The Billionaire’s Maid

4

Aidan’s POV

That morning, we were leaving for a breakfast with my grandfather at his estate when the whole drama with Maya happened.

She looked helpless crying and begging Vanessa like that.

Kneeling on my floor. Tears shaking her voice like she had already accepted she had nothing left.

Vanessa stood there watching her like it was entertainment. Like Maya’s pain was something to pass time with.

That was Vanessa.

She always turned weakness into amusement.

I didn’t like it.

But I didn’t interfere yet either.

Because I wanted to see how far she would go.

I offered Maya the job at the end of the day.

“Thank you so much sir.” She had said.

Vanessa walked beside me in a fitted dress, perfectly composed again like always. She wanted to make a perfect appearance as my fiancé today.

When we finally left the penthouse, Vanessa walked beside me like nothing had happened.

Perfect posture. Perfect dress. Perfect smile.

A woman prepared for a future she believed was already hers.

She had chosen a fitted elegant dress that morning, one that screamed status without needing to speak. Everything about her was controlled. Deliberate. Strategic.

She wanted to make a perfect appearance for my grandfather today.

Because today wasn’t just breakfast.

It was another reminder that she will become Mrs. Hartwell very soon.

“You were quiet earlier,” Vanessa said as we walked toward the car.

“What do you mean?” I replied.

“When she was begging and crying like that, you didn’t say anything immediately.” she said.

“Why did you treat her like that?” I asked.

“Because she ruined my dress.” She answered almost immediately.

I glanced at her briefly.

“Your dress?,” I asked surprised.

“Yes. My white Versace dress. She poured coffee all over it at the café,” she said.

That made me stop for half a second.

“I don’t believe she will intentionally want to do that, Vanessa.”

“So you’re defending her now?” She asked abruptly.

“I’m not. It’s the only logical thing I can think of. I see no reason why she would want to pour coffee on your dress unless it was an accident.”

Vanessa let out a small breath through her nose, not quite a laugh, not quite irritation. She adjusted the strap of her handbag like the conversation had already ended in her mind.

“Whatever,” she said simply.

We walked the final stretch toward the car in silence.

The driver stood waiting by the black vehicle, already holding the door open. The morning air was cooler outside the penthouse, carrying the faint hum of the city waking up properly now—horns in the distance, footsteps, life moving like nothing important had already happened behind closed doors.

Vanessa got in first, as always.

I followed after her.

The car pulled out smoothly from the driveway, merging into the early traffic. Glass buildings slid past like reflections of something more organized than reality.

Vanessa crossed one leg over the other, smoothing her dress again, even though there was nothing wrong with it.

Then she turned slightly toward me.

“We should definitely travel to Monaco for our honeymoon,” she said.

That’s the thing about Vanessa, she’s more excited about us getting married than I am. Maybe because I don’t want to get married but still, she has taken this whole wedding up on herself.

My grandfather had arranged for Vanessa and I to get married as I became the new CEO of Hartwell corporations because according to him, I needed stability and marriage was the only thing that guaranteed that.

“We will discuss that after the wedding.” I told her.

Her gaze sharpened slightly. “What is wrong with you Aidan? Our wedding is less than three weeks away. We should be planning our honeymoon already.”

“Okay. We can travel wherever we want to.” I replied.

I leaned back slightly, watching the road ahead instead of her.

A quiet stretch followed.

The car turned onto a wider road, heading toward the main expressway that would eventually lead to my grandfather’s estate. The buildings outside became more spaced out now, more expensive, more isolated.

Vanessa exhaled slowly.

Her posture shifted slightly, straightening even more, like she was mentally stepping into a role.

“My future depends on today going perfectly,” she said.

I almost scoffed at the certainty in her voice.

“Your future?” I repeated.

She turned to me fully now.

“Yes. Our future.”

The way she said it wasn’t soft.

It wasn’t hopeful. It was as if she was very certain about it.

The car slowed slightly as we approached a junction, then continued forward again.

Vanessa looked out the window briefly, then back at me.

“Your grandfather doesn’t entertain uncertainty,” she said. “He respects structure. Family. Order.”

“I know my grandfather,” I replied.

“And I know what he expects,” she said smoothly.

There it was again. Everything she d is lately seemed to revolve around pleasing my grandfather. I don’t blame her for it. He gave her an opportunity every woman in New York would kill to get—to be Mrs. Hartwell.

The car moved onto the expressway now, picking up speed. The city began to thin out in patches, replaced by longer stretches of road and distant greenery.

Vanessa reached into her bag and pulled out a small compact mirror, checking herself briefly. A final inspection. A ritual.

Then she closed it again.

The car began to slow again as we approached the long private road leading into my grandfather’s estate.

Tall gates came into view ahead—iron, guarded, familiar. Beyond them, rows of perfectly kept greenery stretched out like the world had been arranged for approval.

Vanessa noticed it too.

Her posture changed subtly again.

This was her real stage.

The car came to a stop in front of the gates. Security approached, recognition immediate. A brief exchange. A nod.

The gates began to open slowly.

Vanessa reached for her handbag, adjusting it on her lap.

“You’re quiet again,” she said, not looking at me this time.

“I’m thinking,” I replied.

“About what?”

The gates opened fully now, revealing the long driveway leading toward the estate.

I looked ahead.

“About today,” I said.

The car started moving forward again.

Vanessa smiled slightly.

“Good,” she said. “Because today decides everything. It has to be perfect.”