Chapter 1

1: 1

The company had a good year. With everyone pulling their weight, we blew past our annual targets in just three quarters.

To reward the team, I took all my employees abroad for a getaway over the holiday. Everyone had a wonderful time.

The break ended, and the moment I got home, my housekeeper came fussing over me.

"You must be tired, Miss. Let me get you your slippers. Dinner's almost ready. I made your favorite, the barbecue ribs!"

I handed her my bag and changed into my slippers, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about her today.

Her name was Gloria Walker. She'd worked in my house for six years, and aside from a streak of vanity, she was reliable enough at her job.

I'd never treated her badly either. I'd always dealt with her like a sister, never once lording anything over her.

"Gloria, you seem a little strange today. Is there something you want to tell me?"

She flushed instantly, fingers tugging at the hem of her shirt.

"Miss... Miss, I'm seeing someone."

Fresh gossip. My travel fatigue vanished on the spot, and I sat up. "That's a good thing. You're twenty-six now, right? It's about time. Where's he from? What does he do?"

She snuck a glance at me and said it like she was confessing a crime.

"He's, he's a manager at Skyfire Group. Three years older than me, and so handsome."

……

That caught me off guard.

Skyfire Group was one of my companies. To spread out the risk, I'd brought in someone to run it for me, and only a few core executives knew who I really was.

"That's wonderful. A manager at Skyfire, that's something to be proud of. And their salaries are seven figures at least, aren't they?"

"Bring him by for dinner sometime. I'll help you size him up."

Honestly, I was genuinely happy for her.

She had no degree and no connections. If she'd truly found a good match, her life ahead would be a great deal easier.

Still, given who he was, why would he go for Gloria?

More than romance for its own sake, I tended to believe in people marrying their equals.

She suddenly lowered her head, the color in her face deepening.

"I, I already brought him here to the house."

"I'm sorry, Miss. I know it wasn't right, but I couldn't get through to your phone, so I had to act first and tell you after."

I glanced up toward the second floor, and it left a bad taste in my mouth.

This was my home, after all. Gloria was a housekeeper, and she'd brought someone here without asking me. A man, no less.

But when I thought about her being twenty-six and never having dated, I let it go.

"It's fine. As long as the two of you end up together, you have my full support!"

"Really, Miss?"

Her head shot up, her whole face lit with a kind of joy that wasn't quite right.

I was baffled. I didn't understand why she was this worked up.

Thud.

She dropped to her knees, and it caught me completely off guard.

"Miss, I lied. I told my boyfriend this villa is mine..."

"What?"

I stood up sharply. Her words stunned me.

"This villa is yours? Then who am I?"

Kneeling on the floor, she answered through her tears.