Chapter Text
One
Everyone Thinks That We Are Perfect (Won’t Let Them Peek Through The Curtains)
The hot, dirty air of Los Angeles hit Louis de Pointe du Lac as soon as he stepped out of the bus, his suitcase clutched tightly in his hand. The city buzzed with life—honking cars, the murmur of passing crowds, and the faint scent of street food mingling with exhaust fumes, all so different from New Orleans. His home, or what used to be his home.
Los Angeles. A fresh start.
He had no money, no plan, and no backup. His mother’s harsh words still rang in his ears: “If you choose that lifestyle, you’re no longer part of this family.” Now, here he was, standing on the sun-bleached pavement with a suitcase of clothes, a few art supplies, and a sketchpad filled with dreams. He was finally free, but, well, freedom came with a price.
He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to meet the wide grin of his best friend. "You look like you're ready to collapse," said Lily, her black eyes twinkling from behind oversized sunglasses. "Come on," she said, looping her arm through his. "Let’s get you home."
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Lily’s apartment wasn’t much—a cramped one-bedroom in Koreatown, with walls adorned by vintage band posters and racks of clothing samples from her store, which she still ran despite its barely surviving status. A folding screen separated her bed from the living room, where a futon served as Louis’ temporary bed. A sewing machine sat in one corner, surrounded by fabric swatches, and every available surface seemed to be covered in half-drunk cups of coffee.
"Welcome to paradise," Lily joked as they walked in. "You can dump your stuff anywhere."
Louis dropped his suitcase by the futon and sank onto it with a heavy sigh. “I can’t believe I’m here. It feels like a dream.”
“Dreams are great, but you’ve gotta hustle to make them happen in this city,” she said, squeezing his hand. “But, at least you’re in the right place. We’ll figure it out. I promise.”
Weeks passed, and every morning, he scoured job listings, sending out resumes to galleries, art stores, and even framing shops. But the art world was tough, especially when you had no connections and an empty wallet. The rejections piled up as the days turned into nights of restless tossing on the futon. He hated mooching off Lily, especially seeing as she was not financially stable. She always shushed him when he brought that up, but he still felt guilty.
He hadn’t expected this to be easy. But it still sucked.
At least the futon wasn’t uncomfortable.
The sun had long dipped below the horizon when Louis pushed open the front door of Lily's apartment and walked in after his afternoon of volunteering at the animal shelter. When he rounded the corner, Lily was on the couch, her legs tucked under her, while Jonah sat on the armrest beside her. Jonah was tall, and broad-shouldered, with a deep laugh and a kind of quiet confidence that came from never having to hide who he was to be accepted by his family. Louis envied him.
“Hey, Lou!” Lily called out when she saw him. "How was the shelter today?"
Louis forced a smile as he dropped his backpack by the door. “Same as always. Cute dogs, lots of cleaning. No luck with anything else, though.”
Jonah gave him a sympathetic nod. “That sucks, man. The job market’s brutal out there.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. But at least the volunteering keeps me busy.”
Lily and Jonah exchanged a look, one that Louis didn’t miss. He furrowed his brow. “What’s up?”
“We might have a lead for you—on a job.”
Louis raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Yeah,” Lily said. “It’s with Miss Antoinette Brown. You know, the socialite? Used to be an opera singer. Now she owns the Brown Opera House.”
Louis hadn’t heard of her. He supposed he could do a quick Google search later if she was that popular.
“She’s looking for live-in male staff,” Lily continued. “Cleaning, laundry, running errands. Stuff like that.”
“She laid off all her female staff a few days ago. Our friend Bricktop was one of them. Lives up in Beverly Hills with her husband and daughter. They’re kind of a lot, but the pay is solid.”
Louis frowned. “Why did she lay off all the women?”
Jonah shrugged. “Rumor is she thinks men are more ‘efficient’ for those kinds of jobs. She’s looking to fill the roles fast.” Okay, that made absolutely no sense, whatsoever, seeing as women were more likely to hire female help and not houseboys, even without Jonah’s mouth tightening in a way that suggested he knew more than he was saying, but Louis decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
“Jonah works for them, so he can put in a good word,” Lily continued. “You’d have a room there, which means you could move out of here and save on rent. It’s not your dream job, I know, but the money is good.”
“I don’t know if I’m that good at domestic work, I mean, at least not working-for-rich-people kind of good.”
Lily laughed. “Louis, your perfect tuck is to die for. You already know that. And the apartment has been so clean these past months, I’ve almost been afraid to step foot in it.”
“It’s true. I haven’t seen a single rat since you started living here. That’s why I come around more these days.”
“Hey!” Lily yelled in mock outrage, while Jonah and Louis laughed. “And here I thought you were coming around more ‘cause Louis was here.” She winked.
Louis blushed, and Jonah chuckled and shook his head. “She’s right though. Bout the work. It’s not that hard, trust me. And the pay is good. More than you’d make doing temp work or even gallery jobs, if you could find one.”
Well, it wasn’t like he had a choice. “Jonah, do you think she’d consider me for the job?”
Jonah nodded. “Absolutely. You’ve got a good attitude, you’re polite, young, and good-looking, and honestly? She’s desperate to fill those positions. These rich white people can’t do anything on their own, you know? Her temper has been short as hell, these past few days, so if you pass the veto, which I am most certain you will, it would finally get her off our backs. I can get you an interview with her soon if you’re interested.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll do it. Let’s set up the interview. It’s not like I have anything to lose.”
Lily clapped her hands in excitement.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
The next morning started as usual. Louis spent the morning tidying up while Lily was at her clothing store, doing little things like folding laundry and wiping down the counters. He liked keeping busy—it helped distract him from…well, everything.
While washing a few dishes in the small, cluttered kitchen, his phone buzzed on the table. Wiping his hands quickly on a towel, he grabbed it.
Jonah.
“Hey,” Louis answered, trying to sound casual.
“Louis, my man! Got some news for you,” Jonah’s deep voice came through the line, laced with amusement.
“What’s up?” Louis asked, holding his breath.
“Miss Brown wants to see you as soon as possible,” Jonah said. “She’s eager to fill those positions, and she’s impressed with your references—well, mainly me, but that’s beside the point.”
“Seriously? She already wants to meet?”
“Yup. I’ll pick you up super early tomorrow morning before I head into work. Don’t sweat it too much. She’s... a bit intense, but you’ll be fine.”
Louis leaned against the counter, exhaling furiously. He glanced at the clock—it was only noon. The interview was less than 24 hours away. “Wait, what should I wear? I don’t have anything... fancy.”
Jonah chuckled. “Don’t worry about all that. Miss Brown’s more interested in how hard you’re willing to work, not how polished you look. But if it makes you feel better, just wear something comfortable and neat. You don’t need to dress like you’re going to the opera.”
“Comfortable and neat? That’s easy for you to say. You’ve got a closet full of nice stuff, and you look good in all of 'em.”
“Do I now?” Jonah teased, laughter in his voice.
Louis rolled his eyes but couldn’t help grinning. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
“I’m serious though,” Jonah continued, “You’ve got nothing to worry about. I’ll make sure you look sharp enough for the job. Plus, you’ll have plenty of time to charm her once you’re there.”
Louis’ smile faltered as the nerves settled back in. “You’re sure I’ll be okay?”
“I wouldn’t set you up for this if I thought you couldn’t handle it,” Jonah said, his voice softening. “You’ve got this, Louis. Trust me. Just be yourself, show her you’re reliable, and you’ll be golden.”
Louis exhaled slowly, nodding to himself. “Okay. Thanks, Jonah. Seriously.”
“No problem. I’ll be by at six sharp tomorrow morning, so get some rest tonight. And don’t overthink it.”
Louis hung up and set the phone down on the counter, and glanced down at his clothes, wondering what in his closet could count as "comfortable and neat."
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
The early morning sun was already bright by the time Jonah pulled up in front of the sprawling Beverly Hills mansion. Louis sat in the passenger seat, eyes wide as he took in the sight of the ornate gates, the lush hedges, and the grand facade of the estate. He’d never seen anything like it, even in his most vivid dreams of success. His fingers played nervously with the hem of his shirt.
“This place is... huge,” Louis muttered, feeling a knot of anxiety tightening in his chest.
Jonah shot him a sideways glance and smiled reassuringly. “Yeah, it’s big. But don’t let that freak you out. Miss Brown is... well, she’s a character, but you’ll be fine.”
They parked, and Jonah led him up the winding path past the cupid fountain in the center to the front door, which opened almost immediately after they knocked. Mrs. London, the house’s old cook, greeted them with a warm but tired smile.
“Jonah,” she greeted with a nod, then glanced at Louis. “And this must be Mr. du Lac?”
“That’s right,” Jonah said, clapping Louis on the back lightly. “This is Louis. Louis, this is Mrs. London.”
“I’ll let her know you’re here. Wait in the living room.”
She disappeared up a grand staircase, leaving Louis and Jonah standing in the vast, elegantly furnished living room. It was like something out of a classic movie—rich wooden furniture, plush velvet couches, and a chandelier that sparkled even in the daylight.
Louis shifted on his feet, looking around, trying to take in everything all at once, until his eyes were drawn to a small collection of family photos on the mantel. He stepped closer, curiosity piqued. In the first frame, he saw a regal-looking woman with brunette hair and sharp features, her expression confident. Miss Brown, he assumed. Standing next to her, with his arm around her shoulders, was a blond man with striking blue eyes and a warm smile. Her husband—a brown-skinned young girl with a wide, carefree grin. Her dark hair was braided into little pigtails, and her eyes sparkled with an innocent joy that seemed almost out of place in such a lavish home. Louis found himself smiling.
Then, his gaze shifted back to the blond man. He was handsome—gorgeous, even. That smile, those blue eyes, the way he carried himself in the photograph... Louis swallowed as a lick of heat curled in his belly. He couldn’t help but stare at those lips, imagining—
“Miss Brown will see you now,” a voice interrupted his thoughts.
Louis jumped slightly, turning to see Mrs. London descending the stairs. Jonah smirked, clearly noticing the way Louis had been lost in the picture, but said nothing. Louis shot him a glare as Mrs. London added, “Jonah, Miss Brown says you’re dismissed for the day.”
Jonah’s expression soured for a second, but he quickly masked it with a polite smile. “Good luck, Louis,” he said, clapping him on the shoulder one last time. “I’ll be rooting for you.”
He was not prepared to handle this on his own, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it, though, because a moment later, Miss Antoinette Brown swept down the stairs like a shark gliding through water, clad in a purple dressing robe. Her green eyes, sharp and calculating, locked onto Louis immediately, and she smiled—a smile that was all teeth, predatory.
"Mr. du Lac," she purred, extending her hand to him with a slow, deliberate movement. Louis shook it, feeling the uncomfortable chill of her cool fingers. "What a pleasure to meet you."
Louis swallowed hard, feeling a knot of discomfort in his throat. Her entire demeanor reminded him of the biblical story of Potiphar’s wife, and he prayed this situation wouldn’t spiral into anything like that.
"Please, sit," she gestured to a large chair. Louis obeyed, trying not to let his nerves show. Miss Brown sat across from him, crossing her legs elegantly and folding her hands in her lap. She studied him for a long moment, her gaze appraising.
"So," she began, "tell me about yourself, Mr. du Lac. Why do you want to work here?"
Louis cleared his throat, trying to push past the unnerving energy she exuded. "Well, ma'am," he started, "I’ve been in Los Angeles for a while now, trying to find steady work while pursuing my dream of one day opening an art gallery. I’m a hard worker, and I think I could help around the house with any tasks you need."
"An art gallery, you say? How... artistic." She leaned forward slightly, her voice lowering as she spoke. "I’ll be honest with you, Mr. du Lac. The reason I’m only hiring men is because I’ve had... issues with inappropriate behavior from my female staff in the past. Certain... incidents that I won’t go into detail about. I trust that won’t be a problem with you?”
Louis’ heart raced as he forced a smile. "No, ma'am. I’m strictly professional."
" Well, not too professional,” She laughed. “But good. That’s what I like to hear." She went quiet for a moment as Mrs London walked in with a tray of refreshments. She gestured to him to have some of the scones, which he did. After a moment, she continued, pulling out a file from God knows where and getting to work on her nails. “Jonah has been with us a while, and we trust him, and you came highly recommended by him, so I will be extending the benefit of the doubt to you. You will be doing most of the cleaning, attending to my daughter, and running errands. You will have a room here and meals, of course, and you can have the weekend off, seeing as we are rarely home on weekends. My assistant will send you a list of errands you’ll have to run daily. I expect you to be on your feet.”
“Yes, ma’am. Um…how much will you be paying, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“950 dollars per week. My assistant will venmo you.”
Louis tried not to choke. “O…okay.”
“Well then, you’re hired. You can bring your things and join us for dinner on Wednesday, so you can meet my husband and daughter. If there is any reason you’ll have to pull out, do it before then, otherwise it gets dreadfully inconvenient for me. And that would not bode well for you. You’re dismissed.” She got off the chair and started back up the stairs.
Just like that? “Wait—ma’am, should you not…um, talk to your husband first?”
She waved dismissively. “This is my house.”
The fuck? Well, it was none of his business. Turning around, he hurried out the way he came to meet Jonah and phone Lily. He had good news to share.