CHAPTER ONE

SOLEDAE POV.

My life changed when I met him. Sebastian Miller was a famous billionaire; he had opened several companies in New York he was handsome and hardworking.

But why would he love a girl like me?

I was just an ordinary maid who cleaned dirty floors dressed in nothing but rags. I was a servant in my step mother's home. I didn't stand a chance to be with a big shot like Sebastian Miller. He was posh, educated, successful, handsome and very wealthy.

He can have any woman he wants his dated supermodels who were on the covers of vogue magazine. They dressed in fancy clothes, and they wore makeup that made them look like Kim Kardashian. I was just leaving in a fantasy world why would a tycoon want anything to do with a common house help?"

Probably nothing. I was just fooling myself. Life in the big city sounded very interesting. I've heard many stories about the city.

My step-sister Mila made it sound like heaven. I could only see the pictures she sent me. It looked promising and wonderful. I've been dying to go there and explore it myself. But I am stuck here working as a slave for my stepmother Lucinda.

My stepmother Lucinda never had any love for me; she would always mistreat me and call me horrible names. She always preferred to treat me more like a servant than her daughter.

"You better get this house cleaned up. A very rich suitor is coming to see my precious pearl" she says dreamy and I quietly nod in submission.

I began to scrub the floors. I could feel Lucinda's eyes on me while I was cleaning.

She then poured some maple syrup while I let out a small gasp of shock. This woman was just cruel once I stared at her. She just smirked.

"This room should be spotless, do you understand girls?" She demanded heatedly.

"Yes your highness" I muttered softly.

I could feel my eyes burning with tears and a painful sob escaped my lips. Lucinda and Maxima walked out slamming the door hard enough for me to hear.

They had gone to fetch the suitor who wanted to marry my step-sister Maxima. I had two-step sisters who were Maxima and Mila.

Maxima was older than Mila by four years she was twenty-five years old, and I was the youngest in the house.

I was only eighteen years old, but I managed to graduate high school successfully too with flying colors.

An hour later I was done cleaning the house a few minutes later I went to bathe and after I was done I went to feed the farm animals. They required constant attention and Lucinda honestly never cared for them.

Maxima was a very well-known super model in New York she went for university in London at a very reputable learning institution.

Mila was in her final year, but her mother wanted to marry her off as soon as possible. In exchange for a large sum of money when I asked Lucinda if I could go to college she simply slapped me across the face and said; "girls like you are not supposed to be educated and you're just a waste of my money".

I hated my life that day and I just wanted to hide in the corner and cry my eyes out. I felt like I didn't have any purpose in my life. I couldn't even have access to my Fathers hard-earned money. I was uneducated and poor; this was how my life was going to be. I was simply Cinderella in a modern world.

Two hours later a fancy car arrived and it was very clear that the suitor was very rich otherwise Lucinda wouldn't have agreed.

A man dressed in a black suit came out of the car. I couldn't clearly see his face. Maxima and Lucinda came out of the car their faces beaming with happiness.

I quickly ran and went to my room. I couldn't let them see me. This filthy cleaning of the stables had made me dirty and sweaty.

" Please come to Sebastian , make yourself at home" Lucinda mumbles warmly.

Sebastian nodded and settled on the sofa opposite her.

"I'll call the servant to bring us some refreshments and I'm sure you must be tired."

"Soledae!" She shouts and Sebastian covers his ears.

Lucinda got up and went to the kitchen.

"Serve us some drinks and give the young man some whiskey on ice" she says boldly. I nodded and began preparing everything I didn't want to anger Lucinda.

A few minutes later on Lucinda's orders I covered my face and wore rags for some reason she said that the suitor shouldn't see my ugly face.

I got on my knees and served the guest his gaze lingering on the black veil I was wearing. He took the glass and his hand brushed mine I quickly pulled away his touch felt erotic.

"Thank you my dear and you're?" He asked curiously.

Before I could open my mouth Lucinda cut me off sharply.

"Don't mind her she's a nobody she's just a servant" Lucinda mumbles coldly dismissing me.

Tears burned my eyes. I collected the glasses from Lucinda; it slipped my grip and they shattered into pieces.

"You useless child!" Lucinda shrieked angrily and slapped me across the face.

"That glass was one of a kind to get out and clean up this mess!" She yells furiously.

The suitor got up and helped me to my feet. Tears rolled down my cheeks.

"I don't think it's good to treat a fellow human being like this," he said angrily.

"If this is how you treat people I don't think this marriage will work out" he said brutally.

Lucinda panicked.

"No Sebastian, don't back out, I am sorry for slapping her in your presence" She pathetically apologized.

"Mom" Maxima whines frowning at her mother angrily.

She tugged Sebastian's hand gently cupping his cheek softly.

"Baby am sorry about my mother's behavior please forgive her and don't let her ruin our happiness" She pleads.

"I'll forgive her only because I love you Maxima" he says in a husky voice his gaze fixed on Lucinda.

I cleaned up the mess and disposed everything in the trash can. I took off the veil and curled my body into a ball. I was just unlucky in this life none of this would have happened if my father hadn't married Lucinda.

MAXIMA POV.

Once Sebastian left I dragged my mom in the corner.

"What has gotten into you mother?" She demanded heatedly.

"Couldn't you have chosen another day to hit Soledae."

Lucinda sighed tiredly.

"Am sorry my dear, but that stupid girl just got on my nerves she broke the wine glasses that I purchased in China."

"Well Sebastian said he would pay you back so stop complaining he hates it when people whine over material stuff" I scolded.

"But he left me this' 'I chirp waving the notes of dollars in my mother's face, and she lets out a small gasp.

"Oh my gosh!" Lucinda beams, grabbing the money from my grip and starts counting it one by one.

"It's 5000 dollars Maxima."

"Hmm that means I'll own the latest Chanel handbags oh mother am happy."

"But I have a little confession."

"What did you do?" Lucinda demands.

"A month ago I met Sebastian's father and mom. I must say the man is very good-looking and super hard to resist" I purr.

Lucinda frowns.

"Don't you dare mess this up Maxima and if you open your legs for his father I'll personally kill you" Lucinda warns dangerously.

"Well he cornered me once, and we kind of made out a little."

"Maxima..."

"Am sorry he was so rough and manly and I couldn't resist him" I pout.

"Sebastian is always soft and gentle and I crave whips and being handcuffed to the bed you know the kinky stuff".

" You slept with his father didn't you?" Lucinda demands.

"Not yet but I can't take it mother" I whine.

"If you mess this up and all the money's gone consider yourself homeless."

"We still have Soledae and her money is still in intact as long as we have her in our hands our inheritance is safe."

"The lawyer will get suspicious and inform the court they'll take Soledae away" Lucinda complains.

"Oh mother we'll figure that out later besides I still have Sebastian, and he's madly in love with me."

"Mila will open her big mouth she always supports that stupid orphan if she dares tell the lawyer about Soledae we'll be penniless."

"Then send her to another country for a couple of years let her do that dance thing that she's always blabbing about."

Lucinda's eyes lit up.

"Am so happy to have you around, you're a genius, my precious pearl."

"Oh mom thank you, but we better go inside you need to apologize to Soledae if you're going to be in Sebastian's good books".