Chapter 8: The message

"Mom, it isn't what you think," I said, my voice unsteady. "I didn't put on that dress willingly. It's complicated, but you have nothing to worry about."

"Don't tell me you went to see Rui," Mia cut in.

I stared at her. She had the audacity to say that after hiding the fact that Rui had been asking her out. My chest tightened.

"What?" I said.

"I'm only being concerned."

"What?"

Mia kept pushing, question after question, until my patience finally snapped.

"Why did you keep it from me that Rui asked you out? Why, Mia?"

Shock washed over my mother's face. Her lips parted, but no sound came out at first.

"You wouldn't have believed me," Mia said quietly. "And I thought you would have learned to listen by now."

"How could you say that?" I whispered. The words stung more than I wanted to admit.

Mia twisted her fingers together and looked away, unable to meet my eyes.

"Enough!" my mother cried from behind us.

The room fell silent. I was upset with Mia for the scene she had caused. Our mother had only come to visit, and she shouldn't have been burdened with this. Still, I let it go, because my anger was nothing next to the ache of being betrayed by someone I trusted. It hurt more than I could say.

I had no choice left but to tell my mother everything.

I spoke slowly, and with every word it felt as though I was reopening a wound I had barely begun to close. When I finished, tears were running down her cheeks. She pressed a trembling hand to her mouth, and I could see the guilt in her eyes.

She regretted ever telling me to do whatever it took to make my marriage work, if I truly loved Rui. I had tried. I had given that marriage everything, and it had all been in vain.

I didn't blame her. She was a deeply emotional woman who believed in love with her whole heart, and it was one of the things I loved most about her.

"I'm sorry you went through all of that just to stay in that marriage," she said, taking my hands in hers. Her palms were warm and shaking.

"Please don't worry, Mom," I said, forcing a small smile. "I'm not in that marriage anymore. Rui can't take advantage of me now."

I said it to comfort her, but I also needed to hear it myself.

Later, when I counted the cash, I found fifty thousand dollars more than I had expected. I had taken three hundred thousand, and the extra money was a surprise. I decided I would pay off the loan the next day and keep the fifty thousand aside, just in case. After everything, I couldn't trust Rui anymore. Not even a little.

The next morning, I went to Mr. Steven's house.

I had only been to his company once, to confirm my position as the new assistant, and never to his home,and from now on I would be working from the mansion.

The building was a striking blend of white and glossy black. The moment I stepped past the gate, I stopped and stared. It was my first time there, and a lady approached me immediately, as though she had been told to expect me.

"This way, please," she said, smiling warmly as she led me inside.

I sat down and took in my surroundings. The room was warm and calm, the kind of place where peace seemed to live. For the first time in days, I felt my shoulders loosen.

The calm didn't last.

Behind me, I heard footsteps, the sharp click of heels growing louder. Moments later, a woman appeared. She was dazzling, and I noticed at once that her dress looked expensive, with a long, furry jacket draped over it. She was heading straight toward Mr. Steven's office.

"Madam," I said, stepping forward. She didn't look like a staff member, but I wasn't sure who she was. "Madam, please excuse me."

She turned slowly, almost majestically, her heels pivoting against the floor.

"Well, look who we have here." She walked toward me with unhurried steps. "Are you the new assistant?"

"Yes, madam." I smiled politely, the way an assistant should.

She leaned down until her ankle rested on the table and her cheek lay against her palm. Her eyes held mine, cool and unblinking.

"Your duty is to assist, correct? So keep it that way. Don't try playing games with Mr. Steven."

"Excuse me, I don't understand." I couldn't believe she had the nerve to say that on the very first day she saw me.

"It's simple. You wouldn't want to find out what I did to the previous assistant. Mr. Steven is my man, and I don't want you getting any foolish ideas about him."

Anger flared in my chest, but I held it down and stayed perfectly still. Was she Mr. Steven's girlfriend? I knew he wasn't married, but I had never heard of her.

"Madam, I don't know what you and Mr. Steven are to each other," I said evenly. "I know my job well, and I'm not interested in Mr. Steven."

Just then, Steven stepped out of his office and stopped a short distance from us. The woman reacted instantly. She turned, slid off her furry jacket, and revealed the daring outfit underneath.

"I'm here, baby," she purred, moving close to him. "I want you to relax." She touched his shoulder.

"Natasha, not today," Steven said, stepping away. "I have somewhere important to be. I'll see you later."

So her name was Natasha. Disappointment crossed her face.

Steven gestured to me. I quickly gathered my notebook, tucked it under my arm, and hurried to his side.

"What about me? I'm coming too," Natasha said.

Steven didn't answer, but Natasha seemed to hear a yes anyway.

"Where are we going, sir?" I asked.

"To inspect some building materials."

When we arrived, it wasn't the kind of building I had expected. It was a vast estate, quiet and spread out under a wide sky. I followed Steven closely, noting down every instruction he gave me.

But Natasha wouldn't leave me alone. Whenever I stepped close to Steven, she found a way to pull me back, one way or another. She acted as though I was trying to steal her man. Yes, my boss was handsome, but flirting with him was the furthest thing from my mind. I rolled my eyes and kept calm. I had survived worse than jealousy.

Then my phone buzzed. A message from Rui.

"You have the nerve to treat my father like a fool? You better watch your back."

The blood drained from my face. My stomach dropped, and my fingers went cold around the phone. Rui had truly changed. Had Gerald not told him what he had done?

I couldn't hide the shift in my expression.

"Why are you making that face?" Steven asked, studying me.

"Mm..." I opened my mouth, but no words came. My throat felt tight.

Before I could try again, Natasha reached up and took Steven's face in her hands, as if she meant to kiss him.

"We're done here, baby. Let's go."

I barely noticed. My mind was far away, caught on Rui's venomous message, and a cold fear was settling in my chest.