Chapter 4-Bumping into the hot ceo

*

"Sasha." The little girl called looking back at the older woman behind her, "Why am I so ugly?"

"Now calm down child." Sasha shook her head dropping the hairbrush on the bed, "Who said you were ugly?"

"The beautiful woman who you said is my mother and my sister, Sylvana." Lunaria said rubbing her finger on her nose, "They said I make them lose appetite, do I make you lose appetite, Sasha?"

"Of course not my darling." She sighed deeply drawing the poor child next to her, "You aren't ugly, you are the most beautiful Eight-year-old I have ever seen."

"But I don't see it." Lunaria shook her head, "I see myself every day, I wish I was different."

"You are different in your own way my dear." Sasha soothed her head, "You are unique and lovely, you are beautiful, you are a dark beauty."

Lunaria smiled at the words, they made her feel better and she hugged the woman back, "Thank you, Sasha."

"You are always welcome, my little Lunaria, do you want pancakes for breakfast?"

"Of course." The child agreed instantly and hopped down from the bed, following Sasha out of the room.

They made way for the kitchen, hand in hand with Sasha humming a sweet tune.

Sasha set Lunaria down on the seat and began to make the pancakes, "I am out of flour." She called, "Be right back my darling, I have got to make a quick trip to the pantry."

"Okay." Lunaria nodded waving at her shyly.

Lunaria heard a loud scream when Sasha went to the pantry, she immediately hopped down from her seat and raced towards the pantry.

She got there to see her mother standing over Sasha with a gun, "You little beast." Her mother looked at her, "You caused this!" Her words followed with her pulling the trigger and before Lunaria's eyes, Sasha's blood splattered all over the place.

**

Lunaria jumped up from the bed, her skin felt damp and clammy. Her breathing was erratic, she placed a palm on her chest to steady herself as she took in deep breaths in an attempt to calm down.

She had another nightmare again.

Ever since Sasha's death, for over three weeks now, Lunaria had had different nightmares.

They started with different lovely scenarios with Sasha before it all ended in her death and left Lunaria in a sobbing mess when she awoke.

She turned to her side and picked up her phone to see the time, it was past 5:00 Am and she knew she had to get up and do her chores.

Even while doing her chores, she always thought of Sasha. If she had been alive, she would have awoken to breakfast by now but with Sasha gone, she wouldn't have breakfast, just lunch and that would be after she had finished all chores.

Today was going to be worse as she had to go out with Sylvana on a shopping spree that included her carrying the bags around like the slave she was.

She got up immediately and cleaned up, picked up her maid's uniform, and got to work.

She arranged her room and proceeded downstairs to start her chores and assist in preparing breakfast for the family.

She knew she had to be done before noon as she couldn't delay Sasha knowing it would attract more punishment.

By almost noon, she was done.

She got back to her room, got dressed, and proceeded to the mall on foot. She wasn't allowed to ride in any of the cars.

She had to start walking to the mall, the money with her was what she'd use in taking a taxi back as she knew she would be left with carrying all the items Sylvana would get.

She hastened her steps because she would be in trouble if she should get to the mall after Sylvana did.

As she trekked to the mall, she bumped into someone, a blonde homeless man who held her hand pleading for money.

"I am sorry sir." She shook her head, "I have none."

She looked at him with pity, he looked a bit older than she was, his eyes were weary and his hair was a mess. He had beard overgrowth that made him look more haggard than he already was.

"Please. Spare me." He continued to beg and she noticed he sounded young, "I have only had water in the past few days."

Lunaria knew that he was telling the truth and she was a bit grateful, even with the circumstances she found herself in. She had never had to beg for food or money, she could still survive.

She dipped her hand in her pockets and took out the little cash she had. She rolled the notes and pressed them in his palms.

"Thank you so

Much." He appreciated, "I do hope I can repay you in the future."

"That is if I am still alive." She murmured to herself and said goodbye to the man before hurrying up to the mall.

Lunaria was welcomed with a slap the moment she got to the mall. Due to her interaction with the homeless man, Sylvana had gotten there before her.

"You can't do anything right!" She gritted her teeth staring

daggers at Lunaria, "You had better not stress me up on this trip, I would tell my mother."

"I am so sorry, It would not happen again."

"Suit yourself!" She rolled her eyes and went into the mall with her bodyguards, heading straight for the Hermes section of the mall, "I need a new bag Lunaria, you can't relate because you could never afford such finery."

"I agree."

"While I am shopping, get me a latte and make it snappy, now!"

Lunaria sprang into action immediately, racing to get the Latte and she did it with speed running back not wanting her sister to embarrass her further in the mall.

She bumped into someone suddenly, crashing to the ground with the Latte spilling all over.

"Boss. Are you alright?"

She could hear a male voice as she struggled to stand up, fingers wrapped around her arm and she felt herself Being lifted off the ground.

"Easy there lady." A deep velvety voice came and Lunaria opened her eyes, staring at the owner, "I am sorry about that."

She had no response as she thought she had just laid eyes on the most attractive man on earth. Silky voice, deep-set dark eyes, and a neat beard.

He smelled nice, he smelled rich with his neatly tailored suit and having a height to his advantage.

"I am sorry." Lunaria apologized quickly trying to get away, "I should go."

"No." He shook his head letting go of her softly, "Let me get you a new dress and another latte." He offered politely, "I bumped into you Afterall."

"That wouldn't be necessary I-"

"It would be my pleasure." He cut her short extending a hand, "I am Zander Ashton and you are?"

"Lunaria." She whispered softly.

"Beautiful." He grinned at her and she turned away shyly, "Did you come here to shop?"

"No, I didn't. I-Nothing."

"Aww don't be shy." Zander smiled at her, "You are breathtaking."

No man has ever called her breathtaking.

"I should go." She spoke and just then the man who had been with Zander walked up with a latte and a dress that was packed neatly like the designer dresses that Sylvana usually got.

"Here you go." Zander collected them from the man and handed them over to her, "Please don't decline."

"Thank you." She bent her head and collected them, scurrying away before he could say anything else.

"You whore!" Sylvana greeted her with harsh words the moment she got to her, "I saw you with that man, how did you know him?!"

She grabbed the Latte from Lunaria and demanded an explanation.

Lunaria narrated all that had happened and She saw that her sister didn't look pleased.

"This is just another one of your attempts to ruin my life." Sylvana growled through gritted teeth, "Just wait till we get home and I tell Mum!"