THE MAID'S BILLIONAIRE

CHAPTER THREE

Cindy's POV

Time seemed to crawl as the Smiths settled into their new home. Brian, in particular, had been making persistent efforts to engage me in conversation, but I had been evading him like the plague. It had been two days since their arrival, and his attempts hadn't gone unnoticed.

This morning, as I found myself in the laundry room, Brian unexpectedly walked in, clutching a pair of trousers in his hands. "Ermm... I'm sorry, I didn't know you were in here," he stammered. "I just uh... wanted to bring this. You forgot to take it, I think."

Apologizing timidly, I responded, "Sorry, sir. I didn't see it then."

He approached me, his eyes gleaming with warmth. "Can you stop calling me 'sir' already? I feel so old. Just Brian is okay," he insisted, accompanied by a friendly smile. We stood there, engulfed in an awkward silence, avoiding eye contact. The air was thick with unspoken emotions, and my heart raced in his presence, leaving me flustered.

Feeling the need to break the tension, I muttered, "I think I will get back to work, then," hoping he would take the hint and leave.

He nodded, and without uttering another word, he exited the room. As much as I wanted him to go, a tinge of sadness washed over me as I watched his receding figure. I quickly refocused my attention on the task at hand.

Later, Janet and I were setting the table for lunch when she couldn't resist teasing me. "So, I saw a certain someone in the laundry room with you," she playfully prodded, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "What were you guys up to? I hope I'm not going to be an aunt soon."

Startled, I looked at her, my eyes widening. "What do you mean by that?"

Janet burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying my reaction. "Calm down, I was just joking," she reassured me.

"Please stop with the jokes. It's honestly not funny anymore," I snapped, my frustration simmering. "You and I both know that nothing is going to happen between Brian and me."

Janet continued to giggle, seemingly relentless in her teasing. Though amusing when she aimed it at others, being the target of her jests was less enjoyable. "He asked me to call him Brian," I began, my voice trailing off, noticing Mrs. Smith and her daughter descending the stairs. They settled at the table without sparing Janet or me a glance.

Recognizing the need to escape the situation, we hurriedly retreated to the kitchen, realizing we had forgotten to bring the jar of orange juice, which the family typically consumed each morning. Offering to retrieve it myself, I swiftly made my way back to the dining table, but fate had a different plan in store.

Out of nowhere, Brian appeared, inadvertently colliding with me, causing me to drop the jar. Both of us stared at the shattered fragments on the floor, a brief silence filling the air. Suddenly, I knelt down to gather the pieces, my focus solely on the task at hand.

However, a sharp pain shot through my palm, and I involuntarily hissed. Brian heard my suppressed reaction and immediately took my injured hand in his own. Gently inspecting the wound, he guided me back to the kitchen, where my mother awaited, surprised by our unexpected arrival.

"Cindy! What happened?" she exclaimed, her concern evident.

"Mum, it's nothing. I accidentally dropped the jar and cut myself while picking up the pieces. It's nothing

serious," I reassured her, trying to downplay the situation.

"What do you mean it's nothing? You're bleeding quite badly, and even though I'm not a doctor, I know you might need stitches," Brian interjected, his tone laced with anger.

Just then, Janet entered the kitchen, her expression changing from surprise to curiosity as she observed Brian and me in close proximity, surrounded by my blood. "Sir, please, Madam asked me to inform you that the family is waiting," Janet interjected, her gaze shifting worriedly between us.

"Tell her I'll be skipping lunch. I'm taking Cindy to the hospital," Brian declared, turning to my mother. "Hope that's okay with you, Miss Mariam," he added, seeking her consent.

Mum nodded, still fretting over my bleeding hand. Janet exited the kitchen to deliver the news to Mrs. Smith. "Okay then, let's go," Brian said, wrapping a paper towel around my wound to stem the bleeding.

The car ride to the hospital was swift and hushed. We arrived at the emergency ward, where I was directed to a room. A nurse carefully disinfected the wound, skillfully stitched it up, and neatly wrapped it in a bandage.

When I emerged from the room, Brian was waiting for me in the hospital's waiting area, momentarily oblivious to my presence. I approached him and tapped him on the shoulder. Startled, he lifted his head and locked eyes with me. A mix of surprise and relief washed over his face as he realized it was me. Rising from his seat, he began inspecting my now-bandaged hand.

"Okay, let's go grab something to eat," Brian suggested, a warm smile gracing his lips.

"Are you asking me out on a date?" I blurted out, taken aback by my newfound audacity. Janet's mischievous influence seemed to be seeping into me.

Brian shrugged, his smile widening. "Well, if that's what you want it to be, then yes, it's a date," he confirmed.

"Let's go, then," I responded, attempting to appear unaffected by his touch as his hand gently guided us out of the hospital.

He drove us to an upscale restaurant I didn't even know existed, and it was at that moment I realized I was still clad in my maid uniform. Brian stepped out of the car and walked to my side, opening the door. As I remained seated, he looked at me quizzically. "Are you second-guessing our little date, Cindy?"

"Actually, I'm not dressed up for this, and you're technically my boss, so we shouldn't be going on dates," I replied, unintentionally dampening the mood.

His expression fell at my comment. "You know, I think you still look lovely in what you're wearing. But if it makes you feel better, we can eat in the car. I'll just go and get us something. I'll be right back," he suggested, walking towards the restaurant's entrance to place the order.

As he left, I surveyed the car's interior and decided to turn on the radio to fill the silence. Selena Gomez's "Lose You to Love Me" softly played, and I adjusted the volume to ensure I could hear if Brian returned. Engrossed in the music, I was suddenly startled by the sound of a ringing phone. Realizing it must be Brian's, as I didn't have one myself, I contemplated whether to answer or not. Eventually, I reasoned that it might be an emergency, prompting me to pick up the phone.

"Hello?" I called out, unsure of who might be on the other end. "Brian,

baby, why didn't you tell me you were back?" a voice whined, instantly making me cringe.

"Please, this is not Brian. It's..." I began to explain.

"Who are you, and what are you doing with my boyfriend's phone?" the voice interrupted rudely.

"I, uh... Sorry, I'm just the maid. I... Sir Brian isn't around at the moment. I'll let him know you called," I replied politely, determined to maintain composure.

"Whatever," came the dismissive response before the call abruptly ended. I gently placed the phone back on the seat and waited for Brian's return, my mind filled with regret and uncertainty.

Moments later, Brian returned, a broad smile on his face and a large paper bag in hand. He settled beside me and began unpacking the food, passing me a pack of fries and chicken. "I hope you didn't miss me too much," he playfully remarked, his smile still intact.

"I didn't, but apparently, your girlfriend did... she called not too long ago," I confessed, my smile absent. I watched as the color drained from his face.