realize that I have been a fool to be messing around with my boss, what was I thinking? I don't know what to call whatever has been going on between us for days now but I'm trying to put a stop to it. He tries to talk to me at times but I put a lot of distance between us and I act more professional around him even though I feel a sting in my heart anytime I see him with Cassie.

I made sure that I finish my house chores and serve Ashley and Jace breakfast before going back to my room to prepare for school. I rush out of my room while trying to fix my tie and I bump into someone since I wasn't looking at where I was going. I do not have to raise my head to see who it is, I can recognize the smell of his cologne anywhere.

"I'm so sorry." I quickly apologize to Jace while bending to pick up the files that fell in the process.

I avoid looking at him but I feel his piercing gaze burning holes on me as I clumsily try to pick them up.

Why is he staring at me?

With the way he looks at me sometimes, he makes it difficult for me to keep on acting professionally around him.

"Sasha.." He grabs my hand when I turn to leave after giving him his stuff.

"S-Sir.."

"Jace." He corrects.

"J-Jace... I'm late for school already." I try to yank my hand from his grip but he doesn't drop my hand.

While looking directly into my eyes, he captures my lips in his, I melt in his arm and let him kiss me. It feels as if I have been enchanted by him because my resolve fades immediately and I kissed him back.

So much to keeping my distance and acting professionally.

"J-Jace, we can't keep on doing this," I say after he breaks the kiss.

"Why not?"

"You're engaged to Cassie and I'm just a maid here."

"You know that I don't like Cassie."

"But she is your parents' choice."

"I know Sasha but the truth is that I can't help it whenever I'm around you and I know you feel the same way also."

"What do you want from me, Jace?" I don't know what to call what we are doing so I have to ask.

"I-I... I don't know." He stammers. That is a first, I have never heard him stammer because he always speaks with confidence but he sounds so confused right now.

"Then we have to put a stop to whatever this is," I say and walk away swiftly.

Claire didn't come to school today, she called me to let me know that she has somewhere to go. I have been bored without her all day but there is nothing I can do about it. It was break time, I decided to eat in the cafeteria since it had been a long I have had my lunch there.

I carry my tray and spot an empty table at the corner of the cafeteria. As I am making my way over to the table, I suddenly stumble on something and fall. The food on my tray pour all over me and I hear a roar of laughter from everyone in the cafeteria. I realize that it was Ashley who placed her leg on the way thereby making me fall beside their table.

As if that is not enough, Cassie pours her cup of milk on me and gasps in shock as if that wasn't intentional even though I know that she did it intentionally. I hear the roar of laughter again and tears roll down my cheeks.

"Oh my! I'm so sorry, the cup slipped from my hand." She mocks and laughs with Ash and their other friends.

"You didn't have to apologize to her. She isn't blind so she knows that that was an accident." Ashley giggles while taking a sip of her orange juice.

"You know Sasha... I sometimes wonder how you're to be able to study in this school with us." Cassie takes a bite of her hamburger and washes it down with the bottle of water in front of her before turning back to me.

"Because the likes of you are not meant to study in a place like this, you're not just a commoner but also a maid. A maid." She sneers at me.

I can't take the insults anymore, so I ran out of the cafeteria while sobbing bitterly. I ran away from them; Cassie, Ashley, and their friends, the bullies who take pleasure in picking on the weak.

I'm in my room trying to get some work done before tomorrow when I hear a knock on my door, I mutter a come in and Ash walks in quietly. We haven't spoken much since I came back from France.

She sits on my bed while I ignore her and continue with what I am doing.

"Jace."

"What do you want Ash?"

"Mom traveled to France to stay with dad for a while and they'll both be back soon."

"I know."

"You have been ignoring me since you came back? Have I done anything wrong?" She asks sadly but I keep on ignoring her.

"Jace?" She stands up from the bed when I refuse to talk to her she starts making her way to the door.

"I will start talking to you whenever you put a stop to the friendship between you and Cassie." I close my laptop and turn to give her my full attention.

"What?!" She spins around so fast, she almost falls but quickly caught herself.

"Your friendship with her has made you who you're not."

"What do you mean Jace?" I can tell that she is starting to get angry.

"The Ash that I know, my sister will never bully anyone talk less of raising her hand to hurt anyone intentionally. You're not Ashley and I want my soft and kindhearted sister back."

Ash is quiet for a while, probably trying to process what I just said but then she burst into laughter all of a sudden. It was a quick one because she starts pacing in my room angrily.

"Who are you to say that to me huh?"

"Your brother?" I ask in confusion. What does she mean who am I?

"You should be thankful I have forgiven you for going to France and leaving me here all alone! Do you know what I went through when you were gone? Do you know!" She yells to my face furiously.

"Ash, I thought we have discussed this over the phone. You know that I had to leave, mom and dad wanted me to further my education..."

"Bla Bla Bla." She cuts in. " Mom and dad will leave me all alone at home with that scary nanny who doesn't even care about me. I have no one to talk to, I hardly have a friend in school because they are scared of mom who is always scaring them away saying that they aren't up to our standards. When you left, I also got bullied in school! If not for Cassie who became my friend and taught me how to fight back, everyone thinks I'm a pushover because I'm soft and kindhearted and it only made me easier to pick on." She is now crying, I try to reach out to her but she doesn't allow me to touch her.

"Calm down Ash..."

"All thanks to Cassie people now fear and respect me in school."

"I'm sorry for leaving you when you needed me the most but you know that it wasn't my wish to leave."

"There was no one to play with, not in school or even at home until Cassie became my friend and you are now telling me to put an end to our friendship?"

"You don't have to be like this Ash, I just want my sister back," I say while trying to hug her but she pushes me away and ran out of my room.