“Yes.”
“Good money?”
“Yes.”
Ma stood up immediately. “I accept.”
Her mother blinked. “Just like that?”
Ma turned to her. “Mama, at this point, if they say I should wash a lion, I will price it first before refusing.”
Mama Grace laughed so hard she held her stomach.
The next morning, the sun had barely risen, but Ma was already dressed, bag packed, energy at full volume.
Her younger brother stood beside her, half asleep.
“Take care of Mama,” she told him seriously.
The boy nodded. “I will. But who will disturb the house when you go?”
Ma gasped. “You are calling me a disturbance? I am entertainment!”
She hugged her mother tightly. “I will send money. I will come back. One day I will carry all of you to the city.”
Her mother smiled weakly. “My daughter, just be careful.”
Ma winked. “Careful is my middle name.”
Mama Grace whispered, “Your middle name is trouble.”
When the car entered Anthony’s estate, Ma’s mouth opened and refused to close.
“Wait, wait, wait…”
She pointed at the mansion.
“Is this a house or an airport?”
Mama Grace chuckled. “This is where you will work.”
Ma clutched her chest. “If I faint, please pour water on me. Not too much. Water is expensive.”
As they entered, the maids gathered—eyes sharp, ears ready, judgment activated.
One whispered, “This one looks like she talks too much.”
Another replied, “She will talk herself out of this job.”
Ma heard them. Of course she did.
She turned slowly and smiled brightly. “Don’t worry, I talk, but I also work, so you people will not miss me.”
One maid almost bit her tongue.
Mama Grace knocked.
“Come in.”
They entered.
Anthony sat behind his desk—calm, composed, intimidating.
Ma saw him and froze for half a second.
Handsome.
Then her brain resumed.
“Good afternoon, sir,” she said loudly.
Anthony nodded slightly.
Mama Grace spoke. “This is the girl I told you about.”
Anthony looked at Ma—quiet, observing, judging.
Ma shifted.
Then suddenly she started talking.
“Sir, I am very hardworking. I can clean, cook a little, arrange, organize, supervise…”
Anthony raised an eyebrow.
She continued, “I can even wash your shoes until they reflect your future.”
Mama Grace covered her face.
Ma kept going. “I will wash your bed—sorry, not wash, arrange. Unless you want me to wash it.”
Anthony blinked slowly.
Then a small laugh escaped him.
Ma froze. “Sir, you are laughing. Should I continue?”
He shook his head slightly. “That’s enough.”
Pause.
Then: “You’re hired.”
Ma gasped loudly. “Mama Grace, I have entered billionaire destiny!”
Anthony leaned back, shaking his head.
For the first time in a long while, the office felt alive.
As Ma followed Mama Grace out, she turned back slightly and looked at Anthony just for a second.
He was already watching her—quiet, curious.
Something unspoken passed between them.
Small but powerful.
Like the beginning of a storm neither of them saw coming.
And somewhere deep inside Anthony, something stirred.
Not sleep.
Not yet.
But something close.
Something warm.
