CHAPTER 1

In the Luis' mansion, several maids were in the living room filled with guests and setting up a birthday party for Derrick Luis, the only son of the Luis family.

"Miranda, get the drinks from the fridge," Lady Loretta instructed. She was the matriarch of the mansion, and it was her only son's birthday.

"Okay, Ma," Miranda replied. She was a 22-year-old woman, wearing a pink dress and black shoes. It was past 6 pm when she assisted the maids in serving the guests drinks.

Many guests were already present in the Luis family mansion; among them were business partners and their family members, but the birthday boy wasn't at home.

Far away at a multimillion-dollar firm, Derrick Luis, a 25-year-old man, was still at his office when his mobile rang out.

"Hello, Mother," he picked up the call, and his mother said, "Derrick, you know that today is your birthday. So where are you?"

Looking at his wristwatch, Derrick observed it was already 6 p.m. He replied, "I am in my office, mom. What's wrong?"

"Come home quickly. It's your 25th birthday, and we did a lot just to make today a special moment to mark your new age."

"Hmm, I am not interested in birthday parties, Mom. Why can't you understand my priorities?" Derrick complained, and his mother responded sadly, "I understand. Please come home quickly before the guests start leaving. If I had known, you would stubbornly stay in the office until this time. I shouldn't have allowed you to go to work today, despite knowing that today is also your birthday."

"Mom, I cannot set work aside for a party. Who will look after my Dad's company?" Derrick demanded, and his mother replied, "You are right, but during your father's time, he never skipped home duties for work. He attended parties, or how do you think I met him?"

"Hmph," Derrick sighed and rolled his eyes at his mother's words. "Fine, Mother. I will be at home now," he said that, and the phone call ended.

"Controlling a multimillion-dollar company at my age, and my mother still wants me to prioritize parties over my work. What the heck!" Derrick mused, standing up from his office chair.

He shut down his computer, picked up his briefcase, and left his office elegantly.

When he arrived home in a brand new Prado Jeep, Derrick got out of the car as soon as his chauffeur parked.

He made his way to his family's mansion, hearing the sound of music in the air and frowned after seeing many guest cars parked inside his late father's estate.

"Hmph," Derrick sighed, arriving at the mansion's entrance. He rang the doorbell, and a maid pulled the door open.

"Welcome, Master Derrick," the pretty maid greeted him with a smile.

"Hmm," Derrick gazed sternly at the maid as he walked past her into the living room. He ignored responding to her greetings and was ushered by his mother, who was dressed in a blue dress and black shoes, in the living room, which was packed with guests.

"Welcome, son. Happy 25th birthday to you," Lady Loretta said.

"Happy birthday, Master Derrick!" The guests in the living room squealed, toasting to the new age of the young master.

"Thank you all," Derrick replied, wanting to retire to his bedroom to rest, but his mother stopped him with a gentle voice.

"Derrick, it's still your birthday celebration. Come cut your cake and make a wish."

Pausing at the staircase, Derrick glanced back at the faces of the guests. His seven elder sisters, who were married with children, and a few company staff.

Derrick wanted to protest that he was not a kid and didn't want a birthday party. However, he gulped down his protest as silence fell in the crowded hall.

He approached his cake that was placed in the center of the living room and sliced it in two. The guests beamed happily, clapping for him.

"Happy birthday, brother," his seven older sisters cheered him.

"Thank you all," Derrick replied.

"That's not all, Derrick. Make a wish." His mother urged him again.

"Oh, Mother. I am not a kid," Derrick finally protested, but his mother walked up to meet him as they were standing in the living room.

"No one said you're a kid, but you're still my baby, so make a wish," his mother pleaded with an assuring smile.

Not wanting to make his mother sad, Derrick wished for a long life, a happy family, and a prosperous business.

"Happy birthday to you again, Master Derrick; we wish you all the best," the guests squealed, praying for the young master, and they continued toasting, drinking, and chatting happily.

Derrick excused himself from the living room and went upstairs to his bedroom.

Meanwhile, among the maids was Miranda Luis. She had a crush on the house master. She was not the only one crushing on Derrick, but she couldn't take her eyes off him.

She openly gawked at his handsomeness.

"Too handsome for one person," Miranda thought.

She had observed Derrick; he seemed very hardworking.

He doesn't have time for women and is mostly focusing on his company affairs alone.

Derrick doesn't even have a girlfriend, and Miranda was dripping wet with arousal to get Derrick to notice her.

She was a poor girl and came from an orphanage home. After her years of serving the elite as a maid, Miranda wanted a better life. She did not want to return to poverty.

In the Luis villa, maids were expected to dress casually. There was no competition in the household as all the daughters of Lady Loretta Luis were married, including Derrick's immediate elder sister, Nicole Luis.

"Come on, Alexa. I want to introduce you to my brother. I fear he might be gay. Why won't he have a girlfriend at this age? Don't you find it weird?" Nicole spoke to her friend as she invited Alexa to Derrick's birthday.

Alexa works as a secretary at the Luis Group, and she would admit that she hadn't seen any young lady come to the office to visit Derrick.

"I don't think he's gay. Master Derrick is just too busy to notice any woman," Alexa replied. She wore a seductive red dress and black stilettos. She had arrived at the Luis mansion just after Derrick left the company.

Alexa Godwin was also interested in Derrick Luis. She wanted him because she was just 22 years old. She knows that having a husband like Derrick would mean she doesn't need to work much or suffer to feed herself, as his family's fortune is enough to cover all her lifetime expenses.

"What do you think of my brother, Alexa? Do you not have a crush on him? If my sisters haven't spoken to me about introducing you to Derrick to work as his new secretary after my leave, do you think I accepted you based on friendship alone? Come now." Nicole grabbed Alexa's hand and led her to the top floor, where there were no guests.

Alexa felt nervous. For a year, she had been working as Derrick's secretary based on Nicole's influence. She hasn't dared to cross the line or tried to get Derrick's attention. He was aloof and mean, and she feared what he would do to her if she dared to cross his boundaries.