~~~
I didn’t know how long I slept, but when I opened my eyes, the water had gone cold.
“Ah! Dinner!” I exclaimed, startled by how much time had passed. I quickly stood up from the bathtub, rinsing off the remaining soap from my body one last time before stepping out.
I felt like a completely different person—clean, fresh, and oddly lighter, as though the weight of my past had been washed away along with the dirt.
“Okay, Mary, time to face the next chapter of your life,” I whispered to myself with a soft smile while towel-drying my hair.
With that thought in mind, I hurried downstairs to join Rachael and her brother for dinner.
As soon as I entered the dining room, the smell hit me—crispy chicken, just like she’d promised. I was practically drooling on the floor.
Jeez, I can’t even remember the last time I had something like this... wait, scratch that, I’ve never had anyt
~~Continuation~~******Okay, this is bullshit.Fun aside, this whole sitting idle thing was really starting to get on my nerves. I was never one to sit still and do nothing.I sighed deeply, staring at the flowering vines climbing up the window. “Tomorrow will make it two weeks since I’ve been here, and Rachael’s parents will be coming back from their trip. Although I’m kind of nervous, I believe everything will be alright.”I glanced at my new belongings in the white closet. Honestly, if anyone had told me back in Chicago that a day would come when I, Mary Johnson, the nobody, would have new shoes, trousers, dresses, or even underwear that wasn’t torn or worn out, I would have chased them around the whole city, calling them a liar.But here I was, inside my spacious room, surrounded by clothes in every color and size imaginable, from brands I’d only ever heard about in passing. Shoes, necklaces&mda
~~~~I blinked several times while staring at her, my heart racing. “Oh! Y-yeah, I just thought... that maybe it was possible... I mean, if I could be given a chance to work with you at your restaurant. But it’s okay if that’s not possible.” What are you mumbling about, Mary? I questioned myself as I forced out a smile at her.Instead of replying, Mrs. Berry just stared at me, her expression inscrutable. It was obvious what she was thinking. I mean, there’s no way a school dropout like me—well, not really a dropout; I just didn’t go to higher institutions—would be allowed to work in a fancy, expensive restaurant like hers. Just to confirm my thoughts, she finally spoke.“Well, when it comes to my restaurants, I do take my time to employ individuals.” She paused, leaning closer, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Rachael told me you dropped out of school, yeah?”Great, here we go. “Well, not really! I just didn’t further!” I stumbled over my words, trying to sound more confident than I felt
~~~~Before I knew it, time flew by. By the end of my two-year stay in London, which was November 10, 2009, I had close to Twenty-Five thousand dollars sitting in my bank account.Can you imagine the joy? And no, I didn’t spend a single dime of it! Who would’ve thought that the same Mary Johnson, who left Chicago in early 2007 with nothing to her name, would have that kind of money saved up?"Well, Mary, good job," I said, giving myself a mental pat on the back.With Rachael out of town for her studies, I became something of a new daughter in the Berry household. It was strange but also nice.James and I grew closer, too—so much so that they even let me drive Rachael’s car. Now, don’t ask how I learned to drive. Trust me, you don’t want to know. Let’s just say, the less said about my early driving adventures, the better! But hey, I didn’t crash anything, so that’s a win, right?Rachael wa
~~~~“What is wrong with this a-hole?” I almost yelled out as I fired back at her. “Jesus, Rachael, keep your voice down! What the hell?” I glared at her, noting how the other patrons in the café were starting to take notice. “What are you trying to do, huh? Why don’t you just grab a microphone and announce my poor hygiene to the world? That would be better, you stupid—”“Mary, stop!” Rachael interjected, looking a bit taken aback. “Look, I understand what—”“Understand?” I cut her off, my anger bubbling over. “Please, Rachael, spare me the lectures. You come here with your fancy drinks and your glamorous life, and you expect me to just jump into that? I can’t afford to be carefree like you!” I retorted. “So believe me when I say you understand nothing about my situation.”“Oh, really?” She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. “Is that what you’re saying now?”“For Christ’s sake, Rachael, yes!” I turned to her, my voice rising. “Do you know what it feels like as a woman to bathe once
~~~~Rachael was quiet for a moment, biting her lip in frustration. “Okay, I deserve that,” she muttered, just loud enough for me to hear.I halted and turned back to her, sarcasm dripping from my voice. "Oh, you think? I would never imagine."“Oh, damn it.” Rachael groaned in a completely unladylike way, grabbing my arms and forcing me to face her. “Listen to me, Mary. When I said those things, I didn’t mean them the way your stubborn head is probably interpreting them right now. It’s because I care about you. I know how hard you’re working for your family’s sake. I just want you to do something for yourself for once. That’s all.”I sighed, brushing a hand through my hair in frustration. Of course, I knew what she meant. I understood exactly what she was trying to tell me, but part of me just didn’t want to hear it.Not now, not when it felt like everything was undoing inside
~~~~~While I was still trying to figure out why the doctor suddenly cared about my personal details, the idiot opened his mouth and asked,"What school did you graduate from, if I may?"I’ve got to admit, that question threw me off balance for a second. Seriously?"No, you may not," I shot back, my patience running thin. "With all due respect, I don’t see how my educational background is any of your business, doc.""Oh, of course, it's not," he replied, clearly unaware of the anger in my voice. "It’s just that the way you're talking makes me think you must be a doctor—or at least a surgeon. Am I wrong?"Son of a... Did he really just go there?I took a deep breath, trying to keep my temper in check. Do you think I’d let your crappy hands near my father if that were true?"Let me get this straight," I said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "You think, if I were a doctor, I’d let an uncertain sur
~~~~The following week I was happy, but that happiness was short-lived.It’s true what they say: when one problem is solved, another one raises its ugly head.The following month was a nightmare, especially after Mr. and Mrs. Berry suddenly decided to sell their farmland and move to the Philippines for a fresh start. I was completely blindsided by this news; no one bothered to tell me about it.Of course, Rachael already knew. They were opening a new branch over there and placing the one here under new management.With their absence and support gone, I realized that someone like me—without any qualifications for restaurant work or any other work for that matter—would struggle to make ends meet.Rachael didn’t mention any of this to me. Was it forgetfulness? I had no idea.But by the time they finally decided to inform me, everything was already set. I knew it was time for me to move on.Out of love and kindness, Mr. and Mrs. Berry offered to take me with them. It was a generous oppor
~~~~And I was right.I arrived in New York on a Sunday, but this time, I wasn’t in a rush to find a place or a job. I rented a little cottage for a month, just in case things went south again. The following Monday, I headed over to the restaurant address.As I walked in, I spotted the front clerk, a formidable woman with a no-nonsense look. She was typing furiously on her keyboard, and the moment I approached her, I took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.“Hi, I’m here for the job opening,” I said, trying to sound confident.Without even looking up, she waved me closer. “And you are…?”“Uh, just a hopeful candidate,” I replied, trying to maintain a casual tone.She finally looked at me, narrowed her eyes, and said, “Hopeful, huh? We’ll see about that.”Before I knew it, she had jumped out from behind her desk and took my hand like she was leading me to the gallows. “Come on! We don’t have all day!”“Wait! I thought I was supposed to interview or something?” I yelped, trying to pull ba
~~~~~Did he seriously just ask that? The man who’s spent the last month ignoring me, treating this fake marriage like a business deal? The same man who constantly reminded me of my duty, my so-called worth, and never failed to draw the line between me and his precious Diana? That same man is asking what now?I was pissed. “What do you mean by ‘conclusions’? Even a blind man could see it.”“Oh, really?” His tone was sharp, mocking.“Yes!” I snapped. “You were never really happy about going out with me today. I bet you were forced away from Diana because of me, and that must’ve annoyed the hell out of you. You’d rather be with her, wouldn’t you?” I stared him down, waiting for him to deny it. But no. Instead, he laughed.“Is that what this is about? Did my call with Diana earlier get under your skin, Mary?” He stepped back slightly, giving me some space—but his tone was anything but gentle.“What…” I began, fumbling for words.“Since when did Diana become an issue for you?” he a
-----Me stopping half way didn't stop his devious mind from figuring it out, because the next thing he said was-- "Too Late." I turned to respond, but just then, the driver returned, and the awkward silence resumed. The rest of the ride was filled with quiet glances between us, my embarrassment only growing. I just wanted to get home as quickly as possible.From the moment I opened my eyes this morning, it felt like my prayers were finally coming true. We were home! I was relieved, mostly because the awkward silence between us was beginning to get to me. But just as I turned to ask if it was okay to grab my things from the car trunk, his phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID—Diana.The moment I saw the name, I cursed under my breath, wishing I hadn’t. It wasn’t just the caller that made me feel like crap; it was the sudden change in Eric’s expression. His face lit up with a happiness I hadn’t seen earlier. It was so much more than the
~~~~Well, it was foolish of me to run to the car when I knew the driver wouldn’t move without his master’s presence.I sat there, quietly, trying to ease the discomfort I felt. It was as if his hands were still lingering on my lips, and I couldn't shake the feeling.Soon, he came out of the restaurant, chatting with the manager, exchanging goodbyes. I watched him stride toward the car. Ah, he was beautiful, and undeniably tempting, I had to admit.How I wished we had met under normal circumstances. But then again, someone like him—so far out of reach—would never be able to like someone standing on a different level.“Sorry for the wait,” he apologized as he slid into the car.“It’s alright,” I responded, not meeting his gaze.The ride home was silent. Neither of us spoke.Finally, the driver pulled over at a beachside filling station to fuel the car. I pretended to be asleep, trying to avoid any confrontation, until Eric spoke.“Hey,” he said softly, his voice breaking the
~~~~I stared at him, my mouth hung open in disbelief. Was he serious? Did he have any idea what he was asking me to do? My eyes darted around, realizing that the whole surrounding area had gone completely quiet. Everyone was watching us—waiting for something to happen. I glanced back at Eric, and it hit me: he wasn’t joking. This was happening.My heart was pounding in my chest, so loudly I was sure he could hear it. I needed to act, to play my part. I straightened up and smiled, trying to mask the panic rising in me. "Quit joking," I said, keeping my voice light, pretending I wasn’t completely freaking out inside."Oh, but I wasn’t," he replied, a grin spreading across his face as he bared his teeth."Come on, kiss him!" A voice rang out from the crowd."Yeah, don’t be shy!" another chimed in. The comments kept coming, each one more outrageous than the last.Jesus, how do I get out of this? Am I seriously about to lose my virgin lips because of this rude…? I shook my head, f
~~~~I stood frozen, still unable to fully process what had just happened. A staff member had humiliated me—me, in front of other customers. The absurdity of it stung. I’d worked in various establishments, and never once had I insulted or disrespected a customer, no matter the situation. So why would a staff member think it was acceptable to treat me this way?Just as I was caught in thought, I saw her walking back toward me with that same smug grin. "Well, if you're done brooding and acting like the store mannequin, do you mind moving aside?” she sneered, brushing past me. “You're blocking the pathway."I felt my patience snap. “What?” I asked, feeling the anger bubbling within me.“You heard me… move… you’re…” before she could finish, my fist connected with her face. She stumbled back, eyes wide with shock, then crumpled to the floor, her hands covering her face as tears welled in her eyes.I looked down at her, letting my voice drop to a cold, unforgiving
~~~~Eric sighed with pleasure as he rolled off Diana’s warm, bare skin. She was the only woman who could ever satisfy him, he reminded himself. They’d made love—on the desk, the bathroom, and now the bed. He had built a separate suite inside his library, hidden from anyone but Diana, and he’d been a fool, he thought, to ever confuse pity for love.Yes, he loved Diana. He always would. With Mary, his heart had only softened briefly, a momentary weakness when she’d shared her family struggles. But that was nothing more than pity, he concluded.He turned to Diana, his fingers grazing her skin. “Hey.”She sighed contentedly. “Hmm?” she murmured, still catching her breath.For some reason, his desire sparked again and he was hard. “Let’s go one more time,” he said, sliding his hand over her.She chuckled through a moan. “You’re crazy—I can’t.”“You need to work on that stammer,” he teased, positioning himself between her legs again.“Or maybe…you’re just an animal,” she smiled,
~~~Eric was restless, pacing in his library, feeling a whirl of emotions that he couldn’t quite sort out.Ever since discovering Mary’s true personality, he’d been battling mixed feelings. She wasn’t just the stubborn, rebellious figure he’d written off as money-hungry. Somehow, understanding the depth beneath her rebelliousness had changed things.Before, her every move had seemed calculated, aimed at showing off. Now, though, he couldn’t ignore the way his heart softened each time she spoke, her words striking chords he hadn’t felt in years.And the moment she proposed, they became business partners? It had left him in an unexpectedly pleasant mood, a rare thing these days. Then, hearing that she had taken it upon herself to prepare their food? His heart nearly leaped out of his chest.It was baffled. He’d even raised his voice at Diana—the woman he thought was the love of his life.He
~~~~Eric stood close to Diana, but she wasn’t moving. “Diana?” he called out to her.She turned to him, glaring with anger. “You should’ve told me you were going out. Then I wouldn’t have to see... unpleasant things,” she blurted out.Eric moved to take a seat. “What do you mean? I didn’t go far,” he said, settling down. “Take a seat; let’s eat. You must be hungry,” he added.Diana glanced at the so-called fake wife, thinking to herself, Not going to happen. “Let’s go eat outside. I don’t feel like eating home food,” she suggested.Sighing, Eric responded, “I’m already seated. I can’t just leave. Come sit by my side, and we’ll go out later,” he said, patting the seat next to him.Still glaring, Diana reluctantly sat beside Eric. Meanwhile, Mary simply continued eating, not looking at or paying attentio
~~~~Everything was set when Mrs. Lola and the other maids entered the kitchen. All the ingredients, even some unfamiliar ones, were neatly organized. The chicken was diced perfectly.I was preparing more ingredients when I noticed Mrs. Lola. “Oh, Mrs. Lola, you’re here? Thank God.” I walked up to her. “Please, I need you and the maids to help dice the remaining chicken, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, cabbage, and spices. Do you think you can manage that?”They stared at me, their faces full of surprise. I didn’t need to guess what they were thinking.Clearing her throat, Mrs. Lola replied, “Ugh… Sure, madam.” She quickly turned to the maids. “You heard her. Get to work.”“Yes, Mrs. Lola,” they said in unison, moving to start.I couldn’t help but smile. I understood their shock. It wasn’t every day you saw the wife of a multibillionaire preparing food and chopping vegetables.But the truth was, I wasn’t the wife of a wealthy man, nor did I come from a rich family. I learned to cook as a t