"Don't fold my clothes! Just leave them and get out!" Amelia snapped, her frustration evident as Catarina struggled to keep up with her demands.
She turned to Raymond, frowning. "This girl has been with us for quite a while, but she doesn't seem to know anything." She turned back to Catarina. "Take off my shoes."
Catarina complied, squatting to remove Amelia's shoes.
"Get me my flip-flops. The pink ones with black designs.
Catarina, clearly nervous, hurried to retrieve the flip-flops, handing them to Raymond as he appeared.
"Thank you very much, Caty," he said, taking them from her.
Catarina looked gratefully at him before leaving the room.
Amelia glared after her. "Mark told me Ryan is sexually involved with her."
Raymond sat beside Amelia on the bed, starting to put on her flip-flops. "Mark is just trying to win your favor. He's aspiring to become a prime minister and will say anything to please you."
Amelia rolled her eyes. "I notice how Catarina looks at me as if she's conquered the world because she's captured Ryan's heart. I think her presence might be the reason Ryan is distant. She must have saved up well since you pay your staff generously. Why is she still here? She should leave and find a better job."
"She won't leave unless she chooses to," Raymond replied.
Amelia sighed. "I don't know why I even brought this up, considering you and Ryan are inseparable. You two always support each other, no matter what. I think your bodyguard has a crush on you."
Raymond looked alarmed. "What are you talking about?"
Amelia turned to him with a knowing look before returning to her reflection. "I sense that the feeling might be mutual. You sound defensive. What have you both been up to while I was away?"
"What are you implying?"Amelia continued calmly combing her hair. "I've known you for five years, and nothing has ever made you act this way about a woman. I'd like to know more about this Sophia girl. I hear she's quite a fighter."
Raymond approached her and began to kiss her neck from behind, but she pulled away with a feigned smile. "I won't let those hands touch me until I'm sure about my suspicions. You seem to have forgotten who I am. I don't tolerate uncleanliness around me."
"There is nothing between me and the bodyguard."
Amelia combed her hair with a firm gaze. "It seems I'll be staying here longer than planned. Maybe I stayed away for too long."
"You don't need to worry about—"
"Can you just be quiet!" she cut him off, turning to face him. "I asked you not to try to convince me, but you keep filling my ears with nonsense! Get out of my room."
Raymond exited the room in frustration.
***
Sophia entered Catarina's room and was surprised to find her deep in thought on the bed."Catarina? Are you alright?"
"We're in big trouble, Sophia," Catarina said, trying to catch her breath.
"Trouble?"
"After attending to Amelia, I overheard her conversation with Raymond. Mark Smith lied to Amelia, saying I was sexually involved with Ryan. She also mentioned that she noticed you like Raymond. Amelia is not an ordinary person."
Sophia looked panicked. "Thomas told me he has CCTV footage of me kissing Raymond. We're in serious trouble."
"We need to leave," Catarina said urgently. "I can talk to some of the maids to help us move our things quietly."
"I won't leave just because of her. I'll do my job and stay here."
"Sophia, you don't understand what Amelia is capable of."
"I really don't care about that," Sophia said firmly.
Catarina sighed deeply. "I've decided to leave secretly. I'll find a way out on your brother's graduation day tomorrow."
"What about Ryan? He won't handle it well when you leave."
"I need to focus on building myself. I can't be known as the girlfriend of a billionaire while working as a maid. I need to build my fashion store."
"What if he tries to find you?"
"Ryan won't look for me if you tell him I'm focusing on my career. He knows I'll come back. We understand each other that well."
They hugged each other tightly.
"I'll miss you, Sophia."
"I'll miss you too, Catarina."
***
Sophia dropped each piece of clothing from the line into the basket, her movements quick and practiced.
The clothes had dried under the afternoon sun, still warm to the touch.
As she turned to grab another garment, her heart nearly stopped—Raymond was standing right behind her, his gaze intense and unwavering.
It was exactly 10:35 p.m., and she was supposed to be preparing for her brother's graduation ceremony which was happening tomorrow morning.
But here was Raymond, the last person she wanted to see at this moment.
The sight of him took her breath away, her pulse quickening with a mix of surprise and dread.
Raymond reached for her basket, his fingers brushing against hers as he took it from her.
His eyes bore into hers with a longing that made her uneasy. "Sophia..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Sophia's eyes darted around, anxiety prickling at the back of her neck." Someone might see us," she whispered back, her voice trembling.
Raymond stepped closer, his voice filled with emotion. "I just wanted to er...check if you were okay".
His presence was making her heart jump in her mouth as she neatly folded the clothes into the basket.
He touched her softly from behind and sighed uneasily. "Er...about that kiss...er...".
"It never happened, Ray. Besides,I have no idea of what you are talking about ".
He swallowed. "The wedding is two months away".
She gasped. She didn't know it was going to be that close. She hid her feelings and continued taking off the dresses from the line.
"Can we forget it ever happened?". He said bitterly.
She coughed uneasily and was nearly falling to the floor when he caught her from behind.
She immediately wriggled off his hands and quickly grabbed her basket.
The silence between them was thick with unspoken words."I noticed you and Catarina missed dinner. What did you eat?" He asked, his voice softer now, almost as if he were trying to cling to a semblance of normalcy.
"Catarina made fish and chips," she replied, keeping her tone neutral.
Raymond reached for a carefully placed package and handed it to her. "Add this pizza to your meal."
Sophia sighed, her heart aching with confusion as she watched him disappear back to the house.
And then she realized a thick shadow behind....
She recognized him...
Thomas
***
Anthony arrived at a nondescript building on the outskirts of London, his mind racing with the details he had gathered about Isla and Raina.
He parked his car and hesitated for a moment, gripping the steering wheel as he considered the gravity of his visit.
After a few deep breaths, he stepped out, clutching the folder containing his sketches and the information he had collected.
Inside the building, the atmosphere was tense, filled with the faint hum of computers and the quiet conversations of the staff.
He was led to a private office, where the detective, a middle-aged man named Elliot Grayson, sat behind a cluttered desk.
Grayson's eyes were sharp, his demeanor calm and calculating, as if he had seen it all before."Anthony Smith," Grayson greeted him, extending a firm hand. "I've been expecting you."
"Mr. Grayson," Anthony replied, taking the offered seat.
"I appreciate you meeting with me on such short notice."
"Of course. You've provided some interesting material," Grayson said, tapping the folder Anthony had sent ahead. "These drawings, they're very detailed. And you're certain about the scar on both sisters?"
Anthony nodded. "Positive. Raina had the same scent and mannerisms as Isla. It's too much of a coincidence.".
Grayson leaned back in his chair, studying the sketches. "You mentioned in your report that both Isla and Raina had access to your family's private quarters. That's a significant breach."
"Yes," Anthony confirmed, his voice tinged with frustration. "And now they've both disappeared."
Grayson took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, tapping his fingers on the desk as he thought. "I've done some preliminary digging," he began. "There's a group we've been monitoring for a while now—a discreet, well-organized outfit that specializes in corporate espionage. They're known for infiltrating high-profile families and businesses by planting insiders—individuals who can gain trust quickly, often posing as domestic staff, employees, or even acquaintances. The pattern fits what you've described."
Anthony felt a chill run down his spine. "Do you think Isla and Raina could be connected to this group?"
Grayson didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he stood up and walked over to a file cabinet, pulling out a thin folder. "There was a case a few years ago involving a similar MO—a young woman who posed as a maid in a wealthy household, only to disappear without a trace after extracting sensitive information. The name she used was different, but the description matches Isla. Red hair, striking features, and a talent for manipulation".
He laid the file on the desk, flipping it open to reveal a grainy photograph of a woman who looked eerily similar to Isla. "We never found her, but we did find evidence that she was part of a larger network."
Anthony leaned forward, his heart pounding. "So there's a chance this network is targeting my family?"
Grayson nodded grimly. "It's possible. If Isla and Raina are indeed part of this group, they might have been gathering information on your family's business dealings, private conversations, anything they could use or sell. The fact that they disappeared so abruptly suggests they've either completed their mission or are on the run."
Anthony's mind raced as he processed the detective's words. "What do we do now?"
Grayson looked him straight in the eye. "First, we need to establish a concrete link between these women and the network we're investigating. I'll have my team follow up on any recent sightings of them and see if we can trace their movements. In the meantime, you should increase security around your family and business. Whoever is behind this, they're professional and dangerous."
Anthony nodded, feeling a mix of fear and determination. "We'll do whatever it takes to protect ourselves."
Grayson gave him a reassuring look. "You're doing the right thing by taking this seriously. I'll keep you updated on any new developments. For now, stay vigilant, and don't trust anyone who hasn't been thoroughly vetted."
As Anthony left the detective's office, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was only scratching the surface of something much larger—and much more dangerous—than he had ever imagined.
***
After Anthony left Grayson's office, the detective returned home, his mind still on the case. It was late, and the quiet of the night was comforting. He settled into his routine, but something gnawed at the back of his mind—a feeling that the day's events were far from over.Grayson was careful, methodical.
He had been in the business long enough to know when something wasn't right.
As he prepared to retire for the night, he noticed a subtle change in the atmosphere, a shift in the air that set off alarms in his mind.
He quickly moved to a hidden spot in his home—a small, concealed alcove designed for just such an occasion.
Moments later, a masked figure slipped into his house. The intruder was silent and efficient, moving with the practiced ease of someone who had done this many times before.
The masked man began to search through Grayson's belongings, ransacking the drawers and cabinets with a clear purpose. It was obvious that he was looking for something specific—likely the very information Anthony had brought to him earlier.
Grayson, hidden away, watched the intruder with a knowing smile. He had anticipated this, taken precautions.
The documents and sketches related to the Smith case were securely locked away, far from where the intruder was searching.
As the minutes ticked by, the masked man's frustration became evident. He was thorough, but it was clear that his search was yielding nothing.
Grayson remained perfectly still, watching as the intruder's movements grew more frantic.
Eventually, the masked man gave up, his discontented sigh barely audible as he slunk out of the house, empty-handed.Grayson waited until he was sure the intruder was gone before emerging from his hiding spot.
He surveyed the mess with a calm demeanor, already mentally cataloging the items that had been disturbed.
He knew this was just the beginning, but he was ready. The game had begun, and he had no intention of losing.