The scent of lemon cleaner hung in the air as I wiped down the kitchen counters, the soft hum of the dishwasher filling the silence. Cleaning wasn’t how I imagined spending my morning, but it gave me time to think. I had just tossed the sponge into the sink when the doorbell rang.
At the door stood a sharply dressed man with a bright smile, holding a sleek phone and a leather briefcase. He looked like someone from a business magazine.
“Hello!” he said warmly. “I’m looking for Mr. Lambert. You must be the cleaning lady—Liliya, right? I’m his business partner, David. Nice to meet you.”
Before I could respond, he continued, “Mrs. Lambert told me all about you. Even showed me your picture.”
“Mrs. Lambert?” I asked, keeping my tone even.
“Yes, Greg and his wife. Such a great team,” he chuckled.
His words stopped me cold. Greg had a wife… who wasn’t me? I studied his face, wondering what story he believed. But instead of correcting him, I simply smiled and said, “Please, come in.”
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