Chapter 1

TANYA

"What do you think about me having fun with her while you watch, old man Richard?"

"No, don't hurt my daughter, please."

Slap.

"What did you do, dad? Who did you piss off?"

"The devil."

These words have been ringing in my head over and over again for the past two months since i ran away from home.

"This is all your fault, dad." I sigh and lean my forehead against the wall. I've never had alcohol before. The pressure of my father trying to sell me is just too much to handle.

Well, i thought people drank to forget their problems, but tada! Mine are still there.

I push the door open and stumble into the room. I trip and then i giggle.

"Oh shit." My body slumps on the bed and i cover my face with my arm.

"Maybe this is a haunted house, maybe i was assigned here for a ritual." I laugh then sigh. "Because....why in the world have i never seen the man who hired me?"

My head spins from all the alcohol i consumed.

Spain has shown me shit since i came to hide here, i just hope he's not a dirty old man like the ones i met who tried sleeping with me in exchange for a job.

How crazy would it be if i realized i'm in a situation like in the movie Ready Or Not? Making me play hide and seek in a big mansion while they hunt me to kill for rituals.

"Well, Tanya, when life shows you bums.. tap em." I chuckle to myself and then my eyes get very heavy, this time, i don't fight them.

* * *

I blink my eyes open and the first thing i lay them on, is a huge chandelier with diamonds. My eyes move and scan everything around me, when i realize the room is foreign, i abruptly sit up.

"Shit!"

I scurry off the bed and pick my pumps off the rich Italian carpet.

"Shit, shit, shit."

I rush to the door and a portrait of an old man in a suit with a mustache holding a smoking pipe catches my attention. My eyes briefly close.

"Please tell me i didn't just drunkenly sleep in my boss's bed."

*Two months earlier*

"Holy shit." A gasp leaves my mouth. "And then there's me who has nothing in her life worth this bedroom couch."

Well, on the brighter side, at least poor people are known to be happier than the richest.

I trace my hand over the decor seated on the shelf. I read somewhere that these are over a million dollars.

The door opens, and i startle. I run into the nearest room and be as quiet as possible. My mouth gapes at the sight in front of me. The bathroom.

This is hands down the most beautiful and neatest bathroom i have ever seen. Not even the ones in billionaire movies touch to this particular one.

The marble walls and floor, the shower, the enormous bathtub. Jesus christ. Where do these people face when praying, because i need that direction. A knock startles me.

"I know you're in there. You can come out now."

Crap. I briefly close my eyes. Twisting the doorknob, i step out of the bathroom, biting the corner of my bottom lip in embarrassment.

Sylvia has her hands crossed over her chest. She shakes her head when i meet her eyes.

"Oh dear." Sylvia is the head of the housemaids. She's older too and very kind. I hear the boss is very fond and trusing of her. She's worked here for over thirty years. "What are you doing in here?"

"Uh, i Just.." i look for a lie, which never comes.

"You were just?"

"I got lost."

She narrows her eyes on me.

"Do you love your job?"

"I do."

"Then don't get lost next time, or the next thing you'll lose isn't your way, but your job. The boss doesn't like it when people snoop around, especially in his room."

I drop my eyes. Ashamed and embarrassed.

"Yes, i promise it will never happen again."

"It better not. Now, get back to work."

*NOW*

No.

I rush out of the room like my ass is on fire.

I feel eyes on me when i start descending the stairs, i pause and look up. Standing there at the end of the corridor is Pauline, Sylvia's daughter, who is the same age as me, twenty-four years old. Her hands are folded over her chest, and she's staring at me like she wants to murder me.

A chill runs up my spine, i break the eye contact and continue on my way.

* * *

"Hey," Sam appears behind me. Sam is handsome, with his dark shaved hair and lean body, brown eyes. The man can pull off suits, honestly.

"Hi."

"How did you sleep? I didn't see you leaving the cottage last night."

"Uhm.."

"Of course you didn't." A voice interrupts me. "She was in quite a rush to get her promotion."

I frown.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh please, don't play dumb." She turns to Sam. "And you, quit wasting your time. It seems your crush has a certain type with high standards."

"What the hell is your problem?" I stand from the chair. "I've never done anything to you. Why do you dislike me so much?"

"Because you're a tramp."

Oh, no.. you did not just.

"You know what? I won't let you insult me."

"Hey, hey. That's enough." Sam stands between us. "What the hell is going on?"

"Tanya." Sylvia enters the room. "Can i please have a word in private."

"Sure." I look at her then back at Pauline, who still glares at me.

I walk away and follow Sylvia. She enters the servants kitchen and sighs when she faces me.

"You know, it's a shame to see you in this position, i really liked you, but there's nothing i can do."

My heart skips a beat at her words.  I pray it's not what I'm thinking. She takes an envelope out of her apron and stretches it out to me.

"Here's your pay for the month. You've been fired."

I shake my head.

"No, please, if this is about the room, i didn't mean to. It was a mistake."

"There's nothing i can do."

"Did you tell the boss?" A tear slides down my cheek.

"Please pack all your belongings in the next thirty minutes." She says without answering my question, then she leaves me standing there. I head over to my drawer and start ro pack, entering the bathroom,  i grab my necessities but then pause when i hear voices in the bedroom.

"The audacity, can you imagine. No wonder the boss fired her. She thinks she's special just because she slept with him."

Did someone else get fired? Who slept with the boss?

"I never liked that Tanya girl anyway."

My heart thumps. That's Pauline's voice.

"Don't tell anyone about this, it might ruin the boss's reputation, I'm only telling you because you're my best friend."

"Of course." The other girl says.

"Well, I'm glad he's back now. I just want to burst through that study door and welcome him." Pauline says, a hint of a smile in her voice.

The door opens and they walk out. I stand there, shocked about the lie that i slept with an old man.

The boss is back, and he's in the study. I've never been a coward, and i won't start now. I'll fight for my job, even if i have to kiss his feet. I walk out,  heading to the study despite the area being out of bounds.