Chapter 2
*Shit, I lost my job!*
Vanessa's POV.
It had been an hour since they left and I continued to face queries.
I winced in pain as Madam Taylor dragged me by my ear into the kitchen. The hot coffee still stung my face, but the pain in my ear was even worse. I tried to pull away, but her grip was too strong.
"Madam Taylor, please, let go," I pleaded, tears streaming down my face. "I didn't mean to insult your son, I thought he was just some jerk trying to prank me."
She finally released my ear, but her eyes were filled with anger and disappointment. "You thought my own son was a jerk? How dare you? He is the most important person in my life, and you had the audacity to slap him!" I turned mute, and maybe I began to regret my decision for slapping him.
"What is wrong with you?! I told you my son was at the table and you purposely targeted him, now he would never want to visit me." She cried, hitting me again, not caring if her palm landed on my nose or eyes. I was unsure if I would get to sleep well tonight because my face was swollen from receiving tremendous amounts of slaps from her in the last hour.
"You're a clumsy fool!" She yelled. I stood frozen on the spot and continued to let her rain insults and beatings on me. I tried to explain myself a lot of times but she didn't listen. I consoled myself with the fact that I would apologize to her once her mind settles, as far as I don't get to lose my job...
"You're fired," she said and it came at a shock to me, I'd never expect something like this. I felt sweat trickled from my face. "Take your filthy things, and don't bother to resume tomorrow."
"Madam," I fell on my knees, "Please forgive me, it was my fault, I wouldn't make the same mistake again."
"There's no need to test if you would do it again, Get out of here!" She roared.
"Forgive me, where does he live? I will go there personally to apologize to him. I'm sorry." I begged but she didn't listen.
I cannot lose this job, I just can't. I know how much it took me to get a spot here. This was the most decent job for someone like myself with only a high school diploma.
My brother is unable to get a decent job because of his criminal record, my mother doesn't have the energy to look for a job, and cleaning the nightclub at night couldn't earn me half the wages I got as a waitress here.
"Samuel!" She called and the chef came running, not wanting to get on her bad side too, "Take the miserable girl out of my sight. You want to beg for mercy when you couldn't behave yourself for a short while. Don't let me find you around this vicinity for any reason." She warned, stomping out of the kitchen.
It wasn't my fault truly, how would I know that Jerk was her son? He was the one without character.
Samuel squats to my level, patting my shoulder, "I'm sorry Vanessa, you should leave now before she comes back and meet you here, don't anger her more than she already is. You know how she can be," He said.
He helped me up, leading me to the entrance door. I held his hand firmly while we were outside, "Samuel, you're my friend, please ask her to forgive me, pls-"
"I will, you- just go for now," he interrupted. He went back inside quickly, bringing out my tote bag and handing it to me, "I'm sorry," he apologized before leaving me all alone.
Seeing the chef wasn't there anymore, my other co-workers also left for their respective duties.
I sighed hard before turning in the opposite direction of the road. I strolled on foot, the afternoon sun was burning in full blast like a million furnace and it felt like the heat was pouring on my head, I dipped my hand in my bag, bringing out my handkerchief and wiping my face with it. I must have been so stupid to overreact, what will I tell my mother? I lost the best job I've had ever since I graduated from high school and it was all my fault.
I saw a stone in front of me and kicked it away, it didn't go far, just settled two to three steps away from my feet. I walked up to the stone, this time kicking it harder than the first and it hurt my toenail and it made me more frustrated, "shit! I lost my job, what do I do?" I complained when I noticed this golden shiny, pretty polished ring still on my finger.
This stupid ring was one of the causes of my trouble today, I'd have to get rid of it.
I forced the ring out of my finger, throwing it as far away as I could and not caring where it landed.
I couldn't go back home like, what will I tell them? Victor is still struggling to get a job and the whole family depended on the little I earned. I was about to cross the road when I heard a faint call on my name, Vanessa. I looked to see who it was, it was Samuel, he looked like he had been chasing after me for a while, "Shit, Vanessa, did you lose your hearing? I was calling you for so long." He said, panting hard.
"Sorry, I was just so lost in thought-"
"Take this." He brought out an envelope from his pocket.
"Your paycheck for this month, Madam Taylor was serious when she said you shouldn't bother coming back." He said with a pitiful face.
"I'm sorry once again," he turned and left. I was curious to know how much I got, even though I lost my job, I was lucky to get the something at least, and it isn't even month's end. I opened the envelope, about to bring the cash out when someone snatched the envelope from me in a swift. I couldn't see the face clearly, just the outfit he wore, I began chasing after him
"Thief! Thief!" I yelled for attention while running after the shabby-looking boy across the street.
Everyone who looked at me must have probably thought I was a crazy woman who was finally running wild because no one moved to help me. I continued to chase after him all by myself and he was damn fast, jumping on two steps at a time when I met with a car that almost ran over me. I stopped in the middle of the road, shutting my eyes and ears with fear that I was going to die in an accident. The car narrowly stopped. The driver cursed loudly, "What the fuck is wrong with you?! Are you blind?"
"If you want to die, you should go stand in front of a truck, I can't kill a worthless person." He said. My eyes were still shut in shock and yet he continued to curse at me Instead of apologizing for almost running over me.
The car tires screeched in the rainwater which had come to settle on one part of the road as he revised splashing the dirty water on me before driving off.
I couldn't take this, first, he didn't apologize and now he poured water on me, I picked the widest stone I could find on the ground, throwing it with so much energy at the yellow fancy-looking car. Surprisingly, it landed on the back window, breaking almost half of it with a clattering sound.
What the fuck did I do??? I was about to run away when the car revised at full speed this time, almost running me over for real. The driver pulled out of the car, capturing my hand before I could run away.
I hid my face as he held my hand, if I could manage to run away from here without him marking my face, he'd never know who did it and I won't have to pay for the damage as I had no money anyway,
"Don't hide your face from me." He said. The voice sounded so familiar that I had to take a peek at his face, I lifted my head to the unexpected, "You?!" We both said almost at the same time. He was the same Jerk who made me lose my job at Taylor's kitchen.
"It's you again? When did I become so unlucky?!" He complained. He wasn't the only unlucky one, I was also unlucky by meeting him for the second time.
"Get away from me," I struggled but he didn't let me go.
"Where do you think you're going? Want to run away? Not without settlement. You broke my car bitch!" I looked around to catch no sight of thief who ran away with my money, I had lost him.
"It was your fault for not caring if a human was close by when you splashed the water, after almost running me over with your car."
"That's because you deserve it for coming in front of my car," so he did that intentionally?
"Do you know how much my car is worth? You're paying to get the glass fixed!"
"No, I will not give you a dime!" I raised my other hand to hit him in his face since he wouldn't free my right hand. Just like he knew my next move, he caught my hand in mid-air. "You're so stupid that the only thing you know how to do is hit people with these small fingers of yours. I'll make sure you never use them again."
He pinned my fingers in his, twisting both my hands behind my back without mercy. I stomped on my feet countlessly if he would stop but no, he planned on popping out my arms. He pushed me over to the front of his car, making me lie on my chest with my hands still behind my back, "Stop, you're hurting me!!!" I yelled so loud that it drew a lot of attention, people came over this time. Before anyone could ask anything, he shunned them, "Go back to your Fuckin' business everyone, nothing concerns you here."
"You're hurting the lady," one woman said.
"She's my girl, do you have a problem with it? Now run off, don't be nosey." He said in an intimating tone.
Some of the people murmured within themselves before leaving.
He continued to twirl my wrist, leaning close to me to say, "I promised to roast you the next time I meet you, I'm already in a very bad mood, don't waste my time and just tell me if you want to pay or if I should separate your limbs."
"Please stop..." I managed to voice out amidst the pain.
"What? Speak clearly. I can't hear you." He said
This man was trouble and I had to swallow my pride if I wanted to get rid of him. I was supposed to apologize to him and beg him to not let our feud affect his relationship with Madam Taylor if I wanted my job back.
"I said please, forgive me. I'm sorry for getting in your way." I managed to utter.
He let go of my hand after I apologized. I massaged my arms to relieve the pain.
"Saying sorry will not get you out of this, you have to pay for the damage." He looked around for something, not finding it he spoke, Where is my ring?"
"Ring..." My mind flashed back to the time I threw it away in fury.
"Did you sell it?" He asked. I had no answer to give.
"Fuck, do you know how much that ring is worth???!"
"I-I did not sell it," I stuttered.
"Don't lie to me, I don't find it with you. You cheap slate, you sold my ring?"
"I said I did not sell it!" I yelled, but he didn't listen. He stretched out his hand to me, "Pay me now. You owe me my ring, my glass window, and for humiliating me by laying hands on me in presence of all those people. It will cost you $50,000..."
"What the!" I sneered at him.
Chapter 3*Settle Your Debt*Vanessa's POV:"That's ridiculous! I don't have that kind of money!""Well, then I guess you'll have to find a way to get it, won't you?" he smirked.I felt a surge of anger rise within me. This guy was impossible. Not only did he get me fired from my job, but now he was demanding an outrageous amount of money from me. I couldn't let him get away with this."I'm not paying you a dime," I said defiantly. "You can take your demands and shove them up your ass."He looked taken aback for a moment, clearly not expecting such a response. But then his expression hardened and he grabbed my arm again, this time with even more force and I struggled to break free."You bitch, I said you're paying, and you will. I will make you.""I already to you I won't give you a dime, quite stressing, I lost my pay check because of you." I accused him."You're giving me the $50,000 and I want it settled from now till the next two months, everything."Andre POV:"$50,000!!! I can't
Chapter 4Andre POV:Who's getting married?!" My sister's excited voice broke through the quiet of the room, startling everyone. I hadn't heard her come in.She must have greeted our Father before now because She hurried to where our stepmother was sitting, and wrapped her in a hug. "Mother, you're back from shopping?" My sister asked, a smile on her face, and then turned to me and my father, "You guys finally found a match for Andre? That's great! What's her last name?" Was the first thing my sister was concerned with. She was like everyone else in my family who only cared about the status of the people we should be associated with."We fixed your marriage, Louisa." I taunted."You're lying, I heard Father talk about your marriage, and by the way, you're the one old enough to get married here, you're thirty, remember? And I'm just twenty-four, why will I get married before you?" She reasoned."I don't mind, Louisa," I turned to my father, "Dad, we should get Louisa married soon, do
Vanessa's POV:My days started pretty early with my brother, Victor, waking me from my sleep. "Vanessa, aren't you going to work today?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern. I rubbed my eyes and tried to shake off the remnants of sleep. He was wearing an apron and I could perceive burnt food in the air. Did he cook? I asked myself and wondered why he went to the kitchen again as I remembered, he was an awful cook.Seeing his stern look, I realized that he asked a question earlier. "Work? I lost-" My tongue slipped, almost revealing my secret. Panic surged through me, and I quickly recovered, "I mean, I'm on off."Victor raised an eyebrow, giving me a suspicious look. "You lost what?""N-nothing," I stammered, my heart racing. "I mean, I didn't say lost. I said I'm on off." I corrected.He stared at me for a moment longer before letting out a sigh. "You're getting so many days off recently. Did you do something wrong?"I swallowed hard, my mind racing to come up with a plausible ex
Chapter 6Andre's POV:The harsh knock on the door woke me up, only to find out that it was 11 am and I was late for work."Shit," I mumbled. My head was still swiveling from the event of last night. I soothed it with my fingers to relieve the pain. I looked down at myself, I was nude with all my clothes off, and all over the place. How and when did I take them off? I had no idea.It took enough effort to get up from the floor and the first thing I did was to put on fresh clothes before coming back to the mess. I made sure to stay clear of the broken bottles. There was a repeated knock on the door and this time it was accompanied by Stanley's voice."Good morning Sir." He greeted.I didn't bother to respond and went ahead to open the door for him.The moment I opened the door, I flooded him with questions."Did you just arrive now? It's 11 am, Stan, how do you expect to get paid if you want to work for me like this?""Uhmm... Boss, I've been here since 7:30," he stuttered, startled by
Chapter 7Vanessa's POV:The memory of my last conversation with Claire echoed in my mind as I waited for her to return from work. I desperately needed help to deal with the financial mess I was in. The burden of my mother's medication expenses and the threat looming over the stupid car were pushing me to a breaking point. I knew Claire was the only person who could possibly help me out of this mess, but I had to be careful not to push her too hard.I waited for her to come back from work before going to see her.Finally, Claire burst into the room, in a rush to get changed, preparing to head out. "Babe, you're here. I'm going out, we'll see later," she hurriedly said without sparing me a glance, clearly preoccupied."Don't leave, I need your help, Claire,"Her expression shifted slightly, and she asked with a hint of annoyance, "What do you want?"I took a deep breath, summoning all the courage I had left. "Borrow me some money."She looked at me skeptically, "Huh, for what?"I hesit
Chapter 8Andre's POV:The sun's soft rays filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. With a sense of purpose, I readied myself for the day's challenges, my mind already focused on the responsibilities awaiting me at work. I held my necktie loose, going out to find one of the maids to help me knot it when I heard faint sounds of commotion coming from the main gate and I went to the balcony to see who it was. Seeing my mother with the guard, I asked myself why she came here, did she lose all her shame and decide to come so she could be roasted by the Garcias'?"Please, let me see him," she pleaded with the guard at the entrance, desperation evident in her eyes. The guard's stern expression remained unchanged."Madam, my job's on the line if I let you in," he firmly responded. I stood in front of the balcony the whole time, perplexed by how she managed to pass through the estate gate.Watching her plead to see me, a strange sense of satisfaction unfurled. I
Chapter 9Vanessa's POV:I got another job, again with Claire's influence at a small restaurant about 20km from my house, pretty far right? But I have no choice but to accept it.Starting a new job can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. As I stood in front of the modest-looking restaurant, a knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach. The sign above the entrance read "Savory Bites," and I took a deep breath before pushing open the door.The interior was cozy and welcoming, with a handful of occupied tables and the clatter of cutlery against plates. The delicious aroma of various dishes wafted through the air, making my stomach grumble."Hey there! You must be Vanessa, right?" a friendly voice called out. I turned to see a woman in her mid-40s with a warm smile. She was wearing an apron and holding a notepad and pen."Yes, that's me," I replied, offering a shy smile."Claire told me about you," she said, stretching her hand for a quick handshake."I'm Emily, the manager here. Welcome to
Chapter 10Three days later.Vanessa's POV:I finished work early, and then Ms. Emily permitted me to go home early.On my way home, I got a quick notification on my phone, knowing who it was, I didn't bother to open it. He made it a habit to text and flash-call me endlessly over the last few days.On getting home, the house was empty and I remembered Victor informed me that he was taking our mother to the hospital for her routine check. I threw my bag on the chair and went to the kitchen to prepare a meal. After preparing the meal, I took mine to my room to eat. My phone flashed twice before I decided to pick it up but he hung up immediately.I stared at the screen, my heart racing with a mix of fear and curiosity. My fingers hovered over the keys as I typed out the message, my pulse quickening with every tap. "Can you provide your account details for the first payment?"The reply came in, swift and unexpected. A shiver ran down my spine as I read the words: ~The Grand Luminary Hote
Chapter 65Vanessa's POV:It was Sunday. The last day here. The day before we’d fly back to our normal lives, back to work, stress, and the chaos that followed. And perhaps, he'd go back to his former asshole, bossy, jerk self which I kinda miss.I woke up late—so late that I thought I had somehow slept through half the day. The curtains were partly drawn, allowing thin slivers of gold morning sunlight to pierce through. But what jolted me wasn’t the time. It was the absence.His absence.The bed beside me was empty. Cold, like he'd left for hours. His coat, which he had tossed over the chair last night, was gone. No sign of him. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, my hair tangled and puffed from the pillow. I blinked at the emptiness, trying to ask too much questions on his whereabouts. Maybe he just went out. Maybe he had a meeting.I shook the thought away quickly. There was a knock on the door. Room service.“Miss Williams,” a female voice chirped politely. “You’re schedule
Chapter 64Third POV:Rain came without warning that afternoon. The skies, once clear and blue, turned a soft, moody grey. The clouds hung low over the rooftops, and a light drizzle began to tap on cobblestones and storefront awnings. It wasn’t long before the drizzle turned into steady rain, soaking the city with its gentle persistence.Vanessa hadn’t expected the sudden change. She stood at the corner of a quiet street, just outside a vintage bookstore, her arms tucked close to her body as the chill from the rain crept under her cardigan. Droplets of water speckled her hair and eyelashes. She didn’t complain, just stood there, uncertain what to do next.And then, as if he had been watching all along, Andre appeared beside her. Tall, composed, and striking in a dark overcoat that didn’t seem to mind the rain.He said nothing at first. Instead, he removed his coat without hesitation and draped it over her shoulders, the warmth and scent of it instantly wrapping her like a quiet embrac
Chapter 63Vanessa's POV:I don’t know how long I stayed in the gazebo, but it was the only place I could find that gave me even a little bit of cover. The shadows clung to me, hiding my flushed face and jittery hands. The kiss had happened so fast, and yet it lingered on my lips like some kind of invisible mark. I could still feel the weight of his touch, the heat of his palm on my back. My heart hadn’t stopped racing.I didn’t want him to find me, but at the same time, I wanted him to. It didn’t make sense.The sounds of the violins echoed. I was stuck in a bubble that had popped and scattered everything I thought I knew about Mr. Garcia—about myself. What he meant by all these.Then I heard footsteps. Slow, steady, like someone who knew exactly where I was. I didn’t have to look to know it was him.“Hiding from me?” his voice came, soft and teasing.I looked up, and there he was, holding a huge, French-dressed fluffy teddy bear almost half his size. It had a red bow and sleepy butt
Chapter 62Vanessa's POV:I've barely been to parties all my life, but nothing… absolutely nothing could’ve prepared me for Genevieve Laurent’s party.From the second we stepped out of the car, I felt swallowed by a whole different world. Like I had walked straight into a dream... or a movie. Everything glittered. The lights, the dresses, the jewelry—even the champagne shimmered in its glass. The mansion itself looked like it was carved from gold and secrets—tall ceilings, grand staircases, chandeliers that sparkled like falling stars. Every corner buzzed with laughter, clinking glasses, French accents, and perfume that smelled like money.I froze at the entrance. Just stood there like a misplaced child in a palace. I wore a nude silk dress Mr. Garcia had sent earlier—tight in places I wasn’t used to. I wasn’t dressed wrong, but I felt wrong. Like everyone here had grown up sipping champagne while I was still figuring out how to pay rent on time.Mr. Garcia stood beside me like I belo
Chapter 61Vanessa's POV:When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the absence of weight in the air.No subtle scent of woodsy cologne. No sound of faint typing or movement. No silent, looming presence behind me.Just… silence.The kind that made me blink rapidly as I sat up slowly, my body sinking into something softer than the firm couch cushion I had laid on the night before. That’s when it hit me.I wasn’t on the couch anymore.I ran my fingers over the sheets, confused and dazed. My head turned quickly toward the now neatly folded couch blanket resting in a corner, as if someone had gently peeled it off me in the middle of the night.Andre Garcia.It had to be him. He must’ve carried me to the bed while I slept. The idea of his hands under me, lifting me—his scent barely clinging to the pillow beside me—sent a confusing rush straight to my chest.Why would he do that?I rubbed my face and flung my legs over the edge of the bed, taking in the empty room. The tall, sheer curta
Chapter 60Vanessa's POV:I sat stiffly at the round table, the heavy silverware shining under the warm glow of the restaurant’s chandeliers. The conversation between Mr. Garcia and his business partners flowed smoothly, but I felt like a decorative piece—smiling when expected, nodding politely, and pretending that I belonged here.I tried to stay invisible, focusing on the perfectly cooked steak on my plate and avoiding too much eye contact. But of course, things never stayed simple around him.As I reached for my glass of water, Mr. Garcia leaned forward slightly, a playful look in his eyes as he assisted, passing the water to me.“Ah, young love,” Mr. Laurent mused, smiling as if he’d just discovered our biggest secret.I nearly choked.I set my glass down quickly and glanced at my boss, hoping—begging—he’d correct the misunderstanding.Genevieve chuckled softly and placed her hand over her husband’s. “It’s lovely to see Andre with someone who makes him… human. You bring a softness
Chapter 59Vanessa's POV:Later that night, back at the hotel, I tried to keep my distance. But he was everywhere, partially suffocating my space.I was barely out of the shower when there was a knock at the door. I wrapped the robe tighter around me before opening it slightly, only to find him standing there, hands in his pockets.“Did you forget about the dinner?” he asked, his eyes scanning me briefly before stepping inside without invitation. “You need to get dressed.”I gestured to the dress I had already picked out. “I’m wearing this.”The dress I had chosen was a simple black one—elegant but modest.He gave it one look and dismissed it with a shake of his head. “No.”Frustration bubbled. “What’s wrong with it?”Instead of answering, he lifted the shopping bags with him. I blinked. He had lots of bags, and I wondered if he picked half the store."I got more than five dresses. Try them on.”“You expect me to try all of these?" He didn't respond, so I started opening the bags and
Chapter 58Vanessa's POV:He smelt of cigarettes. Sounded like the “something important” was smoking. My lungs were a bit relieved that he was considerate enough to do it outside.He paused in the doorway, expression unreadable, staring with lazy eyes, and in a nonchalant voice said, “What are you doing?”“Sleeping,” I said, fluffing a pillow.He let out a dry laugh. “Get up.”“I’m fine here.”His voice sharpened. “You're not allowed to do that here. We're sharing the bed, and that's final.”He did look serious. I swallowed. There was no room for argument. Slowly, I stood.I climbed into the bed, keeping as much distance as humanly possible from the other side. He disappeared into the bathroom. The sound of the running shower lasted minutes before the door clicked open again.I couldn't help myself. My eyes flickered over to him, despite my best intentions to look anywhere else. And there he was—standing shirtless, with a towel tucked loosely around his waist and another in his hand,
Chapter 57Vanessa’s POV:The moment I stepped onto the plane, I knew something was wrong.Or, more accurately, something was too right.First-class? I had mentally prepared myself for the stiff seats, the cramped legroom, and the congested space. But here I was, standing in front of a seat so luxurious I almost didn’t want to touch it. Plush cream-colored seats, ample space, and an actual menu? This wasn’t just an upgrade. This was a full-blown Cinderella moment—except my fairy godmother was a sadistic CEO who got a kick out of seeing me squirm.I turned sharply to face Mr. Garcia, who was already settling into the seat beside mine like he owned the entire plane. Which, knowing him, he probably did.“You didn’t tell me we were flying first-class,” I asked, arms crossed.He gave me a slow, lazy smirk. “Would it have made you come willingly if I did?”I clenched my jaw. He didn't tell me he was kidnapping me in luxury.“This is unnecessary,” I muttered, gripping the armrest like it mig