Lucy was just about wrapping up her shift, wiping down the last table, when one of the other girls leaned in toward her."Master wants to see you," she said casually, tossing her hair over her shoulder.Lucy blinked. "Me?"The girl nodded, already walking away.A knot formed in Lucy’s stomach. She hadn’t done anything wrong… had she? Her mind immediately began racing. Had she missed a tray? Dropped something? Looked at someone she shouldn’t have? The night had been a blur, especially after she caught his eyes during her dance. Her chest still tightened when she thought about it.She smoothed down her dress and headed toward the hallway that led to the private offices. When she reached the familiar tall door at the end, she paused and knocked softly.No response.She hesitated for a second, then slowly turned the handle and stepped in.The room was dimly lit, the smell of paper, leather, and faint cologne lingering in the air. Barry sat behind his desk, head bowed slightly as he flippe
Lucy woke up with a small smile tugging at her lips, the kind she quickly tried to suppress but couldn’t. Last night’s moments, the tension, his hand brushing her hair back, the way he’d whispered that rare, soft thank you, still lingered in her mind like an echo she couldn’t shut off.Her face warmed at the memory. "God, what’s wrong with me?" She thought, pulling the blanket off and sliding out of bed.She washed up quickly, trying to shake it off, but the faint blush stayed on her cheeks as she dressed. By the time she walked downstairs, she had forced her face back to neutral.The mansion was silent. Too silent. No maids around.She glanced around the empty dining space. “Guess he already left,” she muttered under her breath.Fine. She would eat alone.Lucy made herself a simple breakfast, eggs, toast, and tea. She sat at the long dining table, the massive chandelier above her casting its light like she was some guest in a royal palace. But there was no one to talk to, no footstep
KNOCK. KNOCK.Lucy frowned as she heard the knock echo softly through the quiet hallway. She had just come down from her room, dressed in her loose shorts and an oversized shirt, her feet bare against the cold marble floor. She wasn’t expecting anyone.She tiptoed toward the door, cautious but curious, and pulled it open.Vanessa stood outside, wearing a light green dress that flared at her knees and a small crossbody bag slung over her shoulder. Her blonde hair was curled at the ends, bouncing slightly as she tilted her head and smiled.“Hey,” she said cheerfully.Lucy blinked. “Vanessa?”“Yeah. Master said I could come over,” she replied, stepping forward with ease, like she belonged. “He said I should keep you company today.”Lucy’s brows knitted together. “He did?”“Mhm.” Vanessa smiled again and peeked behind Lucy into the house. “I hope it’s not too sudden?”Lucy stepped aside slowly, letting her in. “No, no. It’s okay. I just didn’t know…”Truth was, she was surprised. But Vane
Lucy stirred the pot gently, steam rising into her face as the soft aroma of tomatoes and pepper filled the air. She was humming under her breath, not too loud, just enough to keep herself company in the big quiet kitchen. It felt good doing something normal for once.“I hope he likes this,” she muttered, flipping the slices carefully. “Not that he’ll say thank you.”Just then, the sound of soft footsteps caught her ear. She turned her head.“Oh,” she blinked.The guy she’d bumped into the other day was standing at the entrance, hands shoved in his pockets and a playful smile dancing on his lips. He looked even more relaxed this morning.“You again,” Lucy said, cracking a small smile.“Hope that’s not a bad thing,” Dean chuckled. “Good morning.”“Morning,” she replied, shifting to turn off the stove. “Do you just sneak into kitchens or is this something you do often?”He shrugged, laughing. “Just following the smell. Didn’t know the chef was you.”Lucy leaned against the counter, fold
The sun filtered gently through the tall windows, washing the hallways of the mansion in golden light. Lucy adjusted the belt of her robe, her bare feet making soft sounds against the marble floor as she padded toward the one place she’d never dared go before on her own, Barry’s office.She had no idea what she was thinking. Maybe she wasn’t thinking at all.But last night kept replaying in her head like a broken record, the restaurant, his hand stopping that man’s filthy touch, the sharp look Barry gave after, the way he held her arm just a little longer than he should have.She needed to stop overthinking. All she really wanted was her phone back. That’s it.As she neared the door, voices spilled out faintly. She paused.“…Yes, sir. We’ve doubled the rotation at the south gate. No one comes in without clearance.”It was a guard. The one she always saw walking by the hallway at night. She couldn’t remember his name, but his tone was sharp and alert, like he didn’t dare breathe the wr
The car moved smoothly through the quiet streets. Rain had fallen earlier, and now the city lights reflected on the wet roads like tiny broken mirrors.Lucy sat by the window, her hands folded on her lap, heart still pounding from the dinner.Barry sat beside her, legs spread slightly, one arm resting on the edge of the seat. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to. His silence filled the whole car.From the rearview mirror, she could see the black SUV following behind them. His guards. Always close.She shifted in her seat a little. The red dress still clung to her skin like it had become a second layer. She could still feel the weight of Barry’s hand on her thigh, the way he’d slammed the table without blinking.He didn’t even look at the man again. Didn’t look at her either. But she felt him. His presence, strong and always in control.“Do you do that a lot?” she asked quietly, not looking at him. “Break people’s hands?”Barry turned his head slowly. “Only when they deserve it.”Hi