JOAN'S POV Sadness. Confusion. These were the emotions that filled my heart as I sat in the hospital room. My heart felt like a heavy weight in my chest, and my mind swirled with so many thoughts and emotions. I had no idea what to do. The beeping of the heart monitor filled the room. It was a reminder of my mother’s fragile state. Each beep was a signal that she was still here, but only just. I watched her, my heart breaking at the sight. Tubes and wires were attached to her limp body, her chest rising and falling shallowly. Her face, once so full of life, was now pale. Her lips were colorless, as she lay motionless in the hospital bed. It felt like only moments ago that I was job hunting and them the call came. The panic in the nurse’s voice told me everything before the words even registered. My mother had suffered a heart attack. The ambulance had rushed her here, but she had slipped into a coma. A lump formed in my throat as I gazed at her. She had always been my rock. Now,
The day of the interview finally arrived, and I couldn't help but feel nervous. It turned out that Stephanie did put in a good word for me. I received an invitation via call while I was in the hospital. They formally invited me for the interview and confirmed that my name was on the list. When the day came, I found myself nervously adjusting the collar of the dress I had borrowed from Bea. She was just as excited about the interview as I was and had taken it upon herself to ensure I looked my best. She chose one of her nicest red corporate dresses for me, curled my hair, and even insisted I wear makeup and heels. I had argued with her, thinking I might be overdressed, but now, sitting among the other applicants, I wished I had gone even further with my outfit. The women around me were sophisticated. They looked like they had stepped straight out of an I*******m feed, with their perfectly styled hair, designer dresses, and expensive accessories. I saw at least five of them park th
My heart skipped a beat as I looked up to see none other than Derrick Stonewood himself standing before me.I froze. I couldn't move if I wanted to. My breath got caught sharply in my throat. Here he was, the man whose empire everyone admires is standing before me... Inches away. We were so close to the extent that if we both made one wrong move, we would be pressed together tightly. I was literally just right in front of him. Derrick arched an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by my sudden presence.I stammered, trying to find the right words. "I...I'm sorry, sir" Derrick Stonewood stood tall before me. He was even bigger in real life than he was in his pictures. He was about two times my size. He could practically crush me if he wanted to. I had to raise my head just to look into his eyes. His presence was commanding and magnetic. I know I had just met him but I could tell quite some things about him just from his looks. His tall frame exuded confidence. He was devilishly hands
The next day marked first day of my job as a maid in the Stonewood mansion. When I got to the mansion, nervous excitement coursed through my veins.Before I left for home, I went back to the people who interviewed me. I was excited and relieved beyond words. They gave me a contract to sign which I did after reading it thoroughly. It was an NDA. It made me promise not to disclose anything that occurs in the mansion. Everything I witness here has to remain a secret. I was required to stay in the mansion five times a week. I begged them to make it four times because of my mom which they obliged to. I was also given a uniform which I was required to wear all the time during work hours.Apart from that, I was satisfied with all the terms given. I was shocked when I heard the salary I would be paid. It was outrageous. No wonder it was strictly by invitation. I knew the salary had to be high when I saw the ladies that showed up. It was enough to cover my mom's expenses with time and
DERRICK'S POVI was in my office sorting out some of my work papers.I did my best to focus on my work. I really did. However, no matter how hard I tried, my thoughts kept drifting back to.... Her. Joan.Yes,that's her name. Every single time I closed my eyes, I could see her gorgeous face. Her image was imprinted in my mind, refusing to leave.This is unusual because I just came in contact with her yesterday.I had never met anyone so beautiful... Anyone so mesmerizing. Yes, that's the word. She had the most beautiful pair of brown eyes I had ever seen. I could look at her forever. She had such captivating beauty and an innocent demeanor. She stared at me innocently. I could destroy her if I had the chance. I can imagine doing dirty things to her. She had such a small frame. She was so small that I could crush her with my bare hands if I wanted. I could pin both hands on top her head with one hand and I wouldn't need to use all my strength.Her curves showed in the tight dre
DERRICK'S POV "How's your end of the business?" I asked my sister; Irene "What are the updates?" We were both seated in my office. She sat in front of my desk. She looked focused as she looked for answers to my questions. She typed away on her MacBook as she gave me the documented details she had. "I ran updates on the trap houses here in the city" She responded. "And? Did you go there yourself or did you make use of the spies?" "I went there myself. The spies are working but with what's happened with Bones, I don't want to risk it. We can't trust anyone anymore" I nodded in understanding. She's right. The incident with Bones made me double check all my underground businesses. I thought the few men who were close to me could be trusted. Turns out you can't trust people after all. We have to be more careful. We can't afford this kind of incident again. It's only a matter of time before people start to put two and two together. "How are the houses in Mexico?" I asked her.
DERRICK'S POVI sat at my desk in my office. I tried to focus on the countless papers in front of me yet no matter how hard I tried, my mind always shifted to her..... JoanHer face was etched into my mind. I couldn't help but admire her. She was so strikingly beautiful, and her figure in that dress....I didn't even want to think about it too much. If I did, I would definitely have a hard on. The dress did a good job in bringing out her curves. I liked the view of her in it and I was sure I would like what was underneath it even more. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to imagine Joan in that short maid uniform. I imagined her walking towards me slowly while looking at me with whole time. I just want to grab her by the neck, turn her around and roughly pin her to the desk. After that, I'll raise up her dress and look at her panties. I was sure her underwear would be soaked for me. She's probably attracted to me like I am to her. I can imagine the curve of her ass. I wondered what kind
JOAN'S POVThe clock on the wall struck midnight, yet I couldn't sleep. I was too disturbed by my thoughts. I laid in my new luxurious bed, surrounded by luxury furniture that seemed to belong in a palace rather than maid's room. Emily had graciously shown me to my room earlier, and the sight of it had left me in awe. It was bigger than I anticipated. I sat up in bed and stared at the place for the hundredth time. I couldn't believe it. The room was twice the size of my shoebox apartment. I couldn't believe I had been given my own space, complete with a personal bathroom. I actually expected to share a room with someone or even two people. I didn't expect to have a space as large this all to myself. I sat there, feeling happy and grateful. Earlier, I texted Bea to tell her how everything was going. I also called the doctor to find out how my mom was doing. He told he she hadn't woken up yet. I was worried. My concern for my mom filled my thoughts. I just wanted her to be okay. Look
DERRICK’S POVThe car was filled with an unbearable tension. I could feel it pressing down on me, suffocating me. Joan sat beside me in the backseat. She didn’t look bothered about me at all. Instead, her eyes were fixed on the darkened city outside the window.She acted like everything was normal, like she didn’t just stand up to or subtly threaten a mafia boss. I knew Antonio wouldn’t take it lightly. Still, it was fun to watch. I didn’t know she had that kind of fire inside her.The streetlights highlighted her face. She looked even more beautiful at night. The lights sharpened the soft contours of her cheekbones, the curve of her lips. But what kept me staring at her wasn’t her beauty—it was the fire she had inside. A fire I had totally underestimated. Hell, I didn’t even know it existed.I never thought she had it in her. Not Joan. Not the meek quiet maid who barely spoke when I was in the room. She couldn’t even look me in the eye most times. But tonight… tonight she had proven
DERRICK’S POVThe moment I stepped off the ballroom floor, I could still feel the ghost of Joan’s touch on my skin. Her warmth, her softness—it lingered, and I hated it. I clenched my fists, shoving past the crowd as I stormed out of the ballroom.The air outside was cool, but it did nothing to stop the fire burning inside me. I needed to get away from her, from the way she made me feel—like I was on the edge of losing control.Damn it.I leaned against a pillar in the hallway, inhaling sharply. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I wasn’t supposed to feel anything. I had vowed to never let another woman under my skin again. Love was a liability, a weakness I couldn't afford. Not in my world. Not as a mafia boss. If my enemies caught even a whiff of something—of someone—I cared about, they’d exploit it. They’d use her against me. And Joan... Joan was already too close.Besides, a woman had hurt me before and I’d be damned if I let it happen again.Women. They were all the same. They’d act
DERRICKS’ POVI stood near the balcony, holding a cigar in my hands. I needed it to calm me down.I took a long drag, inhaling deep, letting the nicotine burn its way through my chest. It was the only thing keeping my nerves in check. Antonio had made his threat clear—he would stand against me at the table, and that was not something I could afford. He had a name that carried weight. His father had once been one of the godfathers. That legacy alone made the old men at the table listen to him, respect him. And now, with my seat hanging by a thread, I could not let him turn them against me.I exhaled, watching the smoke curl into the night air. Losing my place wasn’t an option. It was my father’s legacy, something I had bled for, killed for. Everything I had worked for would be undone if the godfathers saw me as weak, as incompetent. I would never get the chance to be the next Don. And Henry, my bastard of a stepbrother, was already waiting like a vulture, ready to take what was mine.W
DERRICK’S POVThe gala was in full swing. Laughter and the clinking of champagne glasses filled the air, but I barely noticed. My attention was elsewhere—on the delicate hand entwined with my own. Joan’s fingers were smaller than mine, softer. Her touch sent heat racing through my veins.Damn it.I tried to ignore it, to dismiss the sensation as insignificant, but my body betrayed me. My pulse quickened, and my grip involuntarily tightened around hers for the briefest second before I forced myself to relax. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I wasn’t supposed to feel anything. Not after what my ex had done to me. I had vowed never to let another woman past my defenses again.But Joan…She was different, wasn’t she?“Did you hear me?” Joan’s voice cut through my thoughts.I blinked and turned my head slightly, meeting her warm brown eyes. I adjusted my features into their usual neutral mask. “What?”She smiled. Her genuine expression made something in my chest twist painfully. “I said yo
DERRICK’S POVI stood in my office. My fingers curled around the stress ball Joan had given me.Another shipment gone wrong. Another goddamn failure.Someone was sabotaging me from the inside.My jaw clenched, and I rolled the ball in my palm, squeezing it so tightly my knuckles turned white. This had happened too many times to be a coincidence. I thought I had gotten rid of the mole, but it seemed like there was another rat scurrying in my team.A hundred million. Gone. The godfathers would be furious. They’d question my competence, whisper among themselves that I was slipping. And if they decided I was no longer fit to lead, they’d strip me of my power and hand it over to Henry, that snake, who had been eyeing my position for years.I couldn’t let that happen.Behind me, Santi and Ace stood stiffly. They knew what this meant, how deep this betrayal cut. But I wasn’t in the mood to hear their excuses.“Who the fuck is it?” My voice was filled with annoyance “Who the fuck keeps doing
JOAN’S POVThe sun shone through the windows of the kitchen. I was standing near the stove, overseeing the staff, just as I always did. The morning routine was the same as every other, but the air felt thick today. I could hear it. everyone could. Whispers, too quiet to catch, but loud enough to make the staff’s movements hesitant, almost self-conscious. There was an interrogation ongoing. Because of the incident last night, saff members were being questioned and everyone was scared. The weight of it all was heavy on my shoulders, and I couldn’t help but feel that I was at the center of it all, the reason for all this chaos. If it weren’t for the attack on me, none of this would be happening. I hated that it had all come down to this.Emily’s voice broke through my thoughts.“They're letting a lot of people go,” she muttered, her eyes scanning the kitchen “Can’t say they didn’t deserve it, but…”I finished for her with a sigh “It’s because of me, isn’t it?”She nodded, biting her lip.
JOAN’S POVThe incident with the masked man left me shaken. No matter how much I tried to push it from my mind, the memory clung to me. Every creak of the floorboards, every flicker of movement in my peripheral vision, made my heart hammer in my chest. I found myself growing paranoid, constantly looking over my shoulder as if the masked man would come out from the darkness at any moment.Later that night, as I sat curled up on my bed, hugging my knees, my bedroom door creaked open. My pulse spiked, and I held my breath until I saw Derrick step into the room. His presence filled the space, commanding as always, but tonight, something else lingered in his gaze—concern."Are you okay?" he asked. His voice was softer and lower than usual, as if he was afraid he’d startle me.I nodded, forcing a small smile, even though my hands trembled slightly against my arms. "I'm fine. And… thank you. For saving me."He studied me carefully. His blue eyes scanned my face as though searching for a lie.
JOAN’S POVThe evening was busy but I didn’t mind. I wanted everything to be perfect. After everything Derrick did for me, I wanted to do something for him too.I stood in the kitchen as I supervised the activities around me. Pans sizzled, knives chopped and I ticked all the boxes of everything we need.“It’s going well, isn’t it?” Ms Sullivan asked with a smile as she walked out of the kitchen.“Sure is” I called after her. Tonight’s dinner had to be perfect, and I was determined to make it so.“Careful with the sauce, Emily,” I said, pointing at the simmering pot on the stove. “It needs to thicken just a little more.”Emily nodded as she stirred. The chef gave me a quick thumbs-up as he continued cooking. I laughed. When everything was finally prepared, I helped Emily and Sarah set the long dining table in the dining room. I made sure everything looked alluring to the eye. I even decorated the table with flowers.“Thank you, everyone,” I said with a grateful smile once the table w
JOAN’S POVI had spent the last few days sewing in my sewing room. My mind was focused only on the fabrics and my designs. I had never felt happier.I was sewing again! I was actually sewing again. And this time, I had everything I ever needed and even more. Designing again was a breath of fresh air for me. It was the one place where I felt in control.But that morning, as I adjusted a piece of fabric, Emily entered the room with a smile."Joan," she said "Sir Derrick has called for you."I froze, the needle halting mid-stitch. Derrick? It had been days since I last saw him. I hadn’t seen him since the engagement. Irene told me he had gone on a business trip."Really?" I blinked, trying to hide the excitement I felt. "I—of course. I’ll go right away."Emily smiled at me, and I could see the curiosity in her eyes. "He’s in his study. And, Joan... I’ve been meaning to tell you—your pieces, they’re incredible. You have such a talent."I looked at the mannequins that were now clothed in t