The Butler: A Novel by Danielle Steel

In Danielle Steel's novel, two lives intersect in Paris, bringing together Joachim von Hartmann and Olivia White. Joachim, raised in Buenos Aires, becomes a butler in England while his twin, Javier, disappears into a dark world. Olivia, having lost her dreams with her failed magazine, inherits a chance to reinvent herself in Paris.

Their paths cross when Olivia hires Joachim to help set up her Parisian apartment. What starts as a temporary arrangement becomes a lasting bond as they enjoy working together. As their friendship deepens, Joachim learns of his family's troubled past, including a criminal grandfather and a wealthy but absent father. Meanwhile, Olivia grapples with her own struggles and the need to rebuild her life.

Together, Joachim and Olivia navigate their newfound roles and explore the truths about themselves and each other. They find solace in the present, leaving behind the burdens of their pasts. As employer and employee evolve into friends, they discover that the only truth that matters is the life they are living now, forging a new path forward.