Chapter 6Andre's POV:The harsh knock on the door woke me up, only to find out that it was 11 am and I was late for work."Shit," I mumbled. My head was still swiveling from the event of last night. I soothed it with my fingers to relieve the pain. I looked down at myself, I was nude with all my clothes off, and all over the place. How and when did I take them off? I had no idea.It took enough effort to get up from the floor and the first thing I did was to put on fresh clothes before coming back to the mess. I made sure to stay clear of the broken bottles. There was a repeated knock on the door and this time it was accompanied by Stanley's voice."Good morning Sir." He greeted.I didn't bother to respond and went ahead to open the door for him.The moment I opened the door, I flooded him with questions."Did you just arrive now? It's 11 am, Stan, how do you expect to get paid if you want to work for me like this?""Uhmm... Boss, I've been here since 7:30," he stuttered, startled by
Chapter 7Vanessa's POV:The memory of my last conversation with Claire echoed in my mind as I waited for her to return from work. I desperately needed help to deal with the financial mess I was in. The burden of my mother's medication expenses and the threat looming over the stupid car were pushing me to a breaking point. I knew Claire was the only person who could possibly help me out of this mess, but I had to be careful not to push her too hard.I waited for her to come back from work before going to see her.Finally, Claire burst into the room, in a rush to get changed, preparing to head out. "Babe, you're here. I'm going out, we'll see later," she hurriedly said without sparing me a glance, clearly preoccupied."Don't leave, I need your help, Claire,"Her expression shifted slightly, and she asked with a hint of annoyance, "What do you want?"I took a deep breath, summoning all the courage I had left. "Borrow me some money."She looked at me skeptically, "Huh, for what?"I hesit
Chapter 8Andre's POV:The sun's soft rays filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. With a sense of purpose, I readied myself for the day's challenges, my mind already focused on the responsibilities awaiting me at work. I held my necktie loose, going out to find one of the maids to help me knot it when I heard faint sounds of commotion coming from the main gate and I went to the balcony to see who it was. Seeing my mother with the guard, I asked myself why she came here, did she lose all her shame and decide to come so she could be roasted by the Garcias'?"Please, let me see him," she pleaded with the guard at the entrance, desperation evident in her eyes. The guard's stern expression remained unchanged."Madam, my job's on the line if I let you in," he firmly responded. I stood in front of the balcony the whole time, perplexed by how she managed to pass through the estate gate.Watching her plead to see me, a strange sense of satisfaction unfurled. I
Chapter 9Vanessa's POV:I got another job, again with Claire's influence at a small restaurant about 20km from my house, pretty far right? But I have no choice but to accept it.Starting a new job can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. As I stood in front of the modest-looking restaurant, a knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach. The sign above the entrance read "Savory Bites," and I took a deep breath before pushing open the door.The interior was cozy and welcoming, with a handful of occupied tables and the clatter of cutlery against plates. The delicious aroma of various dishes wafted through the air, making my stomach grumble."Hey there! You must be Vanessa, right?" a friendly voice called out. I turned to see a woman in her mid-40s with a warm smile. She was wearing an apron and holding a notepad and pen."Yes, that's me," I replied, offering a shy smile."Claire told me about you," she said, stretching her hand for a quick handshake."I'm Emily, the manager here. Welcome to
Chapter 10Three days later.Vanessa's POV:I finished work early, and then Ms. Emily permitted me to go home early.On my way home, I got a quick notification on my phone, knowing who it was, I didn't bother to open it. He made it a habit to text and flash-call me endlessly over the last few days.On getting home, the house was empty and I remembered Victor informed me that he was taking our mother to the hospital for her routine check. I threw my bag on the chair and went to the kitchen to prepare a meal. After preparing the meal, I took mine to my room to eat. My phone flashed twice before I decided to pick it up but he hung up immediately.I stared at the screen, my heart racing with a mix of fear and curiosity. My fingers hovered over the keys as I typed out the message, my pulse quickening with every tap. "Can you provide your account details for the first payment?"The reply came in, swift and unexpected. A shiver ran down my spine as I read the words: ~The Grand Luminary Hote
Chapter 11Andre's POV: After our meeting at the hotel, I got a call from Ethan that the guys were having a night out at the club and that he had some important news to announce to the group so he wanted me to be there.****As I stepped into the dimly lit bar, the raucous laughter and clinking of glasses greeted me like an old friend. The weight of the week's troubles lifted momentarily from my shoulders. Tonight was meant for unwinding, and I had my closest friends, by my side and then a few of them came with their girls.We found our usual corner at the VIP lounge area and settled in, ordering our drinks and toasting the weekend ahead. The amber liquid in my glass glistened under the dim lights, casting a warm glow on our faces. I was eager to forget about all my worries, especially about my mother."Hey, guys," Ethan spoke as he got up, holding Sarah's hand in his with her smiling sheepishly.The noise on the table reduced as they had everyone's attention. Looking at their body l
Chapter 12Andre's POV:"And also, I don't have a boyfriend, I'm still waiting on the love of my life. Speaking of him, is Ethan still together with that girl?" Louisa asked, and I struggled with how to tell her that they recently announced their upcoming wedding. Ethan and Sarah will be married this summer."Yep,""I thought they had a fight and went their separate ways?" She inquired."They're back together, Louisa.""I hope they have a bigger fight this time and that he leaves her for good. I'll wait for him." She affirmed, making me fed up that I had to speak, "Louisa, you can't wish Ill on people and also, Ethan has always made it clear that he has no romantic interest in you. Let him off, will you?""He may not have feelings for me, but he always comes to my rescue when I'm in trouble. I won't give up on him.""You'll get hurt in the end," I warned."Leave that aside, let's talk about the money, Will you give it to me?""Quit bugging me." I shooed her off but she didn't move, "I
Chapter 13Vanessa's POV:An hour ago, that bothersome jerk had called, insisting on seeing me. I refused because I had just settled the first payment days ago, and we agreed to meet next month for the next one. I continued to complain and curse him under my breath as I lifted the crates of drinks the delivery man had left moments ago.Feeling like I had been watched, I stared at the road momentarily and found everyone engrossed in their daily activities. I then focused on my work of taking the drinks inside.After taking them in, I wiped the fridge clean and proceeded to place the bottles in. Just then, Lisa, another waitress at Savory Bites, walked in. Her face was a mix of shock and excitement.She shook my arm, "Wow, Vanessa, you didn't tell us that you had a billionaire boyfriend; he looks dreamy.""My boyfriend?" I asked and then muttered to myself, "I don't have a boyfriend, not any that I remembered.""He's outside and asked me to call you," Lisa said before walking away. It c
Chapter 88Vanessa's POV:I was having another one of those nerve-wracking moments when I opened my eyes. The morning sunlight filtered through my curtains, but all I felt was chaos churning in my chest. Today, I was going back to work.Back to that building again, when I didn’t know how ready I was to face the judgmental stares and slicing words.My heart leapt to my throat when I heard the honk outside. I darted to the window, pulling the curtain back just a little. And there he was.Mr. Garcia.Stepping out of his sleek black car in a grey suit, sunglasses perched like a crown—every inch the king he was. But instead of waiting, instead of texting or calling, he walked up to the front door.I barely had time to collect myself when the knock echoed.I went out in my nightdress and opened the door. He stood there, eyes lazily peering at me from head to toe.“Good morning, my Vanessa,” he said, voice low and intoxicating. Before I could even say anything, he leaned forward and pressed
Chapter 87Vanessa POV:Claire squeezed my hand. “I’m just watching out for you, babe. I love you. Be careful, okay?”I nodded, feeling both touched and scared at the same time.Her eyes searched mine, not just scolding but truly concerned. "I've seen how much you've struggled to get where you are. I don't want anything—or anyone—taking that away from you."We sat there in silence for a while, and my mind kept spinning.Had I been stupid?Was I reading too much into what happened with Andre?He had made me feel like I was the only girl in the world... but what if that was just how he was? I’d seen him flattering others—he was pretty good at that.A part of me wanted to trust him. The other part... the louder part... was terrified. My mind was beginning to eat me up."You don't think..." I started, then hesitated. "You don't think he could feel the same way I do?"Claire's expression softened. "Maybe he does. I hope he does. But hope isn't a strategy to break you further, Vanessa. Espe
Chapter 84Vanessa’s POV:“I want you to feel safe here. Like you belong. Because you do.”I leaned into his touch.When he kissed me again, it was slow—reverent.But then I pushed him away and darted out of the lavender room, heart hammering as I rushed toward the next.Behind me, his footsteps echoed—measured, calm. Too calm.He was hunting me.I spun around just as he filled the doorway, one hand braced against the frame, a smirk tugging at his lips.“Running again?” His voice was pure velvet. Dangerous.I swallowed, stepping back toward the bed. “Maybe. I just didn’t want to make it too easy for you.”He prowled forward, slow and deliberate, like a predator toying with his prey. His eyes darkened, a storm gathering in their depths.“You think you can outrun me in my own house?”I grinned, backing up until the bed pressed against the backs of my knees. “I can try.”He arched a brow, completely unhurried. “Go ahead then. I’ll even give you a head start.”My heart skipped wildly. "Yo
Chapter 83Vanessa’s POVI stood in front of the towering building, staring up at the glass spire that sliced into the clouds. My heart pounded, butterflies erupting wildly in my stomach. This was Mr. Garcia’s new place—a penthouse. Not the last one. A brand-new space.Fingers trembling, I clutched the straps of my bag and pressed the elevator button. Each passing floor made my pulse louder. By the time it dinged at the top, I was practically shaking. The doors slid open.And there he was.Mr. Garcia.Dressed in a navy sweater that hugged his frame and tailored black slacks, he looked like a storm—controlled, refined, quietly dangerous. His eyes met mine—warm, unreadable. His jaw tightened, like he, too, was fighting something inside him. A war maybe. One that mirrored mine.“Hey,” he said, voice low and deep.“Hi,” I breathed.He stepped aside to let me in. The moment I crossed the threshold, soft lighting caught the polished floors, and my breath caught. Glass walls wrapped the pent
Chapter 82Vanessa's POV:The room feels colder than I expected, the air sterile, sharp with that lingering smell of antiseptic. I could barely focus on the white walls as I sat there next to Andre, my hands trembling in my lap. I’m trying to keep it together—really, I am—but everything feels like it’s spinning too fast for me to keep up.My mother’s in the private ward, and I should be thinking about her—about her getting better since she's finally getting good treatment, but my mind is a jumbled mess of confusion, fear, and the stifling panic that has been slowly creeping in since the doctor’s call.I looked at Mr. Garcia beside me, his presence so much larger than mine. His silence is comforting. I lean into the side of the chair, trying not to show how much my curiosity was killing me.“Ms. Williams,” the doctor finally spoke, his voice calm, but somehow it feels like his words carry a weight too heavy to ignore. I focus on his face, trying to read the expression, possibly know if
Chapter 81Vanessa's POV:There’s something about hospitals that always made my skin crawl.Not because of the needles or the smell of antiseptic always filling the air. It was the silence. The kind that sat heavy in your chest and reminded you how fragile everything could be. Life. Health. Time.And today, as I pushed open the tall glass doors of the private hospital with my mom by my side, every breath I took felt loaded with fear, hope, and something else I couldn’t quite name.Maybe it was the way Mom’s fingers were clutching mine like I was the only thing holding her to the earth. Or maybe it was the guilt pressing down on me like bricks in my chest—that it had taken me this long to get her here. To give her the care she deserved. I couldn't help but think about the upcoming results. What if things had gotten worse with her system because we couldn't afford the treatment all this while? What if there was a countdown to her days—No, I shouldn't be holding these thoughts. I shook
Chapter 80Vanessa's POV:After spending the night creating different scenarios of how the theatre night might play out—from disastrous to dreamy—I woke up feeling like I had swallowed a hive of bees.Not butterflies—bees. Angry bees buzzing my chest and stomach.I paced my room in a complete daze, muttering to myself while digging my fingers into my skin. My eyes darted to the clock every few seconds like it would somehow calm me down, but it didn't. It was ridiculous. Absurd.I had survived months under Mr. Garcia, endured his cold, emotionless stares, rude remarks, and the relentless pressure of trying to prove my worth in that chaotic office where I could find my place. I had cried my eyes out in storage closets, screamed silently in the washroom, had days where I felt worthless, and almost quit more times than I could count.But now?Now that he was smiling at me instead of scowling, holding my hand instead of handing me loads of paperwork, kissing my forehead instead of trying t
Chapter 79Vanessa's POV:It had been a week since everything happened—the chaos, the news, the press, the shame. All of it had slowly begun to melt into silence. The world had moved on, or maybe it just stopped watching me so closely. For once, my phone wasn’t buzzing with blog posts I didn’t want to see, or videos of people tearing me apart. And I could breathe.Claire and I were in my room, curled up on my bed, our legs tangled like we used to as kids, eating ice cream. We were working on her online store, compiling a long list of products and ideas, when my phone buzzed.Mr. Garcia.I ignored it. Flipped the phone over so I wouldn’t see the messages.“Do you think I should use this?” Claire asked, passing me a paper.“Yeah, pink is best. The ladies would love it,” I agreed.“Okay.”Another buzz from my phone. Then a third one. I glanced at it quickly.“Come outside,” the message read.So rude, I thought.I stared at the screen for a long moment, unsure if I should even respond. Wh
Chapter 78Vanessa’s POV:I didn’t see her at first.Mr. Garcia’s arms were around me, his cologne still lingering on my shirt. His warmth felt like being covered in a blanket.And for a second—just one stolen second—it felt like everything was okay.Then I saw her.Claire.Across the street, standing like a pillar of fire in her bright yellow hoodie, her eyes locked on us like twin daggers. My heart jolted—thump!—like it skipped several beats. My stomach twisted into a tight knot. All the breath in my lungs vanished.“Oh God,” I whispered.“What is it?” Mr. Garcia asked, pulling back slightly, concern etched into every inch of his face.I panicked.I pushed him—gently but quickly—out of the hug. My palms pressed against his chest as I tried to shield him from her line of vision, but it was too late. Her eyes were on us. I could feel the heat of her glare from across the road.“I—uh—I think you should go,” I muttered. My voice shook, betraying the storm inside me.His brows drew toget