ANMELDENSomething sweet coming up, lovelies! 😍
MAYA’s POVI stood there for a moment, watching the red lights disappear down the street, before turning toward my apartment.“Hmmmmm.”I froze.“Oh no,” I muttered as I realized who that’d be.“Is that you, Maya?”I turned to see Ken, my next-door neighbor, leaning dramatically against the railing, arms folded, silk bonnet on his head and his phone in hand like he’d been waiting for this exact moment.“We don’t see you home this early,” he said as he brushed imaginary dust off his other arm. “The car that just dropped you,” he said slowly, eyes scanning me from head to toe. “Are we not going to talk about it?”“Ken,” I sighed. “Please.”Kenneth had lived next to me for almost a year now. He was loud, dramatic, and always in everybody’s business but he was also the same person who checked on me when my power went out, helped me carry groceries without being asked, and knocked on my door with soup the day I came home crying after losing my job.He talked too much, yes. But his heart wa
MAYA’s POVI didn’t even realize I was being pulled away until my feet started moving.His fingers closed around my wrist, firm but not rough, and suddenly I wasn’t standing in the room anymore. The noise, the lights, the eyes on me—it all blurred as he guided me through the space. No one tried to stop him. They just moved aside like he owned the place.I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.I clutched my other hand to my chest, half-walking, half-stumbling as he dragged me out the back door. He didn’t stop until we were fully outside, away from the noise. The cool night air slapped against my skin, and that was when it hit me.I didn’t even get the chance to pick anything. My bag. My jacket. My dignity—somewhere behind us, probably still lying on the sticky floor.I was still in the uniform. The short black dress barely passed as clothing. How did I not fall in this damn heels?Oh God.I instinctively checked my pocket with my free hand, panic spiking, and nearly cried whe
Xavier’s POVThis invitation had came through Josh, though it wasn’t really his idea. Another friend of his—someone I hardly cared for—wanted to throw a small celebration for closing a new deal. Nothing too elaborate, just the usual noise at our usual location.Normally, I would’ve cancelled on them, because I don’t trust it not to be “too elaborate” when it involves a celebration or more strangers. I had no interest in wasting hours surrounded by shallow laughter. But business wasn’t about interest or comfort… It was about strategy and about connections.Josh had mentioned this his friend’s guest list included two investors I’d been circling for months — men who weren’t easily cornered in an office but might loosen up over drinks and half naked girls.They were tied into a deal I had been waiting to infiltrate — a single thread that could unravel everything I’d been planning.And I couldn’t afford to miss them.Not now when I’m getting close.Josh doesn’t gatekeep, he’d been a very cl
Maya’s POVI walked toward the club with my bag heavy on my shoulder. The neon sign glowing ahead, streams of people who wanted music, laughter, escape or whatever they came here for — already rushing in.But my steps slowed down when I spotted a car the car valet was trying to park well at the parking lot.It was a sleek, black Bentley, looking fucking luxurious. It looked exactly like the one I’d noticed outside the house when Xavier chased me out of their house the day I had the interview. It wasn’t there when I arrived there that day but it was there when I was leaving in shame.My chest squeezed for a moment.No. It can’t be.I shook the thought off quickly. Rich people loved their toys, probably half of Beverly Hills owned something like this.I walked in straight to the staff room, some staffs had left their lockers opened, mirrors were dotted with lipstick stains and fingerprints, and few whose shift is about to start bustled around in tiny outfits, adjusting straps and checkin
Maya’s POVFirst days were always nerve-wracking. But this wasn’t just a first day. This was the day.The bus dropped me a few streets away, and I walked the last stretch with my heart beating too fast.My blouse was freshly ironed, my black pants pressed too, but my stomach was in knots.Nora had emailed me the agreement form and instructions last night, and I’d read them over at least a dozen time. Arrival at nine. Polite manners. Dressing neat and appropriate. “Light housekeeping,” whatever that meant.The gate opened soundlessly after I pressed the bell, and I stepped inside.I inhaled deeply, forcing myself to calm down, and knocked gently on the front door, it opened after a moment. A middle-aged woman in a simple uniform stood there, wiping her hands on a towel.“You must be Ms. Torres,” she said with a small smile.“Yes. Good morning.”She gave me a small nod and stepped aside. “Come in. Mrs. Harrington’s expecting you.”I slowly went in with my fingers fidgeting with my bag s
Maya’s POVAs I got back to my apartment, all I wanted was to crawl under my blanket and hide for a week. Or more.Instead, I dropped my bag by the door and stood there in the quiet room, staring at nothing.So that was it.No call back. No “we’ll think about it.” Just a cold, sharp “I don’t want her.”I pressed my lips together and let out a humorless laugh. “Well, good,” I said, talking to no one. “I didn’t want to clean his stupid mansion anyway.”It wasn’t true, of course and I knew it. But it was easier to pretend.The pay had been good — God, it was good — and I had been holding onto that tiny thread of hope that maybe, just maybe, this job could make my life easier.But now… I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or humiliated.I walked further in and sank onto the edge of my bed and buried my face in my hands.The image of him was still burned into my mind, it took a second for me to place is face — He was taller than I remembered. Broader and more masculine. His presence still intim







