Chapter 3

Running into Louise didn't surprise me—I just hadn't expected it to be in Jayden's office. On the walls hung her latest promotional plan. It was a meticulous and flawless plan, and yet Jayden hadn't been involved in any part of it. Louise had come in person to review it, while I served her coffee. Her gaze swept past me as she admired Jayden's "gift" to her with proud, haughty satisfaction. She had no idea that I had crafted every bit of it. The moment she bumped into me, scalding coffee spilled all over me and onto the expensive carpet. "I'm sorry, Ms. Ariana," Louise said, her chin lifted arrogantly. "I didn't mean to." She then continued, "But… I hear you're usually very careful. If that coffee had tipped just a little more, it would've ruined my photo. Was that on purpose?" I lowered my head and began picking up the broken pieces of the cup. "It was my fault. Please forgive me—you're far too generous to hold it against someone like me." Jayden walked in with Steve at that moment. Louise stomped her foot petulantly, pouting. "Jay, your secretary is so clumsy! She almost burned me." Jayden glanced at me briefly, then wrapped an arm around Louise. "Don't worry about her. As long as you're alright, that's all that matters." Louise leaned coquettishly into his embrace. "Jay, did you arrange all of this? You really get me. I was never satisfied with the previous PR team." Jayden didn't bother to explain. He simply gave me a quiet, approving look. As if sensing our subtle exchange, Louise shot me a sharp glare. "What is it, Ms. Ariana? Do you have a problem?" I looked at Jayden in panic, my eyes reddening, then lowered my head. "I wouldn't dare. You shine like a rare gem, Ms. Green—only someone like you is worthy of such immense attention from Mr. Parker." Jayden seemed pleased, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. Louise pouted and clung to him coquettishly, the two of them getting cozy, as if the rest of the world didn't exist. Yet, her gaze never left me, fixed on my calm, unreadable expression. Louise felt a wave of irritation rise within her once more. "Ms. Ariana, you don't seem to be doing your job very well. You've picked up the broken cup's pieces, but are you just going to ignore the coffee spilled on the carpet?" Steve couldn't bear to watch and pulled out a handkerchief, ready to clean up the mess. "Was I talking to you?" Louise snapped, cutting him off mid-motion. She then turned back to me. "Ms. Ariana, this is your responsibility." I took the handkerchief and knelt down, bracing myself to clean the carpet. "How would you know if it's truly clean without using your hands? This carpet isn't cheap." Louise raised an eyebrow, a faint, satisfied smile flickering at the corner of her lips. "I heard from our housekeeper that carpets like this have to be cleaned by hand." Jayden stayed silent, letting it pass as if he approved. I reached out and began wiping the coffee stain from the carpet. Louise's satisfaction only grew, her voice rising with delight. "Ariana, you're being far too gentle. How could it ever be clean at this rate? Use some force." Hearing that, I looked up at Jayden, who only parted his thin lips and said, "Listen to her, Ariana." So, I knelt on the floor, bent over as sweat ran down my cheeks. People passing the office slowed their steps, stealing glances at my humiliation. Louise's mocking laughter drifted into my ears. A flash of defiance crossed my eyes as I quietly slid a shard of the broken cup beneath my hand. Face slick with sweat, I murmured, "Ms. Green, is this acceptable?" Louise didn't bother to hide the contempt in her voice. "Oh, please, I'm not trying to make things difficult. This is your job. Our housekeepers all work like this." Before she could finish, I slammed my hand down hard onto the shards. "Ouch!" At my cry, Jayden stepped forward. Blood streamed down my arm as I slumped to the side. I cast a hurried glance at Louise, forcing a look of panic. "I'm sorry, Ms. Green—I didn't mean to. I'll keep cleaning right away." "That's enough." Jayden pinched the bridge of his nose. When blood smeared across the carpet, he yanked me to my feet. "I said, that's enough!"