A powerful family
Gianna returned to her humble little home behind the Bentley residence that the servants used. The little two-bedroom house was Gia's home. It had been since she was a toddler. The house was forever in the shadow of the grand Bentley mansion, which blocked out the sunlight and left her home perennially cold.
Though, after being dominated by Ezra she wasn’t so cold. She bit her bottom lip and laughed. At least she could smile. Her Mom’s bills were paid and would be for a while since Natalie left her a black card.
Her father was the Bentley family's chauffeur, and her mother was a maid in their household. They were long-time and faithful servants. Gia joined the family trade to help pay for her college tuition and then dad died and she did to help with money.
Gia couldn’t get Ezra out of her head. She pulled out her old phone with a cracked screen and quickly searched him. Several articles popped out. She shouldn’t have been feeding her fantasies but she was off the back of a hot night, who would blame her for reliving it a little?
A picture of Ezra in a dark tailored suit caught her eye. She blushed. He looked just as good with clothes on. The Warren family were local celebrities. Ezra was the second oldest in the family. Another picture is of Ezra hand in hand with a beautiful blonde woman with plump pink lips and sparkling blue eyes.
Gia clicked on the article.
“Ezra’s engaged?” She gasped.
To Esmeralda Hopkins. A glamourous bikini model. She’s the daughter of a manufacturing tycoon. The engagement was supposed to merge both companies and make them extra rich.
Gia cupped her mouth. “Crap. I just broke up an engagement.”
Gia stood and paced the length of her room. Technically, Natalie did it because it was her plan, but Natalie went along with it. What if Ezra was in love with Esmeralda? And this destroyed their love. What was Natalie’s game? Gia thought, but her thoughts didn’t last long when she discovered the time.
“Crap.”
Gia rushed out of the home and ran to the mansion.
"Gia!" Bellowed the butler, Mr. Franklyn, but everyone called him Frank.
"Where have you been all morning? There’s a ton of work to be done. You don’t have the luxury to be slacking off.”
Gia sighed. “You have no idea.”
“What was that?” Frank snapped.
Gia smiled as she tended to the dishes. “Nothing, Frank, nothing.”
Gia was an insignificant maid to the Bentley family at their beck and call. As long as she was under their roof she was theirs to handle how they pleased. Natalie took this idea to heart.
Frank frowned at her fair complexion. He eyed her up and down. "Why aren't you wearing your mask? Trying to provoke Miss Bentley on purpose?" he accused.
Gia touched her face and cursed under her breath. She had been so occupied that she forgot the number one rule in this house for her! Always wear a mask.
Gia closely resembled Natalie, in her bone structure, the straightness of her nose and the shade of her eyes even though Natalie’s eyes were light brown and Gia’s were dark chocolate. They had the same chestnut brown hair that was long and wavy. It was a miracle Natalie hadn’t demanded Gia chop it off. Due to their similarities, Natalie had therefore decreed Gia must always wear a mask when on the Bentley premises.
Any defiance would earn her a slap across the face or worse.
Quickly digging out a mask from her pocket and putting it on, her face was half-covered, leaving only her dark brown eyes visible.
Frank left her to her duties after giving her a death stare but Gia was used to it by now.
Outside the Bentley residence, a luxury Jeep SUV pulled up to the curb. A man in a tailored grey suit stepped out. The expensive suit clung to his flesh like a second skin. He was tall, and handsome, and exuded dominance and arrogance.
As Ezra stared at the Bentley mansion, he was a single man again. He’d broken off his engagement to Esmeralda before word got out about him and Natalie. There was a bit of bad blood but it wouldn’t last long. No one wanted Ezra Warren as an enemy,
However, the Bentley mansion was smaller than any property he ever owned. They were a powerful family but every powerful family had to reinforce their grip on power.
Ezra walked through the front door. The butler bowed to welcome him.
“It’s an honour to have you, Mr Warren.”
“Have your employer down to meet me, immediately.”
Frank nodded. He turned to a girl with a short bob in a black uniform by the staircase.
“Announce Mr Warren’s arrival to the family.”
The girl bowed and scurried upstairs.
“To the drawing room, Sir. Tea will be served momentarily.”
“I guess it’s too early for whiskey,” Ezra muttered.
In the drawing-room, Ezra sat with his legs crossed; his kingly aura exerted intense pressure on everyone present. He scanned the room, taking in every photo. When he spotted her in a landscape picture frame with her Father beside her he was positive he was making the right decision. He wasn’t marrying Esme for love and he wasn’t doing it here either. He was a man of opportunity and this is all this was.
Gia carried the tea tray carefully, her gaze lowered as she made her way across the room with gentle steps, setting it down on the coffee table. Unbeknown to her who she was serving. In her mind, it was just another billionaire who came to visit and spoke in hushed voices with her bosses.
Her eyes lifted unintentionally, and there he was—Ezra Warren.
Images of his body crashing into hers invaded her mind. She could still feel his hands on her skin as if he’d just touched her and it wasn’t over ten hours ago.
His deep, husky voice to echoed in her ears, "I'll take care of you."
Overwhelmed, her hands trembled involuntarily. She didn’t think she’d see him so soon in person!
A bit of tea splashed out from the cup. Reflexively, she put her hand in its path and winced from the scalding pain, but still, a few droplets stained Ezra's pants and Gia wanted to die of mortification.
His pupils narrowed coldly. Now, she’s in trouble, she thought.
He scrutinized the clumsy little maid before him. Head bowed, she wore a thick face mask and was dressed in a black and white uniform like the other maid sent to announce his arrival to the Bentley family.
Just a maid, yet he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. He shook his head. He dined with royalty and men who owned private islands. How would he remember a maid when powerful men-owned thousands of them in one house?
"What's the matter with you, Gia?" Frank scolded then turned to Ezra. "I'm sorry, Mr Warren. The girl is clueless. I'll make sure she's properly punished for her clumsiness.”
Gia her hand stung from the hot tea, but she felt a heated gaze on her neck and collarbone, where Ezra had left his marks.
Ezra remained silent, giving Gia a mere glance.
Easily reading the room, Frank urged her. "Gia! Apologize, this instant.”
“Right, I’m sorry, Mr Warren. I really am. Allow me to clean up my mess.”
She hastily grabbed some napkins from the table and bent over to dab at the wet spots on Ezra’s trousers. He watched her like a hawk. He watched as his petite hand dabbed on his expensive jeans. It didn’t matter that she probably had never touched anything as expensive or never will again. He liked the innocence of her actions and still, that sense of familiarity wouldn’t leave him alone.
After tidying up, Gia sighed in relief and quickly gathered up the tea tray, ready to exit. Though, she’d been shaken by how close she got to home. He touched and tasted her in ways no one had. It was natural for her body would react to him.
But as she moved, a scent of cherry blossoms filled the air, identical to the one that had lingered around Natalie last night. The scent stuck to the sheets after she was gone. Ezra barely caught but it was unmistakable.
"Wait," Ezra's command cut through the air.