Chapter 5

Her eyes snapped open and she blinked multiple times to decipher the strange feel of the place where she lay.

This wasn't her bed, neither was it her room as she could tell through the fine curtain she was staring at.

She tried moving her legs to sit up, but pain shot through them, making a painful moan escape her lips. Turning her head to take in her environment, she found herself face to face with Thane, who was peacefully fast asleep.

Memories of the previous night flooded her mind, and her heart sank. A sly smile slowly crept on her lips, and she reached for his face and placed her palm on his cheek. His body warmth engulfed her once more.

'If only he hadn't been drunk and knew who he had slept with,' Lena thought as her eyes lingered on his luscious lips which had sucked on hers throughout the night.

Giving in to the temptation, her fingers gently caressed the side of his lips, then slid down his neck. Just as she was about to pull her hand away, Thane, with shut eyes, grabbed her hand and slid it further down.

Lena's eyes widened with a rush of excitement as he guided it further into the duvet, which covered both of them and down into his-

"Lena!" a voice called out, snapping her back to reality.

Lena's hands shook as she steadied the vase she was holding. "Hmm?" she replied, trying to sound calm.

"Are you alright?" Alexandra asked, curiosity and confusion etched on her face.

Lena turned away, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" She picked up the duster and began dusting, trying to appear nonchalant.

Alexandra folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. "You don't look okay, Lena. You're smiling, and you've got this... glow on your cheeks. What's up with you?"

Lena's smile faltered, and she forced herself to look serious. "It's nothing, Alex. Don't you think happy thoughts sometimes?"

Alexandra raised a suspicious brow. "You're not thinking about that asshole ex-husband of yours again, are you?"

Lena's smile threatened to return, but she bit it back. "Of course not," she replied, hoping Alex would just drop it so she wouldn't have to say anything more.

Alex scanned the large living room, where about six maids scurried around trying to get it cleaned. "Well, I was asking where you were last night before your cheeks began to rival a tomato."

Lena's heart sank and her eyes widened a bit, but thankfully, she had her back to Alex. Her mind raced, searching for a way to avoid the question, but none came.

She couldn't tell her she had slept with their boss, right? No one would believe that Mr Moneau was so drunk that he couldn't tell his fiancee from a maid.

"Mr Moneau had me clean up the entire rooms on his floor and I lost track of time." She quickly replied, feeling Alex's eyes burn into her skin. "I dozed off in one of the rooms." She quickly added.

Lena finally raised her eyes to meet Alex's and Lena instantly read the disbelief in them. "That's strange. He never lets anyone into those rooms. Why would he-"

"What are you two doing standing around?" Marie called in a small voice behind Alex. But before any of the ladies could reply, the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs echoed through the now silent living room.

All the maids present stood at attention and stared at their feet except Marie, who walked towards the staircase and stood at the foot waiting for Thane and Dante, who was walking close behind, to get to the bottom.

Lena, on the other hand, couldn't peel her eyes off Thane as she seemed to have developed x-ray vision.

It was like she could see through his clothes and everything underneath them. Even though he hadn't given her the benefit of a glance at his manhood while they fucked, she'd felt it, and that gave enough room for imagination.

"You," Thane's voice shot through her skull and almost made her whimper as she averted her gaze to her slightly trembling toes with her heart racing.

She knew she was in trouble if he was speaking to her but despite that; She dared not raise her head at this point.

"I'm talking to you." The strong familiar scent of his cologne clouded her senses, and she was thankful she had double of her maids' outfit or she'd have smelled like his twin when she left his room that morning.

"Are you deaf or daft?" he asked with clear irritation as he now stood a foot from her. Her heart sank in shock.

Sure, Thane was cold and authoritative, Lena could swear she'd never heard him use those kind words on anyone in the house. Slowly, she raised her head and met his intense gaze. A shiver ran down her spine.

The tension in the room grew thicker and suddenly, all she'd felt for and with him the previous night vanished like it never happened. All she saw now was her bully back in prison.

"Sir," she answered quietly, in a shaky breath, as she felt all the eyes in the room turn to her.

Thane studied her face, searching for something even he couldn't fathom. "My room is yet to be tidied. Have you suddenly forgotten your duties?"

'To be your dick pleaser? Definitely not.' Lena thought, her disappointment slowly building. "Y-you were still asleep when I came up this morning. I thought I'd return to it after helping out-"

"Excuses." he interrupted sharply and Lena blinked back a tear. "You've spent barely two weeks here and you're already slacking, Lena."

'What is going on?' Lena thought, struggling to keep her eyes on the man who she seemed like a complete stranger at this point.

"I'm sorry, sir," she apologized, tightening her grip on the duster in her hand as if for support.

"Exactly," he spun around and began walking towards the door. "That's what you'll be when you're back on the streets."

Lena felt her lower lashes moisten and her chest tighten as she watched him leave. 'Did he really just see her as some rag or he really couldn't remember last night?' She thought, as she remembered that he was still asleep when she slipped away.

'But what would change if he remembers? You think he'd leave Tessa Maddox for you?'

"Miss Marie." Thane called as the door was opened for him. "A word, please."

Lena's heart sank and Alex, who was just a couple feet away, gently whispered to her, "What's going on?"

The door banged shut behind Thane, and Marie and Lena knew she'd just acquired a fresh scar.