Chapter 2

As Alexa and Nicole excused themselves from the rest of the guests and went upstairs, Miranda—who was serving drinks—had already heard their conversation. Whenever a conversation had to do with Derrick, Miranda was alert.

The top floor was off limits. Derrick hated to be disturbed, and Miranda was well aware of this. But she also wanted to know what Alexa and Nicole were going to do on the top floor.

Seeing how beautiful Alexa and Nicole looked in their floor-sweeping dresses, Miranda could only feel jealous, wishing she weren't a maid. Aside from being a maid, she had managed to gain some college education, but she couldn't resign from her contract yet—not when she admired the most handsome man on the planet.

"Ouch! Watch where you're going!" a guest yelled at Miranda for stepping on her toes. Losing her grip, Miranda let the tray slip from her hands, staining the guest's white dress.

"How dare you, a lowly maid, stain my white dress? Do you know how much this outfit cost?" The guest was annoyed. She was a young woman of Miranda's size, and seeing that the celebrant wasn't interested in mingling with the guests had only fueled her irritation.

"I am sorry," Miranda began, but before she could finish her apology, the guest landed a hot slap on her left cheek.

"You are not deserving to be a maid here! Get out!" the guest yelled, and her voice turned the living room silent.

Lady Loretta was shocked and chided the guest. "Melody, that's not how to treat your fellow lady. She made a mistake and apologized to you in front of everyone. Come, Miranda," she called Miranda back.

"Show Melody to the room upstairs. I think Nicole still has some spare clothes left in her room from before she got married last year."

"Okay, Ma. Come with me," Miranda said to the angry lady, who now looked happy to be taken upstairs for a change.

While the bodyguards stood watch around the mansion and in the living room, the jubilation continued below as Miranda went upstairs with Melody.

~~~~~~~

Melody was happy to be away from the living room and asked Miranda, "Where's Master Derrick's room?"

Miranda didn't want to be friendly with the lady who had dared to slap her. The lady was fair-skinned like her—Miranda was naturally fair, even without using any toning lotion.

"Can't you speak?" Melody yelled at Miranda again. Miranda wouldn't tolerate all that insult in one day from a guest scolding her.

"What do you need Master Derrick's room for? Are you here for the birthday party, or are you here for the master of the house?" Miranda questioned the perplexed woman.

"What? How dare you speak to me in such an insolent manner? Have you lost it?" Melody charged at Miranda, wanting to attack her.

Miranda didn't even know which of the rooms belonged to Derrick or his sisters.

The mansion was too vast, and the rooms upstairs were too many to know which was the master's room or his sisters' rooms.

However, just as Melody wanted to smack Miranda again, Derrick stepped out of his sitting room with his sister and Alexa. They had come to check on him just after he had taken off his coat.

"What's going on here?" Derrick demanded. Melody quickly withdrew her hand and offered him a sweet smile.

"Good evening, sir. Madam sent this maid to show me to one of her daughter's rooms to change my dress after she dared to spill wine on me. But the maid is rude and doesn't want to show me the room," Melody said.

"What?! That's a total lie. She was asking me for your bedroom, Master Derrick," Miranda said. Silence ensued in the hallway. Much to Derrick's shock, Miranda's voice sounded so soft—he hadn't heard anyone with such a soft tone before.

He eyed the maid curiously, having seen her before.

"That is no reason to attack my mother's maid when you are not the owner of the house. I saw you just now wanting to attack her. Leave here now. You are not welcome, and your contract with Luis Firm will be terminated as well," Derrick said, casually walking toward the staircase to go downstairs.

Melody immediately went down on her knees and pleaded, "Please, Master Derrick, forgive me. I didn't mean to attack the maid. She's lying; I wasn't asking her for your room."

With leisurely strides, Derrick paid no heed to Melody begging him. He went downstairs to thank all the guests who had taken the time to honor his mother's invitation.

After Derrick, his sister, and Alexa left the top floor, Melody stood up and pounced on Miranda. She wanted to get her revenge on Miranda for making her lose her job and her chances with the housemaster.

"You witch! How dare you ruin my chances? I am going to kill you today!"

Melody was not prepared. She didn't know that Miranda knew how to fight. As she rushed to attack, Miranda dodged and kicked the lady very hard, then pounced on the spoiled woman and started beating her.

"Somebody help!!" Melody screamed after Miranda landed multiple slaps in retaliation for the first slap she had received.

Miranda sat on Melody's stomach on the tiled floor, slapped her hard on the face, and pulled off the lady's wig.

However, with the music playing in the living room and the bodyguards having escorted Derrick downstairs to the grand hall, no one could hear Melody crying and screaming.

After dealing with the lady, Miranda ran away and went into one of the rooms to take a cool evening bath.

~~~~~~~

The birthday celebration had long ended, and Derrick had thanked all the guests who had taken the time to attend his 25th birthday party.

"Baby brother, we have got to start going home now. Enjoy your night. I was thinking, why not ask Alexa out to be your girlfriend? She works beside you in the office and spends most of her days with you. Alexa is from a prestigious family and will make a good wife for you," Nicole suggested to Derrick.

Derrick frowned a little and replied, "I am not interested in a relationship, and Alexa knows this. Unless she's the one who requested you speak to me about it."

"Not at all, Master Derrick," Alexa quickly replied, as she didn't want to lose her job yet—especially when she saw Derrick's face twist in irritation.

"That's fine, sister. Let's call it a night. I have to go inside now and rest. I will give your proposal some thought. Alexa Godwin is a wonderful woman, and I wouldn't mind asking her out the proper way," Derrick said, putting his hands into his trouser pockets and offering his elder sister a warm smile.

He didn't want any of them worrying about him.

"That's fine, baby brother. Good night to you too. Bye," Nicole waved to Derrick as she got into her red car. She drove home to meet her husband and new baby boy.

Alexa nervously smiled and walked up to her sleek black car.

She pulled the car door open, got inside, and—feeling Derrick's gaze on her. She then drove out of the mansion grounds.