Page 1 of The Brutal Arrangement (The Ivanov Syndicate #2)

LUCY

T he staffing agency manager cringed as she gave me another once-over after I hurried into her office.

“You know…” she began in that nasally tone I couldn’t stand.

I nodded. “Yes. Yes. I understand punctuality is important.” It wasn’t my fault that the assisted living facility was behind on their schedule.

I couldn’t have missed that meeting with the director who’d go over my mother’s care program.

But I couldn’t miss this, either. It was a godsend that this whiny-sounding woman had another position for me so soon.

Money was running out, and I was grateful for another maid assignment.

Not that it’ll really help Mom in the long run…

I needed a lot more money to get her into the decent facility where she’d fare better. But hey, beggars couldn’t be choosers, right?

“I’m sorry I was late to get here,” I added when the woman still judged me. A glance at my watch showed that I wasn’t tardy. It was exactly four thirty on the dot, so I was on time. She seemed to be one of those types of people who considered being five minutes early as punctual.

“No. Not that,” she replied, sighing as she indifferently gestured for me to sit in the chipped plastic chair across the desk from her. “It’s just…”

“What?” I sat. If there were any issue, I’d figure out how to deal with it. I needed this job. I had to have income flowing in from somewhere to keep Mom in that building.

“It’s just that you’re…” She shrugged, shuffling through papers. “You’re one of those natural beauties.”

It should’ve been a compliment, but from the way she said it, I took it as the negative remark she meant it as.

Considering I had been fired from my last gig a few days ago because the woman of the house was jealous of her husband ogling me, I understood that having an attractive maid was a hindrance, not a bonus.

Nobody wanted an attractive maid who would be present as a lure for the men of the household.

It sucked that women could be that insecure and feel so threatened, but I understood the dilemma.

I’d never spent effort to emphasize what others had also called my “natural” beauty.

If anything, I tried to hide my best features—like a high-necked shirt to avoid cleavage and a sports bra to flatten them.

Not a speck of makeup was on my face, and I threw my hair into a messy ponytail on the run in here.

I didn’t feel beautiful when I always gave it my best to be as plain as possible, to blend in as nothing special.

I only felt desperate. Desperate to keep going, to do the best I could for the only family I had left.

“Sorry.” It seemed like such a dumb thing to apologize for.

The woman shrugged again. “I can tell you’re not one of those promiscuous kinds of girls we get in here. But at any rate, this place will suit you. The owners aren’t there often.”

I accepted the papers and didn’t recognize the address.

It had to be another fancy building somewhere I’d never be able to afford.

As the woman carried on, droning unenthusiastically about the details of this new placement, I paid attention to what I’d expect tomorrow when I’d start first thing in the morning.

“Report to Joann,” she instructed. “She’s the head of the household staff, and she will assist you as you settle in.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied, wondering if this assignment would last. If I could rely on this live-in position to be a steady situation, I could probably cancel my month-to-month rental obligations at my apartment.

It was already so small that I wouldn’t have much to get rid of.

I’d already sold so much to afford Mom’s care.

Not having to worry about rent would be one more way to better pay off all the medical expenses.

Even though this staffing agency didn’t seem to give a damn about the people they placed, they were super-strict about all their rules. After signing more contracts and NDAs, I was deemed ready to go.

“Good luck,” she said once all the necessary paperwork was done and I stood to leave.

I doubted she cared about my success, but I smiled nonetheless and hoped it wouldn’t be a matter of luck determining how I’d do as a new maid at another fancy mansion. I wanted to have faith in my ability to do a good job and keep my head down, not whether or not I was lucky.

The next morning, I tried to keep that attitude fresh and bold in my mind. I’d show up, do my job, and avoid any drama or jealous wives.

This has to last. Mom deserves to stay in a decent facility for as long as possible.

I can do this.

I will do this.

Dressed in my best jeans and white blouse, I got in the Uber with a couple of suitcases for the ride to my new place of employment. I knew better than to take many things, and after this initial orientation day, I’d have uniforms to wear.

Anxiety and slight dread kept me tense and stiff on the ride toward the wealthy area of the city.

Further from the ordinary and busy, bustling streets, the scenery changed to show the stark contrast between the commoners of the world and the wealthy members of the elite crowd.

Mansions replaced apartment buildings. Smoothly paved roads stretched out instead of pot-hole-riddled paths.

All the streetlamps worked in this gated community, and no homeless begged for change at the corners.

It was a whole different world, one I’d never belong in—except as a lowly maid.

But that didn’t matter. Ever since my father died seven years ago, my sense of belonging somewhere had faded.

Home became an illusion. And when my mom started to show signs of mental decline, I knew I would never have a real family again.

Come on, Luce. Suck it up. No gloom. Just focus on working as hard as you can. One day at a time. And… carry on.

A heavy sigh left my lips as the car slowed to a gated entrance.

“Yo, are you sure this is the right place?” the young man driving the Uber asked as he braked.

“Yes. Just pull up so I can speak to the guard.” I lowered my window to tell the burly guard why I was there. “Hello, I’m Lucy Forden from the Cardinal Staffing Agency. Ms. Joann is expecting me for my first day.”

The gruff man gave me a derisive glance, as if I were a headache he didn’t want to bother with.

Working at properties with security teams wasn’t anything new.

They still intimidated me, but in the last six and a half years of working as a maid, I’d learned to associate my employers with power, money, and security forces.

“Go ahead,” he told the driver, indicating which end of the drive to aim for.

Once he pulled up, awestruck at the massive mansion, he parked and idled as I got my suitcases out.

“Hey, yeah. I’d offer to help you with those, but, uh…” The driver furrowed his brow at a pair of burly guards at the front door. “I’m, um… I don’t wanna interfere or anything.”

Interfere? I did a double-take at the guards, wondering why this guy was so nervous.

“Oh,” I said instead of asking for him to help me with the heavier duffle bag that I’d put another pair of shoes in.

“I don’t wanna linger in this place either,” he said, frowning at me in the mirror. “So if you can, like, hurry up…”

Jeez.

Figuring out why this dude was skittish would have to wait for later. Between juggling my two bags and getting out of the car, I had more things to focus on. As soon as I was out of the car, I heaved out an exasperated breath and turned to close the door.

The second the back door closed, he sped away.

“Damn,” I muttered. I had paid in advance, but he was awfully hasty to bolt.

Maybe he’s nervous to be near security guards or something.

Facing the mansion, I grabbed my bags and approached the front door. The huge, beefy guys at the door noticed me but made no move to help me with the bags.

Like me, these guards were supposed to blend into the background, not look like individuals to speak to. But I had to at least explain who I was.

“Hi, I’m?—”

“Joann is waiting for you,” one said bluntly, opening the door.

“Thanks,” I muttered meekly.

Great. This is going to be another one of those kinds of places. Where the staff had to look like statues, no emotion allowed.

Stepping over the threshold, I scanned the elegant and spacious foyer, instantly knowing all that intricate molding and framework would be a pain in the butt to dust and polish. It looked immaculate in here, but it would be partly up to me to keep it so tidy.

“Lucy?” An older woman with a gentle smile and wiry white hair pulled back in a bun greeted me. Dressed in a maid’s uniform, she cut across the marble floor with her gaze locked on me. “Welcome to the Kozlov home. I’m Joann.”

“Hi. It’s nice to meet you.” I smiled, straining to keep my bags in my hands. Sweat slicked my hands and it didn’t help my grip.

“Let me get one of those,” she offered sweetly.

“Oh, no. It’s all?—”

She took one before I could stop her, and I was immediately impressed that she didn’t struggle. Despite her age, she was strong.

“Malcolm? She turned toward a butler near the back of the foyer. “This is Lucy, the new maid for the household. Could you please take her things to the maid’s quarters while I get her acquainted?”

I thanked Lurch for taking both bags, again impressed when he didn’t flinch under the weight.

With just the two of us in here, the rest of the house silent as far as I could tell, I knew I was being sized up. Joann didn’t eye me with judgment or doubt, but I couldn’t tell why she seemed so intrigued.

“Forgive me for staring,” she said with a polite smile. “It’s just that you look…”

Oh, God. Not again. If she said something about my being a natural beauty or joking that I could be a model, I’d groan.

I had to make this job work. I had to have a steady income to afford Mom’s care.

And if I was supposed to blend into the background as a member of the housekeeping staff, I couldn’t stand out like this.

“You look similar to her.”

I raised my brows.

“Her?”

She nodded, gesturing for me to follow her through the house. “Katerina,” she said, pointing at a picture on the wall.

We paused there, and instantly, I saw the differences between me and the brunette in the family portrait. But for someone else, like Joann, I could also see how she’d think we were similar.

“I suppose it’s a good thing she’s not here often,” Joann said with a light laugh. “Otherwise, I’d get the two of you mixed up.”

I smiled back. “I beg to differ. I’ll be wearing a maid’s uniform.”

Joann grinned. “That’s true.” Again, she gestured for me to follow her. “We’ll see what we’ve got that might fit you.” Leading me further through the empty mansion, she began a tour of pointing out what was where, adding that I’d learn it all as I went.

“We have a rotating staff of cleaners and other help, but you and I are the only ones to reside here as staff.”

A pair of militaristic men strode by, both of them serious in suits and sporting stern scowls.

“And them,” Joann added. “Mr. Kozlov has an extensive security force. Don’t mind them.

In fact, don’t mind… anyone here. Or anything.

” She glanced at me as she indicated for us to go down another hallway toward the maid’s quarters.

“Those soldiers come and go. And sometimes, they are loud. Please disregard them the best you can.” She reached for a doorknob to open the door.

“Oh, I will. I prefer to just do my job and ignore any drama.”

It wasn’t a mere preference, but a need .

“Well,” she said as she led the way into a storage room with a closet of uniforms hung up along one wall, “I’m not sure I’d call it drama more than…

” Shaking her head lightly, she cut herself off.

“Never mind. That is an excellent strategy.” She rifled through the maid’s uniforms. “Keep your head down, mind your own business, and you’ll do all right.

The less you listen to and the fewer rumors you overhear, the better. ”

Yikes. I masked my alarm, but I couldn’t shake off the idea that she seemed to imply that the Kozlov residence harbored not drama, but danger.

As if noticing my lack of reaction to her almost-ominous wording, she looked at me again and smiled, holding up a black dress and a white apron. “This looks like it might fit.”

I took it, thanking her and wondering if I would fit here. I didn’t need drama. I didn’t want any danger. All I needed or wanted was a chance for consistent paychecks.

“Go on, try it on,” Joann suggested as she pointed at a small fitting room.

“Thanks. I will.” I took the uniform into the tiny room and closed my eyes for a moment once I had the privacy in there.

Danger?

There couldn’t be any dangerous situations here. It was just another big mansion to clean and take care of, another enormous residence for the rich, hopefully empty more often than it was crowded.

Joann was merely advising me to mind my own business, and that was a solid piece of advice for any maid in any household.

You’re overthinking it all.

I opened my eyes and shook my head as if that would clear out the nagging thoughts of unease. Changing into the maid’s uniform, I reminded myself again that I’d make this gig work.

There were no other options. I was behind paying for my mom’s bills, and I’d run out of grace with the facility’s financial aid department soon.

Studying my reflection in the mirror, I noticed my grimace of doubt that the option of being the Kozlovs’ newest maid was my best option.

Just do as you’re told.

Stay out of the way.

Keep your head down and mind your own damn business.

It’s as simple as that, Luce.

At least I hoped it was.