CHAPTER 2 — The Maid's Secret Identity Shocks Everyone
Nobody spoke.
The rooftop became so quiet that even the fountain beside the pool seemed deafening.
The birthday girl snatched the soaked business card from the manager.
"What is this?"
She looked at the elegant black card.
One simple name.
No address.
No advertisement.
Just embossed silver letters.
Richard Ashford.
Chairman.
Ashford International Holdings.
Her friend frowned.
"So?"
The manager looked like he could barely breathe.
"So?"
His voice cracked.
"You've never heard of him because he never appears on television."
"But every billionaire in this country knows exactly who he is."
The guests exchanged confused glances.
One older businessman suddenly stepped forward.
The moment he saw the card...
His face lost all color.
"Oh my God..."
He instinctively removed his sunglasses.
"I met him once."
"Only once."
"Even cabinet ministers waited two hours just to shake his hand."
The birthday girl laughed nervously.
"You're exaggerating."
"No."
The businessman swallowed hard.
"Your father's entire empire depends on companies controlled by Ashford International."
The smile disappeared from her face.
"Impossible."
The manager slowly looked at her.
"Your father has been trying to arrange a meeting with Richard Ashford for three years."
"He has never been accepted."
The girl's breathing became uneven.
"But..."
"Why would someone like that have a daughter working as a maid?"
Nobody had an answer.
Then...
A black security helicopter appeared in the distance.
Its powerful blades echoed across the city.
Everyone looked upward.
A second helicopter followed.
Then three black SUVs sped through the mansion gates below.
The musicians stopped playing.
The security guards exchanged nervous looks.
Luxury guests who had arrived in Ferraris and Bentleys suddenly felt insignificant.
The convoy wasn't here to celebrate.
It had come with purpose.
Less than two minutes later...
More than twenty men in identical black suits entered the rooftop terrace.
Not bodyguards hired for appearance.
Professionals.
Calm.
Silent.
Disciplined.
The leader walked directly toward the unconscious Eleonora.
He ignored everyone else.
He knelt beside her.
His expression changed instantly.
His voice trembled.
"Miss Eleonora..."
Every guest stared in disbelief.
He gently covered her with his own expensive suit jacket.
Then he stood and slowly turned toward the birthday girl.
His eyes were ice cold.
"Who pushed her?"
Nobody answered.
Again.
His voice became even quieter.
"I asked..."
"Who pushed Miss Ashford into that pool?"
Several guests instinctively stepped backward.
The birthday girl's friend immediately pointed at her.
"It wasn't me!"
"It was Sophia!"
"I tried to stop her!"
Sophia's knees nearly gave out.
"You liar!"
The bodyguard didn't react.
Instead, he pressed a button on his earpiece.
His words froze every heart on the rooftop.
"Confirm to Chairman Ashford..."
"...we found his daughter."
A long pause followed.
The man listened silently.
Then nodded.
"Yes, sir."
He ended the call.
Looked directly at Sophia.
And delivered a sentence that would change her family's future forever.
"Chairman Ashford is on his way."
"He said..."
"...nobody leaves this mansion."
The mansion gates slammed shut.
Electronic locks engaged.
The birthday celebration had just become a prison.
And none of the wealthy guests yet understood...
May you like
that Richard Ashford wasn't coming to rescue his daughter.
He was coming to decide who would pay for what had happened.
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