Author's Note: This story is purely fictional. This time, I decided to create the story in novel format because chat story was a hassle,  simply because I can't cope up writing the story via chat format. Since we are not allowed to go out, I decided to write this short story. Free to read and comment, also pointing my shortcomings in this story would be a great help. Thank you in advance.

Unfold

What would you do if you discovered something that can ruin your family’s life? Can you keep your mouth shut and turn a blind eye just to protect your love ones?

Episode 1

The sun rays hit her face as she looked above the tall condominium building. Leila Marie swallowed her pride as she walks towards the entrance. She already made her decision, no one can stop her now. Even her pride can’t.

She stepped inside the elevator and pushed the button going to the penthouse, she’s nervous but she held her grasps firmly. If this is the only way to know the truth. Why would she waver? If there was someone who should be ashamed, it should be him.

Leila landed on the highest unit of the building. The cozy ambiance didn’t bother her. She pressed the buzzer and after composing herself.

“Come in.” The baritone voice made her shiver. It’s not because of the cold air conditioner that welcomed her as she stepped inside, it was the man who was sitting in the guess lounge.

“You can take your sit, Ms. Gomez.” He commanded and started reading her portfolio.

“You’re still young, why would you choose this job?” He asked directly. For a second, she was caught off guard.

“I need money to support myself.”

He closed her folder, “Leila Marie Gomez, 23 years of age, graduated from S University.”

“You’re over qualified for this job. I think you should consider applying for a decent company. Your credentials won’t go to waste if you do that.” He handed the folder to Leila.

“Please sir, consider my situation also.” This begging situation was making her lose more of herself.

“My grandmother stay’s in the nearest hospital, please consider the convenience of me working near her.” She closed her eyes, not because she looks so pitiful. Its her anger that she can’t hide.

“Fine, start working tomorrow.”

“Read this rules and guidelines.” Leila took the small book that he handed to her.

“I’ll give you the contract tomorrow also, I assume you already know the deal, right?

“Yes sir, I am fully informed.” She was still avoiding his gaze.

“Good, you can relax for now. Let me tour you inside the unit.”

Leila spent 30 minutes touring his place. His modern luxurious penthouse can amaze everyone who visits it. But not her, how can she forget why she came here in the first place?

“This is your space. You can do whatever you want here, but I don’t want to hear any disturbances. Do you get it Ms.Gomez?”

“Yes sir, I understand.”

“Good, suit yourself. I’m leaving the unit in your care. I’ll be back at midnight.” He turned his back and left her.

This man, how dare he steal her happiness?

“Ezequiel Maude, I will make your life miserable.” Leila thought, as she watched him disappear from her sight. She will take back what’s rightfully hers.

She put her belongings inside the room. It’s spacious and good but as a Monoban, she had never imagined that she would lower her pride to this extent, just to prove that her suspicions were true.

Episode 2

It was 9 o’clock in the evening when Leila decided to go to the kitchen. She was thirsty and can’t sleep at all, maybe because the environment was new to her or because of the fact that she can’t let her guard down. After all she was living in the place of her enemy. Ezequiel was a threat to her family.

Leila was about to close the fridge when she sensed that someone was watching her. “Why are you still up?” His cold voice made her a little bit frantic.

“I- I can’t sleep.” His sudden appearance made her stammer.

“Go to bed after that.” He gestured the water bottle that she was holding. “You have a lot of work to do tomorrow.” Ezequiel left after that, but Leila remained unmoving in silence.

Few days passed after their encounter, Leila never thought that being a housekeeper was a strenuous job. She didn’t expect that this task will make everything difficult for her. She can feel her body giving up from weariness.

If she can only hire a trusted person to investigate this private matter, she wouldn’t hesitate. But the thing is, her family depends on her, and the outcome of this would determine their fate.

Leila was surprised when she heard his voice on the intercom. “Ms. Gomez bring me a cup of coffee in the study room.” It was short but commanding as usual. She rolled her eyes, taking orders from him makes her hate the situation more.

She entered the study room with a smoking cup of coffee. “Put it here.” He pointed the messy table in front of him.

She can see the piled-up paperwork’s on his desks. The table was also surrounded with crumpled papers. This must be the work of his employees. It seems that reading it bores him to death.

Did he find it all useless? How can he reject it all? His employees put their best effort in their works only to be rejected by this grumpy man.

Leila can smell the mint flavor cigarette mixing in the cold air of his room as he approached him. She gently placed the coffee on the desks.

“Can you clean that area.” He pointed the crumpled papers on the floor. Leila rolled her eyes but she made sure that he wasn’t looking.

One by one she picked it up and threw it in the nearest paper bin. Damn this man is fucking messy! She can feel his gaze observing her so she hurriedly finished her work.

“Comeback here after you disposed it.” He added when she was about to leave the room. Leila nodded but inside she was boiling in anger.

She threw the trash angrily. “Damn this man!” She cursed in the air and shoved the trashes in a larger trash bin.

After washing her hands, she went back to him. Leila composed herself before she entered his room again. “What took you so long?” Ezequiel asked.

His annoying question almost made her to reply in a disrespectful way. “There’s a lot of them sir.” She simply replied.

“Take a seat…” Ezequiel commanded as he gestured the chair in front of his table.

Leila was hesitant but how can she ignore his authoritative presence.