A Mistaken Night With The CEO

"Miranda, get the drinks from the fridge," Lady Loretta said. She was a 70-year-old, dark-skinned woman, and it was her only son's birthday.

"Okay, Ma," Miranda replied. She was a 22-year-old, fair-skinned woman, wearing a short pink dress and black slippers. It was 5 p.m., and they were setting up a birthday party for Derrick Luis, the Luis family's only son.

Derrick was the only son in his wealthy family, which included seven daughters.

Many guests were already present in the Luis family mansion, including top admirers, business partners, their families, and relatives, but the birthday celebrant wasn't home.

At the Luis Group, a magnificent five-story building, Derrick Luis was in his office on the fifth floor when his mobile rang.

"Hello, Mother," he said, answering the call. His mother asked, "Derrick, you know today is your birthday, so where are you?"

Glancing at his wristwatch, Derrick saw it was 6 p.m. He replied, "At the office, Mother."

"Come home, Son. It's your birthday, and we've gone to great lengths to make today a special moment to mark your 25th year."

"Hmm, I'm not interested in birthday parties, Mother. Why can't you understand my perspective?" Derrick murmured. His mother was elderly, so he couldn't blame her.

"I understand. Please, come home quickly before the guests start leaving. If I had known you would stubbornly stay at the office until this time, I wouldn't have allowed you to go to the office today, knowing it's also your birthday."

"Mom, I can't put work aside for a party. Who will look after Dad's company?" Derrick muttered again. His mother responded sadly, "You're right, but during your father's prime, he never skipped home for work. He attended parties—or where do you think I met him?"

"Hm." Derrick rolled his eyes at his mother's words. "Fine, Mother. I'll be home now," he said, and the phone call ended.

"Running a multimillion-dollar empire at this age, my mother still wants me to prioritize a party over work. Tch." Derrick mused, standing up from his executive office chair. Shutting down his computer, he grabbed his briefcase and elegantly left his office.

Arriving home in a brand new, black Prado Jeep, Derrick got out of the vehicle and made his way to his family's mansion. He could hear the sound of music and frowned after seeing a lot of guest cars parked inside his late father's estate.

Walking forward, Derrick arrived at the mansion's exterior. He rang the doorbell, and the maid pulled the door open for him.

"Welcome, Master Derrick," the maid greeted him.

Derrick ignored the maid's greeting and was ushered in by his mother, who was in the living room with many guests.

"Welcome, son. Happy 25th birthday to you."

"Happy birthday, Master Derrick!" All the guests in the living room toasted to the young master's new age.

"Thank you all," Derrick replied, and wanted to retire to his bedroom to rest. His mother stopped him, "Derrick, it's still your birthday. Come cut your cake and make a wish."

Pausing at the staircase, Derrick looked back at all the faces of the guests: his seven elder, married sisters with children, and his staff. He wanted to protest again that he was not a kid and didn't want a birthday party. However, he swallowed his protest as silence fell in the crowded living room.

Approaching his cake, which was placed in the center of the living room, Derrick cut it, and the guests all beamed happily, clapping for him.

"Happy birthday, brother," his sisters cheered, and he replied, "Thank you all."

"That's not all, Derrick. Make a wish," his mother urged him again.

"Oh, Mother, I am not a kid," Derrick finally protested, but his mother walked up to meet him as they all stood in the living room.

"No one said you're a kid, but you're still my baby, so make a wish," his mother pleaded with an assuring smile.

Not wanting to make his mother sad, Derrick wished for a long life, a happy family, and a prosperous business.

"Happy birthday to you again, Master Derrick; we wish you all the best," the guests were equally happy, and the toast continued as the guests resumed drinking and chatting happily.

Derrick excused himself from the living room and went back to his bedroom on the top floor of the mansion. Meanwhile, among the maids, Miranda had a crush on the master of the house. She was not the only one crushing on Derrick, but she couldn't take her eyes off him.

She openly gawked at his handsomeness. "Too handsome for one person," Miranda thought. She had observed Derrick; he seemed very hardworking. He didn't have time for women and mostly focused on his business alone.

Derrick didn't even have a girlfriend, and Miranda longed for him to notice her. She was a poor girl who came from an orphanage. After five years of serving the Luis family as a maid, Miranda wanted a better life. She didn't want to return to poverty.

In the Luis family mansion, maids were expected to dress casually. There was no competition as all the daughters of the Luis family were married, including Derrick's immediate elder sister, Nicole Luis.

"Come on, Alexa, I want to introduce you to my brother. I fear he might be gay. Why doesn't he have a girlfriend at this age? Don't you find it weird?" Nicole spoke to her friend as she brought Alexa along to her brother's birthday party.

Alexa worked as Derrick's personal secretary in Luis Group, and she would admit that she hadn't seen any young lady come to the office to visit him.

"I don't think Master Derrick is a gay. He's just too busy to notice any woman," Alexa replied. She wore a red, seductive dress and black shoes. She had arrived at the Luis mansion just after Derrick left the company.

Alexa Godwin was also interested in Derrick Luis. She wanted him as she was just 22 years old. She knew that having a man like Derrick as her future husband meant she wouldn't need to work much or struggle to feed herself, as his family's wealth was enough to cover all her lifetime expenses.

"Alexa, what do you think of Derrick? Don't you have a crush on him? If my older sisters hadn't spoken to me about introducing you to Derrick to work as his new secretary after my leave, do you think I only hired you based on our friendship alone? Come now," Nicole grabbed Alexa's hand and led her to the top floor, where there were no guests.

Alexa was nervous. For a year, she had been working as Derrick's personal secretary, thanks to Nicole's influence. She hadn't crossed the line or tried to get his attention.

Derrick was mean, and Alexa feared what he would do to her if she dared to overstep.