Chapter 4:His true intentions.

I stood there, sweaty, breathless, and looking like the poster girl for “Sweaty homeless Housekeeper Weekly.”

And of course, that’s when Mr. Shawn Wolfe decided to appear.

His eyes scanned me up, down, pause. I didn’t know whether to melt into the floor or hide behind the nearest curtain.

He didn’t say a word at first.

Just walked up to me... then handed me something white and soft.

A towel.

“For your face,” he said simply, his voice low.

I blinked, stunned. “Oh. Um. Thanks.”

I reached for it, brushing my forehead awkwardly, trying to avoid his eyes—but of course, my hair chose that exact moment to rebel. A damp strand fell forward, clinging to my cheek.

Before I could push it back, he already stretched his hands about to tuck the hair behind my ears but I reacted fast and did it myself.

He was close enough that I caught a hint of his cologne, something expensive, sharp, and manly just like “Boadicea the victorious” . That cologne is so expensive that even buying the fake was still costly.

My heart was pounding, unable to figure out if this is how he was to his other workers or I was special.

Then he stepped back, casually as if nothing had just happened.

“You should freshen up,” he said. “You’ve done more than enough today.”

I was on my way to the guest room to finally scrub off the sweat, thoughts and guilt of the day when I heard light footsteps behind me.

I turned around, expecting a staff member or maybe the chef.

Nope.

There stood Diane, in fuzzy socks and a sparkly headband, holding a giant key like she was a museum tour guide.

“You’re not going to sleep without seeing my favorite part of the house, right?” she said, grinning.

My brain screamed no!. My mouth gave “give me 30 minutes to freshen up and I'll be right there with you” I said out of confusion.

.

I stepped into the bathroom like it was a portal to another life.

The shower alone looked like something from a real hotel suite,Rainfall head. Steamers. Built-in LED lighting. And was that... a silver hot-tub.

I stood there still mesmerized for a full minute before whispering to myself, “I’m not in my bucket and bailer era anymore.”

There were soaps lined up like trophies with different extracts of lavender, rose milk, , vanilla bean. I picked up a golden bottle with a label that looked like it belonged to a commercial brand.

I popped the cap and sniffed. Luxury.

And don’t even get me started on the robe. Fluffy. White. Embroidered with a “W.” for ”Wolfe.

I put it on and looked at myself in the mirror.

For the first time in forever, I didn’t look like I was surviving.

I looked like I was living. I didn't even want to leave my room not until I heard Diane's voice saying “Hurry! Come see!!!”

   I swiftly ran out of my room, thinking Diane fell because of the newly mopped area, just to find Diane running again in the sitting room shouting “Hurry! come see”.

      I glared at her which made her calm down and said, Good you are here, lets go. I was still on my robe and a towel wrapped around my head,so I told her I wanted to change my clothes,she started her whining. “No,no don't go”.so I knew I had to go.

I followed Diane through the long entrance,still damp from my shower and wrapped in the Wolfe-embroidered robe, trailing behind her sparkly headband and infectious energy.

“Where are we going?” I asked, half out of breath. “This house is a maze.”

“You’ll see!” she said, jumping down a flight of stairs like she owned the place. “It’s my secret spot.”

A secret spot in a billionaire’s mansion?

That could mean anything from a hidden playhouse to a private cinema.She went to the back of the never ending paths of the mansion then I saw an old shed which looked very scary,I thought we were not going towards not untill Diane drew me towards it saying “we are here”but I didn't want to enter,she forced me so i had to,as we entered I saw stairs which startled me, how can an old shed contain luxury stairs.

I hesitated at the top of the stairs. It was dimly lit, cold air creeping up the stone staircase. My instincts were screaming nope, but Diane was already halfway down.

“Come on, Renzy!”

I sighed and followed her.

We reached another heavy steel door. Diane, with both hands, twisted the latch and gave it a push. The room beyond was nothing like I expected.

It was huge. Sleek. Steel shelves, locked cabinets, screens mounted on the wall, and at the far end a long desk with neat stacks of files, a laptop open, and dim overhead lights.

“This is Daddy’s underground office,” she whispered proudly. “This is where he calls his. “ Midnight office’ Cool, right?”

My eyes widened.

“Oh no Diane, I don’t think we’re supposed to be in here” There is a reason why he has all the codes for the doors, and an underground hideout. “Come on let's leave”.

     As Diane climbed up the stairs about to leave, thats when I Heard it,foot steps firm and confident, immediately I told her to hurry up as,we both couldn't go at the same time knowing how narrow the steps were,as Diane left ,it was my turn, thinking I could escape in time,not knowing it was too late.

From behind the desk, a shadow moved.

Then stood Shawn Wolfe, seeing his shadow I instantly hid under the large desk, still able to see his movement,as he saw no one there he went back that's just when my long legs had to make a noise which instantly drew his attention.

         As he turned back looked around again didn't see anything,his instincts unfortunately led him under the table just to see his worker under the table.

His eyes locked with mine.

I didn’t breathe. Couldn’t.

He bent lower, his face now inches from mine under the desk. His voice came out low, laced with something I couldn’t place—amusement, surprise… interest?

“Well,” he said, lips curving slightly, “didn’t expect to find you hiding here like a thief.”

I opened my mouth to explain, but nothing came out.

He leaned in just a little closer. “You’ve got five seconds to tell me why I shouldn’t fire you… or kiss you.”

My heart slammed against my chest.

And just then—

The lights cut out.

Total darkness.

And I swear I felt his

breath on my lips.