The Billionaire's Maid

THE REJECTION

CHAPTER THREE

Annabella walked into the restaurant very late as usual.

"You're late again." Aurora said.

"I guess I need a car at this point." Annabella muttered and Aurora chuckled.

"Get changed before the big mouth comes." Aurora said referring to their manager. The workers call her that because of her strictness and nagging spirit.

Annabella walked into the changing room. She changed into their uniform, just a simple short gown but on Annabella, everything looks classic. After packing her hair in her usual ponytail, she came out.

"Gosh, I don't understand why you look so hot in that uniform girl." Aurora said staring at her, especially her hips which look wide and perfect.

"Oh please don't start Aurora, you see me in this everyday." Annabella said and rolled her eyes.

"I'm not surprised that you met Thadeus Storm." Aurora smirked and Anna sighed, she wouldn't dare tell her that she also saw Gregor Campbell just now or she won't be able to rest today.

"Where are the girls? Kitchen?" Annabella asked.

"Yeah" Aurora replied.

The restaurant door opened and a woman came in.

"Good morning ma'am! You're our first customer for today, what do we offer you?" Aurora said cheerfully.

"Oh sorry, I came for something more important." Mrs Kim said and turned to Annabella who was standing next to Aurora.

"Mrs Kim!" Annabella smiled.

"Oh you know her?" Aurora asked.

"Of course, we always meet at the grocery store." Annabella replied and immediately walked towards Mrs Kim.

"How are you today Mrs Kim?" She asked.

"I'm good my daughter." Mrs Kim smiled.

"So... what brought you here today Mrs Kim?" Annabella asked curiously.

"I have a proposal for you." Mrs Kim said and Annabella grew more curious.

"You see, I know you're a very hardworking girl and besides that, you're the first person who came to my mind as I was thinking, so please you've got to help me...I don't have enough time anymore." Mrs Kim said but Annabella was still confused.

"What do you want me to do for you Mrs Kim?" She asked.

"I need to take a short leave from where I work and I want you to replace me." Mrs Kim explained.

"But...I can't be working here and there too..."

"Then quit working here." Mrs Kim cut in.

"I have to feed my mom, she's not too healthy to work on her own." Annabella said.

"How much pay do you get here monthly?" Mrs Kim asked.

"A hundred dollars." Annabella replied.

"But you will be paid a thousand dollars in a month where I work." Mrs Kim said and Annabella gasped.

"What? A thousand dollars? Just for...being a maid?" She asked unbelievably.

"Trust me, you can think about it..."

"When do I start?" Annabella cut in and Mrs Kim smiled.

"Come here tomorrow morning." She said and handed her a piece of paper with an address on it.

"That's when my boss would be available, so come early tomorrow." Mrs. Kim added and Annabella nodded.

"I will be there." She said.

Mrs. Kim nodded and thanked her before walking out of the restaurant while Annabella walked back to the counter happily.

One thousand dollars a month would change there lives and she will be able to return to school too.

••••

As Wright climbed down the stairs, his headphones was hanged around his neck and his two hands tucked into his trousers. He had a cap over his head and was chewing gum... he can't really do without them. He was looking so handsome hot just like the usual Wright Storm.

He got downstairs and met his granny in the living room. He stays here alone most of the times and just few times in a year, his granny would come over to stay with him just to take care of him.

The mansion is under Wright's name, it was his eighteenth birthday gift from Thadeus but he only moved in when he clocked twenty.

Thadeus was just nine years old when their parents died in an accident while Wright was just a baby of eight months. Since then their grand parents took full responsibilities over them until Thadeus turned eighteen and moved out to work just to fend for his little baby brother and himself.

"Morning granny!" Wright smiled handsomely and hugged her.

"Get off!" Granny Paulina snapped and Wright pouted.

"What have I done again?" he asked.

"What is a new car doing in this compound?" Granny Paulina asked and Wright blew the gum in his mouth.

"I've always wanted a red car..."

"You promised me you won't bring anymore car here! There are almost a thousand cars in this compound and you barely use them all. Do you want to wreck your brother? You don't even know how hard he works to send you to that expensive school. Gosh! when will you change? Huh?" Granny Paulina shouted.

"I already promised that I won't take anymore cars, just this last one granny." Wright said.

"Return all those cars!" Granny snapped.

"They are mine." Wright said cutely.

"Gosh...my chest" Granny Paulina said and Wright immediately rushed to the kitchen, he returned with a glass of water.

She took the water from him and gulped it down.

"You won't kill me before my time you naughty boy." Granny Paulina said after regaining herself.

"Come on granny, you need to stop stressing your self about things like this... Oh...I'm almost late granny. See you later and take care of your self." Wright said and kissed her cheek.

"Breakfast young master." One of the maids walked in.

"I'm late already, take care of granny." Wright said and walked out.

He walked to the garage and entered one of his favorite cars, it's a pure white Benz. He dropped his bag on the passenger seat beside him and drove out of the mansion.

••••

Wright parked his car, he took his bag and stepped out. Immediately the students started calling his name and hailing him from every angle.

? "Wright Storm!"

? "He's so handsome!"

He smiled and waved at them.

? "Gosh his mine!"

? "He's killing me!"

? "So hot!"

? "I love you Wright Storm!"

? "Just date me please!"

Lonnie also appeared and the students started screaming his name too but most attention were on Wright.

Lonnie got close to Wright and they both stared blankly at each other as usual, they never exchanged words or fight but the students all believe these two doesn't like each other, not even a bit. All they do is stare at each other in an unfriendly way.

"Hey jerk, I've been waiting for you!" Adam, Wright's best friend jumped on him from the back.

"Gosh dude come on!" Wright groaned and Adam laughed before getting down from his back.

"I missed you baby." he pecked his cheek and Wright frowned. Adam would do anything just to annoy him and he would never get used to it cos he kept on growing even more annoying everyday.

"Don't talk to me today Adam." Wright said, wiped his cheek and started leaving.

"It's not my fault that you're so handsome! I would date you if I am a girl you know." Adam said and ran after him.

"You can turn gay instead, fool!" Wright cussed and Adam laughed.

••••

"He's coming!" Daisy said getting Melanie's attention.

They all turned at once to see Lonnie walking toward them.

"Gosh I'm nervous." Melanie muttered.

"Babe, the plan is not to talk to him, just go with the plan. I'm sure he also likes you, who wouldn't like the almighty Melanie Campbell?" Alyssa said and Melanie sighed, she arranged her hair and walked out of the empty class they were in.

Melanie’s heart hammered against her ribs, a deafening cacophony of nerves and anticipation that rose in direct proportion to Lonnie’s slow, measured approach.

Each step that brought him closer seemed to strip away another layer of her fragile composure, leaving her trembling and hyperventilating. Just as Lonnie reached for her, she felt the cruel hand of fate intervene, her foot sliding out from under her in an instant.

“Ahh!” The scream tore from Melanie’s throat, the sound of terror amplified by the sudden realization of her descent.

A split second before the impact, the instinctive reflexes of two young men kicked into high gear. Both Lonnie and Wright lunged forward, fighting against the laws of physics to break Melanie’s fall. But fate had other plans, as Wright, like a knight in shining armor, reached her first.

The crowd of students reacted with a synchronized gasp, as if each one had been punched in the gut at the same time.

? "They kissed!"

? "Their lips just met!"

? "I'm so jealous of Melanie right now!"

? "Oh My Gee!"

Melanie's eyes widened and immediately she jumped up and wiped her lips, she staggered but Lonnie caught her this time and Melanie faced him.

"Are you okay?" He asked gently.

Melanie swallowed and nodded gently swirling.

"I'm fine, thanks." She replied with a smile.

Lonnie smiled back at her before turning to Wright who Adam was already helping up.

"You should at least say a thank you to me too." Wright groaned.

"I never asked for your help." Melanie snapped.

"Oh wow! I guess I wasted my time." Wright scoffed and walked away with Adam.

Lonnie also walked away.

Daisy and Alyssa immediately rushed to Melanie

"Babe! You're so lucky, you didn't just get Lonnie's attention but Wright too!" Daisy said dreamily.

"Who cares about Wright? Did you see the way Lonnie smiled at me? So hot!" Melanie said and fanned herself.

"Seriously? Wright almost hurt himself while trying to save you for heaven sake." Alyssa said.

"Lonnie would have saved me if he didn't intervene." Melanie snapped and rolled her eyes.

Alyssa hissed loudly and walked away.

"What's with her?" Melanie asked.

"You know how much she's crazy about Wright, she's just angry... she would be fine." Daisy said and Melanie scoffed.

••••

Different camera flashed following Gregor as he walked out of the launching hall with Stella beside him.

The launching of S9 just came to an end.

? "Congratulations Mr Bells!"

? "Congrats Gregor!"

Numbers of the billionaire guests who came continued congratulating and greeting him as they walked while Gregor tried his best to return the greetings until he finally came out.

"Good job president." Stella said to him and Gregor replied with a nod.

"You too." He said and she smiled.

"There are a lot of orders already, I'm so sure this is going to be the best so far, I can't wait." Stella said.

Gregor nodded and they entered his office together.

"Uhm, President. The staffs are planning a party just to celebrate our latest achievement, would you like to join us?" Stella asked.

"No, I would be going home in thirty minutes. Tell them to have fun, everything is on me." Gregor replied.

"Okay sir." Stella muttered.

"You can leave now." Gregor said.

Stella bowed before leaving his office.

••••

"Whoa! "Annabella exclaimed and covered her mouth as the security let her in.

Annabella’s senses were on overdrive, the luxuriousness of her surroundings almost overwhelming. Her eyes wide, taking in every detail as if she had just walked into the most lavish dream. The sudden realization that this was, in fact, reality, hit her like a wave, leaving her breathless.

Then, the voice of a child brought her back to Earth. She turned to find a young boy, staring at her with equal curiosity. Annabella straightened her shoulders, steeling herself against the intimidation that tried to seep in.

"Who are you?" Alex's tiny soft voice asked.

Alex was sitting on a couch, playing a game on his tablet when Annabelle walked in.

"Who are you?" Alex asked again, looking straight at her.

"Oh...I'm Annabella." Annabella said with a smile.

"And what is name your name cutie?" She said trying to jovial.

"I'm Alex." He replied shortly staring at her blankly.

"Alex Is everything okay?" Gregor's voice came up and Annabella turned to look at the direction the voice came from.

"There's a visitor here daddy." Alex said and soon Gregor appeared carrying Casey.

Annabella's eyes widened as the shock rippled through her like a tidal wave, overwhelming her with the sudden realization that she was in front of elusive and enigmatic Gregory Bells.

Her mind raced, her inner voice screaming, "What have you gotten your into?! What if he recognizes you?!"

"G-g-g good morning sir." Her voice quivered, the words cathing in her throat as she attempted to maintain a confident tone.

Gregor said nothing as if expecting more explanation.

The clock seemed to freeze as Gregor stood there, his piercing gaze burning into Annabella. The intensity of his silence sent chills down Annabella’s spine, the vastness of the room feeling smaller with each second.

Then, as if on cue, Mrs. Kim’s appearance broke the tension. She rushed to Gregor’s side, speaking rapidly to calm the situation.

Annabella’s heart thumped in her chest, her mind scrambling for a way to explain her presence without revealing Mrs. Kim’s offer.

"Oh Anna! you're here." Mrs. Kim said and Annabella felt relieved a bit.

"Yes! Mrs Kim." She replied trying so hard to avoid Gregor's piercing eyes.

"Sir..I told you I was going to find a replacement soon." Mrs Kim said finally turning to Gregor.

"Get down Casey." Gregor said softly and gently dropped Casey.

"So, she's the one?" He asked taking another glance at Annabella.

"Yes sir." Mrs Kim replied.

"Did he recognize me? Annabella thought hoping he won't reject her. She really needs this job at the moment.

"We don't want her daddy." Casey suddenly said and Annabella looked at her.

Casey shot her one hateful glare which almost sent shiver into her soul.

"You don't want her?" Gregor asked.

"I don't like her, Alex doesn't like her either." Casey said .

"Come on Casey, you don't even know her. I'm sure you will get to li..."

"I can't like her!" Casey cut in immediately shoot daggers at him

"I don't like her also." Alex finally muttered succumbing to his sister's will.

Annabella swallowed, this time her eyes on Gregor as if expecting him to say something. But why would he accept her when his kids has already rejected her?

"Look for someone else Mrs. Kim." Gregor finally uttered and went upstairs without sparing Annabella another glance.