CHAPTER FOUR

ETHAN

It was a bright summer morning. I was still in bed when a loud knock interrupted my sleep. I turned around and checked the time.

“Shit!” I cursed and literally flew out of the bed. “I couldn’t believe I woke up at 9 AM when I was supposed to have a meeting by 9:30!

I checked my alarm and saw it was faulty. Well, I couldn’t blame anyone, because I didn’t live here permanently.

I hurriedly walked to check who was at the door. I wasn’t surprised to see that it was my younger sister, Ava. I opened the door and asked with a straight face, “What?”

She smiled and replied, “Good morning to you too, Ethan.”

I rolled my eyes. “Not now, Ava,” I groaned, already knowing why she was here.

“Aren’t you supposed to have a meeting by 9:30?” she asked.

I didn’t answer and rushed into the bathroom.

I came out, and Ava was still in my room, sitting comfortably on my bed. I rolled my eyes at her and facepalmed.

As if that was the cue she needed, she said, “Grandma is going on and on about how you’ve come of age and still refuse to bring home a wife and give her grandchildren, since the death of Sophia.”

I sighed and continued dressing up in a hurry.

“I don’t have time to talk right now, Ava, I’m late for a meeting,” I said. “And as far as I’m concerned, you are 26 years old… shouldn’t you be married by now too?” I added, hoping she’d drop the topic already.

“See you later then,” she said with a sad voice and left my room.

I knew I hurt her feelings by saying that, and I felt bad. I guess my statement hit her harder than I wanted it to.

But I really didn’t want to talk about that issue, and this was the only way I knew that would shut her up.

Ever since Sophia died, I hadn’t been able to have a relationship. It was more like my ability and desire to love a woman died with her.

I dressed up in my usual outfit, a three-piece suit. I put on my shoes, grabbed my phone and work bag, and hurried out.

Ava could be a pain in the ass at times, but I still loved her because she’s my precious sister. I chuckled at the thought of her pouting for the whole because of what I said.

I didn’t even have breakfast because I was damn late. The car was already waiting for me outside when I got there so I got into it.

“Move, Harris. I’m already late,” I instructed my driver, not waiting for him to greet me.

“Good morning, Mr. Belford,” Harris said with his usual smile.

“Nothing is good about the morning. Just drive fast, I need to get to the meeting. I’m already late.”

I picked up my phone to call my assistant, Brad, to ask if the clients were already there.

I was about to dial Brad’s number when the car drove out of the gate, and I saw the most beautiful and sexiest woman I have ever seen—aside from Sophia.

Her hair was dark brown, her complexion was flawless, and she had porcelain skin. Wow, those hips and that booty made her look even hotter. She had a heart-shaped face and perfect lips.

Her hair was packed in a messy ponytail, and her top was tucked into her tight jeans. If she looked this hot in jeans, I bet she’d look breathtaking in a dress. She was also wearing fancy sandals. She looked really simple but elegant and I liked that.

I told the driver to stop and slid the side window down. I put on an expressionless look and tried not to show that I was carried away by her beauty.

I couldn’t stop myself from getting a better look at her before I spoke up.

“What’s your name and what are you doing here?” I asked, putting on my usual cold look.

“I’m Emily Jones, and I’m here in search of a job as a maid,” she said. She had a nice voice too, I must confess.

Jones?

Was I just imagining things, or could she be a member of the Jones family?

She couldn’t be. Maybe it was just a coincidence that the surname matched. If she was from the Jones family, what would she be doing here, searching for a job as a maid?

But even if she wasn’t from the Jones family, still why was she be looking for a maid’s job?

I looked at her from head to toe. She didn’t look like one. Her skin was flawless, and she had the latest iPhone 13 Pro Max in her hands. So why would she want to be a maid?

I instantly felt that she was a spy, sent by our rivals and enemies to monitor our moves and figure out how to bring us down. That was my conclusion.

And being the heir, I had to protect my family and our business. That was why I didn’t trust people much.

She looked innocent though. But like they say—“You can’t judge a book by its cover.” I wasn’t going to take any chances and let a stranger into my home. I wasn’t.

“We don’t need a maid here, so get lost,” I told her in a cold voice and stern face, then ordered the driver to move.

As the car drove off, I called Brad and he told me they had been waiting for me in the conference room for about 45 minutes now.

I told him I was on my way and also told him to tighten the security in the mansion immediately.

Although I didn’t live here. I only came and went. However I still had to protect Ava and my grandma.

They were all I had got, and they meant the world to me. And I would have been damned if anything happened to them.

I came for family dinner last night, and it was late by the time we were done, that was why I passed the night there.

Grandma went on and on about when I’ll get married, how I was 32 and hadn’t even brought a girl home.

It wasn’t like I didn’t want to get into a serious relationship. It was because all the girls I had met in New York City all seemed fake. Except for that Emily girl I just saw.

I groaned. Why was I still thinking about her?

From my experience and what I always saw, girls in New York were very ambitious. They just wanted to be with me for my wealth.

I was going to get married, but only when I saw the right person.

My mind went back to Emily again. Strangely it felt like I had seen her somewhere before but I couldn't remember.

Shit! I cursed. I needed to stop thinking about her.

Hopefully, she’d have been gone and I’d never have to see her again.

I took my phone and went through my emails, trying to keep myself busy and not wanting to think about what happened just now anymore.

Because strangely I had already begun to feel a connection with that Emily.