CHAPTER 1

"Miranda, get the drinks from the fridge," Lady Loretta said. She was the older lady of the house, and it was her only son's birthday.

"Okay, Ma," Miranda answered. As a young lady in her early twenties, Miranda wore a pink dress and black shoes. It was nighttime, and they were preparing a birthday party for Derrick Luis, the only son of the Luis family. Out of eight children, Derrick was the only son of his rich family.

Many guests were already present in the Luis family mansion; among them were top admirers, business partners, and their family members and relatives, but the birthday celebrant wasn't at home.

Far away at a luxurious firm, Derrick Luis was still at his office when his mobile rang. "Hello, Mother," he answered the call, and his mother said to him, "Derrick, you know that today is your birthday. So where are you?"

Looking at his wristwatch, Derrick observed it was already 6 p.m. He replied, "I am at the office, Mother."

"Come home, My son. It's your birthday, and we did a lot just to make today a special moment to mark your new age at 25."

"Mom, I am not interested in birthday parties, Mother. Why can't you understand my perspective?" Derrick groaned. His mother was already old, so he couldn't blame her.

"I understand. Please come home quickly before the guests start leaving. If I had known you would stubbornly stay up in the office until this time, I shouldn't have allowed you to go to the office today, knowing today is also your birthday."

"Mom, I cannot set work aside for a party. Who will look after Dad's company?" Derrick asked again. His mother responded sadly, "You are right, but during your father's prime, he didn't skip home for work. He attended parties, or where do you think I met him?"

"Hmph." Derrick rolled his eyes at his mother's words. "It's fine, Mother. I will be home now." He said that, and the phone call ended.

"Running a multimillion-dollar company at this age, and my mother still wants me to prioritize parties over work…" Derrick mused. He stood up from his exclusive office chair, shut down his monitor, grabbed his suitcase, and elegantly left his office.

***

Arriving home in a brand new Prado Jeep, Derrick got out of the vehicle and made his way to his family's mansion. He could hear the sound of music and frowned after seeing many guests' cars that were parked inside his late father's estate.

Walking forward, Derrick arrived at the mansion's exterior. He rang the doorbell, and the maid pulled the door open for him.

"Welcome, Master Derrick," the maid greeted him.

Derrick ignored the maid's greeting and was ushered by his mother, who was in the living room with many guests.

"Welcome, My son. Happy 25th birthday to you," she said.

"Happy birthday, Master Derrick!" All the guests in the living room toasted to the young master's new age.

"Thank you all," Derrick replied, and wanting to retire to his bedroom to rest, his mother stopped him. "Derrick, it's still your birthday. Come cut your cake and make a wish."

Pausing at the staircase to look back at all the faces of the guests—his seven elder sisters, who were all married with kids, and his business partners—Derrick wanted to protest again that he was not a kid and didn't want a birthday party. However, he gulped down his protest as silence fell in the crowded living room.

Approaching his cake that was placed in the center of the living room, Derrick cut the cake, and the guests all beamed happily, clapping for him.

"Happy birthday, brother," his sisters cheered him, and he replied, "Thank you all."

"That's not all, Derrick. Make a wish," his mother urged him again.

"Oh, Mother. I am not a kid," Derrick finally protested, but his mother walked up to meet him as they were all standing in the living room.

"No one said you're a kid, but you're still my baby, so make a wish," his mother pleaded with an assuring smile.

Not wanting to make his mother sad, Derrick wished for a long life, a happy family, and a prosperous business.

"Happy birthday to you again, Master Derrick; we wish you all the best." The guests were equally happy, and the toast continued as the guests resumed drinking and chatting happily.

***

Derrick excused himself from the living room and went back to his bedroom on the top floor of the mansion. Meanwhile, among the maids was Miranda Luis. She had a crush on the master of the house. She was not the only one crushing on Derrick, but she couldn't take her eyes off him.

She openly gawked at his handsomeness. "Too handsome for one person," Miranda thought. She had observed Derrick; he seemed very hardworking. He didn't have time for women and was mostly focused on his business alone.

He didn't even have a girlfriend, and Miranda was eager to get Derrick to notice her. Well, she was a poor girl and came from an orphanage. After her years of serving the elite as a maid, Miranda wanted a better life. She didn't want to return to poverty.

In the Luis family mansion, maids were expected to dress casually. Well, there was no competition as all the daughters of the Luis family were married, including Derrick's most immediate elder sister, Nicole Luis.

"Come on, Alexa, I want to introduce you to my brother. I fear he might be gay. Why won't he have a girlfriend at this age? Don't you find it weird?" Nicole spoke to her friend as she brought Alexa along to her brother's birthday party.

Alexa worked as a secretary at Luis Group, a multimillion-dollar firm. And she would admit that she hadn't seen any young lady come to the office to visit Derrick.

"I don't think he's gay. Master Derrick is just too busy to notice any woman," Alexa replied. She wore a seductive red dress and black stilettos. She had arrived at the Luis mansion just after Derrick left the company.

Alexa Godwin was also interested in Derrick Luis. She wanted him because she was just 22 years old. She knew that having a man like Derrick as her husband in the future meant she wouldn't need to work much or struggle to feed herself, as his family's wealth would be enough to cover all her lifetime expenditures.

"What do you think of Derrick, Alexa? Do you not have a crush on my brother? If my sisters hadn't spoken to me about introducing you to Derrick to work as his new secretary after my leave, do you think I would have accepted you based on friendship alone? Come now," Nicole grabbed Alexa's hand and led her to the top floor, where there were no guests.

Alexa felt nervous. For a year, she had been working as Derrick's personal secretary based on Nicole's influence. She hadn't crossed the line or tried to get his attention. Derrick was a cold man, and she feared what he would do to her if she dared to cross the line.