DANIEL'S POV.
THE NEXT DAY.I couldn't believe I'd hired that girl. She was so weird and different from anyone I'd seen before and that didn't sit well with me. My pitying self just had to look into her big eyes and give her what she wanted. Now I'm stuck with her as my maid."What's that lady's name again?" I asked Clara who was doing her best to keep up with my stride."Jessica Cooper," Clara said, out of breath.Jessica Cooper is the last name I was expecting a girl like her to bear. She should've been a Miranda or Laurel, Jessica doesn't suit her. Whatever, I don't care.We passed the junior employees who had their heads bowed in greeting and I ignored them. We made it to our floor and the atmosphere of the room didn't seem pleasing. Everyone had their heads bowed, and they looked frightened.I stopped at one employees desk—I think his name was Logan or something and he got up with so much force the chair almost fell back. That right there is was power can do."What is going on? Why do you guys look like you're having a funeral?"Logan looked genuinely surprised I was talking to him, he had to blink several times. "It's ... your ... Uhmm—""For fucks sake, stop stuttering," I demand, irritated."Sorry, Sir. It's your Dad. He's in your office and he is very mad about the proposal—"I dashed towards the office not looking back."You need to calm down before you talk to him," Clara called from behind, hurrying to keep up.I took a deep breath before pulling the door open. Dad was seated there, his posture stern and his face so cold, it was scary.How would I explain that I'd lost the deal because of my reputation. The clients didn't believe I had the ability to handle a project as big as that, given my irresponsible behaviour in the past."Dad I can explain what happen—""Explain what!" He barked."Dad, I was really prepared to take on the project. I'd even partnered with Schumann, but the man was too particular about the type of person he wanted to partner with." I tried my best not to sound as nervous as I felt.Dad barked out laughter, but it wasn't humourous. "And you aren't that person why? You're an irresponsible young man who acts like a child always. Why else do you think he refused to sign with you?"He was right. Mr Bingley had given the exact reason, he felt I was rather too childish and preferred to work with a stable married young man. But I can never give him that, I'm not made for marriage—I'm not even marriage material."I really tried my best Dad, but he wanted someone who was married and settled down. He's a family kind of man and that's one thing I can't be," I sighed, hanging my head low in defeat.His nostrils flared and he got up slamming the table. "What are you saying? Are you listening to your self? How old are you, thirty? What do you mean you can't get married?""You heard me fine Dad. I'm not getting married ever."Dad chuckled. "You must be joking to think I'll be fine with that. Do you think you can stay unmarried in this business for life? That's your problem, you don't ever think like a man. All you think of is the stick in your pants—""Dad!""It's the truth," he fired back. "You need to wake up, son. This company could go down in front of our eyes if you keep being this nonchalant.""I know this and I'm working on it," I sighed.Dad shook his head. "No you're not. What would you do when another person refuses to collaborate with you? You should know that most of the influencial men in this business are family oriented, no one would want to work with an unserious man like you."His words sting, but I was used to them. It's nothing new."Can you give me one more chance to prove myself at least?"He barked out laughing, ofcourse without humour. His piercing green eyes which were the same colour as mine, showing disappointment, that made my stomach coil."You want one more chance," he increased his tone, "you want one more chance? How many times would I give you one more chance? You have proven times without number that you're irresponsible and not capable of handling our business. What do you think your mother would say if she hears you say you don't want a family? Are you insane boy?""I'm not insane!" I fired back, sick and tired of him bringing me down. "I'm not insane and we both know it, all I'm saying is Mr Bingley is a jerk for refusing the proposal just because I'm not married. I don't want to get married and I would never under any circumstances change this for any reason.""Oh really? Maybe it's time I let you know then," he said, crossing his arms. "I would be withdrawing all your properties and everything you own until you come to your senses and settle down."What? Did he just say that? What was I supposed to do without all my properties?"Dad, you must be joking right?"He shook his head with rage in his eyes. "No, I'm not one to joke and you know that. Allow me to finish, I would make sure to freeze all your credit cards and everything under my name that you're using. You have to learn how to take care of yourself since you're a man—a man who wants to live as a bachelor forever. You would no longer be using my surname and I will be cutting ties with you from anything concerning business, you can be known as my son only outside our business lives."My heart started pounding as I pictured everything he had said in my mind. How would I live without his money, his status and his business? It is very heartbreaking to realise that you're nothing without your father. I felt like a worthless piece of garbage, but I couldn't back down without a fight."Dad please, just relax. I'm sorry, okay? Please just think about what you said again, what would I do if you take away everything I have dad?" I pleaded with him, but he looked so unmoved by my plea, that I had to stop myself."Are you sure about this, Dad?" I held his gaze, hoping to see a shift in his emotions, but no, he looked even more disappointed that I was begging like a kid.So, I was really nothing without him. I never thought of it until now. I'm utterly screwed and ruined."Do you hear yourself? Don't you just sound like a kid? Without your father you're nothing, but a spoilt thirty year old brat, but you want me to believe you're good enough to handle my business," he smacked the table repeatedly. "Get this in your head boy, I love you as a father, but I can't stand you as a business man. You don't understand business and you might never succeed if you keep going around with your mindset."Ouch.I did nothing but stare at him as he picked up his key and bolted out of the office, smacking my shoulder in the process. The embarrassment and guilt I felt got more intense when I turned around and saw Clara watching the whole thing with a look of pity on her face.That was the one thing I hated, pity. I hated it since I was a child and I never ever wanted anything that would make me receive it. I'd thought I was always doing the right thing—yes sure, I was irresponsible and an asshole sometimes, but I was trying my best, I'd given up a lot of things to take the place of CEO in this company—but it took just minutes for everything I'd thought about myself to change into nothing.I wasn't good enough for anything. Not even my own father could lie to me just to make me feel better about myself. He told me the cold hard truth. I'm irresponsible and useless to him.I swallowed the huge lump in my throat and summoned Clara. She nervously came to my side, watching me with caution, maybe expecting me to vent my frustrations at her. The urge to do so was tempting but I knew better than that."You heard everything right?" I asked, looking anywhere but at her face."Y-yes Sir," she nodded quickly. "What ... Is there anything I can do for you right now S-sir?""Quit stuttering okay?" I frowned, dumping myself into my chair and rubbing at my temples. "Since you heard everything loud and clear then tell me as my friend not as an employee, what do you think I can do about this?"Clara cleared her throat before saying, "For me I think you should give him what he wants."I whipped my head towards her. "What? That means I should get married? I can't do that?""If you want him to trust you again then you need to give him a good reason to," Clara shrugged. "Besides, it doesn't have to be a real marriage you know?"Was Clara insane?DANIEL'S POV.That's it. Clara had officially gone mad."Are you hearing yourself right now, Clara," I said, giving her an astonished look which she returned with a shrug."People do stuff like that all the time Sir, it's nothing new."Nothing new? She wanted me to find a random girl to marry so my dad could give me back my properties. I'd only heard of contract marriages in the movies, I didn't think it was a real thing."And who would want to do that with me? Wait ... No, how does that help my situation? My dad would obviously see through the act, you don't know him like I do," I said.She smiled and crossed her arms. "There are plenty of ladies who would be down for that, I can tell you. What you need to be thinking about right now is a woman who would be willing to go into a contract marriage. I can help you with that if you want."What was Clara saying? It all sounded so wrong to me. I didn't believe in love, but I wasn't one to think a marriage should be manipulated. I didn't be
JESSICA'S POV.I was in my room arranging my things into my assigned room when I heard the sound of someone coming in through the front door. Must've been Mr Snider, I thought. I abandoned the few clothes I was stuffing into the cupboard and went out to greet him, like the perfect housemaid would do.However, my eyes turned as wide as ostrich eggs when I saw a gorgeous lady instead, dressed in a large coat, which was unbuttoned, revealing a very gloriously naked body. What sort of thing was that? I never expected to witness something like this ever. Should I've been worried? The lady scowled when she saw me and plopped down on the couch in a cat-like position. "Who the fuck are you?"I averted my gaze from her pointy pink nipples and cleared my throat. "Excuse me, could you cover up?"She stared at me, with challenge in her eyes. "No can do. Answer my question, who are you?""I'm the maid, who are you?"She chuckled darkly and ruffles her hair like she was trying to be seductive. "I
DANIEL'S POV.I woke up with a feeling of spite. My neck hurt and my eyes were probably swollen because of the drinks I'd taken last night and how long I'd slept in. I felt like shit and hated the fact that I still had to show up for work. If I didn't then it would confirm everything my father said about me.My phone started ringing so I snatched it from the bedside table and scrunched my face when I saw the words, MUM. Oh, now she remembered her son?"Good morning mum," I said in a gruff voice, staring at my cupboard which looked like it was attacked by an animal. I should really be more organised."Morning son, how was your night?" Worst night ever. I haven't hated my self as much as I did yesterday and that Bianca chick just had to be the icing on the cake."It was stressful," I went with the safest word, I didn't want her to know how much Dad's words hurt me. There's no way she wasn't aware of what happened yesterday."Oh my poor boy," she said in a babyish way and I cringed. She
JESSICA'S POV.I've really had enough of Daniel Snider. He has been nothing but rude to me since I got employed and honestly if I wasn't desperate for the cash, I'd have quit this job just like the last one. I needed the money and most of the accommodation, so I sucked up my pride and took his rude behaviour.After my hurried departure from the kitchen, I went back to work which wasn't that much, because I'd been cleaning the place like my life depended on it since I started. I did a few touch up here and there and called it a day. I went to my room and switched on the lights. A part of me still always expected to magically disappear back to my former apartment(if it could be called that even) and my old job, but no matter how much I punched myself, it was real. I'd finally abandoned my old meaningless life and made it into the house, I'd wanted to work in since I saw the housekeeper advert on the internet.My phone started blasting out my ringtone and I smiled when I saw the contact
DANIEL'S POV.My dad was still very much mad at me. He wasn't taking my calls and he hadn't said a word about our argument, according to what Mum said. It was like he had completely shut me out of his life, and was waiting for me to do something to impress him.I really couldn't think of anything to impress him with. According to Clara I was supposed to give it sometime before I introduced my potential wife to him, and that was going to take me about a month. She was right by the way, I couldn't just suddenly bring a girl to him, after telling him times without number that I didn't want a relationship. My dad was smart and he'd have caught the joke immediately if I tried.So, the relationship stunt was out of the picture. I needed something that would make him see how ready I was, but he was being too stubborn.I was swirling around on my chair when Clara stepped in with a blonde chick behind her. Clara was dressed in a hot pink professional dress while the Blondie was in a black not
DANIEL'S POV.I was in my office, arranging some files when a surprise text message made my phone buzz. It was from Bianca. I made a mental note to block her after that.Bianca: Hello handsome. I sneered. What had suddenly come over her? I wished our last conversation would've been able to spell it out that I didn't give a damn about her or what she did. It was fun while it lasted.Me: what is it Bianca?I'd started sorting out some important files I needed when another message came. I was so pissed, I dumped the files and they got mixed up again. Shit.Bianca: I'm sorry for my behaviour.What the fuck was wrong with her? She couldn't possibly have been apologising just so we could get back together, could she?Bianca: I hope we can meet soon and straighten things out.Me: There's nothing to straighten out. We're over and I'm sorry for how I treated you.I wasn't actually sorry, but I needed her to leave me the hell alone. Her name popped on the screen again and I groaned so loudly,
JESSICA'S POV.I'd been feeling stuffed and sick of Mr Snider's big ass house, so after I was done with my cleaning in the house, I made up my mind to take a trip. Check out the environment and maybe try to make some new friends. You never know where you could find someone that might be willing to help you out.I chose a black t-shirt and some form fitting jeans that were kind of faded, having Mr Snider's comment about my choice of dressing in mind. When I was sure I looked decent and approachable, I took my bag and ventured out.I walked around the busy streets, staring at job adverts and interesting places until my eyes landed on a park. My feet moved me towards it before I could even second guess going over there. I took a seat on a bench and was about to start munching on a sandwich I packed on my way when my eyes locked on a hungry looking cat at the corner of a tree in front of me.I always had a soft spot for animals and cats especially. Back in the orphanage I'd volunteered to
DANIEL'S POV.I finally got a call from home to come for dinner and although it was what I'd been wishing for, I felt uneasy as I drove to my parent's house. It was like I couldn't think of anything, but the possibility of me ruining things completely with my dad and ending up a useless broke puppet.As I parked into the garage, I tried to steady my heart by placing my hand over it and saying a prayer for everything to work out, like Mum used to do in the past. She used to tell me to do that whenever I felt scared or couldn't take my mind of something upsetting, and I used to laugh at her, saying it was nonsense. It actually helped me a bit as I did it now. I felt kind of relieved of the tension in my body.I rang the bell and Rita the maid opened it with a large smile on her face. She studied my appearance for a while before pulling me in for a bear hug and I hugged her back. Rita was like my second Mum back when I was younger, she'd been working with my family ever since I was a lit