Maid in Monaco

Sarah’s POV

The plane landed on time and here I am standing in front of an intimidating consular staff who is like interrogating me forever, yes, it is my first time to be in a foreign country, but I have never felt nervous in my whole life, just this once.

Seriously? I have no idea how many queries he has on the table for me, I feel like I am a criminal, and this eternal interrogation is making me puke at any moment.

Suddenly the phone in front of us rang and the intimidating man instantly answer it. Talking on, he was staring at me expressionless as if I was the topic of their conversation with whom so ever, he is talking over the phone. When he hung up, he stood up and went outside leaving me unattended. I don’t know if I should be thankful for that call because the interrogating stop for a while and that I am alone now in this tiny and suffocating room.

I had no Idea I would experience such a scene like this, when all I want is to work honorably in this country. I thought everything was easy but here in the airport right away, I encountered a problem which I really do not have an idea what seems to be the problem though why they detain me here ever since I got off the plane. It’s been three hours my goodness.

Alone in this tiny room, I was thinking carefully about what was wrong. I know I went through legally. All the documents that I’ve had with me, my working visa and all the credentials were all valid and none is fraud. After almost fifteen minutes of waiting the intimidating consular came back with another man in black suit approaching me. The man who was grilling me earlier are now smiling at me like nothing had happened.

“I apologize for the misunderstanding Ms. De Leon. This is Mr. Ross, and he will accompany you for the rest of the day. Welcome to Monaco.”

Freak! And that’s it, that is how it all started.

***

Hi, my name is Sarah De Leon, I am a teacher by profession, and this is my story.

I come from a not so very rich family, in short, I am poor, but I eat at least three times a day. My father is a farmer, and my mother is a vegetable vendor. I am their only daughter, and I could tell my parents are proud of me though. They believed that education is the only thing they can inherit for me, they have sacrificed a lot for me just to fill all the things I need so I can finish all my studies.

Despite the difficulties we sometimes experience. Sometimes??? No! Difficulties that we ALWAYS experience, I believed that I am still lucky. God has given me the gift of intelligence.

My parents did not have to pay much to the University I attended because I am one of the scholar students and not to brag, I am the top one, and because of it everyone knows me not that I am the cleverest but also because of my dorky appearance. Dorky? Yes, they call me dork and that includes all my loyal friends at school.

Wearing thick eyeglasses and baggy clothes whenever I go to classes, well I am not here to please everybody they know my IQ and all I need to do is to finish my studies and graduate with flying colors. I want nothing more to bring my parents out of poverty. I want them to experience the best life and no more pain and hardships.

I haven’t mentioned it yet, my grandmother also lives with us. I love her so much to the point I will do everything to give her the most comfortable life. Ever since I was a kid, my grandmother was the only one who took good care of me when my parents needed to go to work. We are very close, and my grandmother taught me all the good things.

When I graduated from college, I took my first job offer for me, I became one of the best professors in a popular University in my country and I was able to provide for my family.

However the situation was not good all the time, there was a tragic moment in our lives that caught me off guard and which caused me to grabbed the opportunity that knocked only once in a lifetime, even though I do not want to leave my family, I have no choice, the salary is promising and it will help me a lot for the speedy recovery of my grandmother.

I am doing it for my grandmother who had a cardiac arrest and needed much more extensive treatment and therapy, if only I earn enough money from my previous job, I will not leave them. Perhaps the situation had left me no choice. That is why I ended up in the airport with that intimidating old man. How did it happen? Alright, don’t be impatient, I will tell you everything.

So here it goes, one month ago after my grandmother’s incident, I thought I was able to cover all the expenses needed for my grandma, I was at the faculty room, meditating and even more puzzled, a lot of things were running through my mind, thinking on what to do, where will I get more money to support my whole family especially my grandmother, I don’t want my parents to suffer again and so as my poor grandma. So, one of my colleagues suddenly approached me and told me about this job offer, it says that I will get a chance to teach in one of the prestigious schools in Monaco and the salary offer is double of the money I am earning now. It is really more than enough, and I think with that huge amount, I will also be able to buy my parents a house of our own. The only thing I don’t like about the offer is that the job is overseas, the fact that it is hard for me to leave my loved ones is truly heartbreaking for me.

It took me days to convince myself to grab the opportunity before I realized that I could no longer provide the demand to all our expenses and my pocket was crying out because I couldn’t afford some of my grandmother’s needs anymore.

The struggles didn’t end there, because the school I worked at would hardly allow me to leave because I am their best teacher and they believed I contributed too much good work that has led to the further development of the University. Thanks to my hard work and intelligence.

The moment of goodbyes happened, I was crying a lot kissing and hugging my parents and my grandmother before I went to the airport alone. My mind is all set and I promised them to give the good life I always dream of.

***

“Nice to meet you Ms. De Leon, I am Mr. Ross, secretary of your new employer and before we proceed, I would like to discuss some changes to your related work.” We shook hands but I frowned a little and was confused by his statement.

Changes?

I hummed then he proceeded. “Because of your amazing credentials and experiences, you are very lucky to have chosen to work for my boss, Ms. De Leon.” Said Mr. Ross who was very confident in what he was saying.

“Okay I understand Sir, but what is this job you are telling me and who is this boss you are referring?” He just smiled at me and handed me a document. I took it in his grasp, looking at Mr. Ross very confused and he gestured to me to read what’s in it. I read it carefully and I was shocked. Actually, I couldn’t say a word.

I will work as a maid? Me? A degree holder and one of the best professors in my country. What am I getting into?

“Okay Ms. De Leon, before you react, I would like to add because it was not written there that your salary for this job is ten thousand dollars. My boss is so generous, isn’t he?” And because of what he just said I was even more dumbfounded.

Are they fucking kidding me??? Who the hell would give that tremendous amount for the position of a personal maid?

If that is the case, I will beat the wage of the principal in the school I have worked at before, perhaps all the wages of the CEOs in my country.

Yes, you heard me right, they are hiring me as a personal maid for a fifteen-year-old girl. Hiring? No, I think I am hired already, I want to back out at first, things happened so fast, and it made me so damn confused.

But I thought of my family and my grandmother, I have no choice and there’s no going back now, besides their offer is a huge help, I will be able to provide everything and all the expenses of my family I left behind. They were all dependent on me now because I made my parents stop working and I just wanted them to relax, I want to make up for all their sacrifices and this is the time when I will repay all their sufferings. In addition to the job offer, I will be able to save more money with my two-year contract with them.

I, Sarah De Leon, graduated Summa Cum Laude, a professional teacher and one of the best professors in my country is going to be a maid in this foreign land.

So yeah, lowering my pride for the sake of money…. Let’s start my journey.