In the Luis mansion, it was 5:30 PM when Lady Loretta summoned her maids.
"Miranda, get the drinks from the fridge," Lady Loretta said. She was a 70-year-old woman, the matriarch, and it was her only son's birthday celebration.
"Okay, Ma," Miranda answered. She was 22, tall, fair-skinned, and wore a pink dress with black slippers. She assisted the other maids in setting up a surprise birthday party for Derrick Luis, the only son of the Luis family.
Out of seven daughters, Derrick was the only son of his wealthy family.
Many guests were already present in the Luis family mansion. Among them were top admirers, business partners, and their family members and relatives, but the birthday celebrant wasn't at home.
At a luxurious five-story building, Derrick Luis was still at his office on the top floor when his mobile rang. "Hello, Mother," he said, picking up the call. His mother said, "Derrick, you know that today is your birthday. So where are you?"
Looking at his wristwatch, Derrick observed it was already 6 PM. "At the office, Mother," he replied.
"Come home, Son. It's your birthday, and we did a lot to make today special and mark your new age at 25."
"Mom, I am not interested in birthday parties. Why can't you understand my perspective?" Derrick murmured. His mother was getting older, so he couldn't blame her.
"I understand. 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 work today, knowing it's your birthday."
"Mom, I cannot set work aside for the party. Who will look after Dad's company?" Derrick muttered. His mother responded sadly, "You are right, but during your father's youth, he didn't skip home from work. He attended parties, or do you think I met him otherwise?"
Derrick rolled his eyes at his mother's words. "Fine, Mother. I will be home now." He ended the call.
"Running a multimillion-dollar empire at this age, and my mother still wants me to prioritize the party. Tch." Derrick mused as he stood up from his exclusive office chair. Shutting down his computer, he 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 the family mansion. He could hear the sound of music and frowned at the sight of numerous guests' cars parked on his late father's estate.
Approaching the mansion's exterior, Derrick rang the doorbell, and the maid opened the door for him.
"Welcome, Master Derrick," the maid greeted him.
Derrick ignored her greeting and was ushered by his mother, who was in the living room with many guests.
"Welcome, son. Happy 25th birthday," Lady Loretta said.
"Happy birthday, Master Derrick!" All 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 to rest, he was stopped by his mother. "Derrick, it's still your birthday. Come cut your cake and make a wish."
Pausing at the staircase, Derrick looked back at all the guests. His seven elder sisters, all married with children, his nephew, and his niece were there. Derrick wanted to protest that he was not a kid and didn't want a birthday party, but he gulped down his protest as silence fell in the crowded living room.
Approaching the cake, which was placed in the center of the living room, Derrick cut it, and the guests beamed happily, clapping for him.
"Happy birthday, brother," his sisters cheered, and he replied, "Thank you all."
"That's not all, Derrick. Make a wish," his mother urged him again.
"Oh, Mother, I am not a kid," Derrick finally protested, but his mother walked up to him, standing in the living room.
"No one said you're a kid, but you're still my baby, so make a wish," his mother pleaded with an assuring smile.
Not wanting to make his mother sad, Derrick wished for a long life, a happy family, and a prosperous business.
"Happy birthday to you again, Master Derrick; we wish you all the best." The guests were happy, and the toast continued as they resumed drinking and chatting happily.
Derrick excused himself from the living room and went back to his bedroom on the top floor of the mansion. Meanwhile, among the maids, Miranda 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.
She openly gawked at his handsomeness. "Too handsome for one person," Miranda thought. She had observed that Derrick was very hardworking, with little time for women, focusing mostly on his business.
Derrick didn't even have a girlfriend, and Miranda was dripping with desire to have him notice her. She was a poor girl from the orphanage and had served the Luis' family as a maid for five years. She wanted a classic life and didn't want to return to poverty.
In the Luis family mansion, maids were expected to dress in casual, cheap wear. There was no competition, as all the daughters of the Luis family were married, including Derrick's immediate elder sister, Nicole Luis.
"Come on, Alexa, I want to introduce you to my 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 brought Alexa along to her brother's birthday party.
Alexa worked as a secretary in Luis's group, a multimillion-dollar firm. She admitted she hadn't seen any young lady come to the office to visit Derrick.
"I don't think he's gay. Master Derrick is just too busy to notice any woman," Alexa replied. She wore a seductive red dress and black shoes. She had arrived at the Luis mansion just after Derrick left the company.
Alexa Godwin was also interested in Derrick. She wanted him, as she was just 22 years old. She knew she would have a man like Derrick as her husband in the future. His family's wealth was enough to cover all her lifetime expenses.
"Alexa, what do you think of Derrick? I think you have a crush on my brother? If my sisters hadn't spoken to me about introducing you to Derrick to work as his new secretary after my leave, do you think I only accepted you based on friendship alone? Come now." Nicole grabbed Alexa's hand and led the younger woman to the top floor, where there were no guests.
Alexa was nervous. For a year, she had been working as Derrick's personal secretary, thanks to Nicole's influence. She hadn't crossed any boundaries or tried to get Derrick's attention. He was mean, and she feared what he would do if she dared to cross the line.
