When he drove through the gates of a mansion, my heart skipped a beat. It was an architectural marvel. The house was not made of plain bricks but designed with grey tones and walnut accents. Tall, rectangular windows stretched across the exterior, arranged in an asymmetrical pattern that made the entire house feel alive. The structure was shaped like an L, with an extension on one side that led to beautifully manicured gardens. The second floor jutted out over the first, creating a striking balcony and overhang.

The roof was high, slanted, and covered In sleek black ceramic tiles, with two small chimneys jutting out from the side. It was a stunning modern design, and the well-maintained garden only added to its beauty.

“This is my home,” he announced, pulling into the driveway.

A sudden sense of dread washed over me. “What do you mean, this is your home?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“You need a job. Well, I also need someone to help around the house—cook, clean, you know, the usual,” he said, as if it was no big deal.

“You’re joking, right? You didn’t mention anything about that in the car!” I retorted, my frustration bubbling to the surface.

“What’s the difference? You need a job, and I need help. It’s simple,” he shrugged.

“Wait, you want me to be your maid?” I asked, my voice incredulous.

He paused for a moment, his expression turning cold. “If you don’t want to work as my maid, you can always be my mistress.”

I felt my jaw drop. “Do you think I’m insane?” I snapped, the reality of the situation dawning on me.

“I’m just giving you an option,” he said, unfazed.

“So, either I work as your maid, or I become your… mistress?” I muttered under my breath, the words almost choking me. “You’re a despicable, arrogant bastard!”

“That sassy attitude of yours, when you’re penniless, might just change my mind,” he said, shaking his head in mock disappointment.

I dropped my gaze to the ground, suddenly feeling small. He was right. I had no leverage, no options.

“My father’s… he’s going to testify, and I can’t go back to him now,” I admitted, my voice faltering. “Please, help me,” I pleaded, hoping that he would show some compassion. But the truth was, I was terrified—terrified of being caught by my father’s men, terrified of facing the consequences.

“As I’ve said before, I need a maid,” he repeated, his voice unwavering.

I wasn’t sure I could handle the job.

But I was stuck in a situation where I had no choice. After all, it was just for a few months. “All right, I’ll do it,” I agreed.

I accepted his offer without thinking of the consequences. I was a quick learner, and I believed that if I applied myself, I could succeed at anything! Even though the idea of working as a maid terrified me, I had no other choice. I needed a place to stay, even temporarily.

“Are you certain?” he asked again, his tone serious. “It won’t be easy.”

“I’ll do my best, sir,” I replied.

“It’s Leo,” he corrected.

“Elena at your service, sir,” I said, using the fake name I’d decided on.

He gave a small nod. “Just call me Leo.”

I couldn’t help but whisper, “What a cheesy name for someone like you.”

He raised an eyebrow, his irritation evident. “What did you say?”

I had my own reasons to be irritated. “Nothing,” I muttered. “By the way, how old are you, Leo?”

“Thirty-two,” he answered coolly. “And you? Are you already eighteen?”

“Twenty-eight,” I said, almost too quickly.

He stared at me, his eyes widening with disbelief. “Eighteen? Seriously?” He then scrutinized my face, making me feel self-conscious. “You’re pretty, and your legs are… impressive. But what caught my attention the most were your eyes. They’re so captivating. I wonder how they’d look under me.”

At first, I didn’t understand what he meant, but after a few seconds, the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. My cheeks burned with anger. “I’m here to work as your maid, nothing more. No touching, no flirting, or I’ll file a harassment charge.”

“Whoa, you’re a sharp one, Elena,” he said, his voice tinged with amusement.

“I am,” I shot back. “So you’d better watch yourself.”

For a moment, he seemed to consider something, then he groaned but said nothing. He turned toward the door, as though to leave, but then stopped short. “It’s just you and me in this house,” he added, “and there are plenty of rooms. Pick whichever one you like. I’ll be back in a minute.”

His offer to let me choose a room instead of relegating me to the servant’s quarters was generous, but I couldn’t help but feel annoyed at how he’d left me in the dark about what was expected of me. Still, I obeyed and followed his instructions. He’d gone left, so that’s where I went.

“Hey, come here,” Leo called, his voice drawing the attention of a brunette who was seated nearby. Nervously, she stood and walked toward him.

Without a word, Leo wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered something in her ear. The woman nodded, and within moments, they were in bed. My eyes widened in disbelief as I watched him strip her of her clothes.

“Baby, spread your legs,” Leo ordered, his voice low and commanding.

The woman complied, her body arching under him. He sank into her, and I gasped, feeling a strange mix of anger and discomfort at the scene unfolding before me. I couldn’t tear my eyes away, even though every instinct screamed at me to leave.

They moved together in a heated rhythm, the air thick with their moans. The woman’s voice echoed through the room as she called his name repeatedly. I wanted to run, but my feet felt as if they were cemented to the floor.

As Leo pulled away from her, I snapped out of my trance, panic flooding me. I turned to leave, but in my haste, I knocked over a vase from the console table. The sound of it crashing to the ground was too loud to ignore, and Leo’s head snapped toward the hallway.

I bolted down the corridor, but Leo was already on my heels. “Stop, or you’ll regret it!” he called after me, his voice sharp.

I didn’t dare look back, but Leo’s long strides quickly caught up to me. “I’m sorry, Leo. I got lost,” I lied, my heart pounding in my chest.

He scoffed at my excuse, clearly unconvinced. “What did you see?” he demanded.

“Nothing,” I lied again, my voice wavering slightly.

“Are you sure?” he pressed, his suspicion thick in the air.

I cursed under my breath. This man was relentless. “Fine. I admit it. I saw you with that brunette… doing things… like wild animals. Happy now? Can I leave?”

“Are you sure that’s all you saw?” Leo’s eyes darkened, and I could tell he didn’t believe me.

I let out a long sigh. “Yes, that’s all. Can I go now?”

Leo’s anger flared, and he took a step closer. “Don’t you ever talk to me like that, Elena.”

I met his gaze, unflinching. He was furious, but I didn’t care. “If you don’t want me here, just tell me, and I’ll leave.”

“No one leaves without my say so!” he bellowed, his voice booming down the hallway.

“I am not your prisoner!” I exclaimed, turning on my heel and walking away.

“Wait a minute!” Leo called after me, his voice filled with frustration. Every time he was disrespectful or insufferable, I regretted ever crossing paths with him.

“If you’ll show me to my room, I’d appreciate it. You know what? I’m not in the mood to argue right now. And if you want me to cook, you’ll let me take a nap first,” I added, crossing my arms.

Leo took a deep breath, trying to keep his cool, but I could see the flare of his nostrils as he fumed. “Of course, you’re welcome to my demands,” he muttered, his tone tight. He turned and started walking toward the hallway, gesturing for me to follow.

I couldn’t help but feel a little triumphant that he gave in to my request. Should I push my luck with another one? “I hope you don’t mind, but could you keep your voice down when… you’re with her?” I asked, not even bothering to hide my irritation.

Leo froze, and his jaw clenched when I used the word ‘fuck.’ He seemed genuinely taken aback. Well, it wasn’t new to me. I had heard worse, and the vulgar word no longer had the power to shock me.

“Whether I scream or grunt, it’s none of your business, Elena. Or do you want to experience it with me?” His taunt was laced with arrogance.

I knew he was trying to provoke me into submission, but I wouldn’t bite. Not now, not ever. Sebastian Cruz might have held power over me, but this man—Leo—had nothing on me. I’d do what I had to do for love, but no one, except my father, could boss me around.

“I’d rather please myself than do it with you,” I said firmly, my voice cold and defensive. It wasn’t an insult to his abilities, but more of a defense mechanism against his arrogance.

Leo’s face twisted with fury. “Oh, my God, just go to your room and don’t come out unless it’s to cook,” he snapped, storming off after he led me to the guest bedroom.

“Thank you,” I called after him, though I wasn’t sure if he even heard.

I sighed, shaking my head in disbelief. How had I gotten myself involved with such an impossible man? When I opened the door to the room he had given me, I couldn’t help but be surprised. It was a beautiful space. Would his wife have been this kind to me? I doubted it.

The room was tastefully furnished with modern, sleek fixtures. The four-poster bed looked grand, and there were comfortable seating areas scattered around. As I moved toward the window, I noticed a beautiful view of the garden below.

It was considerate of him to let me use such a lovely room with access to the garden. For a moment, I actually felt a small pang of appreciation.

I stretched out my muscles, feeling the exhaustion in every fiber of my body, before sinking into the massive bed. It had been an exhausting day. The journey here, then meeting Leo—it was all too much.

Maybe it wasn’t such a horrible twist of fate after all. I had to admit, Leo had done more for me than most people ever had. But that didn’t mean I was going to let him walk all over me. Not for one second.

I closed my eyes, the fatigue from the long journey taking over my body. I had meant to set an alarm, but I was too tired to care. Let fate decide if I would wake up in time.

The sound of the clock ticking on the wall was the last thing I heard before sleep claimed me.

Hours later, I jolted awake in a panic. The faint glow of dusk trickled through the curtains, and I groaned. Dinner! I had overslept!

I scrambled out of bed, pulling on my shoes as I rushed to the kitchen. Sure enough, Leo was already there, his brow furrowed in frustration when he saw that his meal wasn’t prepared yet.

“I’m so sorry,” I apologized, my voice strained with embarrassment. “I overslept.”

He grunted in response, clearly unimpressed. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, Elena,” he muttered. “By the way, I didn’t see anyone else except you and… your wife.” I figured I should ask, though I already had my suspicions.

“I don’t have a wife,” Leo replied shortly.

“Then who was that woman I saw earlier?” I pressed, trying to be nonchalant. “The brunette.”

“Oh, her?” Leo said, his voice almost bored. “She’s one of my mistresses.”

I blinked, my mind taking a moment to process his words. “Are you serious?” I asked, stunned. “How many are there?”

“Don’t ask if you don’t want to be one of them,” he replied, his tone colder than ice.

“Should I cook for all of them when they’re here?” I asked, mostly to gauge his response.

“No. They can manage on their own. Just cook for us,” Leo answered firmly.

“Okay, I’ll need about an hour to prepare dinner. You can come back then,” I told him, trying to hide my discomfort.

“Thirty minutes,” he bargained, his eyes narrowing. It was clear he was starving, and I had no choice but to agree.

“Fine,” I said with a sigh. My cooking skills were limited, but I would manage. At least, I hoped I would.