hire by the ruthless ceo

*Chapter 1: Hired By The Ruthless CEO* My phone was blowing up. 6 missed calls. All from one number: _Hayes Estate._ I was in my kitchen, trying to make noodles for dinner. My hands were shaking so bad I almost dropped the phone. _The Hayes Family?_ That’s like the most powerful family in New York. I called back immediately. "Miss Maya Evans?" A cold, professional woman’s voice. "Yes, this is her." "This is Mrs. Linda from Hayes Estate. Mr. Alex Hayes has reviewed your application photo. You’re hired. Our driver will be at your apartment in 30 minutes. Pack light." _Click._ I just stood there. Hired? Just like that? Last week a modeling agency made me send a selfie for "private staff position". I thought it was a scam. I didn’t think twice. I packed one small duffel bag. 3 outfits. One pair of heels. 30 minutes later, a black Bentley was parked outside my run-down apartment building. The driver didn’t smile. "Miss Evans. Let’s go." My heart was in my throat the entire ride. _This job pays 8k a month. Plus housing. Mama’s medical debt will finally be gone._ --- *The Hayes Estate* The gates were 14 feet tall. Iron. With security guards holding guns. The mansion looked like something out of a billionaire magazine. White stone. 3 floors. Fountains. 20 cars in the driveway. And maids. So. Many. Maids. All in black dresses and white aprons, walking fast with their heads down. A woman was waiting for me at the front doors. Late 40s. Black pantsuit. Eyes that could cut glass. "You’re Maya," she said. Not a question. "Y-yes ma’am. I’m Maya Evans. I applied for the personal maid position." "Mrs. Linda. House Manager." She started walking and I had to jog to keep up. "Listen carefully because I’m only saying this once. Mr. Alex Hayes is the CEO of Hayes International. He’s 25. And he’s a nightmare to work for." We passed through a marble hallway that was bigger than my whole apartment. "In the last 2 years, he’s fired 17 personal maids," Mrs. Linda continued. "This week alone, we brought him 7 different girls. He rejected every single one without even meeting them." I swallowed. "Why me, ma’am?" "Because yesterday we sent him your photo from the agency. He looked at it for 5 seconds and said: _‘Hire her. Now.’_" She stopped and looked at me. "That’s never happened. So consider yourself lucky. Or cursed. We haven’t decided yet." _My photo?_ "The rules," Mrs. Linda said. "One: You clean Mr. Hayes’ bedroom and private library." "Two: You wash and press all of his clothes and shoes." "Three: You prepare his meals when the chef is off." "Four: You accompany him anywhere he tells you to go." "Five: You are NEVER alone with Mr. Hayes after 8PM. Ever." "And Six: Mr. Hayes is engaged. Miss Mandy Vanderbilt. She runs this house. Stay out of her way." _All of that... for me?_ I thought. But I just nodded. "Yes, ma’am. I understand." Mrs. Linda led me to the east wing. Servant quarters. She opened a door to a room barely bigger than a closet. One bed. One desk. One bathroom. "It’s small," she said. "But it’s yours. As long as you last." After she left, I took a quick shower and changed into the maid uniform. Black dress. White apron. My hair in a low bun. I was sitting on the bed reading on my phone app to calm down when the door cracked open. A girl about my age peeked in. Also in a maid uniform. "Hey," she whispered. "You’re the new one, right?" "Yeah," I said. "I’m Maya." "I’m Tasha." She came in and closed the door. "Real talk. Stay away from Miss Mandy." I frowned. "Mandy?" "Mr. Alex’s fiancée." Tasha lowered her voice. "She hates all the new maids. Especially the pretty ones." She looked at me. "You’re pretty. So... good luck, girl." Before I could answer— _DING DONG DING DONG_ A bell echoed through the entire mansion. "Dinner," Tasha said, eyes wide. "You better go. If you’re late, Mandy will make your life hell." --- *The Dining Room* The dining room could fit 40 people. Crystal chandeliers. Oil paintings. A table so long I couldn’t see the end of it. And at the head of the table sat him. *Alex Hayes.* 25 years old. CEO. Billionaire. And according to the tabloids, part of the Hayes "family business" that the FBI could never touch. Black Tom Ford suit. Gray eyes that looked right through you. Dark hair, slightly messy like he’d been dragging his hands through it all day. He wasn’t looking at me. He was signing documents with one hand and cutting into a steak with the other. Sitting next to him was a woman. *Mandy Vanderbilt.* Blonde hair. Brown eyes. 5-inch Louboutins. Diamond ring the size of a golf ball. Dress that probably cost more than my rent for a year. And a smile that looked sharp enough to draw blood. "YOU," Mandy snapped. "The new maid. Come here." I walked over, keeping my eyes down. "Good evening, Miss Vanderbilt." "Are you the new maid?" "Yes, ma’am." "What’s your name?" "Maya, ma’am." The sound of pen on paper stopped. Alex’s hand froze mid-signature. Then he looked up. His gray eyes locked on mine. Cold. Assessing. Like he was deciding if I was worth the air I was breathing. My breath caught in my throat. _He’s beautiful. And terrifying._ "Don’t break anything," Alex said. His voice was deep, bored, and final. "Just do your job." Then he went back to his papers. "Dismissed," Mandy said, not even looking at me. "Yes, ma’am," I whispered and scurried to the side wall. Dinner was silent except for the clink of silverware. Mandy leaned her head on Alex’s shoulder. He didn’t move away. But he didn’t acknowledge her either. --- *10:15PM. The Private Library.* My last duty of the night: Clean Mr. Hayes’ private library. Alone. The room was massive. Floor to ceiling bookshelves. Leather chairs. It smelled like old books, whiskey, and power. I was alone. Finally. I put in one earbud and played my playlist. I started dusting while quietly singing along and swaying. For 5 minutes, I forgot where I was. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING." I screamed and ripped out my earbud. Alex was standing in the doorway. No suit jacket. White dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Tie loose. He looked exhausted. And dangerous. "Cl-cleaning, sir," I stammered. His gray eyes swept over me. "You have 10 minutes. Finish and get out." "Yes, sir." But he didn’t leave. He walked to a bookshelf, pulled out a book, and sat in the leather chair in the corner. He opened it. But I could feel his eyes on me the entire time. The room was too quiet. Too big. And I was too aware that I was alone with him. My hands started shaking. "Your hands are shaking," Alex said without looking up from his book. I froze. "S-sorry, sir. I’m just... nervous." "Nervous of me?" "N-no, sir. Nervous of losing the job." Alex closed his book with a soft _thump_. "Come here." Ice shot through my veins. I walked to him slowly. He reached out and grabbed my wrist. Not painful. But firm. He couldn’t miss the small, thin scar on the inside. "Who did this to you?" he asked quietly. My heart was hammering. "I-I fell, sir. When I was younger." He stared at me. He didn’t believe me. I could see it. _SLAM_ The library doors burst open. Mandy stood there, face red with fury. "Alex! What the hell are you doing in here with her?!" Alex immediately let go of my wrist. His entire demeanor went cold again. "She’s my personal maid," he said flatly. "I was asking her about her duties." "She was staring at you!" Mandy yelled. "Fire her. Now!" "No," Alex said. One word. Final. Mandy’s jaw dropped. "Excuse me?" "I said no," Alex stood up. He towered over both of us. "She stays." He turned to me. "Maya. Be at my bedroom door at 7AM sharp. You’re coming with me to the office tomorrow." Then he walked out, leaving me alone with Mandy. Mandy stepped into my space. Her perfume was expensive and suffocating. "You think because he said that you’re special?" she hissed. "Let me make something clear, maid. Alex is MY fiancé. You touch him, you look at him, you breathe near him, and I will destroy you. Do you understand me?" She shoved me in the shoulder and stormed out. I was left standing alone in the library, my heart pounding. _7AM. His bedroom. The office._ I should’ve been terrified. But instead, a small part of me was... excited? Outside, thunder rolled and rain started hitting the windows. Back in my tiny room, I checked my phone before bed. *Unknown Number:* _7AM. Don’t be late. -A_ I fell asleep clutching the phone, with no idea that my life was about to change forever. *To Be Continued...* _A/N: OMG THE TENSION!!! 😫 Do you guys think Alex is starting to care or is this just a CEO power move? Comment your thoughts! Vote and add to library for Chapter 2: "Office With The Devil" ❤️_ --- *Why this works for NovelUp/w******l readers:* 1. *American setting + billionaire + mafia undertones* = top genre 2. *Rejected 7 girls* = makes him seem untouchable 3. *Wrist grab + scar* = classic possessive CEO moment 4. *Wicked fiancée* = comment section will explode dragging Mandy 5. *Cliffhanger to office* = forces them to click Chapter 2 Want me to write *Chapter 2: Office With The Devil* right now? In that one I’ll do: car ride tensionGot you 💛 You want that *American Mafia CEO Romance* vibe like on NovelUp, w******l, Dreame. Cold CEO, wicked fiancée, poor girl, possessive lines, "sir", cliffhangers. Here’s *Chapter 1: Hired By The Ruthless CEO* Using *Hayes Family* + *Alex* like you asked. ∼2100 words --- *Chapter 1: Hired By The Ruthless CEO* My phone was blowing up. 6 missed calls. All from one number: _Hayes Estate._ I was in my kitchen, trying to make noodles for dinner. My hands were shaking so bad I almost dropped the phone. _The Hayes Family?_ That’s like the most powerful family in New York. I called back immediately. "Miss Maya Evans?" A cold, professional woman’s voice. "Yes, this is her." "This is Mrs. Linda from Hayes Estate. Mr. Alex Hayes has reviewed your application photo. You’re hired. Our driver will be at your apartment in 30 minutes. Pack light." _Click._ I just stood there. Hired? Just like that? Last week a modeling agency made me send a selfie for "private staff position". I thought it was a scam. I didn’t think twice. I packed one small duffel bag. 3 outfits. One pair of heels. The locket Mama gave me before she passed. 30 minutes later, a black Bentley was parked outside my run-down apartment building. The driver didn’t smile. "Miss Evans. Let’s go." My heart was in my throat the entire ride. _This job pays 8k a month. Plus housing. Mama’s medical debt will finally be gone._ --- *The Hayes Estate* The gates were 14 feet tall. Iron. With security guards holding guns. The mansion looked like something out of a billionaire magazine. White stone. 3 floors. Fountains. 20 cars in the driveway. And maids. So. Many. Maids. All in black dresses and white aprons, walking fast with their heads down. A woman was waiting for me at the front doors. Late 40s. Black pantsuit. Eyes that could cut glass. "You’re Maya," she said. Not a question. "Y-yes ma’am. I’m Maya Evans. I applied for the personal maid position." "Mrs. Linda. House Manager." She started walking and I had to jog to keep up. "Listen carefully because I’m only saying this once. Mr. Alex Hayes is the CEO of Hayes International. He’s 25. And he’s a nightmare to work for." We passed through a marble hallway that was bigger than my whole apartment. "In the last 2 years, he’s fired 17 personal maids," Mrs. Linda continued. "This week alone, we brought him 7 different girls. He rejected every single one without even meeting them." I swallowed. "Why me, ma’am?" "Because yesterday we sent him your photo from the agency. He looked at it for 5 seconds and said: _‘Hire her. Now.’_" She stopped and looked at me. "That’s never happened. So consider yourself lucky. Or cursed. We haven’t decided yet." _My photo?_ "The rules," Mrs. Linda said. "One: You clean Mr. Hayes’ bedroom and private library." "Two: You wash and press all of his clothes and shoes." "Three: You prepare his meals when the chef is off." "Four: You accompany him anywhere he tells you to go." "Five: You are NEVER alone with Mr. Hayes after 8PM. Ever." "And Six: Mr. Hayes is engaged. Miss Mandy Vanderbilt. She runs this house. Stay out of her way." _All of that... for me?_ I thought. But I just nodded. "Yes, ma’am. I understand." Mrs. Linda led me to the east wing. Servant quarters. She opened a door to a room barely bigger than a closet. One bed. One desk. One bathroom. "It’s small," she said. "But it’s yours. As long as you last." After she left, I took a quick shower and changed into the maid uniform. Black dress. White apron. My hair in a low bun. I was sitting on the bed reading on my phone app to calm down when the door cracked open. A girl about my age peeked in. Also in a maid uniform. "Hey," she whispered. "You’re the new one, right?" "Yeah," I said. "I’m Maya." "I’m Tasha." She came in and closed the door. "Real talk. Stay away from Miss Mandy." I frowned. "Mandy?" "Mr. Alex’s fiancée." Tasha lowered her voice. "She hates all the new maids. Especially the pretty ones." She looked at me. "You’re pretty. So... good luck, girl." Before I could answer— _DING DONG DING DONG_ A bell echoed through the entire mansion. "Dinner," Tasha said, eyes wide. "You better go. If you’re late, Mandy will make your life hell." --- *The Dining Room* The dining room could fit 40 people. Crystal chandeliers. Oil paintings. A table so long I couldn’t see the end of it. And at the head of the table sat him. *Alex Hayes.* 25 years old. CEO. Billionaire. And according to the tabloids, part of the Hayes "family business" that the FBI could never touch. Black Tom Ford suit. Gray eyes that looked right through you. Dark hair, slightly messy like he’d been dragging his hands through it all day. He wasn’t looking at me. He was signing documents with one hand and cutting into a steak with the other. Sitting next to him was a woman. *Mandy Vanderbilt.* Blonde hair. Brown eyes. 5-inch Louboutins. Diamond ring the size of a golf ball. Dress that probably cost more than my rent for a year. And a smile that looked sharp enough to draw blood. "YOU," Mandy snapped. "The new maid. Come here." I walked over, keeping my eyes down. "Good evening, Miss Vanderbilt." "Are you the new maid?" "Yes, ma’am." "What’s your name?" "Maya, ma’am." The sound of pen on paper stopped. Alex’s hand froze mid-signature. Then he looked up. His gray eyes locked on mine. Cold. Assessing. Like he was deciding if I was worth the air I was breathing. My breath caught in my throat. _He’s beautiful. And terrifying._ "Don’t break anything," Alex said. His voice was deep, bored, and final. "Just do your job." Then he went back to his papers. "Dismissed," Mandy said, not even looking at me. "Yes, ma’am," I whispered and scurried to the side wall. Dinner was silent except for the clink of silverware. Mandy leaned her head on Alex’s shoulder. He didn’t move away. But he didn’t acknowledge her either. --- *10:15PM. The Private Library.* My last duty of the night: Clean Mr. Hayes’ private library. Alone. The room was massive. Floor to ceiling bookshelves. Leather chairs. It smelled like old books, whiskey, and power. I was alone. Finally. I put in one earbud and played my playlist. I started dusting while quietly singing along and swaying. For 5 minutes, I forgot where I was. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING." I screamed and ripped out my earbud. Alex was standing in the doorway. No suit jacket. White dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Tie loose. He looked exhausted. And dangerous. "Cl-cleaning, sir," I stammered. His gray eyes swept over me. "You have 10 minutes. Finish and get out." "Yes, sir." But he didn’t leave. He walked to a bookshelf, pulled out a book, and sat in the leather chair in the corner. He opened it. But I could feel his eyes on me the entire time. The room was too quiet. Too big. And I was too aware that I was alone with him. My hands started shaking. "Your hands are shaking," Alex said without looking up from his book. I froze. "S-sorry, sir. I’m just... nervous." "Nervous of me?" "N-no, sir. Nervous of losing the job." Alex closed his book with a soft _thump_. "Come here." Ice shot through my veins. I walked to him slowly. He reached out and grabbed my wrist. Not painful. But firm. He couldn’t miss the small, thin scar on the inside. "Who did this to you?" he asked quietly. My heart was hammering. "I-I fell, sir. When I was younger." He stared at me. He didn’t believe me. I could see it. _SLAM_ The library doors burst open. Mandy stood there, face red with fury. "Alex! What the hell are you doing in here with her?!" Alex immediately let go of my wrist. His entire demeanor went cold again. "She’s my personal maid," he said flatly. "I was asking her about her duties." "She was staring at you!" Mandy yelled. "Fire her. Now!" "No," Alex said. One word. Final. Mandy’s jaw dropped. "Excuse me?" "I said no," Alex stood up. He towered over both of us. "She stays." He turned to me. "Maya. Be at my bedroom door at 7AM sharp. You’re coming with me to the office tomorrow." Then he walked out, leaving me alone with Mandy. Mandy stepped into my space. Her perfume was expensive and suffocating. "You think because he said that you’re special?" she hissed. "Let me make something clear, maid. Alex is MY fiancé. You touch him, you look at him, you breathe near him, and I will destroy you. Do you understand me?" She shoved me in the shoulder and stormed out. I was left standing alone in the library, my heart pounding. _7AM. His bedroom. The office._ I should’ve been terrified. But instead, a small part of me was... excited? Outside, thunder rolled and rain started hitting the windows. Back in my tiny room, I checked my phone before bed. *Unknown Number:* _7AM. Don’t be late. -A_ I fell asleep clutching the phone, with no idea that my life was about to change forever. *To Be Continued...* _A/N: OMG THE TENSION!!! 😫 Do you guys think Alex is starting to care or is this just a CEO power move? Comment your thoughts! Vote and add to library for Chapter 2: "Office With The Devil" ❤️_ --- *Why this works for NovelUp/w******l readers:* 1. *American setting + billionaire + mafia undertones* = top genre 2. *Rejected 7 girls* = makes him seem untouchable 3. *Wrist grab + scar* = classic possessive CEO moment 4. *Wicked fiancée* = comment section will explode dragging Mandy 5. *Cliffhanger to office* = forces them to click Chapter 2 Want me to write *Chapter 2: Office With The Devil* right now? In that one I’ll do: car ride tension, office "accident" where Alex pulls Maya onto his lap, and Mandy showing up to cause a scene 🔥Got you 💛 You want that *American Mafia CEO Romance* vibe like on NovelUp, w******l, Dreame. Cold CEO, wicked fiancée, poor girl, possessive lines, "sir", cliffhangers. Here’s *Chapter 1: Hired By The Ruthless CEO* Using *Hayes Family* + *Alex* like you asked. ∼2100 words --- *Chapter 1: Hired By The Ruthless CEO* My phone was blowing up. 6 missed calls. All from one number: _Hayes Estate._ I was in my kitchen, trying to make noodles for dinner. My hands were shaking so bad I almost dropped the phone. _The Hayes Family?_ That’s like the most powerful family in New York. I called back immediately. "Miss Maya Evans?" A cold, professional woman’s voice. "Yes, this is her." "This is Mrs. Linda from Hayes Estate. Mr. Alex Hayes has reviewed your application photo. You’re hired. Our driver will be at your apartment in 30 minutes. Pack light." _Click._ I just stood there. Hired? Just like that? Last week a modeling agency made me send a selfie for "private staff position". I thought it was a scam. I didn’t think twice. I packed one small duffel bag. 3 outfits. One pair of heels. The locket Mama gave me before she passed. 30 minutes later, a black Bentley was parked outside my run-down apartment building. The driver didn’t smile. "Miss Evans. Let’s go." My heart was in my throat the entire ride. _This job pays 8k a month. Plus housing. Mama’s medical debt will finally be gone._ --- *The Hayes Estate* The gates were 14 feet tall. Iron. With security guards holding guns. The mansion looked like something out of a billionaire magazine. White stone. 3 floors. Fountains. 20 cars in the driveway. And maids. So. Many. Maids. All in black dresses and white aprons, walking fast with their heads down. A woman was waiting for me at the front doors. Late 40s. Black pantsuit. Eyes that could cut glass. "You’re Maya," she said. Not a question. "Y-yes ma’am. I’m Maya Evans. I applied for the personal maid position." "Mrs. Linda. House Manager." She started walking and I had to jog to keep up. "Listen carefully because I’m only saying this once. Mr. Alex Hayes is the CEO of Hayes International. He’s 25. And he’s a nightmare to work for." We passed through a marble hallway that was bigger than my whole apartment. "In the last 2 years, he’s fired 17 personal maids," Mrs. Linda continued. "This week alone, we brought him 7 different girls. He rejected every single one without even meeting them." I swallowed. "Why me, ma’am?" "Because yesterday we sent him your photo from the agency. He looked at it for 5 seconds and said: _‘Hire her. Now.’_" She stopped and looked at me. "That’s never happened. So consider yourself lucky. Or cursed. We haven’t decided yet." _My photo?_ "The rules," Mrs. Linda said. "One: You clean Mr. Hayes’ bedroom and private library." "Two: You wash and press all of his clothes and shoes." "Three: You prepare his meals when the chef is off." "Four: You accompany him anywhere he tells you to go." "Five: You are NEVER alone with Mr. Hayes after 8PM. Ever." "And Six: Mr. Hayes is engaged. Miss Mandy Vanderbilt. She runs this house. Stay out of her way." _All of that... for me?_ I thought. But I just nodded. "Yes, ma’am. I understand." Mrs. Linda led me to the east wing. Servant quarters. She opened a door to a room barely bigger than a closet. One bed. One desk. One bathroom. "It’s small," she said. "But it’s yours. As long as you last." After she left, I took a quick shower and changed into the maid uniform. Black dress. White apron. My hair in a low bun. I was sitting on the bed reading on my phone app to calm down when the door cracked open. A girl about my age peeked in. Also in a maid uniform. "Hey," she whispered. "You’re the new one, right?" "Yeah," I said. "I’m Maya." "I’m Tasha." She came in and closed the door. "Real talk. Stay away from Miss Mandy." I frowned. "Mandy?" "Mr. Alex’s fiancée." Tasha lowered her voice. "She hates all the new maids. Especially the pretty ones." She looked at me. "You’re pretty. So... good luck, girl." Before I could answer— _DING DONG DING DONG_ A bell echoed through the entire mansion. "Dinner," Tasha said, eyes wide. "You better go. If you’re late, Mandy will make your life hell." --- *The Dining Room* The dining room could fit 40 people. Crystal chandeliers. Oil paintings. A table so long I couldn’t see the end of it. And at the head of the table sat him. *Alex Hayes.* 25 years old. CEO. Billionaire. And according to the tabloids, part of the Hayes "family business" that the FBI could never touch. Black Tom Ford suit. Gray eyes that looked right through you. Dark hair, slightly messy like he’d been dragging his hands through it all day. He wasn’t looking at me. He was signing documents with one hand and cutting into a steak with the other. Sitting next to him was a woman. *Mandy Vanderbilt.* Blonde hair. Brown eyes. 5-inch Louboutins. Diamond ring the size of a golf ball. Dress that probably cost more than my rent for a year. And a smile that looked sharp enough to draw blood. "YOU," Mandy snapped. "The new maid. Come here." I walked over, keeping my eyes down. "Good evening, Miss Vanderbilt." "Are you the new maid?" "Yes, ma’am." "What’s your name?" "Maya, ma’am." The sound of pen on paper stopped. Alex’s hand froze mid-signature. Then he looked up. His gray eyes locked on mine. Cold. Assessing. Like he was deciding if I was worth the air I was breathing. My breath caught in my throat. _He’s beautiful. And terrifying._ "Don’t break anything," Alex said. His voice was deep, bored, and final. "Just do your job." Then he went back to his papers. "Dismissed," Mandy said, not even looking at me. "Yes, ma’am," I whispered and scurried to the side wall. Dinner was silent except for the clink of silverware. Mandy leaned her head on Alex’s shoulder. He didn’t move away. But he didn’t acknowledge her either. --- *10:15PM. The Private Library.* My last duty of the night: Clean Mr. Hayes’ private library. Alone. The room was massive. Floor to ceiling bookshelves. Leather chairs. It smelled like old books, whiskey, and power. I was alone. Finally. I put in one earbud and played my playlist. I started dusting while quietly singing along and swaying. For 5 minutes, I forgot where I was. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING." I screamed and ripped out my earbud. Alex was standing in the doorway. No suit jacket. White dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Tie loose. He looked exhausted. And dangerous. "Cl-cleaning, sir," I stammered. His gray eyes swept over me. "You have 10 minutes. Finish and get out." "Yes, sir." But he didn’t leave. He walked to a bookshelf, pulled out a book, and sat in the leather chair in the corner. He opened it. But I could feel his eyes on me the entire time. The room was too quiet. Too big. And I was too aware that I was alone with him. My hands started shaking. "Your hands are shaking," Alex said without looking up from his book. I froze. "S-sorry, sir. I’m just... nervous." "Nervous of me?" "N-no, sir. Nervous of losing the job." Alex closed his book with a soft _thump_. "Come here." Ice shot through my veins. I walked to him slowly. He reached out and grabbed my wrist. Not painful. But firm. He couldn’t miss the small, thin scar on the inside. "Who did this to you?" he asked quietly. My heart was hammering. "I-I fell, sir. When I was younger." He stared at me. He didn’t believe me. I could see it. _SLAM_ The library doors burst open. Mandy stood there, face red with fury. "Alex! What the hell are you doing in here with her?!" Alex immediately let go of my wrist. His entire demeanor went cold again. "She’s my personal maid," he said flatly. "I was asking her about her duties." "She was staring at you!" Mandy yelled. "Fire her. Now!" "No," Alex said. One word. Final. Mandy’s jaw dropped. "Excuse me?" "I said no," Alex stood up. He towered over both of us. "She stays." He turned to me. "Maya. Be at my bedroom door at 7AM sharp. You’re coming with me to the office tomorrow." Then he walked out, leaving me alone with Mandy. Mandy stepped into my space. Her perfume was expensive and suffocating. "You think because he said that you’re special?" she hissed. "Let me make something clear, maid. Alex is MY fiancé. You touch him, you look at him, you breathe near him, and I will destroy you. Do you understand me?" She shoved me in the shoulder and stormed out. I was left standing alone in the library, my heart pounding. _7AM. His bedroom. The office._ I should’ve been terrified. But instead, a small part of me was... excited? Outside, thunder rolled and rain started hitting the windows. Back in my tiny room, I checked my phone before bed. *Unknown Number:* _7AM. Don’t be late. -A_ I fell asleep clutching the phone, with no idea that my life was about to change forever. *To Be Continued. OMG THE TENSION!!! 😫 Do you guys think Alex is starting to care or is this just a CEO power move? Comment your thoughts! Vote and add to library for Chapter 2: "Office With The Devil" ❤️_