THE BILLIONAIRE’S PLACEHOLDER

Chapter 2: The Servant’s Room

Rose’s POV

I turned around and walked back into the dining room, my hands trembling as I looked at the floor. A crystal vase was broken into pieces on the rug. Vivian stood next to the mess with a smile on her face.

“Oops,” Vivian said. “Clean that up too, assistant.”

I held back my tears, grabbed the broom from the kitchen and swept up the glass. Jake and Vivian headed for the stairs, leaving me behind to clean the mess.

Once I was done cleaning the floor, I carried the bags up the stairs. I ran into Mr. Evans, the butler who had managed our home since we moved in. He saw me struggling, and he looked at ne with pity.

“Let me take those, Miss Rose,” he whispered, reaching out to grab the bags.

I pulled the bags back and shook my head. “I can handle it, Mr. Evans. Thank you.”

He stepped back and let me pass. I dragged the luggage into the master bedroom. My bedroom. Only now, I was walking into it as a staff member.

Vivian removed and threw her shoes onto the rug and sat on the bed, her eyes fixed on me. Jake didn’t even look up. He was just standing by the closet, taking off his watch. It was like I was invisible to him.

“Why are you still standing there?” Vivian asked, pointing at the suitcases. “Unpack them right now. I want my clothes hung up in the closet and my shoes in the rack. Move your things out so that mine can go in.”

I looked at Jake, waiting for him to say something. But he just set his watch on the dresser and fixed his hair in the mirror.

“Jake, You really want me to move out right now?” I asked.

He finally turned around, his face completely gone cold.

“It's not our room anymore, Rose,” he said. “Vivian is my legal wife, so she belongs here. You'll take the guest room near the kitchen. It'll make it easier for you to get breakfast started for us every morning.”

I stepped back, trying not to cry. I walked straight to the closet, grabbed my suitcase, and started yanking my clothes off the hangers as fast as possible.

Vivian watched me with a smirk on her face. She picked up the perfume Jake bought for my birthday, sprayed it once, made a face, and dropped it straight into the trash can.

“Smells cheap,” Vivian said. “I'll bring my own tomorrow. Jake, tell her to clean this desk because I don’t want her things touching mine.”

“Clean the desk, Rose,” Jake said.

I bent down to grab my files, but a sudden wave of dizziness hit me. I gripped the edge of the desk to keep my balance.

Vivian noticed the delay and she let out an impatient sigh. She picked up her tumbler cup and slammed it down right on top of my fingers, pinning them against the table.

“I said clear it, not stand there daydreaming,” Vivian snapped, putting her weight against the glass. “Jake, your assistant is incredibly slow,” She said.

Jake looked over from the mirror and frowned at me.

“Rose, stop wasting Vivian’s time and just get the things out of the room already,” Jake said, turning his back to me again. “We have a big day tomorrow and I don’t want to deal with your attitude tonight.”

I pulled my fingers out from under the cup. My hand was red and painful, but I didn't say a word. I picked up the files, grabbed my bags, and left the room immediately. I walked past the VIP guest room and headed straight to the small room near the kitchen.

I locked the door, sat on the bed, and pulled the envelope from my pocket.

I held my stomach. “I'm so sorry,” I whispered. “I'm so sorry he's your father.”

Suddenly, I heard footsteps in the hall. I quickly shoved the envelope with me inside the pillowcase right before I heard a knock on the door.

“Rose. Open the door,”Jake said.

I hesitated, before I walked to the door and opened it. He glanced past me into the room, refusing to look at me.

“This room is far too small,” Jake said, clearing his throat.

"It’s a servant’s room, Jake, which seems to be exactly what you wanted for me.”

He sighed and stepped inside, reaching out his hand to touch my shoulder, but I stepped back. “You have to understand, Rose,” Jake said, lowering his voice. “The Montgomery family is dangerous. If they think I’m lying, they’ll take the company. I am trying to protect everything we built.”

“You are protecting yourself,” I said, looking him straight in the eyes. “You’re a coward, Jake.”

Jake clenched his jaw. “Okay, fine. I used you because you’re smart. And you’re staying because I still need you. Prep her, make Vivian look perfect for the press tour for five months, and I'll give you ten million dollars the day you leave.”

“I do not want a single cent of your money,” I said, walking over to open the door wider. “I need you to leave right now.”

He looked at me,less concerned, then down at the bed. He reached out and touched the pillow right where I had hidden the envelope. My heart skipped a beat, I was ready to throw myself at him if he lifted it, but he just shifted the pillow a little bit.

“The bed is hard,” Jake said, stepping back. “I'll tell Clara to bring up some decent blankets.”

“I don't need blankets. Just leave and go back to your wife,” I said.

He walked and stopped at the door and turned back. “Meeting’s at nine o’clock sharp. The East River project files need to be ready, and Vivian needs to know every detail before the lawyers arrive. Don’t fail me.”

He left and closed the door. I grabbed a textbook from the desk and slid the envelope into the middle of the pages. From down the hallway, the sound of Vivian’s loud, mocking laughter echoed through the walls.

The heartbreak died right there, replaced by a desire to fight back. I pulled my laptop forward and opened the screen. I entered my password to access the East River files.

A bright red box flashed across the screen.

ACCESS DENIED. SENIOR PARTNER CREDENTIALS REVOKED.

I stared at the screen, I could hardly breathe well. Jake did not just move me out of the bedroom, my bedroom. He had completely locked me out of the company.