<b>Chapter 109 </b>


    <b>201 </b>


    -CELINE’S POV-


    The sound of familiarughter drifting through the mansion’s halls made me pause in the middle of folding Caesar’sundry. That voice… it


    couldn’t be.


    I set down the tiny dinosaur t–shirt I’d been smoothing and hurried toward the main foyer, my bare feet silent on the marble floors. The closer Agot, the more certain I became.


    ke.


    Sure enough, there she was, standing in the middle of Hunter’s pristine entryway like she owned the ce.


    Her auburn hair caught the morning sunlight streaming through the massive windows, and she was turning in a slow circle, taking in every detail of the opulent space.


    “Well, well, well,” ke said, her voice carrying that mischievous tone I knew so well. “So this is how the other half lives. I have to say, it’s even more ridiculously fancy than I imagined.”


    My heart nearly stopped when I saw Ana and Elise standing nearby, their faces twisted with obvious disgust and anger.


    Those two especially Ana had never been particrly warm to me, but the way they were looking at ke made my stomach clench with


    anxiety.


    “Excuse me,” Ana said, her voice dripping with disdain, “but staff members aren’t allowed to wander around the main house unescorted.


    Especially not the cleaning staff.”


    ke’s eyebrows shot up, and I could practically see the fire igniting in her hazel eyes. “Oh, is that so? And you are?”


    “Ana Martinez, senior housekeeping staff,” Ana replied primly, crossing her arms. “I’ve been working for the Reid family for five years. I know the rules.”


    “How lovely for you,” ke said with a sharine smile. “Five whole years of folding rich people’s underwear. Your mother must be so proud.”


    Elise gasped audibly, and Ana’s face flushed red. “How dare you…”


    “ke!” I called out, hurrying toward them before this situation could get any worse.


    My hands were trembling as I approached the group, terror shooting through me at the thought of Hunter witnessing this quarrel.


    We’d just started taking things slowly between us, just begun to trust each other. Thest thing I needed was for him to think I was causing drama by bringing my outspoken friend into his clean world.


    “Oh, there’s my girl!” ke beamed at me,pletely unbothered by the hostile atmosphere. “This ce is absolutely incredible, Celine. Though I have to say, some of the staff could use lessons in basic hospitality.”


    Ana’s nostrils red. “At least we know our ce, unlike some people who think they can just waltz into a mansion and act like they belong.”


    “Our ce?” ke’s voice went dangerously quiet. “And what exactly is our ce, Ana? In your professional opinion?”


    “ke, please,” I whispered, moving closer to her. “Don’t…”


    “No, I want to hear this,” ke continued, her gaze never leaving Ana’s face. “Please, enlighten me about where exactly people like us


    belong.”


    “People like you belong in the servants‘ quarters, following orders and keeping your mouths shut,” Elise chimed in, clearly emboldened by Ana’s boldness.


    “Not making scenes in the main house.”


    The words hit me like a physical p, even though they weren’t directed at me.


    Is that how they saw me? Is that how all the staff saw me? As someone who needed to know her ce and keep her mouth shut?


    ke’sugh was sharp and utterly without humor.


    “You know what? You’re absolutely right. People like me – people who work for a living, who don’t kiss ass for scraps of attention from their employers – we definitely don’t belong in ces like this.”


    “ke, please stop,” I begged, my voice barely above a whisper.


    Thest thing I wanted was for Hunter to walk in on this argument and decide that I was more trouble than I was worth.


    “But here’s the thing,” ke continued, stepping closer to Ana, “I wasn’t invited here by the cleaning service or the housekeeping department. I was invited by the owner of this mansion. So maybe you should worry less about my ce and more about your own.”


    “What’s going on here?”


    The deep, familiar voice from behind me made every muscle in my body freeze.


    I turned slowly to see Huntering down the main staircase, dressed in ck sweatpants and a simple white shirt that somehow made him look even more devastating than his usual tailored suits.


    All eyes turned to him, and the tension in the room shifted from hostile to electric.


    Ana and Elise immediately straightened, their faces going pale as they realized their boss had heard at least part of their conversation.


    Hunter’s blue eyes swept over the group, taking in ke’s defiant stance, the maids‘ guilty expressions, and my obvious distress.


    When his gazended on me, I saw something soft and reassuring flicker in his expression.


    “I invited her,” Hunter said simply, his voice carrying that quiet authority that made people listen. “ke is here at my request.”


    The silence that followed was deafening. Ana’s mouth actually fell open, and Elise looked like she might faint.


    “You… invited her?” I asked, confusion clear in my voice.


    My heart was pounding, but not from fear anymore.


    Why would Hunter invite ke to the mansion? Had something happened? Was there some kind of emergency?


    Hunter’s expression remained carefully neutral as he looked at Ana and Elise. “Don’t you have jobs to do? Or should I be concerned that Head Maid Sally isn’t properly training the household staff on appropriate behavior?”


    The threat in his voice was quiet but unmistakable. Both women immediately began stammering apologies, their faces red with


    embarrassment and fear.


    “Mr. Reid, we’re so sorry,” Ana rushed to say. “We didn’t realize…”


    158%1


    “We were just trying to maintain order,” Elise added quickly. “We thought….”


    “You thought wrong,” Hunter cut them off coldly. “I suggest you return to your duties before I decide that this household needs some staffing changes.”


    Those two practically ran from the room, their footsteps echoing on the marble floors as they escaped Hunter’s disapproving <b>gaze</b>.


    I started to follow them, needing to escape the awkwardness of the situation<b>, </b>but Hunter’s warm hand wrapped around my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.


    “Where are you going?” he asked softly.


    “I should… I need to…” I stammered, not really sure what I needed to do, just knowing that I felt overwhelmed and confused.


    “Well, this is cozy,” ke said with a grin, apparently delighted by the entire situation. “Nothing like a little drama to start the morning off right.”


    Hunter’s eyes narrowed as he looked at her, and I could see him trying to figure out exactly what kind of person my friend was.


    “ke, please don’t say anything that might…..” I started to warn her, terrified that she might push Hunter too far.


    But before I could finish my sentence, the sound of running feet echoed through the foyer, followed by Caesar’s excited voice.


    “ke! ke, you came!”


    My three–year–old son came barreling around the corner, his favorite dinosaur stuffed animal clutched in his arms and his face lit up with pure joy.


    Heunched himself at ke, who caught him easily and spun him around.


    “There’s my little monster!” ke said in the silly voice she always used with Caesar, making him giggle uncontrobly.


    “Did you miss me, buddy?”


    “So much!” Caesar said, throwing his tiny arms around her neck. “Look, ke, I got a new dinosaur! His name is Rex, and he’s really, really


    big!<b>” </b>


    “He’s awesome,” ke said seriously, examining the stuffed toy with the gravity of a paleontologist. “Does he roar?”


    Caesar immediately demonstrated, letting out the loudest roar his little lungs could manage. ke pretended to be scared, which only made


    him roar louder.


    I couldn’t help but smile as I watched them together. ke had been one of the few constants in Caesar’s life, always making time for him


    even when her own life was chaotic.


    She was like the fun aunt he had never had, and seeing them together always warmed my heart.


    Hunter was watching too, and when I nced at him, I was surprised to see something soft and almost fond in his expression as he observed


    ke and Caesar’s interaction.


    “Why is ke here?” I whispered to him, still trying to piece together what was happening.


    “She’s here to watch Caesar,” Hunter said quietly, his fingers still wrapped around my wrist in a gentle but firm grip.


    “Watch Caesar?” I repeated, confused. “But I’m here. Why would he need?<b>…</b>”


    “Because,” Hunter said, turning to look at me directly, “I’m taking you on a date.”


    The words hit me like a lightning bolt.


    I stared at him, my mouth falling open in shock, as he slowly intertwined our fingers. The action was intimate and possessive, and I was suddenly very aware of how public we were being.


    My eyes darted around the hallway, noting the way the remaining staff members were trying to pretend they weren’t watching us while


    obviously hanging on every word.


    Heat flooded my cheeks as I tried to pull my hand away, but Hunter’s grip was firm and unyielding.


    “Hunter,” I whispered urgently, “people are staring.”


    “Let them stare,” he said simply, making no move to release my hand.


    “A date?” I managed to say, my voiceing out much higher than normal. “You want to take me on a date?”


    The smile that spread across Hunter’s face was warm and genuine, transforming his entire expression. “Yes, Celine. A real date. Just the two


    of us.”


    I felt like the floor had shifted beneath my feet.


    A date.


    A real date, like we were a normal couple. Like I was someone worth taking out and showing off, not just someone he was attracted to in


    private.


    “I told you he was different now,” ke called out, clearly having overheard our conversation despite being upied with Caesar. <fndd41> Official source is f?ndnovel</fndd41>


    “The man ispletely gone for you.”


    I shot her a warning look, but she just grinned back at me,pletely unrepentant.


    “ke’s going to stay with Caesar while we’re out,” Hunter exined, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the back of my hand.


    “That is, if you want to go.”


    Did I want to go? The question was almostughable. Of course I wanted to go. I wanted it so much it scared me.


    “I…” I started, then stopped, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions flooding through me.


    “Say yes, Mommy!” Caesar called out from ke’s arms. “ke promised to make her famous chocte chip cookies!”


    “Famous is a strong word,” ke said with augh. “But they are pretty amazing.”


    I looked at Hunter, searching his face for any sign that this was some kind of joke or test. But all I saw was genuine affection and a hint of nervousness that made my heart skip.


    “Okay,” I whispered. “Yes, I’d love to go on a date with you.”


    The smile that lit up Hunter’s face was worth every moment of anxiety I’d felt.