Looking at the butler in shock, I took in a deep breath to calm myself down before saying, "Okay, I understand" i could already feel the strength leaving me as I gathered my things to start leaving.
"Wait Ms Williams, you wanted to say something?" The butler asked, seeing that I was already going. "Ohh, it's nothing Mr Lu" I said, giving up on the idea of quitting. Seeing that the butler was still staring at me, I gave him a slight smile before finally leaving. I couldn't even wait to see Mia, I wasn't in the mood to be friendly with anyone cause I'm feeling so much anger right now. **** After picking Ava up from school, I made her dinner and bath her before putting her to bed. Staring at her sleeping face, I couldn't stop the tears that has been threatening to fall since I picked her up from the school gate from falling. Wiping the tears off my face, I tried to smile cause I promised my mom I'll be strong for the both of us. It hasn't been easy for us, having a father who loves gambling more than his life. Since I could remember, my father had always been a douchebag, hitting my mom like she was his own personal punching bag. Everytime he loses, he'll come home and ask my mom for money and if she refuses, he'll beat her up, then turn the whole house upside down looking for where she kept it, only leaving after finding it. I grew up being scared of my own dad, hearing his footsteps was enough for me to start crying and peeing myself. My mom had always been weak, but she was always there for me, doing different jobs to make sure I was never hungry and also paying for my school fees. I lived like that with my mom for 15years, it was always the same thing, my dad always coming home once or twice a month to ask for money anytime he experience loses on his gambling. With time I grew used to it, until one faithful day. Just like every single month, my dad came banging on the door, breaking it in the process of pushing and pulling. Standing face to face with him, I noticed there was something wrong. On his face, I saw something I've never seen before, fear. He looked like someone who just escaped death, without even paying attention to me nor my pregnant mom, he started scattering the whole place looking for something. Yes, she was pregnant because sometimes after beating her up he would rape her right in front of me. My mom would always shout at me to close my eyes but I'm still being hunted by her screams and cry. After searching for almost an hour, he left with all our money. My mom was only 5months pregnant then, I had to beg her to stop working, I took on different jobs while still in school to help my mom with some expenses. Watching him take all our hard earned money, I couldn't sit still. I picked up the thing nearest to me, which was a baseball bat and lunged at him, hitting it on his head as hard as I could thinking it would knock him out but it only did more harm than good. Feeling the bat on his head, he got more angry and turned around, staring at me with dead eyes before giving me a resounding slap that blurred my vision for days. After hitting me, he stared at my mom and told her to park and leave the house before something happens. It was the first time I ever saw a serious expression on his face and it was also the last time I saw him. Paying no head to him, my mom helped me up and we arranged our home, throwing out the things that were broken. Days later, my eyesight got worse and my mom took me to an ophthalmologist, who confirmed that the slap affected my eyes and I would need to start using glasses. A month later, we heard that my dad was beaten to death by debt collectors and they were after us to pay for the money he was owing them since we were his only family. You might be wondering why my mom never divorced my dad, my mom was raised by parents who believed that a wife should always be submissive to her husband no matter what, and it was a taboo to bring up divorce into a marriage. She was always hoping he would change but that never happened. She was already 8months pregnant when we heard someone banging on our door in the middle of the night. I opened the door in a rush, not wanting whoever it was to break it but I was pushed out of the way by bulky looking men. I heard the sound of my mom's footsteps rushing out of the room. Staring at me with panicked eyes, she rushed and crouched beside me, hugging me protectively. "W... what do y...you want from us?" My mom asked, stuttering in fear. "Ohhh, we?" One of the bulky looking men asked playfully. "We just came to collect the money your husband owe us", he said. "What money are you talking about?? My husband is dead and he didn't tell me about any debt" my mom shouted. Hearing what she said, he threw a file looking paper to the floor, right in front of us. Picking it, my mom's face changed drastically. Peeping at what was written on the file, I felt my heart fall to the pit of my stomach. On it was my father's signature, agreeing to the bizarre terms and conditions. It was written that if my father was unable to pay back the money he borrowed before the date agreed on, he was to give up his life to sell his organs and his eldest child would be sold to prostitution to cover for the rest of the dept. I broke out in cold sweat, I was only fifteen, I didn't want to be sold to prostitution. "I'll do it!!" I heard my mom said in a low voice."What? No!!!" I shouted, holding her hand and staring at her pleadingly."Haa!!" The man scoffed, like he just heard the most bizarre thing.I stared at him before moving my gaze to the rest of the men in the room. He seemed to be the leader since he has been doing all the talking since they got here."I said I'll do it in her place" my mom said with firm resolve.Taking her hair off her face, she stared at the man before smiling bitterly. The man stared at her lustfully, before averting his gaze. My mom has always been a very beautiful lady despite being in her mid 30s, she got married to my dad when she was 18 because he got her pregnant."Fine, we'll take you. Your daughter looks too plain anyways." The man man said, touching his chin seemingly lost in thought.Staring at the man deeply in hatred, I noticed a little scar just above his left eyebrow. "No, I'll do it. My mom is pregnant, you can't possibly use a pregnant woman for prostitution, can you?" I asked, a little bit smug fo
"You think we're scared of you?" The first maid asked, her face looking like a rotten tomato."If you aren't scared of me then I dare you to say what you just said to my face!!!" I shouted."You think I can't?" Maid one asked, I couldn't care less about knowing their names, it wouldn't add to my salary in any way."Say it and stop asking dumb questions" I pushed, praying for her to say it so I can finally vent my anger."Who do you think you are? You're just a cheap slut who thinks she can seduce her way into easy life!" Maid two said, her appearance is nothing to write home about."Ohh, you think I'm worthy enough to seduce the oh so mighty Mr Damon? You think too highly of me sweetie, but I'll have to thank you for that, you know you'll never be able to seduce anyone with a face like that!!" I smiled overly sweetly. I wasn't always like this, I was a shy, quiet little girl who was always afraid to fight back, but when you're always surrounded by hardship and conniving people, you'l
What was I thinking? He's just as bad as everyone described, how could he threaten me using my little sister and asked me to strip with no good reason?.Getting to the kitchen, I was relieved to find no one there. I took what I needed before hurrying upstairs so I wouldn't get scolded by his majesty.Balancing the tray on my left hand, I knocked before hearing an answer from inside. Pushing the door open, I went in and closed the door with my foot."Here's your breakfast, sir" I said, dropping the tray of food on the bedside table before making my way out of the room. I was glad he didn't ask me to stay like before.Breathing a sigh of relief after leaving the room, I decided to go look for Mia. After walking for about ten minutes looking for her, I couldn't find her anywhere and wondered where she could be."Argh!!!" I heard the familiar voice of Mia shouting out in pain, turning around to follow the sound, I stopped in front of the maids changing room.Placing my hands on the door
The next dayGetting to work, I saw all the other maids moving about in a hurry, making me feel a little dizzy from just looking at them.Changing my clothes, I went to the kitchen to make coffee for Mr Damon before going upstairs to serve him.Knock knock!!"Come in"I heard his muffled voice before pushing the door open. 'Wow', I thought after seeing how he looked in suit. He looked just like a refined business man.Everything about him was neat but cold, he looked unapproachable. "What are you staring at?" He asked coldly, annoyance evident in his voice."N...nothing sir" I blushed after being caught staring like a fool.I wasn't attracted to him in any way, but one can't just help staring at beautiful things and the man in front of me was beyond beautiful, he was enticing. 'Okay, what am I thinking right now, I need to focus' I thought, giving my self an imaginary slap to bring me back to reality."Are you gonna give me the coffee or are you just going to stand there like a fool
Done with work for the day, I decided to go pick Ava up from school. Changing my clothes, I packed my things and left. "Anna!!" Ava shouted from afar, running towards me and throwing herself at me, I caught her like always. "How was your school today?" I asked her, pinching her chubby cheeks cause it was so soft and cute. "It was amazing, I made a new friend and we played in the slide" she answered, with her hands playing with my hair. "That's great, Ava. Should we go get ice cream to celebrate your new friend?" I asked, knowing fully well what her reply would be "Yes yes!!!" She shouted, jumping happily. Chuckling, we went to a small ice cream stall and I got her favorite chocolate flavored ice cream and mine, strawberry. Putting her down, I held her left hand and we walked home, her kindergarten isn't far from our house. Feeling the burning sensation of someone staring at me, I turned to check but there was no one around, maybe I was just being paranoid. Getting home, I made
In my 20years of life, I've never kissed a man. I was keeping my first kiss till I fall in love but now it's gone, it's been taken by someone who doesn't even care, a cold hearted psychopath. 'Why would he do that? Is he falling in love with me?' I thought, feeling goosebumps rising on my arms just by the thought of it. "No no, it can't be" I murmured, shaking my head in disbelief. 'Why would he fall for me, am I that pretty?' I asked myself, touching the large glasses that was resting on the bridge of my nose. Feeling aggrieved, I stomped my feet and went downstairs. 'How could he? I hate him even more now'. As I kept thinking about it, I felt the resentment I had for him build up more. Seeing as he wasn't coming downstairs and it was already lunch time, I decided to do my job since I was the only maid in this house. Entering the kitchen, I opened the fridge and saw that there was enough ingredients to prepare a meal. I wasn't a great cook but I wasn't bad either. Done with mak
Waving good bye to Mia, I held the chocolate cake I bought for Ava before deciding to take a little stroll to clear my head.After walking for about 10minutes, I felt like I was being followed again but when I turned back, there was no one around. It was already almost 7pm, we didn't spend much time in the cafe.Brushing the feeling, I walked to Ava's kindergarten to pick her up. The cafe was a lot closer to the kindergarten than I thought.After picking her up, we went home. Seeing the cake, Ava was excited and didn't want to eat her dinner but I had to force her.Staring at her sleeping face, I smiled softly, brushing my fingers across her soft cheeks. She was a little bit tired after playing the whole day, making her sleep earlier than normal.Done with taking a shower, I sat down in front of my mirror, drying my hair and thinking about how tomorrow would be.After the kiss with Mr Damon, I felt like things had gotten even more awkward between us, I couldn't even look him in the ey
"uhm, yes it's pretty comfortable" I said, but I could feel the soreness in my neck from my sleeping position. Staring at me weirdly, he said a simple "Okay" before turning around and waved goodbye. Still standing in a daze, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs slowly. Realizing I couldn't hear the sound of footsteps anymore, I turned back to check only to find Mr Damon right behind me. Looking down at me with unfathomable emotions in his deep blue eyes, his face cold and expressionless. I never seem to understand him, he was so good at hiding his emotions that no one could break through him. Seeing as he wasn't saying anything, I asked "Do you need anything, sir?" Tilting my head to the side to stare at him fully. Squinting his eyes are me, he turned around and went back upstairs, completely ignoring my question. Shrugging, I went back to the kitchen. I was already use to his whims. Checking the time, I realized it was already evening and it would soon be time to start head
RYAN'S POV"Hurry!!" She moaned and I felt my resolve slowly slipping as I heard the sound she made. Capturing her lips with mine, I sucked on it like my life depends on it. Her lips soft against mine, her low moans and groans making me rock hard in seconds.Prodding her lips with my tongue for entrance, she complied almost immediately, kissing me back with the same intensity.Picking her up and placing her on my thighs without breaking the kiss, I hurriedly undo her dress zipper, sliding the gown off her body.I groaned as I realized she wasn't putting on a bra, her boobs begging to be sucked as her nipples perks up. Breaking the kiss, I moved downward, sucking and biting her neck as I fondle her soft round boobs.Moaning, she arched her back, grinding against me, moving her hips up and down against my bulge."Ahh... fuck!!!" I cursed loudly, she's going to be the death of me.The last string holding my restraint snapped as I pushed her into the bed, my right hand moving down to her
The man's hand on my thigh made my skin crawl, and a sharp wave of panic surged through me. My vision was blurred, my body weak and unresponsive, but I could still feel the danger closing in. "Please... no" I gasped, my voice barely a whisper, but enough to show my fear. The man's laughter echoed in the dimly lit room, and his hand moved closer to my waist. The world around me spun, but something inside me was fighting to stay awake, to stay alert. I couldn't let this happen. Not like this. Just then, the sound of the door opening again broke through the haze, followed by heavy footsteps. A new voice, strong, commanding...cut through the tension. "Get your hands off her." Mr Damon His voice held authority, and the man froze, his hand still on me but his grip faltering. I could barely make out Ryan's figure moving towards us, but I knew he was there...his presence like a shield. "You... you can't do this. She's mine," the man stammered, clearly trying to regain control of the s
LAYLA'S POV Staring at Ryan's back as he talked to some men... probably his business partners, I was lost in thought but also aware of the curious gaze on me. Swirling the drink in my hand, I noticed Ryan glancing back every second to make sure I was still in place. I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly he was thinking. Was he worried about me? Was he just trying to keep up appearances? There was so much I didn’t understand about him, about this whole situation. I took another sip of my drink, trying to blend into the background as best as I could, but it was hard when all the attention seemed to be directed at me. The soft murmur of the room faded into the background as I focused on the swirl of my drink, the ice gently clinking against the glass. A few moments later, I noticed a few more people glancing my way, some of them clearly trying to figure out who I was. It wasn’t just the men, but even some of the women. They all seemed to be sizing me up. My discomfort grew wi
RYAN'S POV Hearing the clinking sound of heels, I raised my head and my breath immediately got caught in my throat. Layla has always been a very beautiful lady, but at this moment...she looks mesmerising, stunning... alluring even. I couldn't take my eyes off her. God, I don't think I'll be able to control myself from touching her. I want her badly, my body needs her, I could already feel myself getting hard as I stared at her. Swallowing hard, I forced myself to calm down as different images of her naked underneath me surfaced in my head. Clenching my fist, I pushed the thoughts aside. "You look stunning" I complemented her. "Thank you" she replied, her cheeks turning pink underneath her natural makeup, making her look even more beautiful. Gulping, I turned around before saying, "Let's go" in a cold tone, masking my lewd thoughts. Getting into the car, I handed her a black masquerade mask with feather on the side, looking elegant and classy. I was dressed in a blac
I froze, my hand hovering over a dress as the words sank in. “We’re going to a masquerade ball?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. The shock in my tone was unmistakable. Ryan turned slightly, glancing at me with a sharp look. “Yes” he replied, his voice calm, as though this were the most normal thing in the world. “You’ll need a proper dress for it.” I blinked, still trying to process what he had just said. “But… I didn’t know about this” I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “Why would you take me to a ball? I don’t even… fit in there.” Ryan’s gaze softened just a fraction, but his expression remained as unreadable as ever. “You’ll fit in perfectly" he said, the slight edge to his voice almost making it sound like a command. I stared at him, unsure of how to respond. “But I...” I started, but he cut me off. “Choose something. The ball is tonight. We don’t have time to waste.” The pressure was building, and I felt my chest tighten. He didn’t give m
The car rolled to a slow stop in front of a grand hotel, the kind I’d only ever seen in magazines or on TV. ‘Paradise Hotel’ was written in bold, elegant letters across the top of the entrance, and the entire front of the building gleamed under the afternoon sun. A doorman stepped forward instantly, opening the car door. I stepped out slowly, glancing up at the tall, luxurious building. It was beautiful, but it felt out of place in my world. Like I didn’t belong here. Without a word, I followed Mr. Damon as he walked toward the massive glass doors. His stride was confident, like this place was just another one of his many assets. Daniel trailed quietly behind him, calm and composed as ever. No one looked at me twice, but I felt every step. Like I was walking into a place that wouldn't remember me even after I left. Inside, the hotel was even more impressive...marble floors, towering chandeliers, and the soft sound of music playing somewhere in the background. A middle ag
Feeling drowsy, I decided to rest a little. The soft hum of the jet, paired with the gentle vibration beneath my seat, made it hard to keep my eyes open. I glanced at Mr. Damon and Daniel. Ryan was focused on the tablet in his hands, his expression sharp and unreadable, as always. Daniel sat near the back, still and silent, almost like a shadow. Relieved that neither of them was paying me any attention, I let my body sink deeper into the seat. Just a short nap, I told myself. My eyes fluttered shut, and slowly, the noise around me faded into a quiet blur. For a moment, I forgot where I was. Forgot the weight of everything. "Layla...Layla!!" The voice echoed, distant but unmistakable. I turned around, and there she was...my mom. She stood a few feet away, dressed in the same soft sweater she used to wear when I was a child. Her arms were open, her face calm, gentle...the way I remembered. "Mom?" I whispered, my voice trembling as I took a hesitant step forward. But
The next day Waking up to the sound of my alarm, I stood up hurriedly to prepare breakfast for Ava like I did every other mornings. Bathing and getting her ready for school was already so easy for me. As we ate breakfast, I explained to Ava that I won't be the one to pick her up for the next three days, and she shouldn't worry. "Why? Where are you going?" She asked in her sweet, childish voice. "I'm just going to be away for work, baby. I'll be back before you know it" I reassured her. "Can't Ava come with you?" She asked childishly. "No Ava, but I promise to take you with me next time" I promised, smiling softly at her. "Okay" she pouted. "Don't pout, a beautiful lady is going to take care of you while I'm gone, so make sure you behave, okay?" I asked. "Okay" she answered with a smile this time. Smiling back, I stared at her. I wasn't ready to part from her, even if it'll only be three days. We haven't been apart from each other before, except when I go to work.
RYAN'S POV Staring at her retreating back, I sighed. Fuck, why did I say that? Why did I make a promise I know I won't be able to keep?. Walking back to my sit, I sat down and opened the drawer on my right, bringing out the document in its. On the top of the opened file was Smith, written boldly. I ran a hand down my face, my jaw tightening as I stared at the file. Smith. The name alone was enough to send a wave of frustration through me. I flipped through the pages, my eyes scanning the information I already knew too well. Layla thought she could just walk away...but she had no idea what she was up against. Her name wasn’t on this file, but it might as well have been. Because whether she realized it or not, she was already caught in the middle of something far bigger than just being my maid. And no matter what I had promised her, I knew one thing for sure. I couldn't let her go. Picking up my phone, I dialled a number and called. "Hello sir?" The voice on the o