AdaI’ve never really had an enemy before, so this whole experience with Sheila is very new to me. Of course, there’s Reynold Loxley, but he’s never been an active enemy, if that makes sense. I’ve never looked the man in the eyes in my life. I’ve hated him from a distance, so it’s different to what I’m experiencing now with this delusional woman who somehow thinks I’m going to steal her opportunity to be Maximilian Loxley’s wife. At least, that’s the impression I have of her. She’s a bit on the crazy side, and although I find it concerning, life has taught me that it’s the people you’re less concerned about that are the problem. I can’t see how she would jeopardize my future here. Plus, what were my options, exactly? Playing along with her? Promising her that I’d do as she says?Nope. Not an option. So, I keep my head low and try not to be too excited about the fact that I’ll be cleaning the office today. I could find some valuable information that could help me uncover the truth.
Ada “Go on,” Sheila taunts when she sees my clenched fist by my side. “Hit me. See if you won’t fired for misconduct.”“You stupid bitch,” I hiss. “You tripped me.”“This is only a taste of what’s going to happen to you if you insist on challenging me,” she claims. Shamelessly. She’s so damn shameless. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone like her in all my life. “You little—”“What’s going on?” Mrs. Danes asks as she heads toward us. “What happened?”Sheila turns around and tells her, “Naomi fell, Mrs. Danes. The poor thing.”“Are you alright?” Mrs. Danes asks me as she assesses the damage. There’s some food on the floor, but most of it’s on the tray, so that’s that. “Yes,” I answer while I make eye contact with Sheila. “Just fine. I’ll clean this mess right up.”Sheila smiles, and I realize that I have yet another person in this house who might prove to be problematic for me. I have to get rid of her. There’s no predicting what she could do, and I won’t risk my stay here. I’ve don
Maximilian I glance at the time on my watch and ignore the urge I have to groan in frustration. The party has only just started and I’m bored beyond belief. I hate such events, and the worst part is that the announcement of my succession will only be made in three hours. Rebecca and Edmund are having the time of their lives. They love these kinds of events; they thrive in this kind of environment. I, on the other hand, have never been the social butterfly. If anything, I’m on the antisocial side.I feel a tap on my shoulder and then hear Kelly’s voice before I see her face. “Max! You look so handsome! Did you miss me?”“Not really,” I joke before I take her hand in mine. Kelly is holding her mask on her left hand along with her clutch. I go ahead and remove the stupid shit from my face, too. “How was Paris?” I ask.“Oh, just great!” she exclaims. “I have to say that our fashion show went incredibly well, though I really wish you’d made it to my debut.”“Couldn’t,” I say simply. “W
AdaThe sight of Rebecca Loxley-Manney waving me over makes me look away from her brother, and I approach the group, but not without feeling my stomach turning from my nerves. A party like this is way out of my comfort zone, but of course, I couldn't say no to their invitation or chicken out, especially when they were kind enough to send me this dress. It’s absolutely stunning, and I don’t think I’ve ever owned a prettier dress. It suits my dark features so well, too, and I love this shade of purple. I walk toward them steadily in my high heels, and am pleased to see that Maximilian Loxley has finally looked away. He can’t hide his disdain for a second. I don’t even know how he managed to recognize me with my mask on. I skip it over my head when I get closer to them, and Rebecca looks me up and down appreciatively. “Wow. This dress is so beautiful!”“Thank you,” I say sheepishly, wondering if I should say something now about her being kind enough to get it for me or if I should wa
Ada The doors are still swinging when I approach them, and I hold the left one and slip inside the room through the gap of the doors. I was right when I assumed that it was a storage room. I see a whole bunch of crates filled with wine and champagne bottles as well as different liquors. What could Sheila possibly be doing here? That's what I want to know. And I find out soon enough. I hear voices and immediately duck behind a stack of crates. They're speaking in low voices, but I recognize Sheila's whiny, high-pitched voice. She's talking to a man, and when I peer over the crates, I'm not surprised to see Edmund talking to her. I wish I could get closer to hear what they're saying, but soon, they stop talking altogether and start kissing instead. My face reddens, and I cover my mouth with my hand. I shouldn't be surprised; I'd low-key deduced what was happening when she warned me off the men in the family. Her possessive manner made me realize that she must have had an affair wit
Ada“I gotta go,” I tell Damson quickly before hanging up and shoving the phone in my clutch. Edmund approaches me, his eyes following all my movements. “There you are. I’ve been wondering where you’ve been hiding. Is everything okay?”“Yes,” I lie. “I just thought I’d get some fresh air.”“Yes, it’s quite stuffy inside, isn’t it?” he asks before reaching into his blazer to retrieve a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. “Mind if I smoke?”“No.”He lights the cigarette, then stands smoking it. I notice that near his neck, there’s a lipstick stain. Won’t his wife notice? Isn’t he afraid?“You look lovely tonight,” he comments. “Did you like the dress?”Ah, the matter that I’ve been meaning to clarify. “I thought that your wife gifted it to me, so I guess her confusion left me…confused, too.”“About that,” he begins as he turns his body so he’s facing me directly. “Rebecca doesn’t know about the dress. She didn’t mention it or even think about it, I guess because of what happened with Sam
Maximilian Edmund faces me with a broad smile tugging at the corners of his lips, which would suggest that nothing is wrong. But the maid? Her face is ashen, and she looks like she’s a few breaths away from crying. Her eyes are downcast now, and she shifts her weight from one foot to the other, looking uncomfortable. What the hell is going on here?“Max,” Ed exclaims. I notice that he’s being a little too loud, in an exaggerated way, almost, and when he moves closer to me, I see a wave of panic cross his eyes before it disappears. Guilt. I detect guilt. And why would that be?“Something wrong?” I ask him, unfazed by the friendliness he’s showing me. Ed frowns. “Why would there be something wrong?”I wait for a beat to pass, then say, “I don’t know. You tell me.”He waves his hand dismissively and says, “I was just talking to Naomi here about Sammy, and I guess that put us both in a mood. Isn’t that right?”She raises her eyes to look at him, and I see that flash of defiance that
AdaI can’t believe that this man is handling me like this. It’s ridiculous!The only reason why I’ve stopped fighting him is because people are starting to look, and I’m not going to embarrass myself more than he’s already doing it. We reach a larger area with people gathered all over, and they all turn to look at Maximilian Loxley. Some people eye me and at the way his hand is closed around my wrist like a vice. I can’t believe he let that woman believe I’m his date, all because he wants to know what his brother-in-law said to me. And how can I tell him when it might directly impact me?I’m not an idiot. I know he isn’t asking because he cares about me. He just wants to know if Edmund is sneaking around, perhaps for his sister’s sake. How would this impact me? I’d rather try my luck with Edmund than with him, who’s hated me from the moment he set eyes on me, because at least there’ll be a possibility of me keeping the job and having more time to find the evidence I need against R
AdaHowever, regardless of how much I hope—of how much I pray for things to go my way—I still find that rarely happens. Because that woman, their family friend Kelly, is here for breakfast. I don't know why she's coming around so much. I mean, it's really none of my business, but why can't she stay away? What's wrong with her? How obsessed with Maximilian is she? Even now, she's sitting close to him and constantly touches his arm or elbow while saying something. I don't know why, but it's annoying watching her. Very much so. I feel myself start to get angry as I watch her. It makes no sense for my heart to be beating like this; none. It's none of my business and honestly, who cares what they do? But I'm starting to realize that I have something against this woman. I guess it’s safe to say that she had something against me, first. For the entirety of breakfast, Maximilian makes a point of not looking at me and I do the same, even though I can’t help but steal an occasional glance
AdaThe silence seems to want to engulf me.It’s almost too quiet. I have to look around to make sure that I’m in my own apartment. It feels like a foreign place. Or maybe it’s my mind that’s become so strange to me that I can’t make sense of the places I’m in every day. I close my eyes, squeeze them shut, and then open them again slowly, ignoring the throbbing behind them. Yes. This whole mess is giving me a headache and there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m just so damn tired of always having to think. At this point, I wish I could just shut my thoughts and not have to think about Max Loxley or anyone else in their family. I’m tired. I lie on my couch. I haven’t had dinner yet and find it unlikely that I will. I’m just not hungry and anyway, I don’t have the energy to cook anything right now. I’m being haunted by the memories of this afternoon. How his grip felt. How his eyes pinned me to the spot. How my heart raced every time his face moved closer to mine. How triumphant I f
Maximilian Kelly leaves before dinner is even served, which honestly, I'm thankful for. I was surprised to see her here. I thought the discussion we had earlier would be enough to send her away forever, but it seems not, and I don't know how I feel about that.I'm cutting into my ribeye when Rebecca says my name. "Max."I look up at her. My expression is one of boredom, I'm sure. Judging by her tone, she wants to talk about a complicated matter. I'm sure it has to do with Kelly and what happened earlier. "What's going on with you? Could you tell me?""Rebecca," I begin, "I don't think that—""Kelly told me what happened," she whispers after looking around to ensure that nobody is around to hear her. "You know, between the two of you in your office."I suppress the urge to groan. Fuck. "I already had a conversation with her concerning this," I say, keeping my tone level. "I don't think there's anything left to say.""This isn't like you at all," she claims. "You're not one to brea
Ada"A direct order, is it?" I ask, tearing my arm from his grip. "And I suppose that makes you so much better than her?"He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, almost like he's calming himself down. When he looks back at me, his eyes are shooting daggers at me. "Do you take pleasure in being such a complicated person?""I'm not being complicated, I'm just pointing out a fact," I claim. "An order is an order. I'll get someone else to do it. As you wish, sir."I start to walk away from him, but he shocks me by grabbing my arm and forcing me to face him. A gasp leaves my lips in the process. He's doing this in broad daylight. Where anyone could see us and assume whatever they want. I tell him, "I have to remind you that anyone could be watching us, Mr. Loxley. Now's the right time for you to release me.""Do you think I care about anyone watching?" he asks in a low voice, his face only inches away from mine. "I pay them to mind their business. Whoever has a problem with what I do
AdaI haven’t seen him for the whole day. That’s how I refer to him now. As him. I didn’t have to serve breakfast because, luckily enough, nobody would be having any. Everyone left early. I have a feeling he did it to avoid me, but at the same time, I think I might be delusional because he approached me. He’s not trying to avoid me. I’m in his house, not the other way around. If he never wants to see me again, all he has to do is fire me and I’ll be out of his sight. I haven’t had a chance to look for any clues. Then again, I’m not really in the mood to. My concentration can’t falter, and right now, I’m too deep in my thoughts to get something so risky done. The day is nearly coming to an end but I swear it’s been the longest of my life. It’s been so tedious, too. I’ve just been cleaning and nothing else. At this rate, I don’t think I’ll have the encouragement to come back. I have twenty minutes until I have to leave when I’m called by Mrs. Danes. She says to me, “Miss Loxley is
MaximilianThe words I said to Naomi were more to me than to her, because I was right. I do have to forget that the kiss ever happened. I’ve gotten myself into serious trouble because of it. My desire for her has spiraled out of control to the point where I used someone dear to me to erase the thought of her from my mind, or rather, not the thought, but this curiosity of mine to know what she tastes like. What happened between Kelly and me should never have occurred. It was a mistake I think I’ll pay for for the rest of my life. I leave without having breakfast. This is for the best. Whenever she’s around, I can’t seem to think straight, so this is me cutting the problem from the root, since I don’t know how to fucking behave. I rarely drive to work with my head as full as it is. Usually, it’s easy for me to focus on what I’m going to do all day, but she hasn’t left my mind for a second. I couldn’t even tell if she was relieved by what I said, or disappointed. She’s never given me
Ada When I get back to my apartment, I'm shaking. Literally. Shaking. I close the door and when I try to lock it, I drop the keys multiple times. To be fair, I don't know how I drove myself here. I should've crashed the car. It's a miracle, it truly is. Because I'm a mess. I have been since he kissed me. I even came home in my uniform. That's how jumbled up my mind is. I didn't change. I just grabbed my clothes and my bag and came running. The truth is that I was afraid he'd follow me. But he didn't. Now that I'm home, in a place that's safe for me, it's easier for me to focus and think about what truly happened. The horrifying part is that I kissed him back. There, I've said it. I kissed him back. I should've pushed him away but for some reason, that didn't occur to me. I had this curiosity to kiss him back. To know what it would be like.And now I’m regretting that because it’s just about the craziest thing I’ve ever done, arguably the dumbest. I chew my thumb nonstop and
MaximilianI kiss her. I fucking kiss her. I think I grab her face and she stands up, both of us moving backward until her back hits the door of my office hard, making a sound that should scare me but doesn’t, our lips locked. I lose my mind for a moment. I’m overcome by this feverish sensation that races up and down my spine before it settles on my chest, burning bright and nearly suffocating me. Is this feeling desire? Lust? Need? Or a mixture of all three? Her hands are grabbing the lapels of my shirt, pulling me close as our mouths move together. My tongue darts out, settling on her lower lip. She parts her lips for me, allowing me entrance into her sweet mouth. My tongue finds hers and the two move like intimate friends. Like lovers. This is the first time I’ve ever kissed her but it doesn’t feel like it. It’s like my body knows her, and hers knows mine. The moment ends abruptly. She stills, becoming as rigid as a rock, and I break the kiss before taking a few steps away fr
AdaFor the next two days, things have been calm and on the low. I haven’t had any weird experience with Mr. Loxley. Except, of course, when his hand accidentally grazed mine while I was pouring him coffee this morning. It felt like I’d been zapped with electricity and when I looked at him, undoubtedly with an accusing look burning in my eyes, he seemed just as surprised as me. But whatever. That was a mild thing. Nothing to be concerned about. Damson still hasn’t called and I can’t help but wonder what’s wrong with him. Why won’t he talk to me? It’s so frustrating, to be honest. This day is almost ending. Tomorrow will be another day and things feel so stale. I won’t even mention how disappointed I was when I went through the photos I took and, you guessed it, there was absolutely nothing in them that would tie Reynold Loxley to my father’s death. It feels like I’m chasing after ghosts, to be honest. I feel so irritated with the whole thing. So frustrated, too. In my mind, this