All Chapters of THE BILLIONAIRE AND HIS MAID : Chapter 21 - Chapter 26

Feeling drowsy, I decided to rest a little. The soft hum of the jet, paired with the gentle vibration beneath my seat, made it hard to keep my eyes open. I glanced at Mr. Damon and Daniel. Ryan was focused on the tablet in his hands, his expression sharp and unreadable, as always. Daniel sat near the back, still and silent, almost like a shadow. Relieved that neither of them was paying me any attention, I let my body sink deeper into the seat. Just a short nap, I told myself. My eyes fluttered shut, and slowly, the noise around me faded into a quiet blur. For a moment, I forgot where I was. Forgot the weight of everything. "Layla...Layla!!" The voice echoed, distant but unmistakable. I turned around, and there she was...my mom. She stood a few feet away, dressed in the same soft sweater she used to wear when I was a child. Her arms were open, her face calm, gentle...the way I remembered. "Mom?" I whispered, my voice trembling as I took a hesitant step forward. But

I froze, my hand hovering over a dress as the words sank in. “We’re going to a masquerade ball?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. The shock in my tone was unmistakable. Ryan turned slightly, glancing at me with a sharp look. “Yes” he replied, his voice calm, as though this were the most normal thing in the world. “You’ll need a proper dress for it.” I blinked, still trying to process what he had just said. “But… I didn’t know about this” I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “Why would you take me to a ball? I don’t even… fit in there.” Ryan’s gaze softened just a fraction, but his expression remained as unreadable as ever. “You’ll fit in perfectly" he said, the slight edge to his voice almost making it sound like a command. I stared at him, unsure of how to respond. “But I...” I started, but he cut me off. “Choose something. The ball is tonight. We don’t have time to waste.” The pressure was building, and I felt my chest tighten. He didn’t give m

LAYLA'S POV Staring at Ryan's back as he talked to some men... probably his business partners, I was lost in thought but also aware of the curious gaze on me. Swirling the drink in my hand, I noticed Ryan glancing back every second to make sure I was still in place. I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly he was thinking. Was he worried about me? Was he just trying to keep up appearances? There was so much I didn’t understand about him, about this whole situation. I took another sip of my drink, trying to blend into the background as best as I could, but it was hard when all the attention seemed to be directed at me. The soft murmur of the room faded into the background as I focused on the swirl of my drink, the ice gently clinking against the glass. A few moments later, I noticed a few more people glancing my way, some of them clearly trying to figure out who I was. It wasn’t just the men, but even some of the women. They all seemed to be sizing me up. My discomfort grew wi