My CEO My Mistake

The young master's tutor

Elira sat stiffly on the edge of the young master’s bed, her mind still reeling from what had just happened. Her palms were clammy against the smooth linen, her breath uneven as she tried to process it all. The air inside the spacious bedroom felt strangely heavy, laced with the faint scent of sandalwood. She pressed her hands to her knees to steady herself, but her heart was still racing wildly.

Behind her, the young master turned the key in the lock with a quiet click. The sound seemed to echo inside her chest. When she glanced at him, his sharp, handsome face carried an expression of forced calm, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.

“Elira,” he said, his tone softer than usual, though it carried a note of worry.

Her response came like a whip crack. She glared at him, her voice brimming with suppressed fury.

“You did this on purpose!”

His eyebrows arched, caught between embarrassment and indifference. For a moment, his lips parted as though he might explain himself, but instead, he leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms with feigned nonchalance.

“What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

Elira’s cheeks puffed with anger, her eyes flashing. “That was not your father’s room it was your uncle’s! How could you make such a mistake?”

Her words stung.

The young master gave a dismissive shrug, his voice lazy, as if it were the most trivial thing in the world. “I just came back from abroad. How would I know? You’ve seen how many rooms this house has.”

Elira bit down on her lip. She knew. She knew in her bones that he had led her there intentionally, watching her stumble into a situation that could have ruined her reputation. But there was no proof, no words to pin down his mischief. And the irony of it all he had been the one to save her at the last second, pulling her out of danger before things got worse.

Her chest tightened. “Forget it,” she muttered, clutching her clothes tightly against her chest, as if holding on to some shred of dignity. “I still need to solve the real problem.”

She slipped off the bed, her bare feet brushing against the cold marble floor, and hurried out. A maid, startled by her flustered expression, quickly handed her a set of fresh clothes. Elira muttered a soft thanks, cheeks burning with humiliation.

But the thought of stepping back into his bedroom, where her own clothes lay abandoned, made her heart constrict with dread. She couldn’t. She didn’t have the courage. Better to lose them than face him again in that space.

For the rest of the morning, the young master was oddly subdued. Perhaps guilt had tugged at him, or perhaps he was simply bored of the game. He sat quietly, not uttering a word of mockery, not pulling any tricks.

But noon came, and with it, his mischief returned in full force.

It began innocently enough, a rustling sound near her chair, followed by something small and slithering. When Elira turned, her blood ran cold. A snake. No, not a real one rubber, cheap, and obviously fake but in that first instant, her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.

The next moment, a cockroach, plastic, yet disgustingly lifelike was placed on her shoulder. Elira let out a piercing cry, her body trembling violently as she swatted it away.

The young master doubled over in laughter, clutching his stomach, his eyes gleaming with wicked delight. “Haha! Still not admitting defeat?” he teased, his voice full of triumph as he looked at her pale, frightened face.

Elira pressed a hand to her chest, forcing her breathing to calm. She had reached her limit. Her voice was hoarse when she finally managed to say, “Alright, young master. Today’s session is over. I’ll be back on Monday.”

Her tone carried exhaustion, resignation, and the faintest edge of steel. She quickly packed up her belongings, stuffing papers and pens into her worn-out backpack.

Five hundred dollars a day. That was what she earned for enduring his torment. Five hundred dollars that kept the roof over her and Liz’s heads. She couldn’t, she wouldn’t walk away, no matter how unbearable he became.

The young master narrowed his eyes, his childish arrogance resurfacing. “If you come back on Monday,” he declared menacingly, “I’ll make you go down in flames!”

Elira looked up at him, her lips curling into the faintest smile. “Not bad. You learned how to use that idiom.”

His face froze in shock, then burned crimson. “Y-you!” He stomped his foot, pointing at her with exaggerated fury. “Elira is an i***t!”

Her soft laugh lingered in the air as she swung her bag over her shoulder. She turned and walked away, her calm composure only fueling his frustration.

Downstairs, she bade farewell to Lucas, the butler, her polite words masking the turmoil inside.

Above them, on the balcony, a man in a crisp white shirt leaned lazily against the railing. His tall figure was framed by the golden afternoon light, his features sharp and cold, yet softened by the faintest trace of a smile. His eyes followed the petite figure walking away until she disappeared beyond the gates.

“The little tutor, hmm?” His lips curved upward in amusement. “Uncle, was it? How… interesting.”

***

That evening, Elira returned home earlier than usual. She hung her apron on the hook, washed her hands, and set the dining table carefully. The rich aroma of simmering soup and roasted vegetables filled the small apartment, a stark contrast to the mansion’s cold opulence.

“Liz, stop reading and come have dinner,” she called gently.

From the living room, her younger brother lifted his head. Carefully, he closed the worn book in his lap and wheeled himself toward the table. The sight of the feast spread before him widened his eyes in surprise.

“Sister… why did you make so many dishes?” His voice trembled with bewilderment.

Elira wiped her hands on her apron, her lips curving into a secretive smile. “Take a guess.” She disappeared into the kitchen briefly, turning off the lights before emerging again.

In her hands was a small cake, glowing with the soft light of a single candle.

“Happy birthday to you…” Her voice was warm, tender, carrying a melody filled with love.

Liz’s eyes blurred with tears as she placed the cake on the table, her smile radiant.

“Happy birthday, Liz.”

Emotion overwhelmed him. His hands shook as he looked at her, then at the cake, his chest swelling with gratitude. “Thank you, sister.”

Elira leaned closer, brushing away a tear from his cheek. Then she slid a folded receipt across the table.

He picked it up curiously, only to freeze in shock. “Sister… this is… a computer receipt?”

“Mm-hm,” she nodded with a grin. “Someone will come tomorrow to assemble it. From now on, when I’m at school or work, you won’t be so bored anymore.”

His heart soared, then plummeted. “But… this must have cost so much. Where did you get the money?”

Her smile remained calm, reassuring. “Don’t worry. I borrowed it from Gracious. I’ll pay her back when my salary comes.”

Liz lowered his gaze, clutching the receipt tightly. His throat tightened with guilt. He knew the truth. Everything he had, every joy, every gift it was all earned by his sister’s relentless sacrifice. His fists clenched in helplessness.

“Hey,” Elira said softly, tilting his chin up. “If you really want to help me, then use that computer to study. Study hard. That’s all I ask.”

His lips trembled, but he nodded firmly. “I believe in you, sister.”

***

Later that night, after Elira had returned to her room, her phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Elira, it’s me Roz.” The voice on the other end was frantic.

Elira straightened immediately. “Roz? What’s wrong?”

“Elira, save me!” Roz’s voice cracked with panic.

“What happened?”

Roz spoke in rushed sobs. “Tonight’s the grand opening of Empire International Club. They were hiring bunny girls, five hours of standing there, and they promised four thousand dollars! I… I used a fake student ID to get in, but they caught me! They said they’re going to sue me for fraud!”

Elira’s heart dropped. “Sue you?”

“Yes! What should I do? Elira, please!” Roz’s words dissolved into tears.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll be right there.”

Without hesitation, Elira grabbed her bag, pressed a kiss to Liz’s forehead, and rushed out. This was no time for buses, she hailed a cab, her pulse racing as the city lights blurred past.

Forty minutes later, she stood before the towering, glittering facade of Empire International Club. Neon lights bathed the building in shades of gold and crimson, the air buzzing with the hum of luxury cars pulling up.

“Invitation, miss?” The security guard at the door eyed her suspiciously.

Elira froze. “Ah… I… I’m a rabbit girl,” she blurted out.

The guard raised a brow. “A college student?”

She faltered, then quickly pulled out her student ID. His expression softened as he studied it. “You look so young. I thought you were still in high school.”

Elira forced a smile, unsure whether to take it as praise or insult.

“Third floor. Go.”

She hurried upstairs. Even before reaching the office door, Roz’s sobs reached her ears.

Inside, two managers and a guard loomed over her trembling friend.

Elira burst in. “I’m sorry, Roz is my friend. Please, forgive her.”

The managers frowned, unimpressed.

Desperation surged through Elira. “What about me? I’ll take her place.”

The woman’s cold gaze swept over her cartoon-printed shirt, messy bun, and innocent face. “Have you even graduated high school?”

Roz spoke quickly, “Don’t underestimate her! She’s a top student at Moon Academy!”

The room stilled.

Half an hour later, Elira stood in the dressing room, her face scarlet as she tugged at the hem of the bunny outfit. Black rabbit ears perched on her head, a fluffy tail pinned at her back, the tight fabric clinging to her body like a second skin.

No matter how hard she pulled, the skirt wouldn’t cover her thighs.

“Stop tugging you’ll ruin the sexy look!” another bunny girl hissed, adjusting her makeup in the mirror.

Elira’s reflection stared back at her, wide-eyed and mortified.

The 19th floor of Empire International Club glittered with opulence, the stage set, the chandeliers glowing. Tonight, she had crossed into a world she never imagined one step further into sacrifice, all for the sake of her friends.