After a few days of doing nothing but sleeping and binge-eating, Elena sat slouched in the sitting room. Her laptop was open in front of her, but she didn't touch it. She stared blankly at the screen.

"Anything yet?" Sienna asked as she walked in with a bowl of popcorn.

Elena gave a slow shake of her head. "No employment needed anywhere," she muttered, standing up only to flop beside Sienna on the sofa with a groan.

"That's crazy," Sienna said, offering her the bowl. "Let's just wait a few more days and see what comes up."

"Yeah. I'm not in a rush. I'll take my time," Elena said, popping a kernel in her mouth.

Sienna nodded, still scrolling through her phone. "Wait... Elena," she began, pausing. "I know last time you mentioned maybe taking a waitress job..."

Elena didn't even glance her way.

"I know, I know....having a Master's and ending up waiting tables? That's a tough pill to swallow. But hear me out. What if you try this nanny job instead?"

"Nanny?" Elena echoed, clearly uninterested.

"Yeah," Sienna replied, her tone brighter. "It's only for a month. You can do it while still job hunting. Keeps you active and sane."

Elena stared into the distance. "I'll think about it," she replied flatly.

"Please do," Sienna said, grabbing a handful of popcorn. "'Cause the pay is good."

Elena's head turned so fast it was like her battery just got recharged. "How good are we talking?"

Sienna smirked. "Eight figures."

"Whaaaaaaatttttt?!" Elena practically screamed, her eyes flying open.

.....................

"No, I'll make sure to put her in her place," the lady said with a confident flip of her hair.

Chris looked at her for a beat, unimpressed. He scribbled something on his notepad, then muttered, "Next."

The woman blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Thank you for coming," Chris replied flatly, already turning to the next applicant.

The next woman sat down, a bit too relaxed. "Well, what I'll do is super simple," she said, crossing her legs. "If the child misbehaves, a timeout. Or maybe a little clean-up punishment. Kids learn fast."

Chris raised an eyebrow. "Not his kid," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. "Next."

He waved her off without another word, scribbling a big X beside her name....

The notepad in front of him was nearly full of crossed-out names.

A young woman with bright red lipstick and overly high heels sat across from him.

"Do you have experience with children?"

"Well, I watched my little cousins once at a party until one of them disappeared. But I found him eventually!"

Chris blinked. "Next."

A man in a suit three sizes too small leaned forward with a grin.

"I sing to calm kids down. Want me to... "

"Neeeeexxxxxxt."

........

A woman in a sparkly blouse held up flashcards.

"These are my custom-designed discipline cards. I invented a reward system based on zodiac signs."

Chris didn't even lift his head. "Next."

.........

A girl chewed gum loudly while texting.

"Kids love me. I let them do whatever they want."

Chris slowly raised his eyes, chewing back a sigh. "Neeeeeeexxxxxxt."

Finally, he looked at the clock and groaned under his breath. "At this rate, I might as well move in and raise the kid myself."

Chris's phone rang and he picked it up instantly. "Mr Damien Hughston."

His posture straightened. "Yes, sir," he muttered respectfully, already rising to his feet.

"I'll be at the airport soon," he added, snapping the notepad shut.

Without another word, Chris strode out of the room....

.....

A sharp knock hit the door. Elena, still in her hoodie and pyjama shorts, sighed and dragged herself off the couch.

She opened the door and froze.

There he was.

"Ray?" she breathed.

He gave a sheepish half-smile. "Hey... you look... good."

She didn't say a word. Just stood there.

Ray glanced down awkwardly, then back at her with his signature fake-sincere eyes. "Look, I know I'm probably the last person you want to see"

"You think?" Elena cut him off as she crossed out her arms.

"I messed up, okay?" he said quickly. "I panicked. I wasn't ready back then. But I never stopped thinking about you."

She let out a dry laugh. "Three years of silence and now you're suddenly haunted by my memory?"

"I saw your picture online," he added, as if that explained everything. "And I realised... God, I was such an idiot. You're the one that got away."

"No," Elena said coldly. "I was the one you let walk away."

He stepped closer. "Elena, I made mistakes, I admit that. We should've gone ahead with the wedding and all I know is I messed up and... "

Before Ray could finish, a sharp voice cut in.

"Do you know what else is going to be messed up if you don't get the hell out of here?" Sienna's voice rang loud and clear from behind him.

He barely had time to turn his head before..

SPLASH.

A full bucket of iced water drenched his back and shoulders.

Sienna stood there, holding the now-empty bucket like a weapon. "Your clothes," she muttered coldly, stepping forward to block Elena completely. "Do you even realise what you did? You wasted six years of her life just to show up three years later like some pathetic rerun?"

Ray opened his mouth.

"Bro, save it. Get lost before I call the cops," Sienna snapped her eyes blazing.

Before he could argue, the door slammed shut in his face..

Elena let out a slow breath. "Thanks."

Sienna exhaled too. "I swear, if he ever shows up again, I'm bringing pepper spray."

Elena arrived at the estate for the nanny position, walking in with a mix of nerves and uncertainty. The place was grand... too grand. She felt slightly out of place, a bit under dressed which gave off a small fish-out-of-water vibe.

"For the nanny offer?" a gentleman in a sharp navy suit asked, meeting her halfway down the corridor.

"Yy..Yes," Elena muttered.

"Alright, come with me," he said, already turning to lead the way.

He guided her through a set of wide doors into a large waiting lobby. A few other women were already seated, most of them looking polished and overly confident.

Elena had barely lowered herself into a seat when she heard a loud voice from inside.

"Neeeext!"

A lady with perfect posture and glossy curls walked out, barely looking at the others as she passed.

Another went in. Then another. It became a cycle. A series of "Next!" moments.

Elena's heart pounded. Her throat felt tight.

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves Just as she tried to stand up to adjust her side a glass frame up above her fell and scattered on the floor

She gasped, heart racing in her chest. The sound startled everyone...as their heads turned, and a few of the candidates gasped out loud.

"What the actual" a deep, irritated voice rang out from the far end of the corridor.

Elena's heartbeat skipped, and she turned sharply toward the voice.

A 6'2 tall man in a dark suit stood at the far end of the hall.His jaw was sharp, and his eyes looked very serious.

Elena's breath caught.

"He... he's..." she whispered, voice thinning as her chest rose and fell in panic. She couldn't finish the sentence before a rush of heat surged through her.

"Make me forget my problems," his voice echoed from the past, deep and rough. "And I'll make you forget yours."

Even under the mask, his eyes had burned into her soul.

She remembered how he'd grabbed her by the neck, not hard, just enough to steady her. Just enough to take control. Her back against the wall. Her body was trembling.

And before the alcohol could fully cloud her senses, he was already kicking her rose with so much soft pressure on the bed, skin to skin, heat meeting heat... He removed his mask without a word, while in the heat of the moment, he lowered his body against hers, and now it was chest to chest rubbing and greeting each other.

A painful, pleasure-laced moan had escaped her lips that night as her face tilted toward his and for the first time in that night, she saw him clearly without the mask, his muscular face rubbing teasingly on her belly...

"Hey!!!!!!"

The sharp voice yanked her back to the present.

Elena snapped out of the memory like waking from a fevered dream

Her eyes widened, locked on the man approaching.

"He's the one..." she whispered under her breath.

Her gaze clung to him, wild and stunned, as he walked toward her.....

How dare you?" His voice was sharp and cutting through the room like a blade.

As the other candidates all stood there fearing for her.

Elena instantly dropped to her knees, panic rising in her chest as she tried to gather the shattered glass.

"I.. I'm sor... sorry," she stammered, her fingers trembling as they grazed over the broken pieces.

"Sorry?" he scoffed, stepping closer. "Do you even know how much that cost? That could buy your entire existence."

Her throat tightened. The words stung more than she expected. Still kneeling, she kept fumbling with the shards, her heart pounding in her ears.

Before she could respond, he yanked her up with a force that sent a shock down her spine, and her back collided with the wall behind. She gasped more from the closeness than the impact.

Elena's eyes widened. He was towering over her now, his tall frame leaning in, just like that night. The scent, the stare, the storm in his gaze.... it was all there.

"I will make you pay," he said with a deadly look.

"Mr. Hughston! You're here," Chris called out, rushing from the interview room.

He stopped in his tracks, his eyes flicking from the shattered frame on the floor to Damien standing tall over a woman frozen in place.

"Pick her," Damien muttered without turning.

"Huh?" Chris blinked. "Mr. Hughston... "

"She's going to work. To pay for this," Damien said coldly, his eyes briefly dropping to the glass fragments. "Start her today."

Chris looked like he wanted to object, but Damien silenced him with a look.

"They can all go home," Damien added, gesturing toward the waiting candidates.

Then his eyes locked onto Elena's trembling self.

"And you..." He said, voice like steel, "Don't even think of running. If I have to tear the world apart to find you, I will. And I promise you, I will."

With that, he turned and walked out...

"I'm sorry, ma'am. Hope you're not hurt," Mr Chris said gently as he stepped a little closer.

Elena gave a small nod, still shaken.

"Please, come with me. I need to take your details before we head to the penthouse," he added, motioning toward the office and walking ahead.

She followed quietly.

After a short while, once the paperwork was done, Chris led her outside... right to a shiny, black limousine waiting by the curb.

Elena's eyes widened. "Oh my..." she whispered, unable to hide the tiny spark of surprise and maybe, a flicker of excitement rising in her chest.

Arriving gave Elena everything she needed to know; rich wasn't even the word. This was another universe.

She almost gasped when the large glass doors slid open, revealing the sight inside. Every inch of the space looked intentional from the soaring ceilings to the sleek marble floors, from the modern art pieces to the sprawling glass windows that let in golden daylight.

"This is where you'll be for the next month," Mr Chris said, giving her a sharp glance before continuing forward. "Welcome to the Hughston Suite."

Elena gave an awkward smile, trying to keep her jaw from dropping. In all her 27 years, she had never seen luxury like this.

"Come on, let me show you your room," he said, leading her down a quiet corridor.

After a light touch on a digital panel, the door slid open. Her eyes widened as she stepped inside. It wasn't just a room... it was practically an apartment. A private kitchen, sitting area, two neatly made beds, and a walk-in wardrobe stood in place like a hotel dream.

She turned slightly. "Am I sharing this with someone?" she asked, almost not believing it.

Chris let out a chuckle. "No. This is all yours."

Elena blinked. What? This wasn't just a job...it felt like a surprise from a movie.

Chris stepped further in. "Now, a few things to note. You'll avoid the West Wing completely. Mr Hughston values privacy. You're also not to be seen wandering around when not on duty. Any messages or questions must be dropped in the communication box over there." He gestured to a shiny silver slot near the hallway. "No face-to-face contact unless absolutely necessary."

She nodded, absorbing it all.

"One more thing Mr. Hughston's son will return from Paris in three days. Until then, use this time to familiarize yourself with the layout. You may relax, but remember you're on the clock."

Elena nodded again. "When exactly do I start?"

Chris glanced at his watch. "Now. Your work begins today."

"Ohhh, I need to go grab a few of my things," she said quickly.

"Not necessary," he replied. "I'll arrange for a private stylist to bring in clothes for you to choose from. Just let me know what else you need and it'll be taken care of."

Elena's eyes widened but not enough to pluck them out

...........................

"We still haven't gotten any trace of her, Mr Hughston," Thomas, the investigator, said as he stepped into his office.

"It's been three years. We've done everything we could, sir."

Damien turned slowly from the window, his back stiff, but his eyes, cold and sharp, said everything.

"If you need more people, more resources...... take them," he snapped.

"Just find her."

Thomas shifted uneasily. "We'll do our best. We're thinking of revisiting the club... maybe someone remembers something, someone who might know something."

Damien's

"She's out there, walking around like she didn't burn herself into my memory.

Like she didn't ruin me for anyone else."

He stepped forward,

"Find her, Thomas. Or I will."

...........

"Wait... whatttttttt?!"Sienna's voice bounced off the walls.

She dropped the bowl of cereal she was holding, eyes wide. "You're telling me the man you had a one-night stand with...the man is your new boss?"

"Yes,"Elena muttered, her hands slowly touching the things in her new place.

"Elena!" Sienna practically screamed. "The masked man from the hotel room... the one who had you screaming like a horror movie soundtrack"

"Sienna!"Elena cut in, flustered. "Lower your voice."it sounded 10 times louder on the speaker

" Girl, no. We are not skipping past this. That's fate slapping you right across the face with drama!"

Elena exhaled hard." It doesn't matter. He doesn't even recognize me. I wore a mask. He probably forgot the whole thing right after."

"And you're just gonna let it slide? Not tell him? This could be your chance!"

Elena's voice hardened. "There's no way I'm putting myself out there like that. You don't get it, Sienna. If he finds out, I could lose this job. He's cold. Distant. And let's not forget he left me in that hotel room like I was nothing. It was just fun for him.. nothing more."

Sienna stared at nothingness

" Wow. That's cold."

Elena nodded quietly. "Exactly, so I just have to stay cool for this one month, do my job and stay invisible.

" Someone is here" she added

Elena quickly ended the call and rushed out of her room, almost colliding with the still air of the luxurious hallway. Her footsteps halted as she caught sight of him, Mr Damien Hughston, walking in like he owned the entire world. Which, judging by this house, he just might.

She lowered her gaze slightly as she spoke..

"Good morning, sir."

He didn't stop walking. Didn't even glance her way.

"Don't speak unless you're being spoken to," he said in a cold voice that cut through the quiet.

Elena's lips pressed together as she stood frozen in place. She turned slowly, eyes following him. Her brow furrowed slightly, something dark and complicated tightened in her chest.

....................

The moment the door shut behind him, the atmosphere shifted. Instantly, everything felt... different. Calmer. Colder. Like the air itself belonged to someone who didn't invite mess or noise.

Damien moved down the long hallway, white walls and polished floors stretching ahead like a tunnel. The place was spotless. Almost sterile. Every inch whispered money, not the flashy kind, but the kind that didn't need to prove anything

Without pausing, he moved to the far wall, where a seamless silver panel waited. With one tap, the hidden elevator slid open. Yes.... an elevator.....Inside a bedroom...Shocked? Mee too

The elevator took him up to the upper level of the penthouse his private space. The doors opened into a massive room with floor-to-ceiling glass, and in the middle of it all, there was a long pool that shone like blue jewels.

Damien tossed his shirt onto the massive bed without a glance. The fabric landed silently, leaving him bare from the waist up....his upper body was strong and fit, like someone who worked hard every day. His muscles moved as he walked.

He stepped to a nearby console and pressed a button.

A panel slid open in the wall, revealing a high-resolution image. A woman in a mask. Her eyes were hidden, but her lips were slightly open. Her hair was tied back, showing the smooth curve of her neck.

His gaze darkened. Jaw clenched.

Where are you...?" he muttered with longing and frustration.

Without waiting, he walked toward the pool. The water was so still, it showed his reflection like a mirror. Then, with one strong move, he dove in, slicing through the water like a knife.

Under the surface, he swam fast and fierce. Like someone trying to escape a memory that wouldn't let go.