The Housekeeper and The Billionaire

March 28th, 2024 Thursday 10:00 PM IN LOS ANGELES “What would any sane person do in this situation?" I thought to myself as I stared at the armed men running in my direction from a distance. This wasn't the plan. This is going to be harder than I thought finding my father's killers would. I immediately took to my heels, leaving my shoes behind. “Get a place to hide, get a place to hide." These were the only thoughts running through my mind as I ran into the road, caring less about the cars moving around. A Lamborghini Gallardo screeched immediately in front of me as I fell to the ground, my hair falling on my face. I sat there on the floor, catching my breath as the car headlights turned off. I tucked my hair behind my ears as I watched Alec Miguez come out of his car, walk towards me, and squat in front of me. His face was close to mine. “Looks like you need my help. Or, are you good?” I hiccupped loudly. There he was, for the umpteenth time ever since the day we first met. Why does he always show up at my worst moments? He stared deeply into my eyes, with his usual deadpan look. FLASHBACK January 1st, 2024 Monday 8:30 AM IN LOS ANGELES I knelt with a bow in front of Mr Gray, my uncle. “So, you said your sister is in college, and you don't have the money to see her through?” My Uncle asked again. I nodded as I fought back angry tears pricking my eyes. He nodded negatively with a sad face. " I truly wish I could help you Diane, but you see, I don't have the money.” He stated but I wasn't ready to leave the ground. He was the only one I could reach out to. I crawled unashamedly towards him and grabbed his hands, with pleading eyes. " Sir, whatever you have would be helpful to my family and me." I pleaded again, this time, I let my tears fall, just so it could convince him. “What I have right now is for my family and me." He explained with a shrug and took my hands. " Diane, you know how things are. Even your father…” I gave him a death glare that made him refrain from his sentence. I quietly stood up, picked up my bag, and headed towards the door of his house. Then I halted and turned to him. I felt hurt, and couldn't just leave like that. “My Father would never have treated you in this manner if you came to ask for money," I said to him in the calmest way possible and he stood up to his feet immediately with a furious gaze. He sighed deeply. “Guards?" He called on the guards who stood directly behind me. “Please let her out. She shouldn't set foot in this house again." He instructed and they attempted to touch me when I gave each of them a hard stare. A part of me knew coming here would amount to nothing. I walked out of my uncle's house and took a glance at his compound. It was a luxurious environment and I wondered how he came about his sudden wealth. It's been two months since I lost my father to cancer. I wiped the tears in my eyes and dipped my hands into my handbag, taking out my phone. I needed to put a call through to Trent, my boyfriend. I needed to get my head away from the embarrassment I had just faced by my uncle. I tried calling him but his line wasn't reachable, so I decided to visit him since it's been a while since we talked. Trent’s gate was slightly opened and his security was nowhere to be seen, so I walked into his compound. I felt something was odd as the place was awfully quiet. Trent was no quiet type. I walked to his door and found it slightly opened so I pushed it wide open and walked in. “Babe?" I called as I walked towards his bedroom. I heard giggles in his bedroom and I hoped it wasn't what I was thinking. I pushed the door open and saw the last thing I expected to see. Trent was in bed with another lady. They were all over each other and they weren't aware I was in the room. “What the f**k is going on here?" I screamed angrily as hot tears streamed uncontrollably down my cheeks. They quickly got off each other and Trent stared at me with pleading eyes. “Babe, this isn't what it looks like." He tried to explain as I stared at him still trying to chug down what was in front of me. This was too much for me. “I just f*****g caught you cheating.” I tried saying confidently but my voice broke as I was still in tears. I wiped my tears and sniffed. "I can't even look at you right now,” I said and walked out of the room. " Babe! Diane!” He called after me but I never turned back. THE NEXT DAY Mom slowly tiptoed into the house and quietly opened her bedroom door only to see me sitting on her bed. She cursed under her breath and attempted to walk out without being noticed. “I've seen you, Mom," I said and stood up to my feet. Mom quietly walked in clutching her handbag as she flashed a smile at me. “Where are you coming from Mom?" I stared at her. She removed her shoes, threw her handbag across the room, and fell flat on her bed. She huffed a sigh. “I don't have to tell you where I'm coming from Diane." She answered as she stared at me, keeping a straight face. “You left the house very late at night Mom. And you expect me to be comfortable with that?” I half yelled, already frustrated by Mom's ignorant behavior. She sat up and faced me. “Isn’t it burdensome? You don't have to care about your sister and me. You're the daughter and I'm the mother, you have to understand that." She said and rolled her eyes at me. “Well maybe if you acted like one I wouldn't be so stressed over you too." I fired and Mom gasped at my outburst. I realized what I had just said and attempted to apologize. “Mom, I'm s…” " No.” She interrupted. "You don't have to apologize. You just let out what you've been piling up for a while.” Mom nodded and walked out of the room. My phone beeped. It was a message from my cousin Scarlett, an invite to her birthday party. I sighed as I stared down at my phone. Immediately I got a call from Scarlett. “Hello, Sister!" Scarlett screamed over the phone which made me smile. “Guess who's sponsoring my birthday party?” She asked. I exhaled deeply with a smile. I attempted to speak when Scarlett interrupted me. Typical Scarlett. “Trent Glenn, your boyfriend." She screamed excitedly. My smile dwindled. “I'll think about it, Scarlett." “Wait, it's… " I cut the call before she could complete her statement. LATER THAT NIGHT I walked gracefully into the exotic hall keeping the brave face I had always been taught to have in my red sequin dress. I wasn't here just for my cousin's birthday party. I wanted to connect with someone, just any public figure. I wasn't good with conversations but I was willing to try because I wanted things to work out for my family and me. I wanted to take out my phone from my bag when I bumped into someone. He was on a call so he didn't see me coming. He glanced at me from head to toe, his phone still in his ears, and walked past me. “Oh My God! It's Alec Miguez." “Alec Miguez made it to the party." I heard some people murmur amongst themselves. Looks like he's a public figure. I wouldn't know because I barely log in to my social media account. I watched Scarlett exchange pleasantries with the man I bumped into with a wide grin which he never reciprocated. I mean she's the birthday girl. Shouldn't he be less rude? “Oh my goodness! You made it.” Scarlett screamed as she walked towards me with a glass of wine in her hands. She gave me a quick hug and broke it. She took a glance at me with a proud smile. “Come. I'll show you to my friends." The words I patiently waited for are out. It's time to bring my A-game. She pulled me by my hand along with her until we stopped in front of some classy ladies. I could recognize some of them. Ivey and Freya were always around me before my father's company went bankrupt. They are from wealthy homes too but they left because according to them, I'm no longer in their league. So I guess you can say I never had a real friend. Suddenly the plan I had felt shitty. As long as these two blabbermouths are here, they all know me and know my story. “I need to leave Scarlett," I said and attempted to walk out when the b***h Ivey called out to me. “Introduce your friend to us, Scarlett," Freya said in a sarcastic tone. Scarlett rested her hand on my shoulders with a smile. “This is my favorite cousin, Diane. Diane meet my friends.” She introduced me, and I nodded. I couldn't stand seeing how they all looked at me. I needed to leave. "I have to go,” I said to Scarlett with pleading eyes. " But you only just got …" I wasn't going to let Scarlett convince me otherwise. Yeah! She can be very persuasive. I began to walk out. “I guess she still feels high and mighty," Freya said. “Even after being reduced to nothing," Ivey added and the other girls laughed about it. I stopped. Ignoring them and leaving should have been the wise thing to do but I was too angry to do that. I faced them. “What did you just say?" I asked as I began to walk to where they stood. Scarlett held me by the arm and pleaded with me to let it go but I had to clear the air with Ivey especially. “But are we wrong? How does it feel down there?" She asked and chuckled. This was it. There was no point exchanging words. She was just stating the obvious. “I don't know why I'm not surprised," I said to her with a smile and just when I was about to leave, Ivey pulled me in and gave me a resounding slap, dragging everyone's attention.