Chapter 1

Six months of dating Duane James, and I finally showed up at his family's door with gifts, ready to meet the parents.

The one who opened the door was a boy with dyed blond hair. He looked me up and down.

"My brother finally got me a new maid?"

Before I could say a word, he started counting off on his fingers.

"Starting today, you get up at five every morning to make my breakfast, you hand-wash my underwear, and when I'm gaming you cut up fruit and bring it over."

"I'm your future sister-in-law."

I couldn't listen to any more of it and cut him off.

He clutched his stomach and laughed so hard he tipped backward onto the couch.

"You idiot! My mom said a sister-in-law is just the desperate slut who comes crawling to be my maid!"

Then he kicked off a yellowed sock and threw it in my face.

"Wash this for me first!"

I turned to Duane, wanting him to rein in this out-of-control brat.

He didn't even glance at me. He just said, offhand, "Les is still a kid. He's only messing with you."

I let out a cold laugh, picked up the sock, gripped his chin, and shoved it straight into his mouth, packing it in tight.

"A mouth that filthy, this sock suits it just fine!"

...

Lester James wrenched free of my hand and doubled over, retching.

"What the hell! Are you insane?"

Duane rushed over from the living room, yanked Lester behind him, and turned to glare at me.

"Carissa Fox, what do you think you're doing! Les was just joking around with you. What gives you the right to put your hands on him?"

Lester cowered behind him, saliva still on his face, whimpering, "Bro! Throw this slut out, now!"

Duane patted his back and soothed him a couple of times, then turned to fix his eyes on me.

"You apologize to Les right now, and you agree to be his maid for a month. Laundry, cooking, cleaning his room."

"You don't leave until he's not mad anymore!"

He said it fast and urgent, without a flicker of hesitation on his face.

"Les is scared out of his mind because of you. You're going to take responsibility and calm him down."

"Fine."

I stared at Duane and laughed, past the point of anger.

Lester's smug expression snapped right back into place.

The next second, I asked him coldly, "Then let me ask you. What's the monthly pay?"

Duane froze for a beat.

"Hiring a maid, right? The kind that hand-washes even the socks and underwear. Ten grand a month isn't asking too much, is it?"

"Get me the labor contract and full benefits. I'll start right now."

Duane's face changed instantly.

He stepped forward and dropped his voice. "Carissa, I never knew you were this materialistic. My brother's just messing around with you and you bring up money?"

"We're family and you're still keeping accounts? If you can't even accept my family, what right do you have to walk through the James family's door?"

That last line came out almost through gritted teeth.

I stared right back. "Duane, we're through!"

His face twisted. He shot out a hand, grabbed my hair, and clamped the other one around the back of my neck.

My knees buckled and I nearly dropped to the floor, my scalp screaming where he pulled.

"Apologize." He ground it out against my ear. "Apologize now, and I'll get Les to forgive you. Otherwise you're not leaving today."

His fingers tightened and tightened, nails almost digging into the flesh.

A cold dread crawled up through me.

"Duane, if you don't let go, I'm calling the cops! Malicious assault. See if I can't bury you with it!"