They found themselves in a deciduous forest where every space shimmered with golden, red, and orange hues. When the sun's rays penetrated through the leaves, it seemed as if the forest was engulfed in flames. The road, scattered with fallen leaves, created a soft carpeted path, and the car slid easily along it. With a gentle breeze, the leaves fell onto the road like golden droplets, dancing in a waltz. Their slow descent created a feeling as if time had slowed down, and she felt tranquility and serenity.

They drove deep into the forest until they stopped at a small stone gatekeeper's house. At the entrance, she was greeted by an elderly man. Despite his age, his posture expressed resilience and self-confidence. His gray hair was neatly combed, and his eyes, filled with wisdom, reflected the experience of many years of service. The black-and-white formal suit was impeccable.

"Hello, Miss Maria. I'm Sir Thomas, the butler. Today, I will conduct the interview with you," the man said with a courteous smile. "Please, follow me." With these words, he opened the massive wooden door of the house.

Maria entered a small room. All the walls of the room were lined with natural stone, but thanks to large windows, the room was well-lit. The room's decor was minimalist: a massive oak desk, a pair of cozy chairs in front of it, a carpet, a fireplace on the opposite side of the desk, and flowers adding a lively touch to the interior.

Seating herself at the desk, the butler looked at her resume, neatly placed on his desk. Without lifting his head, he began the conversation.

"As a rule, I am very meticulous in selecting staff, and they undergo extensive training before being allowed to work in the house. However, the situation is urgent now, and I don't have the time for a lengthy selection process," he said, shifting his gaze to Maria. After a pause, he continued, "I understand that finding an ideal candidate in such a short time is impossible, so the main criterion for me is experience working with works of art. Do you have such experience?"

Maria was taken aback. It seemed to her that all this was happening not to her. "Lord, Maria, it's just a part-time job, relax. If it doesn't work out with this one, you'll find another. But what if you don't?" she thought to herself. She shook her head and replied briefly, "Yes, I do," then added, "I was born with a brush in my hand and graduated from an art school with a major in Restoration."

"That's good," Sir Thomas said with a satisfied look. "All the duties of the housemaid, who is currently absent, have been distributed among other staff members. However, it's impossible to distribute the entire workload, so we left a less responsible but still important job for the temporary employee. The duties will include cleaning the rooms in the east wing of the estate. It's the guest wing, but there are rarely any guests there. Nevertheless, we must be ready to welcome them at any time, so everything must be impeccable. Regarding any questions, the servant can only address me or the head housemaid."

He fell silent. Maria didn't know what to say, so she just nodded in understanding.

"All servants," he continued, "must be like ghosts. They shouldn't be seen or heard. Since the master comes very late and leaves early, you're unlikely to encounter him. However, if it happens, you must stop working and, bowing your head, stand like that until he leaves or tells you to leave the room."

"How strict everything is here," thought the girl. "Will I be able to handle it?"

As if reading the thoughts on her face, the butler took a sheet of paper, wrote something on it, and handed it to Maria. "This is the amount of remuneration that will be paid to you at the end of the month." Maria took the sheet and looked at it. Her eyes widened, and her jaw seemed to drop to the floor. This amount of money would cover all her debts and even provide for a modest life for the next six months. She had no more doubts or questions.

"I hope you understand that such money is paid not only for work but also for confidentiality," the butler asked with a serious tone, looking her in the eyes.

Maria was touched by his question. "I'm not talkative!" she raised her chin slightly and said with a chill in her voice.

"Good," he replied, ignoring her tone. "And here's something else," Thomas added. "On the last day of work, before leaving the house, each servant comes to the master's office for a personal meeting."

"I understand, sir," she said, not attaching much importance to his last words.

"In that case, we will inform you of our decision and, if necessary, send all further instructions to you by mail."

With these words, he stood up and escorted her to the exit.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Maria. Goodbye," he said, nodding slightly.

"Goodbye," she replied.