Chapter 27***Andre's POV:***Outside, I lit a cigarette, exhaling into the air. Just then, the gate opened with a creak, and a teenage boy stepped in. He was in his school uniform, with his bag slung over one shoulder and an AirPod in his ear. Upon seeing Ethan and me, he paused for a moment, then lowered his gaze to the ground and walked past us without a word.The first time I saw her other son, I thought. Ethan patted my shoulder. "Andre, I asked you nicely not to mess this up. Why are you acting strange?" He inquired."Did you see her son? He must be getting all the love he needs from having a complete family," I commented, changing the subject."Ethan, you know I was younger than him when my mother left me? Just a child who had to deal with things on his own. I had no one to turn to back then; my father was in his world." I took another drag from the cigarette before speaking again."I feel jealous of that young man.""Your brother?"I chuckled. "Says who? Just because he's Tayl
Chapter 28Vanessa's POV:Continuation...Upon my return to the office, he had already packed up. I wondered if we were done for the day. Before I could voice my question, he seemed to read my mind."Yes, we're finished. Did you treat your face?" He inquired, and I nodded in response."Pack your things quickly; I'll drop you off at your house." My spirits lifted upon realizing it was only 3:00 pm, giving me a chance to rest today and then the whole day tomorrow. The 8-9 hour workdays throughout the week were taking a toll on me. Traces of dark circles under my eyes were visible in the mirror this morning which meant I needed proper rest."You're smiling?" He quizzed with an amused expression. "Don't get too happy just yet. I'll drop you home, and at 7:00 pm, I'll come to pick you up. Pack your things for the night as well.""Huh? Where are we going?" I asked with a perplexed look; the smile I had earlier vanished."My house," he revealed. "We're working overtime tonight.""Overtime???
Chapter 29Vanessa's POV:"What makes you think she's better than Stanley, brother?" She asked but he didn't give a reply. She exhaled deeply,"Anyways, In case you're firing her soon, we should offer her a job at the mansion, she looks like she fits in here more than working as your assistant. I'd like to see her refuse work from me." She was looking down on me."I'll consider it, Lou." He said, put his arms around my shoulder and we left her room. In the lobby, he spoke again, "You're so quick to find odd jobs, I guess that's why you found another one after Taylor's, just before I met you. That's an aside, you should stay away from my sister, she doesn't like you already." What do I care if she doesn't? I don't work under her, not that I enjoy working under Mr. Garcia.We walked down the corridors a bit more till we got to the room at the end of the space.He brought out the key and opened the door, and with a heavy sigh, he went inside first. He didn't take time to remove his suit
Chapter 30**Andre's POV:**The room was dimly lit, with a sliver of moonlight seeping through the half-opened window, casting a soft glow on her face.I admired her smooth, milky pale skin as she focused on her work with furrowed brows and a serious face. For the first time since our encounters, I felt something different about this girl, not her typical aura that I disliked.She looked different while working in silence—innocent and with a cute, petite face. Something instantly drew me to her as I noticed her hair flying over her face, must be bothering her, I guessed.Moving closer, softly brushing her face as I removed the hair and tucked it behind her ear, I unintentionally surprised her. She jerked instantly, staring at me with widened eyes."Sir, what are you doing?" she asked.Realizing I had crossed the line, I withdrew my hand quickly, scratching the back of my neck, wondering why I even cared if the hair bothered her in the first place.As I explained, her pouted lips stirr
Chapter 31Vanessa's POV:The room seemed more like a fancy store than a personal closet. There were numerous expensive brands, some unfamiliar to me. The colors and varied materials made decision-making tricky.I stood alone in this extravagant place, feeling small beside the tall shelves. Swiftly, I jotted down my needs: a shirt, pants, a vest, a jacket, a tie, socks, and shoes.Most colors were subdued—beige, brown, grey, navy blue, white, and black. Perhaps he disliked bright colors altogether? That might explain why I never saw him wear any.I chose a white shirt with intricate bird patterns and checked off each item. Neatly arranging everything on the sofa, I meticulously matched the ensemble. As I sorted pants and aligned everything, the door opened."Sir, I've readied your clothes," I announced."Ok," came his brief reply.Inspecting the clothes, the next thing I heard was him yelling my name."Vanessa!" I momentarily puzzled over why he'd be calling me and rushed to address h
Chapter 32Vanessa's POV:As we stepped outside, I edged away from him, maintaining a distance, wanting to create some space between us. "Sir, why are you here? I thought you don't come to places like this?" This restaurant is not a place extravagant, so I doubt he'd come here just for himself."You seem ready for a fight, slow down," he remarked casually with a smirk."Ok. Why are you here?" I asked again, trying to be as subtle as I could."You're right, I don't come to places like this, but as soon as I saw you from the glass window, I couldn't help but wonder what you're up to. Who are those guys, hmm? Tell me." His tone was more inquisitive."Well, it's nothing for you to be concerned with, I'm on my day off, and I can spend the day as I wish." I retorted he was creeping me out by interfering in my personal affairs. Spending so many hours with him throughout"Why was your friend wearing the scarf I gave you? That's stealing, did you know that?" He asked, a frown on his face and
Chapter 33Vanessa's POV:"Huh?""Do I have to repeat myself?" he asked, rolling his eyes.I remained with him while he ordered some food and ate alone since I refused to eat anything, giving annoying remarks throughout the whole meal which made me feel the urge to strangle him for real this time.After he was done, he took me back home, dropped me in front of my house, and zoomed off after ensuring that I had gone inside.Before leaving, he gave me a paper containing the list of things he wanted me to do before coming to work tomorrow: picking up new clothes he had ordered and then a box of pastries for his girlfriend.Surprisingly, my mother had been peeping from the window all along, and as soon as we met eyes, she smiled tauntingly, a wide ear-to-ear grin that I hadn't seen in a long time."Hmmm... You're now getting a free ride," she teased. I already felt disgusted as I didn't want to think of where she was driving. Me + him? Never!"Stop it, Mom. He just dropped me off," I defe
Chapter 34Vanessa’s POV:My shoulders ached as I finally finished sorting through the endless stack of papers, each one a reminder of Mr. Garcia's relentless demands. The clock read 10:30 PM, and I felt like a puppet whose strings had been cut. Even in this state of exhaustion, his last words echoed in my head, pushing me to finish everything. I was supposed to see a doctor for my bleeding nose, but there was no way I could leave the work halfway through. I decided to spend the night at the office and finish the work.The next morning, he was so early as always, and I had to give him the work to evaluate. While looking at the papers, the look on his face wasn't encouraging. He had this nonchalant attitude that made me regret spending my night at the office. I should have gone home and waited for him to punish me, I thought.He threw the papers to the sofa, scattering them across the room, and then turned to me."Williams, why do you look so tired?" he asked, making me feel like punch
Chapter 44"Shhh... It's morning," she whispered, blinking dramatically. "And if I don't prepare, that jerk is going to punish me by making me redo all the work, Claire.""What's Claire?" He twitched."Don't ask that." She fanned him off, wobbling. "You know him. The jerk with the Ferrari."Andre’s lips pressed together. "Jerk with the Ferrari?" That was what she thought of him?"I just want to work, but he won't let me. Maybe we should strangle him for real this time, Claire." She clapped her hands, giggling, hopping in place.Andre had had enough.He grabbed her and pulled her with him onto the bed."C'mon, to bed now." His voice was firm.For once, she didn’t fight him.She was too tired.Her eyelids fluttered shut, her breathing evening out as sleep finally claimed her.Andre was about to switch off the lamp when something caught his attention.Her lips.Pouted, soft, slightly parted.For a while, he noticed just how beautiful she looked tonight. Maybe it was the makeup, maybe it
Chapter 43Vanessa stirred in Andre's arms as he carried her to his room on the top floor. Her fingers clutched weakly at his shirt, and she mumbled his name, her voice barely coherent."Stay still," he instructed, setting her down on the bed.She giggled, her words slurred. "You're so bossy."Andre sighed, running a hand through his hair. Whatever they had given her was making her loopy. She wouldn't stop squirming, her clumsy attempts to assist herself is only making things worse."Williams, lie down," he said firmly."But I don't want to," she pouted, her lips forming a stubborn curve."Too bad," he muttered, gently pressing her back against the pillows.For a brief moment, her expression softened. Her gaze locked onto his, filled with such raw vulnerability that it caught him off guard."Why are you so mean to me?" she whispered, her voice trembling.Andre froze. He hadn't expected that, but he answered anyway, "I don't know.""Do you hate me?" she continued, her eyes glistening w
Chapter 42While speaking with the guest, Andre’s instincts flared like a warning siren. Something felt off. He scanned the crowd, searching for Vanessa. She wasn’t at the bar front where he’d last seen her, and a knot of unease tightened in his chest. He spotted Louisa slipping back into the ballroom, her expression far too smug. His eyes narrowed. She was up to something. He returned to the guest and excused himself with a small smile. "I'll be back." “Where is Vanessa?” he demanded, striding toward Louisa. Louisa feigned surprise. “What's that?” "My assistant isn't where I left her. Where is she?" She frowned at him. "How should I know? She's a grown up and very sly, she could've gone anywhere. And secondly, I can't be seen with someone who humiliated me in front of the crowd." Andre’s jaw clenched. He didn’t believe her for a second, but he had nothing against her. "Forget it, it's no use speaking with you," he said, turned, and stormed off to begin a search for her.
Chapter 41Andre's POV:The sound of glasses clinking and muffled laughter echoed from the party hall, but my focus wasn’t on the party. I had one thing in mind, and that was finding Louisa. I knew exactly what she was trying to do, and I wasn’t going to let her get away with it this time.I found her near the balcony, mingling with a group of socialites. Her laugh was too loud, her gestures exaggerated. When she saw me approach, her smile faltered.“Louisa,” I said sharply, and her friends immediately fell silent. “I need to speak with you. Now.”"I'm busy," she hesitated, her eyes darting to her friends for support, but they quickly excused themselves. Smart move.“What is it, Andre?” she asked, feigning innocence.I didn’t bother with pleasantries. “Why did you do it?”“Do what?” she replied in a light voice, still feigning ignorance, and it fueled my anger. "You fucking know what I'm talking about. Why did you have to humiliate her? A maid's dress, really?"Her lips curled into a
Chapter 40Vanessa's POV:"Where is the dress I sent you?" Mr. Garcia asked again, his tone sharp and unyielding.My heart stuttered. He sent me a dress? No—this had to be some kind of mistake. All I’d received was this plain waitress uniform.I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. “That’s what was delivered to me,” I whispered, my voice trembling.Mr. Garcia’s expression flickered—confusion, irritation, and something else I couldn’t decipher.Louisa’s mocking laughter echoed in my mind, her smug expression flashing before me. It didn’t take much to piece it together—she had to be behind this. But why? What had I done to deserve this? I might have slapped Mr. Garcia and broken his car, which landed me a job here, but what had I done to her? I didn’t even know her.Realizing I might have misunderstood him, I tried to speak, “I—”He pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something under his breath before turning back to me with his sharp, piercing gaze. I was still trying to wipe
Chapter 39Vanessa's POVI stared at the pretty, luxurious box resting on my bed, its pristine wrapping mocking me. A sigh escaped my lips, the kind that came from the pit of your stomach when you knew nothing good was coming. The note taped to the top read: "YOU MUST ATTEND." It was spelled in capital letters to show how serious he was.The words felt like a direct jab, one of his endless tactics to remind me of my place. It didn’t matter what I wore, how I presented myself, or how much effort I put into the tasks he gave me—Andre Garcia always found a way to make me feel like a fool.For a moment, I debated whether I should even open it. My fingers hesitated over the lid before finally giving in. Inside was a folded uniform, its crisp white and black lines a clear signal of what my role at the event would be: a waitress.I clenched my jaw to keep the wave of anger at bay. This wasn’t just about making me work at a party; it was about humiliation. He could’ve sent someone else to do
Chapter 38Vanessa's POV:The evening’s charity event had reached its crescendo, and exhaustion tugged at every fiber of my being. My feet, stuffed into the torturous heels Claire had insisted I wear, ached so badly that I could feel blisters forming. Every step of mine was a reminder of how I had allowed fashion to trump comfort—a decision I would regret for hours.I limped toward the matrons' office to grab a few documents when Mr. Garcia appeared from around the corner, his sharp eyes scanning me. His usual cold expression softened, if only slightly.“You look like you’re in pain,” he remarked, the gentleness in his tone catching me off guard.I forced a smile, wincing as I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “It’s nothing serious, just these heels. They’re killing me,” I admitted, figuring it wouldn’t hurt to share.Without a word, he took the files from my hands and gestured for me to sit down on one of the chairs lining the hallway. He left before I could protest, and
Chapter 37*Nostalgia*Vanessa's POVI ran my hands down my dress for what felt like the tenth time today, smoothing out invisible creases while my feet ached from these cursed heels. I didn’t know what had possessed me to wear this outfit. Maybe it was because of Mia's mocking comment this morning about how I'd look “too plain” for the event. I didn’t want to stand out, but something inside me felt the need to prove myself—even if it was just for today.Now, I was starting to regret it.Everything was chaotic, as usual, and I had been juggling errands since sunrise. When Mr. Garcia summoned me with his typical sharp tone this morning, I knew the day would be anything but smooth. I should’ve known better than to hope he’d give me even a hint of appreciation for my efforts.The man was a walking storm.At the orphanage, while sorting the gifts for the children, I heard him approach. The moment his voice cut through the air, I stiffened, my shoulders tensing instinctively. I’d gotten us
Chapter 36*Caught Off Guard*Andre's POV:I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my tie and admiring the sharp lines of my suit. It was perfect, as usual. Every detail was in place, and I felt the usual surge of power and control that came with my position. But inside, I was a mess. The morning had been chaotic, with me barking orders left and right. Vanessa had been running non-stop, handling my countless errands as always.Today was the annual charity event at the orphanage, a big family affair that every member of my family had to attend. The place was buzzing with activity. My friend Ethan was here, representing his family’s company, and a few of my father’s associates were also around.While the orphanage manager spoke to me, I couldn’t help but glance at Vanessa. She looked different today, almost glowing in the sunlight. She wore a beige patterned thigh length dress, with a touch of makeup, and her hair was neatly clipped to the top of her head. Something about her appearan