Rutherford stepped away from behind the desk and moved towards the couch present in his office.

'Why couldn't he serve me?' He frowned and sneered that his Butler was becoming lazier each day.

This was his safe haven, his sanctuary and he did not like it when someone he was not used to was invading his private space.

Only those close to him could enter this place and this maid was not included in that list.

The last time that he had allowed her to enter was due to his wife who might need her help.

But right now, he did not need her here yet she was still inside this room.

As he was stuck in his thoughts, Rutherford did not observe the skillful movements of the maid.

Paula swayed her hips the same way she sauntered into the Mansion and inside this room.

Bending forward, she made sure to press her breasts together while placing the tray onto the table.

Sadly, none of this had been noticed by the man for whom she had put in such great efforts.

In fact, the Earl had not bothered to look at her twice as he was lost in his thoughts about having a talk with his Butler for allowing others to enter his office.

'Ray and the kids must have eaten as well.' He thought of them while waiting for the maid to prepare his tea.

Paula realized that he had not glanced at her but had his gaze fixed on the bookshelf on the other side of the room.

'Why won't you look at me?' She pouted and hurried her steps of pouring tea into the cup she had brought with her.

She had gone to great lengths to look good for him as she sneaked into this room but until now, he had not paid attention to her.

Her fitted dress which accentuated her curves were not being appreciated as she had expected.

He had not even spared her a second glance, making her feel aggrieved at his lack of interest in her.

'There's still time!' She coaxed her heart that she could still turn things around.

She firmly believed that once she gained his attention, she would be able to grab it and never let him escape.

The excitement that rose in her chest at the very thoughts of being the pearl that was protected in the palm of his hand was causing her hands to tremble.

Trying her best to calm her nerves, she held the cup which was now filled to the brim with aromatic tea, and glanced up at him.

Feeling her eyes on him, Rutherford glanced down and his eyebrow twitched at the sight before him.

The maid had eyes overflowing with adoration and worship as she gazed at him, offering the cup in her hand.

A servant pouring tea for the Master was not something uncommon but her actions were.

The maid who should have placed the cup on the table was still holding it in the air as she waited for him to reach out for it.

Pushing the discomfort he felt at her behavior, Rutherford retained his rigid face as he reached out for the cup.

'Just drink the tea and send her away.' He decided, not wishing to spend too much time with her.

On the other hand, Paula was overjoyed when she found him accepting the cup without chiding her.

She knew that she was making a brave move but also knew that this was needed if she wished to make him fall for her.

Strengthening her resolve, she smiled at him when his hand touched the cup.

However, she had underestimated her anxiety at what might happen next, causing her hands to tremble.

*Hiss*

Rutherford pulled his hand away when the hot tea was splashed not only on his hand but also on his trousers.

Wiping the hot liquid that stained him with a handkerchief, he narrowed his eyes at the maid who had inflicted an injury on him.

Paula's eyes widened but she quickly lowered her head while trying to find a way to make use of this predicament before he kicked her out of the room.

'Quick!' She urged her brain to come up with something to save herself from this sticky situation.

Rutherford, who had been glaring at the impudent maid, took a deep breath in to calm the raging emotions in his chest.

'Ray will be worried if I punish her.' He recalled his wife who deeply cared for this maid.

"Leave." He uttered through gritted teeth as he tried his best to calm his anger.

Paula flinched when his cold voice reached her ears but she could not give up after coming this far.

'No! I need to do something!' She refused to accept his command.

Looking up, she directed her pitiful tear-filled eyes towards the man who still had the same cold eyes narrowed at her.

There was no change in his angered expressions even after taking a look at her frail appearance.

Paula was not discouraged by his anger but was further determined to make him melt for her.

Rutherford's eyes darkened when he witnessed her next move which was beyond outrageous.

The maid, instead of vacating the room as he had commanded her to, was now walking closer to him.

The table that was separating the Master and maid was no longer the issue.

He watched as the maid walked around the table and shortened the distance between them.

Paula's feet came to a halt when she was just a step away from him.

However, her next move stunned the Earl who stared at her with his dark midnight blue eyes boring holes into her.

The maid, now kneeling on the ground, looked up at him with a pitiful expression as she bowed forward, pushing her hands together which resulted in her breasts being squished between them.

"Master…" She mewled in a soft yet slightly sultry voice to grab his attention.

His unblinking eyes watched as her cheeks flushed and turned a darker shade of pink with the passing of each second.

The thunderstruck appearance of the Earl was being mistaken as his acquiescence to her actions, boosting her confidence.

"This maid has always adored Master from a young age." She began confessing the feelings she had concealed for years now.

Rutherford remained silent but his jaw was clenched and his eyes began darkening with each word she uttered.

However, Paula was concentrating on trying to express her feelings that she had failed to notice these slight changes in the man.

"Master has always been kind to me and I hope that he will continue to do so." She continued to mutter in a shy, coquettish voice.

The one hearing these words could not help but cringe and sneer at her misconceptions.

'The only reason I did not bother with her was that she serves my wife well.' He scowled at the woman who was kneeling before him and confessing her feelings for him.

He had ignored the complaints he received from his Butler because she was his wife's personal maid.

Raylene was her Master and he chose to not interfere in the way his wife dealt with her.

However, now he was beginning to realize that he should have intervened earlier to not let this matter escalate to this point today.

The Countess's servant expressing her affection and adoration to the Earl was not only a taboo but also a highly delusional aspect on the maid's behalf.

Paula, unfortunately, had no clue about his disgruntled thoughts as she blinked her wide eyes at him in hopes of gaining his favor.

"Forgive this maid for ruining your trousers, Master." She apologized but there seemed to be no ounce of repentance in her words or her actions.

As though what she had done until now was not enough, Paula leaned closer to him with her hand stretched out in the direction of the wet patch on his trousers.

'No man can resist the touch of a woman.' She declared and was sure that any early resistance would soon fade away under her nimble ministrations.

However, she could not have been any more wrong as this was the last straw that broke the Earl's dam of limited patience.

Clenching his fists, he narrowed his eyes at her insolence with his jaw clenched.