Chapter One – The Elusive Employer

Everything went by in a blur. Mr. Greene rushed her like a tornado, giving her no time to go through the ten-page agreement between the Escapades and her. “It’s a standard employment contract for a year. Please sign it, Ms. Hansley. You have an hour to clean the suite before he returns from his meeting.” 

“Can I take it home to go through?” She looked at the manager hopefully. Why did she have to sign a contract with Escapades when the man was hiring her as his personal maid? There were so many questions erupting in her mind, but the man looked unapproachable and nervous. 

“No, in that case, we’ll choose another who can sign along the dotted line and start right away.” He waited patiently, handing her a pen. 

Iris sighed, unable to decide. She needed a job badly. Wasn’t it a standard employment contract for a year? How bad could it get? At least she would have a reliable source of income for a year. It would help her tide her over the twins’ final year at school. They wouldn’t have to drop out like she did. 

“Fine, sir, I’ll sign it.” She signed the document blindly and handed it to the relieved manager. “Here. What do I need to do? What’s my scope of work?” 

“Just a minute.” The manager called someone over the intercom. Within minutes, a uniformed housekeeping staff appeared. “Stella, can you escort Ms. Hansley to suite 101?” 

The woman’s jaw dropped as she checked Iris out. Iris didn’t miss the malicious gleam in her eyes. “Why, Mr. Greene? I was cleaning it for so long.” 

Mr. Greene gave her a pointed look. “Sir has chosen Iris Hansley as his permanent housekeeper for a year. Your services wouldn’t be required, Stella. Just do as I have asked you to.”

“Yes, sir.” She gave Iris a death glare and stomped out of the office. 

Iris followed her out towards the lobby, but Stella dashed into a corridor. Iris followed her, but Stella had disappeared. Confused, she looked around the place. How would she find the stranger’s suite now? She hadn’t even asked Mr. Greene his name! 

After ten minutes, she gave up and retraced her steps back to the manager’s office. A commotion greeted her as the staff rushed around in a state of panic. What was going on? Were they looking for someone? 

“Gosh! There you are!” gasped Mr. Greene’s PA on seeing Iris. “Where the hell had you been? We were on the verge of losing our jobs because of you.” 

Iris blinked and focused on the accusatory looks thrown her way. “I..” 

“Mr. Greene, we’ve found her. I’m taking her to Suite 101 right away.” The PA gripped Iris’s hand and rushed towards the door when her phone buzzed. She seemed stressed as she accepted the call. 

“Hello, sir! We were on our way to clean your suite. It’ll be done in twenty minutes. I’m sorry for the delay. It won’t happen again.” 

Iris chewed her lip as she stood listening to the conversation. The woman grabbed her hand and led her to the elevator, with the phone still glued to her ear. 

“We had sent her with Stella, but she came back after fifteen minutes. I don’t know what happened. Yes, sir. I’ll look into the matter.” The elevator doors slid open on the topmost floor, and the woman led her out. “Go to the last suite on this floor.” 

“Okay, I would need some cleaning supplies, please.” Iris glanced at the row of suites along the corridor in confusion. Which one was the suite she had to clean?

“I’ll send them right away.” She closed the elevator door and went back to her floor before Iris could ask her the room number. 

Iris took baby steps, checking out every room carefully. The first few were unoccupied. She peered at the last one to see a couple busy making out in the living area. “Sorry!” She closed the door and ran to the next room. If only she knew the suite number.

However, at the door, she collided with a hard, bare chest. "Ow!" She staggered and looked up to check. Her eyes widened at the sight of a burly man staring down at her.

“Hey, beautiful! You’re just the thing I needed.” He grabbed hold of her arm, making her panic. 

Iris tried to free herself and flee. She had no wish to create a scene at her new workplace. “I’m sorry, sir. I’m the cleaner here. Maybe I’m in the wrong room.”  

Where was the suite she needed ti clean? Why couldn't they guide her properly around the place?

The man stared at her, his beady, lust-filled eyes sweeping over her body. “Aw, don’t be sorry! You’re in the right room, kitten! Please me and I’ll give you a generous tip.” He tightened his hold on Iris, dragging her into his room. 

Iris grabbed hold of the door to stop herself from being dragged away. “No, you’re mistaken, sir. I’m not available. Please find someone else for your pleasure. I’ll scream for help.”

He laughed, the sound echoing around the silent corridor. “Do you know who I am? No one in their right senses would mess with me. I’m Roger Symonds, owner of the celebrity home-building giant, RS Homes. I was the one who built this club and its interior. So cooperate, woman! You should consider yourself lucky to have collided with someone like me.”

He traced her cheek, making her tremble with fear. “Please leave me alone, Mr. Symonds. I’m the sole breadwinner in my family.” Tears sprang to her eyes as she desperately thought of a way to escape him. 

His mouth watered while Iris felt nauseated by him. “Be my who*e and I’ll support you. From now on, you won’t need to clean rooms.” 

Iris panicked and put up a fight as he dragged her into his room. “No, let me go. I’m not interested.” 

“Don’t be shy. I’ll be gentle.” He laughed as he picked her up forcefully. Iris was no match for his brute strength. Helpless tears fell from her eyes. 

“No, let me go. Help!” she yelled with all her strength. The sound echoed down the corridor, but no one came forward to help her. “Please help me, someone.” She shouldn’t have come here at all, knowing the notorious reputation of the club. 

“Leave her alone, Roger!” A deep baritone voice echoed from the far end of the corridor. Startled, Iris tried to peer over the giant’s shoulder. She knew that voice, obviously. It belonged to her elusive employer – the one she had been searching for. If only she knew his name! 

Shocked, the man almost dropped her, but Iris grabbed onto the door for support. “What the f*ck are you doing with my employee, Roger?” 

“Your employee was offering me a good time in return for some quick bucks, Maddox. Don’t you pay them well?” smirked the burly man. 

Iris gasped at his lie. How could he lie? “No, I haven’t. You were forcing yourself on me, sir.” 

So, his name was Maddox!

Her employer glared at her as if she had committed a crime. “And why are you here? I’ve been waiting for you for the last thirty minutes.” 

She cast her eyes down in shame. “I got lost, sir. This is such an enormous place..” 

Roger laughed. “Maybe she was busy looking for clients to please.” 

Maddox trembled with fury. “Fu*k off, Roger. Don’t pick on her just because she isn’t interested in you.” He turned towards Iris. “Come on, I don’t have all day. Clean my room and make me some brunch.” 

She nodded, walking out of the room. “Yes, sir.” 

Roger grinned at Maddox, challenging him to react. “Come back when you’re done, kitten. I’ll be waiting for you.” 

Livid with fury, Maddox punched him in the face. “Stay away from her. She’s mine.”

“Your who*e, Maddox Laurier?” laughed Roger, making Iris gasp at the name. 

Laurier? Did he say Maddox Laurier? Who was Maddox Laurier? Did he belong to the Laurier family, who had destroyed her mom? 

Punches flew, bringing Iris out of her thoughts. She stepped back in fright as guards came rushing to the scene. More guests appeared from the other rooms, but no one intervened. 

“Stop the fight, please,” Iris begged them. 

The guards separated the two at last. “Throw him out! No one disobeys me on my property!” yelled Maddox Laurier. 

His property? Was he the owner of Escapades? 

Her face paled as she realized who she had signed the contract with. 

Her heart prodded her to run, but her feet stood transfixed to the spot. 

The guards grabbed hold of the man to throw him out when Maddox Laurier turned his attention on her. “Iris, what are you waiting for? Get started already, will you?” 

He stormed towards his suite. Iris followed him reluctantly, ready to cancel her employment with him. He was her enemy. She couldn’t work for such a man. 

Did he know her true identity?