The Widower

CHAPTER 1

“When we believe we’ve reached our limit, hope finds a way to rise again…”

ISABELLE CAMPBELL

I walked nervously toward an employment agency near my house. After stumbling upon that online ad, I needed to see with my own eyes if it was really “all that.”

A few days ago, while browsing job listings online, I came across an opening that seemed too good to be true—the pay was at least five times higher than usual. I filled out my information, and about an hour later, I got a call scheduling an interview for today.

Being a single mother in Miami isn’t easy. Expenses pile up fast, and since I have both my daughter and my mother to support, I often end up feeling overwhelmed.

My dream had always been to study architecture, but since I became a mother so young—and Hanna’s father walked out on us—I faced more than my share of hardships.

That dream had to wait. I’ve always been a dreamer and a fighter, but right now, survival takes priority. My daughter comes first, so I’ve put aside what I want most to focus on giving her the chance to grow up into an independent woman.

I was already in the small office lobby, waiting to be called in. I’d called earlier to get some information, but they told me next to nothing.

I’m unemployed, which is reason enough to reinvent myself and take whatever odd jobs I can find around the city. But after seeing this particular job posting, I couldn’t resist finding out more.

Once my name was called, I walked into the office with quick, determined steps. A gray-haired woman wearing red glasses was sitting behind a desk, reviewing some papers.

When she noticed me, she looked me over from head to toe and gestured for me to sit. I offered a polite smile before taking the seat across from her.

“Isabelle Campbell…” She picked up one of the sheets. “My name’s Helena. I see you’re interested in the position.”

“Yes. Very much.”

Our short phone conversation had been about that, but I hadn’t gotten many details—probably because I hadn’t spoken directly with her.

“Well, the job basically consists of being responsible for a household and whoever lives in it. I know my assistant didn’t explain everything over the phone, so I’m here to clarify your questions.”

“What exactly would I have to do?”

“By accepting the offer, you’d be the housekeeper—so to speak. Or as Colin likes to put it, you’d be the do-it-all. Literally everything, except for cooking his lunch and dinner. And the sooner you start, the better.”

Why does she talk as if the job is already mine?

“Aren’t you going to do an actual interview? You don’t even know me, and—”

“Isabelle Campbell…” she interrupted, picking up the same sheet where she’d read my name seconds earlier.

“Twenty-three years old. Single mother. Lives on Collins Avenue, number 6784. Worked at a restaurant called Garby’s for a year, then as a nanny for the Rogers family after the restaurant closed.

When they moved out of town, you were unemployed for three months and…

”—she looked up from the paper—“…are now sitting right in front of me.”

How does this woman know all that?

“I’m confused. I didn’t give you any personal information, just my first and last name. How can you know so much?”

“Sweetheart, I don’t think you realize what kind of job you’re applying for, so let me help you out.” She fixed me with a sharp, hazel-eyed stare. “For the salary that was offered, the person needs to be trustworthy.”

“You have my personal details, but that doesn’t tell you whether I’m trustworthy,” I argued.

“Wrong again.” A satisfied smile curved her lips. “I called the owner of the diner where you worked—and the Rogers family too. You came highly recommended. I know everything about your life, sweetheart.”

I studied her carefully, intrigued. Part of me felt spied on, yet oddly amused—and surprised.

“Youtalk as if I’ve already been hired.”

“Basically. All you have to do is say yes.” She crossed her arms and smiled.

This is so weird...

I’ve never seen such a high salary attached to such an easy interview. Honestly, I want to ask a dozen questions, but I’m afraid of messing up something that seems to be going so right. This whole conversation feels… off.

If I can even call this an interview.

“Why is it so easy? Tell me.”

“I’ll put it this way—it’s easy because it’s hard. Simple as that. No one’s managed to last in this job, and I really hope you’ll be the exception.”

“I need to know anything personal about this Colin guy?”

Her expression shifted in an instant. It startled me—she suddenly looked at me with a kind of tender sympathy.

“Yes.” Her eyes dimmed with sadness. “He lost his wife and daughter in a car accident about a year ago.”

“My God.” My eyes flew wide, the weight of her words hitting hard.

“Colin doesn’t talk about it, and after the accident he shut down. He was always serious, charismatic, grounded… but now it’s like the best part of him is gone, and nothing makes sense anymore, except…”

“Except…?” I leaned in.

“Joshua. His son. He’ll be one of your responsibilities if you take the job.”

“I see.”

“Even so, Colin’s pulled away from him. Don’t try to understand him, Isabelle.

” She paused for a breath, staring at nothing.

“One rule: don’t ask about his past. If you want to keep the job, do your best to ignore Colin.

Not a single one of the ten women I hired lasted even a month helping him.

You came highly recommended—that’s why I’m trusting you might be different from the others.

I just need you not to do anything reckless.

Colin would fire you for a side-eye, and I’m tired of trying to find people for this job. ”

“Why do you care so much about him?” I asked, because she didn’t sound like just some woman who worked at an agency. The way she talked about him was different; it caught my attention. I had no doubt about that.

“He’s my friend. He was. I’m not even sure how to say it now.” She dropped her gaze. “My husband and I were very close with Colin and Jennifer, his late wife. After he lost her… everything changed, and the only contact we’ve kept is this—finding women to look after his house.”

“I understand.”

A few seconds of silence settled over the tiny room, and for the first time I noticed she was uncomfortable. I stayed a little on edge, because I hadn’t imagined our conversation would take this turn.

“Let’s get to the point.” She laced her fingers and focused on me again. “In short, Colin will be insensitive, rude, moody, cruel, petty, and a bunch of other ‘lovely adjectives’ I’m forgetting.” She hesitated, reconsidering. “A tyrant, sweetheart. No… that’s too kind.”

I eyed Helena, unsettled. After everything I’d heard, she was doing the exact opposite of what I expected. Instead of praising her supposed friend, she seemed intent on tearing him down.

“Is that supposed to be encouraging?”

“I’m being realistic. Colin is a miserable man who barely cares about anything anymore. And believe it or not, he told me himself to spell out his ‘qualities’ to anyone applying for the job. At least he’s honest enough to admit he’s unbearable.”

I was intrigued and a little wary. Hearing all this was strange.

I’d thought it was a normal position, but clearly there was nothing normal about it—starting with a salary five times the market rate. Was that really just to compensate for his bad temper and everything that came with it?

It couldn’t be only that…

“There’s no way he’s that impossible,” I said carefully, and she leaned forward with a smile.

“Let’s just say the devil came up for a stroll on earth and decided to settle here. That’s Colin—straight from the worst corner of hell. And yet, I still call him my friend, for the record.”

“He’s really that difficult?” I let out a low, nervous laugh.

“Sweetheart, believe me when I say I’d rather meet Lucifer himself than Colin.” She twirled her pen, studying me. “So I’ll ask you again—are you really willing to take this job?”

My bills don’t pay themselves, and I’m in a tight spot. I didn’t hesitate.

“Yes, I’ll take it.”

I stood to leave her tiny office, but Helena’s voice stopped me.

“Just so you know… he’s the famous Colin Adams.”

I spun around, surprised. He was the most renowned architect in the city, and I’d admired his work for years. From what I’d found online, he kept his life extremely private, and the tragedy had been quietly buried by the press at the time.

“All right.”

“I hope that doesn’t influence how you do your job,” she said. “My secretary will be waiting outside to handle the remaining details.”

“It won’t. Thank you for the opportunity,” I replied, resolute.

After leaving the room, I tried to dredge up everything I knew about Colin Adams…

When I got home, I found Hanna, my daughter, sitting in the living room, drawing, while my mom was cooking lunch. I knelt down beside her, looked into her bright blue eyes full of hope, and shared the good news.

“I’ve got something to tell you, sunshine.”

“What is it, Mommy?”

“I got a job.”

“Yay!”

I pulled her into a tight hug. She knew how much the word job meant to me—we talked about it all the time. Even though she’d just turned five last month, Hanna was smart about certain things. She understood more than most kids her age.

“I’m gonna talk to Grandma for a bit, okay? I’ll be right back so we can color together.”

“Mm-hm.”

I walked over to my mom and hugged her tight. Her name’s Elisa, and she’s fifty-five. She’s been working since she was fifteen and genuinely loves what she does. I owe her everything. She’s been there for me for as long as I can remember—holding it all together when I couldn’t see any way forward.

“Looks like someone’s happy,” she said with a warm smile as she tidied up the kitchen.

“I am. I went to check out that job offer, and it’s all legit. The salary is exactly what they said, and I got the position.”

“Congratulations, sweetheart.” Her face instantly lit up.

“We both know things have been tough lately, and…”

I couldn’t finish the sentence. The memory hit me hard—those days when we’d skip meals so Hanna could eat. My eyes filled with tears, and I shook my head, trying to push the thought away.

“Sweetheart…”

“I never want to see Hanna ask for food again and have nothing to give her. That’s unacceptable to me as a mother. I feel like I failed her.”

My mom works part-time as a house cleaner. We live together and share expenses. I can’t even describe how much her help means to me—without her, I’d be lost.

After the Rogers family moved away a few months ago, I’d been unemployed. I started helping my mom with cleaning jobs whenever I could bring Hanna along, though that didn’t happen often.

“Don’t blame yourself, sweetheart.” She rested a hand on my shoulder. “You couldn’t have known Rudolph would leave before the wedding.”

“But he did leave.”

“Your life will get better. You just have to have faith, my angel.”

Deep down, I wanted to believe her. And maybe I did—just a little. But I was still scared of where my life was headed.