Maid to the Billionaire

“Happy birthday baby.” I tell Richard with a big smile on my face. “Thank you my love.” He says in return. “Your gift will be ready in the evening.” I tell him. “Mar, you know you do not have to give me anything right? Besides you wouldn't even be able to afford whatever would suit my taste.” Richard says and I frown. “Come on, don't say that. The price tag to everything shouldn't always matter.” “It matters a great deal Marie.” Richard says laughing at me. “Can I attend your party tonight with you?” I ask Richard. “Uh, Marie we talked about this, that party is meant for the upper class, you just won't, you know fit in.” Richard says and I blink at him. He didn't mean it. “If you are too ashamed of me, then why are you with me at all Richard?” I mumble turning away from him. “You know that's not what I meant, I'm doing this for you Marie, I'm trying to spare you the hassle of having to be what you are not, you are too timid for the wolves out there, your sister would be more appropriate for stuffs like this.” Richard says and I stare at him with my mouth open, tears begin to fill my eyes and I stand up to leave the room in a rush, ignoring Richard's call. This always happens, someone comparing me to my sister at every point in my life. Richard always has his way of making me lose whatever self esteem I had left in seconds and I have no control over him, I love him too much. I would make him happy some other way, I got him the best gift ever, I baked his favorite, he has no idea how much I had to pay to get this recipe from the best chef in the country, his favorite. It's the least I could do to thank him for being with me. I head back home still upset, I'll head back to Richard's later when he's done from his party. “Marie? Where are you coming from?” My mother's harsh voice suddenly shakes me from my thoughts. “Uh- uh, Richard's.” I whisper out. “Marie I have told you a thousand times, your sister says she likes him, why can't you give your poor sister this little thing for once.” My mother says. “Ma, Richard is my boyfriend, they are a lot of men out there, why does she have to like my Richard?” I ask my mother quietly, not able to challenge her head on. “You’ve never known how to see the bigger picture Marie, Richard is our ticket to a better life, I have no idea what he sees in you but I know whatever it is, it will not last for too long, what if one day he gets tired of having to see your face which I know will happen soon. Your sister will have a much better hold on him. She will be able to charm him and have him wrapped around her fingers. “Ma, how can you say that to me?” I ask her holding back tears. “Because it's the truth.” She pointedly says. “Richard loves me dearly and I love him too.” I try to say strongly even when I'm not so sure. “We'll see about that.” My mother bitterly chuckles. I look towards my quiet father in the living room and scrolling through his phone, I know he can feel my eyes on him but he does not look up or acknowledge me. I turn to go up to my room. They love you, They love you, that's how all parents are, they only act like this because I did something wrong. I will make them proud. I chant to myself as I head upstairs. It's past 10:00pm and I am unable to reach Richard, he does this sometimes but it's his birthday and I need to drop off the cake so we can celebrate. I get changed and decide to go wait for him at his place and maybe I'll even meet him there. I get to Richard's penthouse and see his car parked outside. Most people would say I was with Richard for his money but I have known him since college, he approached me even after I turned him down a dozen times, he fell in love with me for being me, he's changed so much over the years but he was still my Richard. I hear so many voices as I walk into Richard's penthouse, I didn't expect for so many people to be here, Richard didn't tell me the party will be held here. They all stare at me weirdly but I ignore it and head straight up the stairs to Richard's room. “I'll really end it with her soon, just give me a little more time.” I hear my phone Richard's voice and my hand on the doorknob pauses. “You have been saying that for months now baby.” a woman's voice says and my whole body goes cold. “Marie clings on really tight, I would do anything to avoid those tears and crying. It will prolong the process further and agitate me.” Richard's voice says and I stand back in shock. “If you can't do it, I'll do it for you then, she's my sister, I can handle her.” If I thought I felt choked up before, the words of this voice knocked the breath out of me. “I don't think that would be a good idea Emily, let's just focus on us tonight, I love you so much.” Richard's voice says and my heart breaks even more. “What did you ever even see in my sister, she's a big flop and she's not your type.” My own sister says. “She was the first girl to ever reject me, the boys found it funny and we made a bet, it was stupid at the time but I couldn't leave her after especially not when I haven't gotten what I came for.” I can no longer take listening to them anymore so I push the door forward, the loud slam jolts the both of them from the bed where they both lay naked.