A baby for the billionaires

The sound of shattering glass filled the room as a lady squatted down to pick up the broken pieces. The sharp edges of the glass pierced her finger, causing blood to immediately ooze out.

"Just look at what you did, Annabel! You broke my favorite vase. You are good for nothing, just like your useless mother," scolded her aunt from behind.

Annabel pleaded, her voice trembling, "Please don't talk about my mother like that."

"Oh, shut up! She is the reason for my brother's death!" her aunt barked, causing Annabel to lower her gaze.

"If only he hadn't married that woman, we wouldn't have had a worthless person like you," her aunt added, her remarks filled with rudeness.

"My mother is not a whore," Annabel finally voiced out, unable to bear any more insults against her mother.

"How dare you talk back to me, Annabel!" her aunt exclaimed, grabbing her tightly by the wrist and pulling her up, then landing a tight slap on her face.

Tears streamed down Annabel's face as she looked up at her aunt with teary eyes, her fists clenched in rage. "Don't you ever call my mom a whore with your filthy mouth," she warned, pointing her middle finger at her aunt, leaving her stunned.

"How dare you raise your voice at me, you ungrateful little twat," her aunt hissed, giving her a menacing glare.

"I don't care. Just don't ever talk about my mother ever again!" Annabel screamed at the top of her voice.

"Annabel!" her aunt screamed, slapping her hard on the cheek. Annabel lowered her head, caressing her cheek to ease the burning sensation.

She never believed she had it in her to talk back to her aunt. This newfound attitude of hers was influenced by her best friend Juliet, who had always encouraged her to stand up for herself.

"I need you to leave my house this minute," her aunt ordered with a commanding tone.

"Where will I go from here?" Annabel cried out, unable to believe her aunt would ask her to leave.

"I don't care, just leave!" her aunt yelled, disgusted by her presence.

After losing both of her parents in a fatal accident, Annabel had no other choice but to move in with her aunt, as she was the only family she had left. Living with her aunt was hell. She treated Annabel like trash, constantly taunting her and blaming her for the death of her brother.

As Annabel wandered aimlessly in the pouring rain, tears mixed with raindrops cascaded down her face. She didn't care about getting drenched; her pain overwhelmed everything else. Strange glances from people surrounded her, but no one dared to ask what was wrong. She stood in the middle of the road, watching as people hurriedly passed by.

Eventually, the rain stopped, leaving Annabel soaked and shivering. It was the middle of the night, and she had nowhere to go. She continued to walk aimlessly on the street, searching for solace.

"Pretty lady!" two men called out simultaneously. Annabel didn't respond and kept walking, but they walked faster to catch up with her.

"Come with us so you don't catch a cold," one of them sheepishly suggested.

"I'm fine. You don't need to do anything for me," Annabel refused with fear evident in her voice. She quickened her pace to get away from them, but they followed closely behind. She turned and threw her bag at them, hoping to create a distraction and escape. However, luck was not on her side as she ran into a dead end.

"We're gonna take it easy with you," they laughed, slowly approaching her with malicious intent.Just as they were about to lay their hands on her, a commanding voice suddenly boomed from behind, sending fear coursing through their veins.

"What do you think you're doing?" the voice yelled, causing the men to freeze in their tracks.

"We aren't doing anything. We're just trying to help this lost girl find her way," one of them awkwardly lied, their eyes darting nervously.

The stranger's gaze shifted from the men to Annabel, who was crouched on the ground, trembling uncontrollably. He gave the men a cold, piercing look, seeing through their deceit.

"We're just leaving," they stammered, their confidence shattered. Feeling intimidated, they quickly turned and walked away.

The stranger, about to approach Annabel, felt a hand on his shoulder from behind. He turned to find another stranger standing there.

"There you are! I've been worried sick, looking everywhere for you," the second stranger said, receiving no response. His gaze followed the first stranger's line of sight, landing on Annabel.

"Who is she?" he asked curiously, his eyes fixed on her.

"I have no idea. I heard someone scream, so I came here," the first stranger replied. "I think we should leave now. Mom will be worried sick. And have you fixed the car?"

Ignoring his question, the second stranger continued to stare at Annabel, concern etched on his face. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.

Annabel, tears still streaming down her face, mustered a weak smile. "I'm fine," she assured him, her voice trembling.

They both decided to leave her, disappearing into the night. Annabel didn't get a chance to see their faces, and they didn't get a chance to see hers.

As Annabel's phone rang, displaying Juliet's name on the screen, she hesitated before answering the call.

"Hello?" she answered with a hoarse voice, still trying to regain her composure.

"Annabel, I've been trying to reach out to you," her friend Juliet's voice boomed from the speaker.

"I...am...fine," Annabel stammered, attempting to push back the tears.

"Wait... are you crying?" Juliet asked curiously, catching the sadness in Annabel's tone.

"N...no," Annabel lied, her voice cracking.

"Don't lie to me, Annabel. I know when something is wrong with you," Juliet stated firmly, her concern evident.

Annabel took a deep breath, unable to hold back the tears any longer. She sobbed loudly, while Juliet tried to comfort her over the phone. She explained everything that had transpired between her and her aunt, pouring out her pain and frustration.

"Everything will be okay. Come over to my house," Juliet assured her, her voice filled with warmth and support.

A few minutes later, Annabel arrived at Juliet's place. Juliet lived in a humble one-bedroom apartment in the Trenches, barely enough to accommodate both of them. Annabel knocked on the door, which swung open, revealing Juliet's caring presence.

Juliet told Annabel about a job offer she had received, realizing it could be a perfect opportunity for her. They discussed it while having dinner, finding solace in their friendship.

Suddenly, Juliet's expression turned serious as she warned Annabel to stay away from the notorious Torres brothers, who happened to be the sons of the woman who had mistreated her.

"What do you mean I should stay away from her sons?" Annabel asked, her curiosity piqued.

"That's because you have no business with them. They are narcissistic idiots who have no respect for women. I've heard stories of how they've mistreated and exploited female servants, causing them to lose their jobs," Juliet explained, her face contorted with disgust.

"I will stay away," Annabel quickly agreed, understanding the cautionary advice.

"You mustn't have anything to do with them. Just focus on your work and why you came here in the first place, okay?" Juliet warned, her tone firm.

"Okay, Juliet," Annabel replied, offering a warm smile to her supportive friend.

***"Why did we stop here?" Annabel asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I only remember the house if I take this route," Juliet replied. She took out her phone to search for the address.

"What are you looking for?" Annabel inquired.

"Hush, I'm trying to find the address," Juliet groaned.

"Okay then," Annabel muttered quietly.

"Finally got it!" Juliet announced, earning a smile from Annabel.

"Let's take this route," Juliet said, walking in the direction, with Annabel following closely behind.

After a few minutes of trekking, Annabel and Juliet finally arrived at the place. Annabel's jaw dropped when she saw the breathtaking mansion in front of her.

"Oh my God!" she squealed, her mouth wide open.

"This is the house," Juliet told her, a smile on her face.

"This isn't just a house, it's heaven," Annabel exaggerated, amazed by the mansion's beauty.

The grand mansion was unlike anything Annabel had ever seen before. It sat atop a sloped yard, giving it a regal presence. The exterior decor was exquisite, leaving Annabel eager to imagine the magnificence that awaited inside.

The sound of relaxing music echoed throughout the spacious living room. The room was so vast that it could easily accommodate at least eleven families and still have space remaining.

Seated on a couch, a woman held a wine glass between her fingers. She wore a fitted romper and a pair of high heels, appearing somewhat preoccupied as she gently caressed her temple.

"Excuse me, ma'am!" Her butler called out as he entered the room. The woman didn't respond. "Excuse me, ma'am," he tried again. Slowly, she looked up at him, giving him a stern look.

"What is it that you want?" She asked coldly.

"I apologize for disturbing you, ma'am," he said, slightly intimidated by her gaze. "Miss Juliet is here to see you," he added.

"Juliet," she repeated the name.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied.

"She can come in," she approved, signaling for him to bring Juliet inside.

"The butler announced, "Miss Juliet is here, ma'am."

The woman looked at Juliet with a puzzled expression, trying to remember where she knew her from.

"I'm sorry, but I don't seem to know who you are," she stated with confusion.

"I'm the girl who helped you when your car broke down. You promised to offer me a job," Juliet reminded her of their encounter.

"Ohhh... I'm so sorry that I forgot about you so soon," the woman sighed apologetically.

"It's fine, but I'm glad you remember now," Juliet replied with a faint smile.

"Please have a seat," the woman offered Juliet a place beside her. "You can leave now," she told the butler.

"You have a beautiful house, ma'am," Juliet complimented, her eyes wandering around.

"Thank you. I must say I'm happy to see you here and thank you for accepting my job offer," the woman said with a smile. "I've been worried about finding a new housekeeper. The applicants so far haven't been up to par, and some couldn't accept my requirement for them to be married before taking the job," she added, sounding exhausted.

Juliet's eyes widened after hearing the woman's words, but she quickly regained her composure.

"What do you mean by 'married'?" she asked, confused.

"After what has happened between my son and many of the girls who came here, I've decided that I only want married women to work for me," the woman announced.

"I have something to tell you. I should have mentioned it earlier, but I didn't know I would consider this job," Juliet began, earning a strange look from the woman.

"You don't want the job?" the woman interrupted.

"No, it's not like that. I want the job, but it's not for me," Juliet confessed.

"I don't understand what you're trying to say," the woman frowned.

"I already have a job, and I'm grateful for it. I'm only here because my friend really needs this job," Juliet explained, her smile fading.

"I'm afraid I can't help you with that," the woman stated coldly.

"Please, ma'am!" Juliet pleaded, dropping to her knees. "This is the only hope my friend has right now to escape from her evil aunt."

"That has nothing to do with me. You should stand up right now!" the woman commanded.

"You made a promise that you were going to help me no matter what happens," Juliet was on the verge of tears.

"Fine, is she married?" the woman sighed.

"Yes, she is married," Juliet stated without hesitation.

"I'm glad to hear that, but that doesn't change the fact that she isn't you... Ijust wanted you to work for me," the woman uttered, unimpressed.

"We're best friends, so you can say she's just like me," Juliet assured her.

"What does her husband do for a living? Would he be happy to know that his wife wouldn't be around all the time?" the woman asked, a tinge of worry in her voice.

"Her husband doesn't have a problem with it. He's in the army, so he isn't around all the time to take care of her, and that's why she really needs this job," Juliet lied, avoiding eye contact with the woman.

"Very well, she can come in. I'd like to interview her," the woman gave her approval.

As Juliet rushed in to find Annabel, who was lost in her own thoughts, Annabel's mind wandered.

'Where is she?' Annabel groaned, pacing impatiently while waiting for Juliet to return.

Suddenly, she bumped into someone. "I'm so sorry," she apologized immediately, gazing down.

"It's fine. I should have been more careful," a masculine voice declared.

The voice was strong and pleasant, causing Annabel's heart to skip a beat. She fought the urge to look up and see the person behind the angelic voice.

"They never look where they're going. What a peasant," another masculine voice spoke, sounding irritated and disgusted. Annabel was compelled to look at the person who owned that voice.

When she raised her gaze, she was captivated by two handsome young men standing in front of her. She couldn't find the words to speak; they were the most beautiful men she had ever seen.

"Are you okay?" the first voice asked with concern. Annabel still couldn't find her voice.

"Maybe she's mute," the second voice uttered with irritation. "I'm out of here," he said as he walked away.

"Are you okay?" the first voice asked again. Annabel nodded slowly.

"Don't mind my brother. He can be a bit much at times," he told her with a smile.

Annabel couldn't keep her lips from parting; her mouth hung open. It felt like she was drooling. "Are you drooling?" he asked, breaking her trance.

She immediately closed her mouth and wiped away the drool that was about to fall.

"I... I wasn't drooling," she stammered.

"I'm glad to know you can talk," he smirked before walking away.

As soon as he left, Juliet rushed in to meet Annabel, who was still lost in her daydream.

"Annabel! Annabel!" Juliet called out.

"Yes, what's the problem?" Annabel stuttered.

"There's a problem," Juliet said, her face filled with worry.

"What do you mean, a problem?" Annabel asked eagerly, her head raised.

"Don't get mad, okay? I know how much you desperately need this job. So, I might have told her that you're married," Juliet confessed, closing her eyes.

"You said what!" Annabel snapped, bewildered.

"Why would you do that?" Annabel added.

"She wouldn't give you the job unless you were married, and I had no choice but to tell her you were married," Juliet explained apologetically.

"So what happens now when she finds out I'm not married?" Annabel shivered at the thought.

"She doesn't need to find out. You just have to be careful at all times," Juliet assured her.

"You still haven't told me how you guys met," Annabel said, eyeing Juliet suspiciously.

"That's a story for another day. For now, she wants to see you," Juliet replied, entering the house with Annabel following close behind.

Annabel felt nervous about meeting the madam. She hoped the madam wouldn't suspect anything and discover that she was not actually married.

"I'm a bit nervous," Annabel whispered to Juliet.

"You don't have to be nervous. She'll ask you a few questions, and you have to answer confidently without showing any signs of nervousness," Juliet whispered back. "And no matter what happens, she mustn't find out that you're single," she added.

"I'll try my best not to be nervous," Annabel muttered in a low tone.

"No more talking. We're almost close to the living room. We don't want her to know about our lies," Juliet urged her to be quiet. Annabel nodded lightly.

Finally, they reached their destination, but they were both confused because they couldn't see any trace of the madam.

"I think she has finally caught onto our lies," Annabel said, pacing around.

"I think she stepped out for a moment," Juliet declared, trying to convince herself that the madam would come back.

Juliet and Annabel were worried, especially Annabel. Questions flooded her mind.

Where is the madam?Did she find out I'm not married?What if she doesn't give me the job?

These questions raced through Annabel's mind without any answers. She was about to complain to Juliet when a tall, slender woman in her fifties approached them.

The relief on Juliet's face was evident. She couldn't hide her happiness as soon as she saw the madam.

"You must be..." the woman started but was cut off.

"Anna... Annabel," Annabel eagerly answered, trying her best not to stammer.

"Oh, Annabel, that's a lovely name," the woman complimented before sitting on the couch.

"You both can have a seat," she told them, pointing to the couch opposite hers.

"Thank you!" they replied simultaneously.

"I'm guessing Juliet has told you a little bit about the job," the woman firmly stated with a gentle smile.

"Yes, she did," Annabel stammered.

Juliet held her hand, signaling that everything would be okay. The madam noticed Juliet's gesture and a gentle smile embraced her lips.

"You don't have to be scared of anything. Just try to calm down a little bit," the woman assured her with a smile.

"She gets shy," Juliet giggled a bit, glancing at Annabel.

"I just want to be sure of one thing. Are you indeed married?" she suddenly asked, making Annabel's jaw drop a bit.

There was silence for a few minutes. Annabel's heart raced, unsure whether to lie or tell the truth about her current status.

"She's asking you a question. You need to answer," Juliet told Annabel with a nervous smile.

Annabel took a deep breath and finally said, "I am married," managing to force the words out.

"Is your husband okay with the idea of you working here as a housekeeper?" the woman asked suspiciously.

"Yes!" Annabel answered without hesitation.

"Juliet did mention how much you needed this job. The job is yours, and you can start tomorrow," the woman declared, feeling pity for Annabel.

"Thank you so much, ma'am," they both thanked her simultaneously, excitement in their voices.

"Please call me Mrs. Torres," the woman stated. "There are rules you have to abide by in this house," she added coldly. "Since you're married, you shouldn't have any problems with my sons," she sighed with disappointment in her eyes when mentioning her sons.

"You don't have to worry about that. Annabel will never overstep her boundaries," Juliet assured her as she stared at Annabel."The head housekeeper will provide you with all the necessary information to get started here. You will have your own room, and you will be given a uniform," Mrs. Torres explained. "And one more thing, never enter my sons' rooms when they are around. You'll only clean when they are both at work," she added.

"You have nothing to worry about, Mrs. Torres," Annabel assured her with a smile.

"With that settled, our meeting is concluded," Mrs. Torres announced, preparing to leave.

"I don't think I want to take this job," Annabel told Juliet as soon as Mrs. Torres left.

The smile on Juliet's face immediately dropped when she heard Annabel's words.

"What did you just say? You must be joking," Juliet frowned, surprised by Annabel's sudden change of heart.

"I don't know, Juliet. I'm just a little bit scared," Annabel murmured.

"What are you scared of?" Juliet impatiently asked.

"I'm scared of everything. What if she finds out about my lie? She seems intimidating," Annabel replied, fear evident in her voice.

"Are you kidding me? Mrs. Torres is one of the nicest women I know. I think you're just being paranoid because we started this with a lie, but you don't have to worry. Just do your job and follow the rules, and you'll be fine," Juliet reassured her, trying to convince her.

"I do need the job, and this is the only way I can start a new life. I wasn't thinking straight. I definitely need this job," Annabel finally came back to reality.

"Now you're talking. Let's go home and plan how your stay here will be," Juliet said. They both stood up to leave the house and returned to Juliet's apartment.

Back at Juliet's house, Annabel began packing her belongings to prepare for her new job the next day. Juliet's house wasn't spacious enough for two people to comfortably live in.

"I'm also happy you got the job," Juliet told her with a smile. "I hope you remember the plan: focus on your job and mind your own business at all costs," she reminded Annabel.

"I got it. I'll mind my own business," Annabel surrendered, raising her hands in the air.

"And remember what she said about her sons, right?" Juliet warned.

"Hmm," Annabel hummed.

"What do you mean by 'hmm'? You mustn't have anything to do with them. They're trouble," Juliet sternly warned her.

"How do you know so much about them?" Annabel's curiosity kicked in.

"Who doesn't know about the Torres brothers? They're the most eligible bachelors, but they're also womanizers and have no respect for women," Juliet explained, her expression filled with disgust.

"Are you sure about what you're saying?" Annabel asked, doubting Juliet's words.

"I'm positive. They're the reason many young ladies lost their jobs," Juliet frowned. "I've even heard stories of girls having to abort their pregnancies because they weren't fit to bear the brothers' children," she added.

"That's terrible," Annabel said, shocked by the revelation.

"That's why you need to stay away from them. Mrs. Torres may be nice, but when it comes to her sons, she can be ruthless," Juliet sighed, emphasizing the importance of keeping her distance.

Annabel nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. She knew she needed to focus on her job and avoid any entanglements with the Torres brothers.

"Now, let's get some rest. Tomorrow is a big day for you," Juliet said, trying to lighten the mood.