CHAPTER SEVEN: The Job That Changed Everything
924 Words
By the week of working at the Laurent mansion Phyna already understood one thing clearly. Nothing happened by accident in that house.
Every smile was planned.
Every conversation meant something.
Every move showed status and power.
Even silence felt fancy there.
That evening the mansion was getting ready for another gathering. Workers rushed around while chefs shouted orders in the kitchen downstairs.
Phyna stood near a marble counter carefully arranging desserts. Then Sima texted her.
DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH A BILLIONAIRE WITHOUT TELLING ME
Phyna almost laughed.
Before she could reply another message came.
I'M SERIOUS.
Phyna smiled softly. Typed back.
NOTHING IS HAPPENING.
Sima responded away.
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SAY BEFORE EVERYTHING STARTS HAPPENING.
Phyna quickly locked her phone before Clara noticed.
"Phyna," Clara called from across the kitchen. "Take these upstairs to Mr. Laurents office."
Phyna. Carefully picked up the tray.
As she walked through the hallway upstairs she felt nervous again.
She hated how just hearing his name made her feel.
The office door was slightly open.
Phyna knocked gently. "Mr. Laurent?"
"Come in."
She entered slowly.
Smith sat behind his desk looking at business papers. The city lights shone beautifully behind him through the glass windows.
He looked up as she entered.
His expression softened.
"Thank you " he said calmly.
Phyna put the tray on the table. "Clara said you skipped dinner."
Smith leaned back in his chair. "She worries much."
"You work much."
The sentence came out naturally.
Smith stared at her for a second before smiling faintly. "Now you sound like Clara too."
Phyna felt embarrassed. "Sorry."
"You apologize a lot."
"That's because rich people get offended easily."
Her honesty surprised him. He laughed quietly.
A real laugh.
Deep. Warm. Unexpected.
Phyna blinked.
It was the time she had seen him laugh genuinely.
"You really think I'm that bad?" he asked.
"I think people with power are used to hearing what they want."
Smith closed the document slowly. "And you?"
"What about me?"
"You don't seem afraid to say what you think."
Phyna folded her arms. "Life already humbled me. There's no point pretending anymore."
A strange silence appeared between them.
Not awkward.
Just intense.
Like they were discovering pieces of each other.
Smith studied her. "How jobs have you worked before this one?"
Phyna sighed softly. "Too many."
"What was the worst?"
She almost answered.
Memories stopped her.
A nightclub manager trying to lock her in his office. Customers insulting her over tips. Long nights crying from exhaustion.
Her eyes lowered. "Some memories aren't worth revisiting."
Smith noticed the sadness.
"You don't have to tell me."
Phyna looked at him.
That same gentleness was there.
It confused her every time.
Rich men acted entitled.. Smith listened carefully like her words mattered.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
The office door opened suddenly.
Richard Laurent entered with two business partners discussing something seriously. He stopped when he saw Phyna.
The atmosphere changed.
Richards eyes moved from Phyna to his son.
"You're still here?" he asked calmly.
"I was just leaving, sir."
Phyna moved toward the door.. One of the businessmen smirked.
"Well no wonder your son enjoys spending time upstairs lately."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Phyna froze.
Smiths expression hardened. Richards eyes darkened.
The businessman laughed awkwardly. "Relax, Richard. Your son has taste."
Phyna felt humiliation.
Without a word she walked out of the office.
Her heartbeat pounded as she moved through the hallway.
Course people would think that way.
Beautiful poor girls around men were always reduced to one thing.
Entertainment.
Embarrassment. Temporary amusement.
She entered the staff restroom. Locked the door.
For seconds she stared at herself in the mirror.
Anger filled her chest.
Not toward Smith.
Toward life.
Toward societys judgments.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Phyna?"
Sima.
Phyna unlocked the door. "What are you doing here?"
Sima entered with shopping bags. "I came to surprise you after work."
Then her expression changed.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"Don't do that." Sima stepped closer. "Talk to me."
Phyna looked away. "I'm tired."
Sima folded her arms. "Did someone disrespect you?"
The silence answered.
Simas eyes narrowed. "Who?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does."
Phyna sighed before sitting down.
"Sometimes I hate being beautiful."
Sima blinked. "What?"
"People assume things about you. Especially when you're poor."
Simas expression softened.
Phyna laughed bitterly. "How times have people looked at me like I'm desperate?"
"Phyna—"
"It's exhausting."
Tears threatened her eyes. She refused to let them fall.
"I work hard every day just to survive.. Society still treats girls like me like we're nothing."
Sima sat beside her.
"You are not nothing."
Phyna looked down.
Sima grabbed her hand. "The world has hurt you much that now you expect pain from everybody."
"Because pain is realistic."
"No. Pain is familiar. That's different."
The words lingered.
For a moment Phynas emotional walls weakened.
"What if this job changes everything for the worse?" she whispered.
Sima stared at her. "Are we still talking about the job?"
Phyna remained silent.
That silence told Sima everything.
"Oh my God " Sima breathed softly. "You like him."
"No."
"You do."
Phyna stood. "I barely know him."
". You think about him."
Silence.
Sima smiled gently. "Does he treat you well?"
Phyna hesitated before answering "Yes."
"Does he respect you?"
"Yes."
" why are you so scared?"
Phynas eyes filled with emotion.
"Because nothing good ever stays."
The sentence broke something inside Simas heart.
She. Hugged Phyna.
For the time, in a long while…
Phyna allowed herself to be held without pretending she was strong.
- Writer
