~HUNTER~  

Three years away, and now I was back home. Back to the very place I had sworn never to return.  

It's strange how, despite everything that happened between my father and me, he never failed to remind me why I was able to enjoy the life I was living.  

"Everything I own is yours," he had once said.  

Well, now I planned to leave my mark everywhere until my father's name became nothing but a memory.  

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I didn't bother turning away from the floor-to-ceiling window in front of me, my gaze fixed on the New York skyline.  

The sun was setting, its orange hues flooding the room in a warm glow. It was beautiful, almost peaceful.  

"Come in," I said, my voice sharp but low.  

The door creaked open, and Mr. Tallace, the manager of this hotel branch, stepped in cautiously.  

"Yes?" I asked coldly, not moving from my spot.  

He stammered, clearly nervous. "I... I've carried out your instructions, sir. Miss Brown has been fired."  

At the mention of the name, I arched a brow. "Miss Brown?" I asked, finally turning to face him. I walked to my chair and sat down, my eyes never leaving the trembling man before me.  

"The young woman with a child," he explained, his voice faltering. "The one you asked me to get rid of."  

Ah, yes. Her. How could I forget? Those eyes of hers-tired, hopeless, and scared-were carved into my memory. But it wasn't her that stayed in my mind the most. It was the boy.  

His face was a mirror of my own as a child, and I hated it.  

Hated being reminded of the broken boy I used to be.  

I should have been furious at the hotel staff for hiring her in the first place-a young mother with a child in tow. "The Aurelia" and its staff were supposed to symbolize perfection.  

I had worked too hard to secure our spot among the top ten globally for them to hire just anyone.  

"Who authorized her employment?" I asked, my tone icy. "A mother and her child in my hotel? Imagine what the guests would say if they found out. Some might even call it abuse."  

Mr. Tallace visibly flinched under my gaze, his knees buckling as he fell to the floor. His head bowed low, his voice trembling.  

"I'm so sorry, sir. It was a mistake on my part. I didn't know she would bring her child to work," he stammered.  

"So, you're saying she outsmarted you?" I asked, scoffing in disbelief.  

The girl I'd seen earlier was weak, fragile, and terrified. Those were traits I hated, but watching her scramble in fear had given me a perverse sense of satisfaction.  

It wasn't enough.  

I wanted to see her break even more.  

I hadn't felt anything since I arrived back here-not anger, not pain, not even joy. Just a hollow, numbing void. 

Dr. Logan, my therapist, had once told me it was due to my unresolved childhood traumas. He had advised me to open up to people, try dating, find hobbies, or at least stop burying myself in work.  

But I wasn't the type to listen.  

"That weak thing outsmarted you?" I repeated, the corner of my mouth twitching into a cold smirk. "It seems I need to start cleaning the house. Incompetent workers have no place here. You're fired."  

"What?" Mr. Tallace gasped, his voice filled with disbelief. "But... but, sir, I did nothing wrong!"  

"Nothing wrong?" I echoed, standing as I moved back to the window. "You allowed a liability into my hotel. That, in itself, is wrong. See yourself out, Mr. Tallace, or I'll call security to drag you out."  

Silence hung in the air for a moment before the sound of scrambling footsteps filled the room. Mr. Tallace had no choice but to leave, the soft click of the door signaling his exit.  

Once again, I was alone.  

The sun had almost disappeared now, the room growing darker as the skyline sparkled with city lights.  

I clenched my fists, staring into the glass until my reflection blurred.  

I hated that boy. The one who had stared back at me through the child's innocent eyes.  

I hated them both.  

And I wouldn't stop until everything in this place-everything my father once held dear-was mine to destroy.

~CELINE~

A week had passed since I was fired from "Aurelia." Seven days of dragging Caesar from one hotel to another, filling out applications, and hoping for even the smallest chance of employment.  

The answer was always the same: "We'll get back to you."

Some of them did. Only to tell me I didn't get the job.  

I sat in a small café near Caroline's workplace, fingers wrapped tightly around a lukewarm cup of coffee. It wasn't much, but it was all I could afford. The last thing I needed was for Caesar to notice how close we were to being out of money.  

At least Caroline was thriving. Her family's wealth and connections had paved the way for her to live her dream life. She'd called me earlier to meet her for lunch. Not like I had anything else to do.  

"What can I get for you and this little prince charming?"  

A cheerful voice broke through my thoughts. I looked up to see a brunette waitress smiling warmly at me, her notepad suspended in her hand.  

"Oh, hello," I said softly, managing a faint smile in return. I picked up the menu, but the words blurred together. Nothing on it seemed affordable.  

"Your son is adorable," the waitress said, her voice tinged with genuine admiration.  

I lowered the menu slightly, glancing at Caesar. He was happily engrossed in his toy truck, humming a little tune to himself. For a moment, my heart eased.  

"Thank you," I said, my voice quieter now.  

"He has such striking features," the waitress added, glancing toward something behind me. "He reminds me of him. Is he the father?"  

Her words froze me mid-breath. Slowly, I lowered the menu completely and turned to follow her gaze.  

It landed on a billboard across the street.  

Hunter Reid.  

His face dominated above the city, larger than life, as though he owned every corner of it. My chest tightened, anger bubbling beneath the surface. That smug, arrogant face haunted me even when I wasn't looking for it.  

He was the reason I'd been fired. The reason I was here now, sitting in this café with no job and decreasing hope.  

I scoffed internally. Caesar didn't look like him, not even close. And even if he did, the thought of Hunter being his father made my stomach churn.  

"I don't know him," I said bluntly, my voice sharper than intended.  

The waitress blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Oh... I just thought, with the resemblance-"  

"He is not the father," I cut her off, my tone rising before I could stop myself. My voice carried across the café, drawing curious stares from nearby tables.  

"A man like him could never be a father," I added, bitterness dripping from every word.  

The waitress shifted uncomfortably, her earlier smile faltering. "I'm sorry," she murmured, taking a small step back as though sensing she'd overstepped.  

I clenched my jaw, heat rising to my face as I realized how loud I'd been. My fingers trembled as they gripped the edge of the table. This was his fault.  

Even when he wasn't here, Hunter Reid still had the power to ruin my day.  

I looked at Caesar, who was playing with his truck. He seemed happy and didn't notice the tension around us. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down.  

"It's fine," I said quietly, though my voice was tired.  

The waitress nodded quickly and hurried away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.  

I stared down at my coffee, the lukewarm liquid mirroring the pit in my stomach. No matter how much I tried to move forward, his shadow loomed over every step I took.  

Hunter Reid.  

The man who had destroyed my life with a single, careless decision-and walked away smiling.

~CELINE~  

I glanced at my wristwatch. 1:30 PM. Why was Caroline taking so long?  

With a sigh, I reached for my phone and dialed her number. Surely, she hadn't forgotten about our lunch plans.  

Across from me, Caesar started to squirm, tapping his toy truck against the table. His boredom was my cue to hurry, but Caroline still wasn't picking up.  

The soft ding of the café door opening caught my attention. I looked up and spotted Caroline standing by the entrance, scanning the room until her eyes found me.  

"Caroline!" I waved, relief flooding me.  

She waved back with a bright smile and threaded her way through the crowded tables. As always, she looked effortlessly elegant-her silk blouse and pencil skirt were perfectly tailored, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders.  

I straightened in my seat, suddenly aware of the wild curls framing my face and the shadows under my eyes.  

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long," Caroline said as she slid into the seat across from me. Her voice carried a note of genuine apology. 

"Work's been insane."  

Her gaze softened as it fell on Caesar. "Hi, sweetheart," she cooed, her smile widening. "My godson gets cuter every time I see him."  

Caesar glanced up, offering her a shy smile before returning to his truck.  

Caroline leaned in slightly, studying him with an expression I couldn't quite read. "Those blue eyes..." she murmured under her breath.  

"What was that?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.  

She blinked, her polished composure slipping for a moment. "Nothing," she said quickly, brushing it off with a smile. But something stayed in her expression-something she wasn't saying.  

I let it slide, though her words stuck in my mind.  

"How have you been, Celine?" she asked, her tone kind but cautious.  

"Well," I said, running my finger along the edge of the menu, "I'm unemployed, and my rent's due soon."  

Caroline's expression softened with sympathy. "Have you considered asking your mom or sister for help?"  

I stiffened. "You know I can't do that."  

She sighed, her frustration barely masked. "I get it, but think about Caesar. You can't do this alone forever."  

"I am thinking about Caesar," I snapped. "That's why I'm not dragging him into their mess."  

Caroline leaned back, raising her hands in surrender. "Fair enough. But it's tough out there, Celine. If you need help..."  

"I know," I said quietly. "And I do need help."  

I hesitated before continuing. "If I don't figure something out soon, Caesar and I might not have a roof over our heads."  

Her face softened again, and she reached across the table to squeeze my hand. "I'll see what I can do, okay? Just trust me."  

Relief washed over me, and I managed a small smile. "Thank you, Caroline."  

Two days later, she texted me about a job opening at her cousin's mansion. The position was as a maid, and the pay was shockingly generous.  

For the first time in weeks, hope sparked in my chest. This job could be our fresh start.  

************************

Saturday morning arrived faster than expected. I bolted out of bed to the grating sound of my alarm.  

"Up, Caesar," I called, pulling him from under the covers.  

With no hot water, I resorted to heating water on the stove for our morning wash. By the time we were both dressed-me in a simple black dress, Caesar in jeans and a T-shirt-I was already exhausted.  

We left the apartment, dodging a sharp glance from Mrs. Martha.  

"Morning, Celine. Rent's due next week. Don't make me come knocking," she warned, her voice like gravel.  

I bit back a sigh, forcing a polite smile. "Got it, Mrs. Martha."  

We took a bus, then a cab, weaving through streets that grew more pristine and opulent with every turn.  

"Wow," I murmured, staring out the window at the towering mansions.  

"It's something, huh?" the cab driver said with a chuckle. "Welcome to where the rich and powerful live."  

The cab pulled up to a sleek, glass-fronted mansion, and I stepped out, clutching Caesar's hand.  

The iron gate loomed ahead, its sheer size making me feel small.  

"We're here," I whispered, giving Caesar a shaky smile.  

I pressed the buzzer, startled when a crisp voice crackled through the intercom. "Name?"  

"Celine Brown," I stammered.  

"Do you have an appointment?"  

"Yes. Caroline Crawford referred me for the maid position."  

There was a pause, then a soft click as the gate unlocked.  

I tightened my grip on Caesar's hand and stepped inside. The path was lined with perfectly trimmed hedges, leading to the massive front door.  

A woman in a blue dress greeted us, her expression harsh. She looked me over, then glanced at Caesar with a faint frown.  

"This way," she said curtly, turning on her heel.  

We followed her through a house that looked like it belonged in a magazine. Caesar's small giggles broke the silence, and I squeezed his hand, urging him to stay quiet.  

At last, we stopped in front of a door.  

"He's waiting," the woman said, giving me a pointed look before walking away.  

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding.  

"Well," I whispered to myself, "here goes everything."  

Opening the door, I stepped inside with Caesar. The study was lined with bookshelves, sunlight streaming through the windows.  

A man stood with his back to us, leaning against a shelf.  

"Hello?" I called softly.  

He turned, and my breath caught in my throat.  

Hunter Reid.  

His piercing gaze locked onto mine, and the room seemed to shrink around us.

~HUNTER~

My brows furrowed as I set my eyes on the familiar feminine figure standing in front of me.

"What are you doing here?" I questioned my hands fixated in my pockets.

Celine fidgeted but my eyes remained fixed on her, I watched her every move. She pulled her son closer as she repeatedly opened her mouth with no words coming out.

I was getting irritated by the eerie silence considering the fact that I just asked a question.

"Are you going to talk or you want to use the door?" I further questioned and she finally stood frozen, as if she had finally picked up on what to say.

"No-no sir. I-I am here for the job. The-job-i mean the position of maid." She stuttered through her reply, her voice sounding somewhat shaky but firm.

I lifted a brow in curiosity as my eyes landed on the child in front of her. Everytime I stared at the child, it seemed like there was a connection between us but that would be too illogical to think. 

After all, whatever idea webbed that thought was probably from the fact that the little boy had blue eyes.

My eyes shifted back to Celine's face and even though I hadn't uttered a word, she understood my gaze.

"Sir, I know you got me fired for working at the hotel while having my son play around. But sir, ever since I got fired, I have barely been able to live. My child's life and mine depended on that job and it was taken away from me so I-"

"Are you trying to put the blame on me?" I cut Celine off mid sentence with my interrogation.

Celine shook her head in the negative as she bit her lips nervously, "No no sir. I was just- I was just trying to explain the situation because I know you'd most likely not give me this job because of my son."

"Did the hotel have rules or not?" I questioned, totally ignoring her explanation.

She nodded in the positive.

"Great. Now just like the hotel's employee protocols, this job of a maid also has protocols and I certainly can't employ you if you got a kid around." My tone was clear and sharp.

As I finished, I watched whatever ray of hope Celine had wash away from her face as desperation crawled up on her temples.

She stared at me with brown eyes that sparkled with pleas but her lips were snapped.

I took a look at my wristwatch and I realized I had little time to meet up the meeting I had in the next fifteen minutes, "Please leave." I ordered her.

But for some reason, Celine stood rooted to the ground, unwilling to leave.

"I said lea-"

"-Please sir, hear me out at least!" She pleaded with folded hands.

A small sigh escaped my lips as I lifted my weight off the shelf, "You have five minutes to say all you have to before leaving."

Upon my declaration, Celine stepped forward. Her brown hair was tightly styled into a bun, making the veins on her temple more visible, an evidence of how nervous she felt I presumed. 

"Sir. My child is literally my only family. I have no one else to cater for him in my absence. This is why I have to take him a long everywhere I go, Including to work."

"Isn't that what daycares are for? Don't they take care of kids while their parents are busy with work or did they run out of business recently?" I fired back, leaving Celine speechless.

Celine lowered her head while rubbing her palms together, "I can't afford it."

I was just about responding to her when the voice of the little kid interrupted me.

"Mom, I'm tired of standing! I want to sit down!" 

Celine ruffled his head as she scolded him, "Ceaser please be quiet. I'm at an interview! Just a few more minutes my dear."

Irritation surged through my veins, "This is why we don't allow kids anywhere. It's highly unprofessional. Suppose I give you this job by chance, how do you plan to attend to your duties when you got a three year old following you everywhere?!"

Celine smiled softly, "Sir, I'll honestly manage. I'll ensure he's on his best behavior really. Sir, this job is my last hope and I can't afford to leave this place without being hired. If I do, I won't have a place to lay my head as my rent is due."

I hummed as I stared at her, considering the chances of hiring a single mother who was clearly not ready to work without her child. Would I be able to handle this?

Nah. I don't think so. 

"I'm sorry but I can't hire you." I declared in a firm but icy tone.

Celine's eyes glistened with tears, "Please sir. I really need this job. Please reconsider, I promise you'll not regret it. I'll work to the best of my abilities. Please just give me a chance."

But I couldn't imagine doing that. I knew how kids were like. One minute, they're all cheerful and happy and the next minute, they're wailing for hours. 

I doubt I'd be able to handle any of that shenanigans and when I get angry about it in the future, Celine would still come up with an excuse for me to keep enduring that.

I made up my mind on this and there was no going back. I stared at Celine again, she was doing really well to fight the tears back as she waited for me to speak.

But I uttered nothing. I just circled her body and left the room. I presumed she would be smart enough to understand that I wasn't going to hire her regardless of whatever she said, or did.

But Celine was quite the persistent woman. She tagged along behind me, pleading for the job. This time, the tears had come falling down and Christ knows how much tears irritate me.

When I couldn't hold it in any longer, I turned back, "Will you stop crying?" Celine wiped her face immediately.

"Don't you get it? I don't want you to work for me! What's so hard to understand?" 

Celine's face broke into a frustrated frown as she stared at me, "Sir, you don't understand. If I don't get this job, I'll basically be on the streets with nowhere to go and without money to feed my child. Please hire me, I'll forever be grateful."

Frustrated by her persistence, I came up with a solution.

"I'll hire you on one condition."