The hockey's player personal maid

There are two things I love. My peace of mind and my personal boundaries. In hindsight, getting a scholarship to Westridge University was the beginning of losing both. At the time, though, I was too excited to care.

I stood outside the iron gates of Westridge University, watching luxury cars pull up one after another. Mercedes. BMW. Even a Porsche. Rich students got out of them. They wore fancy clothes and carried bags that were worth more than everything I own.

My fingers tightened around the straps of my worn JanSport. Maybe this was a mistake.

"Elena! You made it!"

I turned to see Jade Harper running toward me, her honey-blonde hair bouncing with each step. I was relieved. At least I had one friend here, even if we'd only met at the scholarship orientation last month.

She is currently in her second year of college. I was fortunate that my scholarship allowed me to transfer credits rather than restarting. This means we actually get to attend the same classes.

"I almost didn't come," I admitted as she reached me. "I kept thinking they'd realize they made a mistake and take back the scholarship."

Jade linked her arm through mine, grinning. "Don't be ridiculous. You earned this. Top scores in the entire district, remember?" She lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Besides, these rich kids need someone to actually raise the academic average."

I couldn't help but smile as we walked through the gates together. The main building was gigantic, all glass and modern architecture, so different from my old community college with its cramped classrooms and fluorescent lighting.

"Fair warning," Jade said as we climbed the stone steps. "The social hierarchy here is insane. There's this group that basically runs the campus. Sophie Martinez and her boyfriend Tyler Ross. Their families are major donors. The Martinez name is on the business school, and the Ross family funded the new athletic complex."

"Let me guess. We stay out of their way?"

"Exactly." Jade squeezed my arm. "Just keep your head down, focus on your grades, and we'll survive Sophomore year."

The hallway was chaos. Students clustered in groups, their laughter echoing off the high ceilings.

I noticed the way they dressed, the confidence that seemed to come so naturally to them. Nobody here had ever had to check their bank account before buying groceries or spend weeks stressing over how to cover rent and textbooks in the same month.

"Jade!"

A girl with perfectly straightened black hair waved at us from down the hall. Sophie Martinez, I assumed. She looked like she'd stepped out of a fashion magazine.

"Hey, Sophie." Jade's voice had changed, becoming lighter.

Sophie's eyes slid over me, assessing. "Is this the scholarship girl?"

The way she said "scholarship" made it sound like I'd admitted to working the graveyard shift at a gas station. I'd been on campus for less than an hour, and this girl had already secured the number one spot on my personal hate list.

"This is Elena Reyes," Jade said. "Elena, this is Sophie Martinez."

"Charming." Sophie's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Well, welcome to Westridge. I'm sure you'll find it very... educational." She emphasized the last word, then walked away.

"Don't mind her," Jade whispered. "She's harmless, mostly."

Mostly. That was reassuring. We found our first class, Introduction to Psychology, and settled into seats near the middle. Not too far back to seem like slackers, not too far forward to seem desperate. I was learning the unspoken rules already.

***

By lunch, my head was spinning with information about course requirements, study groups, and office hours. This was a different world entirely from my community college experience.

"Come on," Jade said, grabbing her bag. "I'll show you the student center. Word of advice, avoid the sushi. I don't care how fancy this school is, cafeteria sushi is still cafeteria sushi."

I followed her across the quad, trying not to gawk at the fountain in the center or the students lounging on perfectly maintained lawns with their laptops. My old school had concrete benches and a vending machine that only accepted exact change.

The student center was more like a food court. Multiple stations offering everything from Asian fusion to organic salads. I stared at the prices and did quick math in my head. One meal here cost more than I usually spent on food for an entire day.

"You okay?" Jade asked, noticing my hesitation.

"Yeah, just... processing."

She gave me a knowing look. "The scholarship covers meal credits. Most of us stretch them as far as we can." The word "us" made me feel less alone. There were others like me here, even if we were outnumbered.

We grabbed sandwiches and found a table near the windows. I was just starting to relax when I felt that prickling sensation of being watched.

I glanced up and my breath caught.

A guy stood in the doorway of the student center, scanning the room. Tall, dark hair that fell slightly into his eyes, wearing a leather jacket over a plain black t-shirt. He looked completely out of place among the preppy sweaters and designer athleisure, and completely unbothered by that fact.

His gaze looked past me, then snapped back. For just a moment, our eyes met.

I stared at his face, trying to place him. There was something familiar about him.

"Who is that?" I asked Jade, unable to look away.

She followed my gaze and her eyebrows shot up. "Oh, that's Damien Blake. He transferred here last semester but barely shows up to class. I think he's only attended maybe three lectures total in each course."

Blake. That name name sounds freaking familiar.

"Blake?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. "As in the Blake family?"

Jade nodded, taking a bite of her food. "Yeah, old money. His family owns half the real estate in the city. Why? Do you know them?"

I couldn't answer. My mind was spinning back five years, to our old apartment, to my mother coming home exhausted every night in her housekeeping uniform. To the rare occasions when she'd take me with her to work because I had no one to watch me.

The Blake mansion. Mrs. Blake's wicked cold eyes. And a teenage boy who'd looked right through me like I was invisible.

My mother had worked for the Blake family as their housekeeper for three years before she got sick.

And if there was one thing, or rather, one person, I hated in this world, it was Damien Blake.

"Elena?" Jade's voice pulled me back. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I'm fine," I managed, but I kept watching as Damien disappeared from the doorway. "Just... surprised, that's all."

***

The afternoon lectures blended together until I couldn't tell one class from the next.

I couldn't focus, couldn't stop thinking about those years when my mother would come home with stories about the Blake family. How demanding they were. How cold. How young Damien would leave messes everywhere and never once say thank you.

By the time my last class ended, I'd made a decision. I needed to know if he remembered me.

I was crossing the student center when I heard that familiar voice.

"Well, if it isn't the ghost student himself."

I slowed my pace, recognizing Tyler Ross's voice. He stood near the coffee bar with two of his friends, all of them in matching Greek letters. Damien was at the counter, waiting for his order, looking completely uninterested in the conversation.

"Ross," Damien acknowledged without turning around.

Tyler moved closer, his voice loud enough to draw attention. "You know, it's fascinating. Some of us actually have to maintain a GPA to stay here. But I guess when your family donates enough, academic standards become... flexible."

A few students nearby had stopped to watch. This was entertainment for them.

Damien finally turned, his expression bored. "Is there a point to this?"

Tyler's jaw tightened. "The point is, you're taking a spot that could have gone to someone who actually wants to be here."

"Noted." Damien picked up his coffee from the counter. "Anything else?"

The dismissal was clear. Tyler's face flushed red, but Sophie appeared at his elbow, placing a hand on his arm.

"Tyler, come on. He's not worth it."

As they walked away, I found myself moving forward before I could think better of it. Damien was heading toward the exit, and this might be my only chance.

"Damien Blake," I called out.

He stopped, turned slowly. Up close, the recognition was even stronger. Those eyes. I'd seen them before.

"Do you remember me?" The words came out before I could stop them.

He stared at me, his expression unreadable. Several students had turned to watch us, curious.

My mouth went dry. I wanted to say it. My mother worked as your personal housekeeper. Maria Reyes.

But I couldn't, not with everyone watching.

Instead, I stuck out my hand, forcing brightness into my voice. "Elena. Elena Reyes. We met... a long time ago."

He didn't take my hand. Just looked at it like it was something distasteful. The seconds stretched out, awkward and painful, until I dropped my arm.

Then, deliberately, Damien pulled a small bottle of hand sanitizer from his pocket. He squeezed some into his palm and rubbed his hands together slowly, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I make it a point not to touch things I'm not sure are clean," he said coldly.

The words landed like a slap. Around us, a few people snickered.

"Have we met before?" he asked, slipping the sanitizer back into his pocket.

"Yes," I said, lifting my chin despite the heat burning in my cheeks. "Five years ago."

His eyes narrowed slightly, studying my face.

"No," he said simply. "I don't associate with people like you. I think you have me confused with someone else."

People like you? The words echoed in my head as he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there with my hand still tingling from where I'd almost touched him.

Around me, the whispers started. I caught fragments of conversation. The scholarship girl who'd tried to claim she knew Damien Blake. Who did she think she was?

Jade appeared at my side. "Elena, what was that about?"

I couldn't answer. My throat was too tight.

He remembered. I was sure of it. He knew exactly who I was.

Damien Blake was exactly the kind of person I'd thought he was five years ago when I'd watched him from the corners of his family's mansion.

So wrapped up in his privilege that people like my mother and me didn't even register as human.

I headed toward the pathway that led to the freshman dorms, my mind replaying the scene over and over.

I wanted to disappear. To pack my things and go back to my small apartment and forget I'd ever thought I could belong in a place like this.

But I didn't survive losing my mother and clawing my way here just to let Damien Blake make me feel small.

I was halfway across the quad when I heard my name.

"Elena."

My entire body went rigid. That was his voice.

I stopped walking but didn't turn around. My heart hammered against my ribs.

Footsteps approached from behind, until I could feel him standing just a few feet away.