JENETA'S POV.
"I'm sorry. I can only offer you three thousand for this week, and on the last day, you get the rest of it."
I nodded, forcing myself to stay calm, but inside, I could feel the crushing weight of despair settling in my chest. What was I expecting? Honestly, who would hand over the full amount before I even finished the first week? Still, the sharp disappointment was hard to swallow.
With a heavy sigh, I leaned forward, pressing my forehead against the steering wheel, closing my eyes for a moment. This was it. I was finished. Just a few days left until the deadline, and all I had to my name was three thousand yuan. Not dollars. Yuan.
I raised my head, blinking back the frustration threatening to spill over, and stared at the building in front of me. The school doors creaked open, and there she was—Zhang Feifei. Eight years old. Small, serious, with an expression far too mature for her age.
I straightened up, plastering a smile on my face as I climbed out of the car. My smile felt a little too wide, a little too forced, but I wasn't about to let Feifei see the exhaustion brewing beneath my skin.
It had only been two days since I started working here, and I was still trying to win her over. But Feifei wasn't like other kids. She didn't trust easily, and I couldn't blame her. Her aunt had left her behind, and now she was living with her single father. A man I had only seen twice, briefly, from a distance. He was like a ghost that haunted the edges of the house but never fully appeared.
"Hi, Fei!" I called out, my voice overly cheerful as I waved at her.
She didn't even glance in my direction. Without a word, she walked past me and climbed into the back seat of the car, which I had already opened for her.
I exhaled quietly, the smile slipping from my face for just a moment. It stung, being ignored like that, but I couldn't let it show. I turned back toward her, forcing my smile to return.
"I guess today wasn't a fun day at school," I said, trying to sound upbeat. "How about some ice cream?"
"There's ice cream at home," she replied, her voice flat and her gaze distant. "I'm tired. Can we go home now?"
I nodded quickly, swallowing my disappointment. "Sure. Of course. Home it is."
As I closed the door behind her, I noticed something. Feifei was still staring back at the school. Her expression was hard to read, but there was something there. Sadness, maybe? Longing? I followed her gaze and spotted a little boy standing near the gate. He looked about her age, and he was staring at us.
Even as I drove away, his eyes stayed glued to the car, watching until we turned the corner and disappeared.
I stole a glance at Feifei through the rearview mirror. She wasn't angry like I'd expected. Instead, she looked defeated. Her head was lowered, her small hands fidgeting in her lap. She stared blankly at nothing, lost in her own world.
"Something wrong?" I asked gently, hoping to draw her out.
She didn't respond, and the silence stretched between us. I tried again, this time with a teasing tone. "Is it him? Did you break up? Or..." I gasped, "Do you like him?"
Her head snapped up, her eyes wide with shock. "How did you know?"
I couldn't help but chuckle, barely managing to contain my laughter. Kids.
"Please," I said with a smirk, glancing at her through the mirror. "I was your age once. I had a boy I liked, and guess what? He left me too."
"Really?" Her interest was piqued, a spark of curiosity lighting up her face. "What did you do?"
I shrugged, keeping my tone light. "I moved on. Don't let any man waste your time, Feifei. They're not worth it." I whispered the last part like it was a secret meant just for her.
To my relief, she giggled. A soft, sweet sound that made my chest feel a little lighter. Finally, I thought. Maybe I was getting through to her after all.
By the time we arrived at the mansion, Feifei seemed better. I held her hand as we walked inside, her small fingers fitting snugly in mine. The house was as breathtaking as ever, all gleaming surfaces and elegant designs. I still couldn't get used to it, no matter how many times I walked through those doors.
The backyard was my favorite spot. It was like stepping into a dream. A shimmering pool, loungers so pristine they looked untouched, and a tennis court that stretched out under the canopy of perfectly placed trees. It was the kind of place you'd see in a magazine, not real life.
I lingered on the balcony for a moment, letting myself soak it all in. It was hard not to feel the sharp contrast between this life and mine. Here I was, surrounded by wealth and beauty, while my own reality was crumbling under the weight of unpaid bills and looming deadlines.
Later that evening, I ended up falling asleep on the couch. I didn't even realize how tired I was until Feifei's small foot jabbed me in the face, jolting me awake.
"Ow," I muttered, rubbing my cheek as I blinked blearily at my surroundings. I checked the time and it was past midnight. Shit, midnight! However, it wasn't the time that bothered me. I needed to pee, so badly.
"Oh, crap," I groaned, scrambling to my feet. "Where's the damn bathroom?"
The mansion was huge, and I still hadn't figured out where everything was. I rushed up the stairs, glancing around frantically. Finally, I spotted a door that was slightly open. Without thinking, I darted inside, my focus entirely on finding relief.
As soon as I sat down, I felt my shoulders sag with relief. Sweet, sweet relief.
When I was done, I stepped toward the sink to wash my hands as steam wafted around me, relief still humming through my veins. The mansion's bathroom was practically a spa sleek black marble, warm lighting, too perfect to be real.
But something in the mirror caught my eye. My blood ran cold. My breath caught in my throat. At first, he was a blur behind the steamed glass, but as it cleared, I saw everything. Everything.
Including the water gliding down his skin like it worshipped him, catching in the grooves of his abs, slipping along the deep lines of his V-shaped hips. His chest was broad, firm and the muscles flexing slightly with every small shift of his body. His skin was warm bronze, smooth and wet.
His eyes found mine, so sharp and dark yet somehow calm in a way that made my pulse thunder in my ears.
I saw him, fully, and Lower. He was thick and heavy. Just…there.
He didn't flinch. Didn't cover himself. Just stood there, arms relaxed, shoulders back like a man who had nothing to hide. Like a man who knew exactly what he was doing to me. Or he was daring me to look away.
I gasped, slapping a hand over my mouth, heat rushing to my face, and spun around so fast I nearly slipped. My heart pounded as I stared at the tiled wall, palms pressed to my cheeks, eyes wide behind my fingers.
Oh God. I'd just walked in on him completely naked. I didn't hear the water stop. I didn't hear him move. But I could feel him still watching me like his gaze had settled on my back and was sinking under my skin.
And I couldn't move.
"I'm sorry!" I blurted, spinning around and bowing so deeply I could feel my face burning. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to—"
I bolted out of the bathroom before he could say a word, my heart racing as I stumbled down the stairs. My chest heaved, my face flaming with embarrassment.
That had to be him. Feifei's father.
I held my heart knowing he had seen me, but he didn't look shocked or embarrassed. Just calm, as if he had expected me. As if he wasn't entirely surprised to see me standing there yet somehow surprised.
I spun around, heart hammering. My eyes wide as I glanced back upstairs. I wasn't sure what burned more, my face, my chest, or the fucking image now seared into my brain. And yet, even with panic thundering in my veins. I felt it, an ache, deep and sudden, blooming between my ribs. I shook my head. I had to get out of here before he comes out. First, I have to carry Feifei to her bedroom. The bedroom I have no idea where it is. However, I know what bedroom to not enter.