20.

Rosa and I with a bunch of other servants stand in a long line as the visitors come in. There are exchange of pleasantries between a middle-aged couple and the members of this house.

'Where's Rehan?' Rosa says, more to herself than to me, looking around. I don't reply, my focus is on that freak of a human Landon, who's attacking me with his sight. Seems because it's an informal dinner the subordinates are not here. Great. I'm super happy about that.

'Clarissa, where is Rehan?' Zeke the master asks. I can never get used to calling him "THE MASTER". It's too high-and-mighty for me.

The visiting lady [if that is a real English term] looks around. 'We came in the car with him. He...he must be hiding in the limo again'.

I turn to Rosa. 'If he is so handsome, why will he be hiding in the limo?' 'He's not. He hates coming for these things. He-' 'Rosa?' Zeke calls. She runs to him. 'Yes master?' 'Please, tell Peter to look around for Rehan'.

'That boy. He's always stuck with some new device he created', the lady says as she sits with an airy grace.

Landon and I meet each other's gaze again, and we exchange scowls. He stands. 'Excuse me'. And he starts to walk towards me very dangerously. I smirk.

'Master Landon', others say and bend their head. 'Hey Lan. Aren't you meant to be with your family?' I say sarcastically, causing gasps from other workers. His eyes turn dark and he grasps my hand then tries to pull me. I don't budge.

'Pearl, I need to talk to you in private. So come on', he growls. So much for respecting a woman. I follow him. 'What?' I say when we're in the kitchen. He grips my neck. Really hard. I'm gasping for breath.

'I will kill you if you don't stop what you're doing', he says, smirking evilly. 'If you dare step a lot harder on my toes, you won't have a breath to take in again'.

I smile back, then jack my knee up.

Works like a charm.

I sidle past the entourage of maids with a lame excuse to Rosa and tell Lana I really need to run and do something. I need to buy some time before angry Lord Landon comes rushing in with the intent of murdering me.

So I race outside and hide in the bushes where I can watch if he's back. He comes a while later, face partially red. He sulks as he sits beside Lana. Eva isn't back yet due to 'work'. Not that I care.

A young man strolls in and seats, but I can't see his face clearly. 'Rehan! Where were you my darling?' his mum's voice says. I can only hear faintly. I make my way back in.

'Obviously at that place where he can look at the stars. Ezekiel, why don't you turn that place into a warehouse or something?' Zeke laughs. 'Definitely not Will. Rehan was the reason that place was built, and I'm not going to demolish it until he says I should. He is my nephew, after all'.

'Oh uncle', I hear a voice say, and I freeze in midair for a split second.

I most definitely have heard that voice somewhere.

'Is Pearl back?' Lana's voice says. I ignore my shock as walk in just as Rosa says, 'No mistress'. 'I'm here', I yell and regret it as everyone's eyes turn to me. Jeez guys, only one person asked of me.

'Pearl, meet the Walls. Master and Lady Walls with their son, Rehan', Lana says, gesturing to each of them as she speaks. I smile politely as my eyes rivet from each one till it lands on the one they call Rehan. And if I wasn't dreaming, he winked. He knows me. Or he wants to know me.

Rosa was right. He is too handsome.

That's his business.

'Nice to meet you sir and madam and master', I say, curtseying and looking straight into Rehan's eyes when I look up. He has a half smile on his face. 'She's cute. Hello Pearl'. Suspicion floods my senses.

And after dinner he requests to leave with me. I'm dragged out into the garden maze [I'm not sure I mentioned that earlier] with him. When we're done running he turns to me and smiles. 'Get away from me', I say, quietly. Creating a scene is not what Zeke, Landon and Lord Walls need from me right now.

He grins. 'Chico did say you'd be feisty. Don't you remember me? Oliver, from the truck'. No wonder his voice sounded so...familiar!

'You're the son of business moguls...and your real name is Rehan?' 'Yup'. Hmm. I like that. 'We have to get you to the warehouse for the bombs, Chico said. I know this place like the back of my hand. So we'll leave the mansion tomorrow morning and we'll head for the ware-'

'Aren't you forgetting something?' I say, raising the hem of my dress to show him. 'Oh, you're a maid...well, that can be easily fixed. Can you act like you love me?'

What? Excuse me? 'Pardon?'

'I can't think of any other excuse that'd get you out of there with me. We have to pretend we love each other in front of others. This night I'd inform my people...' 'Make Landon know about it first', I interject with excitement. Oh the look on his face, but...

'Okay, then you make your colleagues...' 'Look,  look, look. I'm the main person here and you cannot just come in and control my movements'. Who the fudge does this guy think he is?

'I'm trying to help you, Pearl. You need help, and I'm offering it to you on a silver platter', he replies with a 'you-know-it-is-true' look.

'I'm not hopeless. Don't make it sound like that'. For a moment I want to shove my gun in his stomach. The sick feeling of being needy rises to the surface of my emotional waters.

'I won't. I mean, I'm not, trust me on that'.

I stare at him for some time, and then I believe him. He seems innocent. 'Okay, I do. But one mistake...'

He seizes me and kisses me.