CHAPTER SIX

ETHAN

We arrived at the front of my company building. Harris parked the car, and the bodyguard outside opened the door for me.

I stepped out quickly and walked in. My employees on the ground floor greeted me, but I only nodded in response.

Normally, I took the stairs whenever I came to work. I liked seeing what was going on around the company before heading to my office.

But today, I had a meeting with new investors and I was already late. So I took the elevator.

I noticed a few workers waiting to use the elevator too, but as soon as they saw me coming, they stepped back and made way. No one dared to enter once I stepped in. The doors closed behind me.

I pressed the button for the fifth floor. The elevator moved and soon stopped. I stepped out and walked straight to the conference room, where I saw my assistant waiting at the door.

“Good morning, Boss. The investors have been waiting for an hour. Shall we?” he asked, opening the door for me.

I nodded and walked to the head of the table. I pulled back my chair and sat down.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I’m sorry I’m late. I hope you can forgive me,” I said with a smile. I put on my usual serious face, the one I always used for business. I liked to call it my business face. I laughed a little in my mind.

I saw all six of them seated. Three men and three women. The women were looking at me in a way I didn’t like. They were looking at me lustfully.

They wore tight, low-cut dresses that showed way too much cleavage. I frowned and ignored them. Instead, I focused on the men, who looked more serious.

One of the older men spoke up. “Mr. Belford, we’ve read through the contract. The terms are fair and profitable. We’ve decided to invest in your company and also your five-star hotels.” He clasped his hands together.

“Thank you, sir,” I said. “Here are the documents that need your signature so we can seal the deal.” I handed the files to Brad, who passed them over.

The man signed the papers and handed them back to me making me stand up and shake his hand.

“Thank you for trusting us. You won’t regret this decision,” I said with a smile. He nodded and smiled back.

They all walked out except for one of the women.

She was short, red-haired, and had acne on her face. She was busty but flat at the back. Definitely not my type. Honestly, I’d rather be called gay than be with someone like her. I scoffed in my head.

“How may I help you, Miss?” I asked coldly, giving her a hard stare.

“I was hoping you could join me for lunch today,” she said, batting her eyelashes and adjusting her chest like it was supposed to impress me.

What a shameless woman.

“This is not professional. I advise you never to approach me like this again, or I’ll embarrass you,” I said, my eyes locked on hers.

“And next time you come for a business meeting, dress more appropriately. You look less like a businesswoman and more like a whore.” I added.

Her face turned red with shame, and she suddenly couldn’t speak. She bent her head and stood there frozen.

I smirked and walked out with Brad.

We got into the elevator. Brad pressed the sixth-floor button, and it took us up to my office.

We walked in, and I sat on my executive chair. It was my favorite chair in the world. It always made me feel powerful and untouchable.

Brad sat opposite me.

“Have you tightened the security at the mansion?” I asked.

“Yes, sir,” he replied, but I could see from his expression that he wanted to ask something.

“You can speak. Ask your question,” I said, giving him a sharp look.

“It’s just that… you suddenly asked for tighter security. May I know what’s going on?” he asked, sitting back in his chair.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

“A girl came to the house this morning asking for a job as a maid.” I told him.

Brad blinked. “Sir… and that’s why we needed tighter security?”

I rolled my eyes and facepalmed. “Sometimes I wonder if you even went to school,” I said. “She doesn’t look like a maid. Her skin is as white as snow. She’s… cute.”

I stopped mid-sentence when I realized I was complimenting her. Damn it!

Brad looked at me with a surprised smirk. He must have been shocked because since my fiancée Sophia died, I had never complimented any woman. Not even once.

She was the only woman I ever loved and after she died in the car crash, I lost all interest in love.

Sometimes I even thought about going to the hospital to check if I was still a man. No woman had turned me on after Sophia’s death. People started gossiping that I was gay which I felt was really ridiculous.

But Emily… she made me stare.

It felt strange, like I was betraying Sophia.

I cleared my throat and continued, “What I’m trying to say is… she could be a spy. She’s too clean to be looking for a maid job. Maybe our competitors sent her to get information. I want every detail about her on my desk by tomorrow. Her name is Emily Jones.”

Brad raised his eyebrows. “Wow, sir. That’s the first time you’ve remembered a woman’s name besides your grandma, your sister, or Sophia.”

“Has anyone told you that you look ugly when you smirk like that?” I said with a straight face.

Brad stopped smiling and became serious. “Okay, boss. I’ll get all the information I can find on her.”

“Good. Also, cancel all my meetings for the day. I’m going home to rest. Tell Harris to get the car ready. I’ll leave in two minutes,” I said as I started organizing the files I had worked on.

“Alright that, sir,” he said and walked out.

I picked up my suit jacket and put it on before leaving my office. When I stepped out of the company building. One of the guards opened the car door, and I got in.

“Harris, take me to the mansion,” I said.

I had left my laptop in my room at the mansion. I needed it to check emails tonight. Since I didn’t get much work done today, it was necessary. That was why I headed to the mansion first and didn't just go straight to my house.

When we arrived at the mansion the guard opened the door, and I stepped out.

I went into the house with one goal which was to grab my laptop and leave quickly. I didn’t want to get stuck in another of Granny’s lectures about marriage and settling down.

But as I walked in, the first person I saw was Ava.

“Well, well… Look who’s here,” she said with a smile. “My beloved brother. Isn’t it strange seeing you here without a call? Shouldn’t you be at your penthouse?”

I rolled my eyes. “Ava, please don’t start. I don’t want Granny knowing I’m here. I’m not in the mood for lectures. I just came to grab my laptop and go. I’ll be gone before you know it.”

I was still speaking when a girl walked in. I turned to see her face clearly and froze.

It was Emily.

What the hell was she doing here?! She was holding her belonging like she was moving in and she looked like she had just run for her life.

I turned to Ava, hoping for an explanation.

Ava shrugged. “Emily is Granny’s personal maid now. Granny already hired her. She’ll be living here. Her room is opposite Granny’s on our floor.”

“Our floor?” I repeated, fuming inside.

I turned and looked at Emily. She stood quietly near the doorway, looking all innocent.

But I wasn’t fooled.

She may have tricked Granny, but she wasn’t gonna trick me.

I was going to keep a close eye on her and since she went against my words, I was going to make her regret ever stepping into this house.

I couldn't throw her out yet, not without proof. Granny seemed to like her, so I needed a good reason to get rid of her.

Hopefully, whatever Brad would out about her would be enough to get her kicked out or even arrested.