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"It was an emergency, I had to go," She said as she tried to gather her thoughts.

"That doesn't answer my question," His eyes narrowed.

He said as he sat down on a well furnished chair.

Rose felt her heart sink like a stone. The question hung heavy in the air, and she felt as though she was about to be crushed under the weight of them. She tried to keep her composure, but it was an uphill battle. She felt small and insignificant in the face of Andre's question.

It was like she was being interrogated by a panel of executives, and she felt like a child being scolded. But she was not a child, and she didn't want to be treated like one.

"I can't remember you ever telling me I couldn't leave the house. Last I checked, I'm an employee, not a prisoner. I don't think it's unreasonable for me to want to leave the house sometimes. It's not like I'm breaking any rules." Rose's words tumbled out in a rush of frustration.

Andre fixed her with a cold stare.

"Is it possible that you have difficulty with reading comprehension?. It seems like you are not quite grasping the nuances of our agreement. Perhaps we should go over the contract again, slowly this time. I don't want there to be any confusion about what's expected of you."Andre said, his words dripping with disdain.

Rose's temper flared, and she struggled to keep her voice even.

"What?" Rose said.

He paused, letting his words sink in, then continued, his tone was condescending, as if he were speaking to a child.

"I can't help but feel like you're being deliberately obtuse. Are you trying to be difficult?" Andre asked.

Rose opened her mouth to speak but he lifted his left index finger and held it up in a gesture of silence, indicating that he wanted her to stop talking.

Fuming, Rose glared at Andre and stormed out of his room, slamming the door behind her. She was furious, though she did not slam the door intentionally, but she liked that it did.

"How dare he try to control me like this?" She said to herself.

She wasn't some toy to be played with. Her heart was pounding, and she needed to get away from him.

>>>>

On Monday morning, Rose emerged from her bedroom,with a look that screamed "dressed to impress". She was wearing a chic black pencil skirt and a crisp, white cowl necked blouse. Her hair was neatly pulled back, and her makeup was flawlessly applied. She looked every inch the professional woman, ready to tackle the workweek ahead. She slipped on a pair of black pumps and grabbed her hand bag, as she headed out the door.

As Rose descended the stairs, Rose steeled herself as she reached the bottom of the stairs. There, in the dining room, sat Andre, casually eating his morning meal. She took a deep breath and walked over to the table, bracing herself for what might come next.

Rose's eyes met Andre's for a brief moment, but she said nothing as she took her seat at the table. She picked up her fork and knife, as she tried to appear calm and collected. Meanwhile, Dante set a plate of food in front of her and asked if she would like coffee or tea.

"Coffee please" She answered.

Rose nodded her head, trying to avoid any direct eye contact with Andre. She knew this was going to be an awkward meal, but she was determined to get through it.

"Is the car ready?" Andre asked Dante, his voice sharp and commanding.

Dante nodded. "Yes, sir. The driver is waiting outside."

Andre turned to leave the dining room without a word to Rose, she was left sitting alone at the table, her breakfast now forgotten. She was shocked by Andre's behavior, but she tried to keep her emotions in check.

As Rose sat alone at the table, she heard the front door open and close. She knew that Andre had left the house. A few moments later, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. She looked up to see Dante, who had a sympathetic expression on his face.

"Don't let him get to you, Miss Rose,He's a difficult man, but I know you can handle it." He said.

Rose managed to fake a smile.

"Thank you, Dante, I really appreciate your support." She said.

She gathered her things, and headed for the front door. As she stepped outside, the car was waiting for her, the engine running and the chauffeur at the wheel. She took a deep breath and slid into the back seat. She could feel the tension in her body as the car pulled away from the house.

As the car drove down the long, winding driveway, Rose noticed that Andre was already on his phone, talking business. He didn't acknowledge her presence but she was grateful for the silence.

When the car finally pulled up to the office building, Rose felt a knot of anxiety in her stomach. She took a deep breath and steeled herself for whatever lay ahead. The driver opened the door for her, as she walked towards the entrance, she saw Andre striding towards the door, his face set in a grim expression.

As Rose entered the office building, she felt the stares of her colleagues. They knew her as a waitress. Now, she was getting out of the CEO's car. She could feel the whispers and the questions in the air. She knew that her life had changed overnight, but she also knew that it was a temporary change, and she wasn't sure how to deal with it.

As Rose walked past Peniel's office, she noticed a familiar face walking by. It was Peniel, her gay friend who was the manager of the Hotel. He gave her a questioning look, clearly wondering why she dressed like that and walking right behind the CEO. Rose gave him a small nod, indicating that she would explain later. She knew that Peniel would understand and support her, no matter what.