At the Luis mansion, Lady Loretta Luis, a 64-year-old woman, was making arrangements in the grand foyer for the birthday celebration of her only son, Derrick Luis.
"Miranda, get the drinks from the fridge," Lady Loretta said.
"Okay, Ma," Miranda replied. She was a 22-year-old woman and worked as a maid in the Luis mansion. She wore a pink dress and a pair of black slippers as she assisted the maids in preparing Derrick Luis' birthday celebration.
Derrick was the only son among eight children, with seven older sisters, and was not present at the mansion or aware that his mother was organizing a surprise birthday party for him.
Several guests were present in the Luis mansion, including top admirers, business partners, and their family members, but the birthday celebrant was not at home.
At the Luis corporation, a magnificent five-story building, Derrick Luis, a 25-year-old man, was still at his office when his mobile phone rang.
"Hello, Mother," he said, picking up the call. His mother replied, "Derrick, you know that today is your birthday. So where are you?"
Glancing at his wristwatch, Derrick observed it was already 6 p.m. He replied, "I am still in my office, Mom."
"Come home, my son. It's your birthday, and I've organized a special moment to mark your new age of 25."
"Mom, I'm not interested in birthday parties. Why can't you understand my priorities?" Derrick asked, knowing that his mother was getting older, and he couldn't blame her.
"I understand, Derrick. Please come home quickly, before the guests start leaving. If I had known you would stubbornly stay at the office until this time, I shouldn't have allowed you to go to the office today, knowing it's also your birthday."
"Mom, I cannot set work aside for a party. Who will look after Dad's company?" Derrick asked, and his mother responded sadly, "You're right, but during your father's time, he didn't skip home for work. He attended parties, or where do you think I met him?"
Derrick rolled his eyes at his mother's words. "Fine, Mother. I'll be at home now," he replied, and the phone call ended.
"Controlling a multimillion-dollar company at my age, and my mother still wants me to prioritize a party over my work," Derrick mused, standing from his exclusive office chair. He shut down his computer, grabbed his briefcase, and elegantly left his office.
Arriving home in a brand-new Prado Jeep, Derrick got out of the vehicle and made his way to his family's mansion.
He heard the loud music and frowned after seeing many guests' cars parked inside his late father's estate.
Strutting forward, Derrick arrived at the mansion's exterior. He rang the doorbell, and a maid pulled the door open for him.
"Welcome, Master Derrick," the maid greeted him.
Derrick ignored responding to the maid's greeting and was ushered by his mother, who was in the living room with several guests.
"Welcome home, my son. Happy 25th birthday to you."
"Happy birthday, Master Derrick!" The guests in the living room toasted to the new age of the young master.
"Thank you all," Derrick replied, wanting to retire to his bedroom upstairs to rest, but his mother stopped him. "Derrick, it's still your birthday. Come and cut your cake and make a wish."
Derrick paused at the staircase and looked back at the faces of the guests. He saw his seven elder sisters were present, as well as some of his company staff.
Derrick wanted to protest that he was not a kid and didn't want a birthday party. However, he gulped down his protest as silence fell in the crowded living room.
As he approached his cake that was placed in the center of the living room, Derrick picked up the knife and cut the big white cake in half. The guests squealed, "Happy birthday, Master Derrick!"
His seven sisters cheered him, "Happy birthday, brother!"
"Thank you all," Derrick replied, wanting to leave, but his mother stopped him. "Derrick, that's not all. Make a wish."
"Oh, Mother. I'm not a kid," Derrick finally protested, but his mother walked up to meet him as they were all standing in the living room.
"No one said you're a kid, but you're still my last baby, so make a wish," his mother pleaded with an assuring smile.
Derrick didn't want to make his mother sad, so he wished for a long life, a happy family, and a prosperous business ahead.
The guests squealed, "Happy birthday to you again, Master Derrick; we wish you all the best in life."
"Thank you," Derrick waved at the guests as he excused himself from the living room and went back to his bedroom on the top floor of the mansion. The guests resumed drinking and chatting happily.
Meanwhile, among the maids, Miranda Luis had a crush on the master of the house. She was not the only one crushing on Derrick, but she couldn't take her eyes off him.
"Too handsome for one person," Miranda openly gawked at Derrick's handsomeness.
She observed him, seeing that he was hardworking and didn't have time for women. Derrick was mostly focused on his business and didn't even have a girlfriend.
Miranda's body was aching and dripping wet with desire to get Derrick to notice her. She was a poor girl and came from an orphanage home. After five years of serving the Luis family as a maid, Miranda wanted a classic life. She didn't want to return to poverty.
In the Luis family mansion, maids were expected to dress casually. There was no competition in the household as the daughters of the Luis family were already married, including Derrick's immediate elder sister, Nicole Luis.
"Come on, Alexa, I want to introduce you to my younger brother. I fear he might be gay. Why won't he have a girlfriend at this age? Don't you find it weird?" Nicole spoke to her friend, as she invited Alexa to her brother's birthday party.
Alexa worked as a secretary at Luis Group, a multimillion-dollar firm. And she would admit that she hadn't seen any young lady come to the office to visit Derrick.
"I don't think Master Derrick is gay. He's just too busy to notice any woman," Alexa replied. She wore a seductive red dress and black shoes. She had arrived at the mansion just after Derrick left the company.
Alexa Godwin was also interested in Derrick. She wanted him because she was just 22 years old. She knew that having a man like Derrick as her husband in the future, she wouldn't need to work much or suffer to feed herself, as his family's wealth would be enough to cover her lifetime expenditures.
"Alexa, what do you think of Derrick? Do you not have a crush on my brother? If my sisters hasn't spoken to me about introducing you to Derrick to work for him, as his new secretary after my leave. Do you think I will have accepted you based on friendship alone? Come now," Nicole grabbed Alexa's hand and led her to the top floor, where there were no other guests.
Alexa was nervous. For a year, she had been working as Derrick's personal secretary based on Nicole's influence. She hasn't crossed the line or tried to get Derrick's attention. He was aloof, and she feared what he would do to her if she dared to cross his boundaries.
