Ariana Moreno

I opened my purse and brought out the cash the manager had paid me before I went on stage. The plan was to balance everything after I performed.

Four hundred thousand dollars.

It would at least renew some of my mother's medicines. Now that everything had been cleared, I knew I couldn't go back to the club again. I had to find another means.

I went to the bathroom to freshen up and wipe off my makeup. His teeth marks were still evident on my breasts, his cologne filling my lungs as memories of everything he had done to my body flooded my mind.

I spent hours touching myself, unable to get the scenes and sensations out of my head.

After a while, I finally cleaned up, changed into a proper gown, and lay down on the bed. It had been a long night.

I woke up very early the next morning, dressed up, and headed to the hospital. I shoved the cash deep inside my purse.

On getting there, I went straight to the room where my mother was admitted.

"Mommy..." I whispered softly, pecking her forehead.

"She's slowly gaining consciousness," John said as he entered, a food flask in his hand. He had been taking care of her while I was at the club, moaning beneath a dangerous man.

A sharp pang of guilt hit my chest.

"Thank you so much, John," I said softly, hugging him one-sidedly. "I don't know how things would turn out without you."

"It's okay," he replied. "Where have you been since yesterday, Rina?" he asked, his gaze questioning.

I brought out the purse containing the money.

"I was able to gather this much," I said, handing him the cash.

He collected it and counted carefully.

"This isn't even half of my wages," he said slowly. "How were you able to get this much money?"

I knew John wouldn't stop questioning. I could see suspicion-and hurt-in his eyes.

It wasn't a secret that he had feelings for me since we were young. I had ignored it all these years because I wasn't ready for a romantic relationship. Jealousy and suspicion were inevitable.

"Calm down, John," I said gently. "I didn't get it through the means you're thinking."

I paused before continuing. "You know I've always been good with computers since school. I worked as a cyber hacker for a billionaire yesterday."

I had to lie.

"Really?" he asked. "You know we can still find other ways to get the money. I applied for a loan yesterday, but it was declined because the collateral wasn't enough. But there are still other sources."

He grabbed my shoulders firmly.

"Yes, I know," I said, holding his hands. "Don't worry about the money, John. I'll handle that part. I just need you to stand by me and take care of my mother."

He sighed. "Alright, Rina. I'll do my part too. We can do this... we have each other's backs."

He hugged me tightly.

I went to the doctor's office and made a deposit. He updated me on my mother's condition.

Time was no longer on my side.

I stayed with her for a while, changed her clothes, and trimmed her hair. After some time, I left the hospital.

I needed space to think. I needed a better plan.

As soon as I got home, I lay down on the bed, munching on snacks. I picked up my phone again, scrolling through different business opportunities.

Then I saw a vacancy.

I clicked on it immediately.

A house helper needed.

At first, I almost ignored it. A house helper job couldn't get me fifteen million dollars even in a year.

Then I saw the payment terms.

"Five hundred thousand dollars in a week?!"

Was that even possible?

I applied immediately, filling out the registration form with my details, not caring about the location or other information I should have paid attention to.

In less than an hour, over fifteen thousand people had applied.

I hoped desperately that this would work.

After submitting the application, I lay back down. That was when I finally read the policies and details properly.

Marjorie Estate.

It was very far from my location-almost like moving to another town. The house helper would live there full-time, except on special occasions.

All day?

I had worked as a servant before, but not every single day.

The rules were strict, but I didn't care anymore.

I planned to cook a simple meal to take to the hospital when my phone suddenly buzzed.

I opened the email.

"Congratulations! You have been selected. Physical interview tomorrow at 8 a.m."

I screamed in joy.

"Oh... really?"

God was truly on my side.

Elijah Fiorensco

I found it so hard to forget about her. Since that day, I had been trailing her. She didn't appear like an ordinary girl. Something had definitely chased her into that club - virgins don't just wander into places like that. Her timidness and naivety said it all.

Initially, it was none of my business, but I couldn't control my curiosity about her.

I did my research and found out every detail regarding her.

"Boss, she has applied for the vacancy as predicted."

I dropped the call and smirked. I had anticipated she would do anything to save her mother. Obviously, that was one of the reasons she ended up in the club that night.

I stared at the file on my table.

Ariana Moreno.

Twenty-one years of age.

Graduate. Studied cyber security.

Mother diagnosed with late-stage pneumonia.

Fatherless. No siblings.

The little thing had surely lived a shitty life.

I was the one who dropped the vacancy online - a house help position. I knew she would rush it, and she did exactly that.

I had Kelly visit the hospital and settle her mother's medical bills, with a very strict warning. On no account should the doctors or the director let her know. I bought a very large share of the hospital immediately, indirectly making it mine... just to make sure everyone behaved themselves.

She wouldn't have a reason to work in my villa if her mother was healed.

Maybe fate wanted it this way... or maybe I controlled fate myself.

I thought I could completely let her go, but it felt like a part of me was missing the moment she left. I had never felt this way - not even for Kaida.

I barely slept in the villa anymore, always in the office or caught up with company affairs. Now it was time to return to the villa... it wasn't that bad after all.

It was late at night when I finally packed up.

"You can send the file containing the list of weapons out tonight. I'm heading back to the villa," I said, already grabbing my car keys.

"You mean the villa?" Maxwell asked in disbelief. "Oh... the new club girl from that night?" He burst into laughter. "Can't believe brother's finally settling down. This is going to drive Kaida crazy," he added, laughing like the moron he was.

I threw him a cold glare and walked out of the building.

"Kelly... drive."

He grabbed the keys instantly while I settled into the limousine.

The drive back home was rough and dangerous as usual.

"Welcome back," the servants chorused.

"Where is Mrs. Smith?" I asked immediately. After my mother, she had always been the next person I acknowledged.

"She left for her grandson's coronation. She will be back early tomorrow morning," one of the security men replied.

I walked inside.

I freshened up, lit a cigarette, and sipped bourbon alongside it until I finally dozed off on the couch.

The Next Morning

I was woken up by faint noises outside. I stood up and connected to the large screen, only to find her arguing with the security.

She was dressed more covered and calmer compared to the last time I saw her.

I grabbed my phone.

"Let her in," I said softly, then walked into the bathroom to freshen up.

I could hear her footsteps echoing through the villa - even from the bathroom.

"Hi... good morning," her voice echoed.

She must be crazy, because who the fuck talks to an empty living room?

Deliberately, I came out with only a towel wrapped around my waist.

"Hi, little thing," I said softly before fully stepping into her view.

"What the fuck!!!" she almost screamed.

"You!!!"

Ariana Moreno

I couldn’t believe my eyes. So the billionaire’s villa I had been trying to work for was actually his?

I was still dumbfounded before he finally spoke.

“Worry less, little thing. You’re welcome here,” he said, moving closer to me.

“Like… how come?” I was still in shock. Fate truly is unpredictable.

“Okay, so… Mrs. Smith would soon be here, making it two of you in the house. She’ll guide you on everything,” he said, turning back as if he intended to leave.

“Boss… Elijah…” I stammered, not knowing how to properly address him.

“Elijah,” he corrected calmly.

“When will I have my first pay?” I asked. That was really the most important thing to me—the only thing that actually brought me here.

“It depends on how well you please me,” he said, smirking. One thing he’s undeniably good at is flirting.

“On how well I clean,” I corrected, rolling my eyes.

“We shall see then,” he replied before finally leaving the room.

The living room was wide—big and spacious enough to contain our entire house. Luxurious sofas and furniture were arranged perfectly, everything aligning beautifully with the theme.

My eyes landed on a large portrait of a very beautiful woman—long curly hair, her smile elegant and warm.

“That’s Mrs. Elena Fiorensco, his mother,” a voice suddenly spoke behind me.

I turned immediately. A middle-aged woman, probably in her late fifties, stood there. She looked calm and demure.

“Good morning, ma’am,” I greeted.

“Mrs. Smith,” she said softly, and I nodded.

“Come with me,” she added, and I followed her immediately.

She showed me around the mansion. We had to neglect some areas—it was simply too big to explore in a single day. A gym house, a bar, a lounge, a cinema, and many more.

She finally stopped in front of a room.

“This is a no-go area. Under no circumstances should you be found here, talk less of trying to open it. Mr. Elijah personally locked it himself and always warns us all to stay away from it.”

I was bewildered by the strict rule surrounding the room.

“Is there a reason we should stay away from it?” my curiosity immediately kicked in.

“The reason is because we should stay away from it,” she repeated.

I was about to ask again when she interrupted.

“Trust me, you won’t want to see the young master’s anger.”

I nodded immediately.

“Your payment terms are to be discussed with the young master,” she said.

“What the fuck!!” I blurted out instinctively.

She laughed and turned away.

It was actually fun around her. Apart from Mrs. Smith, everyone else in the house seemed very strict and unjovial. She talked a lot about Elijah and filled me in on more details about him. She had been serving the Fiorenscos even before he was born. She literally raised him and watched him grow.

We cooked dumplings and crackers together.

“The young master doesn’t come here regularly. So strange to find him here,” she said.

“But now I think I know why,” she added with a smile.

She wouldn’t stop teasing me.

We were so engrossed in cooking and chatting in the kitchen when we suddenly heard a loud bang from the living room. We both rushed there.

“Hi, Mrs. Smith,” a lady said.

She wore a black mini skirt that barely covered her laps, paired with a snatched top and heavy makeup.

“I think I told you to always let me know whenever Elijah is back,” she said, moving closer to us.

“Hi, Miss Kaida,” Mrs. Smith replied calmly.

“The young master wouldn’t like it if I kept disclosing his whereabouts. Pardon my manners.”

“And who the fuck are you?!” she yelled at me.

I had been trying to keep my temper in check the moment she spoke rudely to Mrs. Smith. She really wouldn’t want to try me, I promise.

“Courtesy demands you introduce yourself before demanding an introduction—”

Smack!

I didn’t even finish the sentence before she stepped forward and landed a slap on my cheek.

“What the fuck!!”