Write a short story about a person who discovers a hidden room in their house. The story should include a plot twist and a clear resolution at the end.


Joelle bought a new house in her dream neighborhood nestled in the hills. The house was very old but beautiful and the perfect setting for Joelle to live the quiet life she was wishing for. She worked at the same busy job for 50 years and needed somewhere gentle for retirement. The day she moved in she brought all her things from her apartment and her old cat named Trixi. When Trixi explored the house, she searched each room on the bottom floor but wouldn't walk up the stairs to the second floor. Joelle assumed it was due to her old age and didn't force Trixi up the stairs. Then one day, Joelle came home from the store and couldn't find Trixi anywhere, she was shocked. She ran around the bottom floor of the house and eventually went upstairs to her bedroom defeated. She tripped over a loose blank in the floor and suddenly a trap door opened and she pummeled into darkness. Joelle was shocked and when her eyes adjusted she realized the trap door led to a secret staircase in the house. The staircase led to an old wine cellar. That turned out to be the best day of Joelle's life because she was able to auction off all the old wine bottles and artifacts and make millions of dollars.