Author's Note:

Hello, everyone! Thank you for giving my book a chance!

———

Reina.

Someone was calling my name, again and again, their voice echoing through the small apartment.

Hi there, I'm Reina. I'm twenty years old, Black American, and currently living in New York City. By nature, I'm an introverted and somewhat shy person. Physically, I'm 5'7" (I know, not that tall!), with a curvy build that falls somewhere between slim and full-figured. I guess you could say I'm pretty average—except for my bright blue eyes. My whole family has them, actually.

We're a middle-class family that's had its fair share of struggles. My dad passed away some years ago, and my mom, Martha, has health issues that keep her from working. As the oldest child, it's fallen on me to step up and provide for us.

Family is everything to me. My little brother, Rex, is the most lovable mix of annoying and adorable. My mom is the strongest person I know, and I honestly can't imagine my life without her. And then there's Briar, my best friend—the petite redhead who's been my partner in crime since high school. She saved me from bullies back then, and we've been inseparable ever since.

But let's get back to the chaos.

"Reina!" My mom's voice thundered again, jolting me out of my daydream. My heart raced. Oh, no. Mom's going to kill me.

I bolted out of my room and came face-to-face with her—a five-foot tower of fury, her bright blue eyes blazing. Despite the stern expression, she still managed to look adorable when she was mad. Not that I'd dare tell her that.

"Young woman! I've been calling you for ages. Care to explain why you didn't answer?" Her voice was sharp, almost scolding, but I could tell she was more irritated than angry.

I froze, scrambling for an excuse. I couldn't exactly tell her I'd been lost in memories of a time when life felt perfect.

Thankfully, salvation arrived in the form of Briar, who waltzed in like she owned the place.

"Hi, Mrs. Martha!" she said sweetly, flashing her signature charming smile. "Reina was actually on the phone with me, helping me with a personal issue. Sorry if I kept her too long."

I glanced at Briar, silently thanking her for her quick thinking. She caught my look and gave me a barely perceptible wink.

Mom sighed, her expression softening just a little. "Alright, Briar. And as for you, Reina—this had better not happen again."

I nodded earnestly. "Of course, Mom. I love you. You're the best." I leaned in to give her a quick kiss on the cheek, pretending not to notice the faint blush that crept across her face. Mom had always been dramatic, but she had a soft heart beneath the tough exterior.

Ever since Dad passed, she'd done everything in her power to keep our family afloat. It wasn't easy, but she never let us see her break. I admired her for that more than I could ever say.

After smoothing things over with Mom, I darted off to take a shower, savoring the delicious meal she'd prepared before starting my day. Another round of job hunting awaited me.

The sun was relentless, beating down so fiercely that my feet felt like they were pleading for a break.

"I'm starving," Briar complained. "Let's stop somewhere and eat."

I couldn't help but smile at her obsession with food. "Of course, Briar. Let's grab something to eat."

We found a nearby restaurant and ordered pizza and milkshakes.

"I swear, we need to find jobs soon," Briar said between sips of her milkshake. "There's no way I can keep wandering around all day like this."

She had a point. We both knew we needed work—and fast. Our conversation drifted back to high school memories, and we laughed so loudly it probably echoed down the street. But we didn't care.

He had been heading to a business meeting when his car broke down—an infuriating inconvenience caused by his driver's negligence. Taking his phone with him, he stepped into a restaurant, seeking a quiet place to rest and avoid unwanted attention from the press.

Scrolling through his phone, deleting spam messages, he was suddenly interrupted by loud laughter from a nearby table. Judging by the noise, it was likely some carefree middle-class crowd, oblivious to anyone else's presence. The laughter grew more boisterous, and irritation flared within him.

Rising, he prepared to confront the offenders disturbing his peace—only to be stopped in his tracks by the sight of two young women.

One had blonde hair dusted with freckles and skin pale as fresh parchment, The other had dark hair that flowed like liquid midnight, each strand gleaming with a silken sheen, as if woven from the very fabric of the night sky itself. Her bright blue eyes, sparkling with warmth, caught him off guard; one smile from her could breathe life into the weary. Her lips were full and inviting.

Before he realized it, he was standing uncomfortably close to her. Awkward, but he decided to speak.

Suddenly, a tap on his shoulder diverted his attention.

A striking man with sea-blue eyes, sharp cheekbones, and a commanding presence stood before him, flanked by bouncers. His tailored suit and the subtle spicy scent he carried marked him as someone of importance.

With a confident smile, he extended his hand.

"I have a thing for blue-eyed men," came a playful voice.

He chuckled softly, his deep voice resonating. "I'm aware of my looks, but please, don't stare too much, mademoiselle."

His tone sent a shiver through her. Rude, yes—but also oddly charming. Gathering her courage, she replied in French, "Je m'appelle Reina," and confidently shook his waiting hand.

He smiled, surprised. "Oh, tu parles français? Well, je m'appelle Ian. Comment ça va?"

Panic flickered in her eyes—he actually spoke French. Forced to play along, she managed, "Ça va bien, merci. Et vous?"

Briar was discreetly nudging her under the table, begging her silently to stop embarrassing herself.

"I'm doing well," he responded warmly. "I'm very happy to speak French with you."

She took a breath, admitting, "Je parle un peu français, mais je parle beaucoup anglais."

He smiled knowingly, amused by her honesty.

Overhearing their earlier conversation about finding work, he offered, "I heard you mention looking for a job. I'd like to help, if you're interested."

Her heart leapt. "Thank you so much, sir!"

Handing her his card, he added, "Come by my office tomorrow. Don't be late."

With a final glance, he excused himself. The suffocating atmosphere in the restaurant was clearly not to his liking.

He rarely visited such modest places, but something about her caught his attention—an unfamiliar feeling he wasn't eager to explore further.

She bowed her head politely, whispering, "Merci beaucoup, sir," even though he was already gone.

Back at home, her thoughts remained tangled with images of Mr. Ian. Briar teased relentlessly, but the day's encounter lingered in her mind.

After kissing her mother goodnight, she skipped dinner and headed straight for the shower. Slipping into her nightwear, she lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to shake the thought of him.

He was undeniably handsome—rude, yes, but there was something sweet beneath that arrogance.

"I could probably pay a fortune just to be in his arms," she thought with a smile, rolling her eyes at herself.

Better get some sleep, though—she'd need her rest if she wanted to survive an earful from Mr. Arrogant tomorrow.

The alarm blared loudly, jolting me awake.

“Bebe, you have an interview. Time to get up,” my mom called gently.

“Mom, please… I need my beauty sleep,” I mumbled, eyes still closed.

“Alright, I won’t bother you anymore,” she said with a sigh.

Fifteen minutes later, Briar burst into my room.

“Reina! Wake up, we have an appointment with Mr. Ian!” she shouted.

“Oh yeah, Ian… so dreamy, sexy, and absolutely irresistible,” I muttered half-asleep.

“Girl, what the hell?!” Briar rolled her eyes. “Remember his warning? ‘Don’t be late,’ Mr. Arrogant said.”

I snapped open my eyes. “Right! Oh my God!”

I sprang out of bed, knowing I had just fifteen minutes to get ready. A quick wash, a hurried breakfast—thankfully, Mom wouldn’t let me leave hungry—and I rushed out the door.

Arriving just a minute late, I stared in awe at the towering building. The office was massive. Inside, a tall blonde woman asked a few questions—probably the receptionist—and then directed us to Ian’s office.

A firm knock on the door, and his deep voice invited us in.

“Good day, ladies. Please have a seat.” His presence made me shiver slightly.

“You’re probably wondering what kind of job I’m offering,” he began. “Work as the caretaker of my home. The salary is $50,000 a month, but there are conditions. I’ll choose one of you for the caretaker position; the other will work in my office.”

I immediately thought, Not this psycho again.

He cleared his throat, commanding attention.

“Here are the rules: you cannot leave the house without my permission. You must be up by 6:00 a.m. to prepare breakfast and in bed by 7:00 p.m. The house must be spotless at all times. No wandering around unnecessarily. We will relocate to my main residence in California since I’ll be working from home. And you’ll wear the clothes I select for you.”

I hoped against hope I wouldn’t be chosen.

He pointed to Briar. “You, the blonde, will be the caretaker. The redhead will work in the office.”

Have you ever wanted to kill someone? I thought, furious. “I have an objection. Why am I not working in the office? And why such ridiculous conditions? Why can’t I leave without permission, and why must you pick my clothes?”

He smirked. “First, I’ve already made my choice. If you don’t like the terms, you’re free to leave.”

I stood up, ready to walk out, but Briar grabbed my arm.

“Reina, come on. Don’t throw away this chance over silly rules. Think about Mom and Rex. You’ve got this.”

It was easy for her to say—she wasn’t the one moving in with a stranger who felt borderline insane.

“Alright… for my family, I’ll do it.”

We went back inside. “I accept your conditions… I mean, your dumb conditions,” I blurted out before correcting myself.

“Good. We leave in thirty minutes. Miss Briar, the receptionist will show you to your office.”

A heavy silence fell after Briar left.

“I need to call my mom,” I said, excusing myself.

He chuckled. “She looks upset.”

“Yeah…” I replied, voice trembling as I dialed.

“Hey, Mom,” I whispered, holding back tears.

“What’s wrong, Bebe? How did the interview go?”

“I got the job.”

“Thank God! You should be happy. What’s wrong?”

“I have to leave New York for California. I’ll be the caretaker, and Briar will work in the office. It pays well—$50,000—but I’m worried about you and Rex. Will you manage without me?”

“We’ll be fine, sweetheart. Focus on your job. We love you.”

“I love you both. I’ll get Rex lots of toys once I’m paid. Please take care of Mom.” I could hear the tears in her voice.

“Goodbye, Bebe. Call me when you arrive.”

I hung up.

Ian was waiting.

“We need to leave now,” he said, noticing my red, puffy eyes.

“I’m ready,” I said. Briar and I shared a brief cry session before I promised to call her as soon as possible.

Walking to the garage, I was stunned.

“Oh Lord,” I breathed. A sleek 2021 Cadillac Escalade gleamed before me. Definitely a man with unique taste.

“You like what you see, baby girl? Hop in,” Ian said with a grin.

I rolled my eyes but climbed in.

“Feel free to say anything, baby girl.”

“Can you stop with the pet names? So annoying.”

“Okay… darling,” he teased, smirking. Clearly, I was already getting on his nerves.

“I’m serious, sir. I don’t know how I’ll last a day with this guy.”

“Alright, alright, Reina. You can call me Ian.”

His voice sending shivers down my spine when he said my name—it was unnerving.

We rode in silence.

“We’ve arrived,” he said.

“Isn’t it strange for someone so young to be this wealthy? Are you involved in something illegal?” I couldn’t help but ask.

He smiled softly. “My dad owned the company.”

“Was?”

“He passed away.”

“I’m sorry. Your house is beautiful, though.”

“Thank you. Follow me—I’ll show you your room.”

“Here’s your room, right next to mine,” he added with a sly grin. “If you need anything, I’m close by. Change, then come down when you’re ready. I’ll make dinner.”

“Okay, Ian.” The bedroom was twice the size of my living room—white walls framed by dark red window trims, a dark blue sofa, a coffee table, a floor lamp, light gray curtains, a large flat-screen TV, and a wool rug. The big window offered a stunning view.

After a quick shower, I slipped into a short nightdress and began making dinner—pancakes, which he complimented with a rare smile.

I felt his eyes on me the entire time. My dress was undeniably seductive.

After washing the dishes, I headed to bed.

“Goodnight, Ian.”

“Goodnight, baby girl.”

I pretended not to hear the pet name, though I blushed. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

Slowly, I drifted off to sleep.

⸻