Cassie hurriedly crossed the sitting room at the sound of a knock, quickly wiping her hands on her apron. "Hold on a moment, please!" she called out before opening the door.There stood Jane, balancing two heavy grocery bags and wearing a warm smile. "Well, hello there, princess," Jane greeted."Jane, I'm so happy to see you," Cassie exclaimed with a wide grin, embracing Jane tightly."I'm delighted to see you too, baby girl," Jane replied, her grip on Cassie firm yet affectionate. As they parted, Jane entered the house and placed the bags on the table before turning her attention back to Cassie."How have you been, Cassie?" Jane inquired, giving Cassie her full attention."I'm doing well. And you?" Cassie asked, her signature gap-toothed smile on display."I'm hanging in there, though work is still a pain," Jane said, eliciting a giggle from Cassie as she mimicked a disgusted expression. "How's school treating you?""Pretty decent, except Liam and his buddies are still the biggest tro
Annette's abrupt awakening was accompanied by a racing heart, a lingering effect of the nightmare that had gripped her during sleep. Shaking off the remnants of the unsettling dream, she gradually acclimated to the soft morning light filtering into the room. Raising her arms above her head, she stretched in an attempt to dispel the residual unease.The wristwatch resting on the nightstand caught her attention, and a glance revealed that it was already 8 AM. Memories from the previous day surged back, the tension-filled confrontation with Jane at the forefront of her mind. Annette winced as the memory replayed, a throbbing ache forming between her brows. Another headache was starting to take hold, a predictable response to the stress.With a heavy sigh, Annette reached for her phone, her intention to call Jane and apologize for her rude behavior the day before. Regret filled her as she scrolled through her phone, noticing the absence of any message or call from Jane. She hesitated, wo
Annette's heart raced as she approached the imposing black gate. The sight of it was more intimidating than she had anticipated. It was hard to believe that someone like McKenney Hudson, who exuded confidence and power, would feel the need for such security measures. As her delicate fingers brushed against the gate's smooth surface, she found solace in the realization that even someone of his stature could succumb to paranoia. It was a humanizing thought that eased her nerves.As her hand connected with the buzzer beside the gare, time seemed to slow down, and she was enveloped in silence. The rhythmic ticking of her wristwatch was the only audible sound, each second passing by with a sense of anticipation. She cursed under her breath as it dawned on her that she had forgotten to check with the person I talked to whether McKenney wanted me to come immediately because it was quite late in the day. The possibility of an awkward encounter loomed before her as she stared at the gate towe
"Are you here to accept my proposal? That seems to be the only reason you'd visit my home. Unless, of course, you're here to beg for your job back – though that's not happening. If that's your intention, please leave. I have better things to do," Mr. Mckenney stated, taking a sip of his whiskey while closely observing Annette's actions."I'm not here to beg for my job. It was clear that I wouldn't get it back after being fired, Sir," Annette responded, maintaining her composure despite his unsettling gaze."Ah, so you've come to accept my proposal then? But remember, you were quite vocal about not wanting to be seen as a 'whore'." Mr. Mckenney remarked, a slight grin playing on his lips."I want to make it clear, I would never have considered your proposal under ordinary circumstances." Annette emphasized, her mind drifting back to her little sister lying in a hospital bed. Drawing strength from her sister's situation, she pressed on while facing the insufferable man before her. "Coul
As Annette stepped out of the house, heading towards the car, Mr. McKenney had instructed the butler to prepare it for her. She settled into the comfortable seat, her mind still processing her recent actions. She knew it was morally questionable, but she felt she had no other choice. The weight of guilt would likely stay with her, yet the relief of having secured the money for Cassie's surgery was undeniable.Just as she closed the car door, her phone chimed with a notification. Annette pulled it out and saw a credit alert of $50,000. Her eyes widened in astonishment, her heart a mix of emotions. Tears welled up as she realized Mr. McKenney wasn't joking; he had indeed fulfilled his promise to credit her account by the time she reached the car. Despite his questionable character, he had proven himself trustworthy.As the driver left the mansion, a text arrived from an unknown number. Opening the message, she immediately recognized the sender.Mr. McKenney: Greetings, my lovely Goldiloc
Mr. McKenney reached for his phone and dialed Annette's number. As the phone rang on the other end, he waited patiently. After a brief pause, Annette's voice came through, "Hello?""Good afternoon, my lovely Goldilocks," Mr. McKenney's warm voice greeted through the phone. "I hope I'm not disturbing you.""No, not at all. How can I assist you?" Annette responded, though her lack of genuine interest was evident in her tone."I wanted to let you know that everything's ready for our upcoming trip to Greece," Mr. McKenney's enthusiasm was evident. "A car will pick you up from your place in two days and take you to the airport.""I understand. I'll prepare accordingly, Mr. McKenney," Annette's response was composed, her voice lacking emotion."I must say, you could show a touch more enthusiasm about the prospect of spending extra time with me, considering I am compensating you," Mr. McKenney chuckled. "I assure you, Goldilocks, it's going to be an enjoyable experience. Ensure all your trav
Annette checked her watch nervously, her things packed and ready by the door. She looked out the window, scouring the street for any sign of Jane's arrival. The minutes passed by, and her uneasiness rose with each passing second. She took a long breath, attempting to calm her beating heart because if Jane didn't arrive soon, she was going to be late, and she wasn't in the mood to argue with Mr McKenney.A few minutes later a familiar figure dashed around the corner, waving when she saw Annette through the window, causing Annette's face to light up with relief as she ran to the door and flung it open just as Jane arrived at the front steps."Jane, you're late!" Annette exclaimed as she drew Jane into a tight hug."I'm sorry I was held back at work," Jane said with a smile, warmly reciprocating the hug. "I would've been there longer, but George said he'd cover for me so I could see you off.""I love that man," Annette murmured, taking a step back and smiling from ear to ear. "He is God
A few hours later, Annette and Mr. McKenney arrived in Greece, captivated by the ancient ruins and the stunning Mediterranean views. As they strolled through a bustling market, a distressed child approached them, tears streaming down her face. She spoke in a mix of Greek and broken English, clearly lost and separated from her mother.Annette's heart went out to the child. In a gentle voice, she switched to fluent Greek, a language she hadn't revealed she knew, and asked, "Ψάχνεις τη μητέρα σου;" The little girl's eyes widened in surprise as she nodded eagerly.Mr. McKenney, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow at Annette's sudden linguistic prowess. "Annette, you speak so fluently. You speak Greek?" he asked, both impressed and slightly puzzled.Annette nodded, her attention still on the child. She spoke with the little girl, calming her down and finding out her mother's name and description. With this information, Annette intended to seek help from the market's security personnel.Howev