name was Elena Rose.""
Adrian staggered backward.
Vanessa screamed, ""DON'T LISTEN TO HER!""
But Adrian wasn't looking at Vanessa anymore.
He was staring at the small birthmark beneath my collarbone.
Then he whispered something that turned my blood cold.
""Your mother was my wife. And I was told our baby girl died with her seven years ago.""
Before I could answer, Vanessa pulled a pistol from her purse.
May you like
And pointed it directly at my heart.
Comment “YES” if you want the full story. 👇"
