This was the most comfortable sleep she'd had since arriving in the USA. A luxurious bedroom, a soft, warm bed, and the perfect temperature from the air conditioning. In truth, she had woken up when the man got out of bed but had obediently stayed under the covers after he said they could sleep in.
When she opened her eyes again, the light seeping through the curtains hinted at the blazing summer sun, suggesting it was already late in the day.
Lying there, lost in thought for a moment, Tao Yuelei cautiously shifted her position. The discomfort between her legs was a stark reminder of the previous night. Her gaze fell on the two figures beside her—Jian Xin and Zhu Momo, nestled together under the thin blanket—and her emotions grew more complicated.
Tao Yuelei had always been a proud woman. Her striking height and outstanding appearance had made her stand out since she was young. She had never been in a relationship, even through college, as no one had seemed good enough—or worthy of her time. Yet, in just one night, that man had given her an experience surpassing anything she'd ever read in risqué novels or seen in daring films.
It wasn't something she had wanted, not entirely.
But then, thoughts of the man's awe-inspiring identity—a status so overwhelming it left no room for resistance—his handsome face, erudition, and undeniable authority, gradually wore down her resolve. Every time a sliver of clarity surfaced, she would console herself: Jian Xin and Zhu Momo had succumbed as well. What right did she have to resist?
After all, this was Simon Westeros.
She didn't know how long she stayed in the same position, staring blankly. Finally, Zhu Momo stirred awake beside her. Feeling the cool air in the room, Zhu instinctively snuggled closer to Jian Xin, waking her up as well.
There was a moment of silence before Jian Xin broke it. "Momo, your skin is so soft and fair. I didn't expect that."
"Born this way, can't help it. Yours isn't bad either. A little care will fix it," Zhu Momo teased.
Jian Xin rolled her eyes and swatted Zhu Momo in mock anger, pushing her away. "You're impossible."
Despite their bickering, the tone between them had clearly grown much closer after last night's events.
Zhu Momo laughed, turning on her stomach and stretching luxuriously across the bed. Hugging a pillow, she noticed Tao Yuelei watching them and smiled. "Morning, big sister."
"Big sister?!" Tao Yuelei raised an eyebrow.
"You are!" Zhu Momo grinned mischievously, her eyes gleaming. "Simon said we're all sisters now, and since you're the eldest, you're the big sister."
Tao Yuelei instinctively licked her lips at the mention of Simon's name, a gesture she quickly regretted as Zhu Momo's gaze sharpened. Embarrassed, she grabbed the blanket, wrapped it around herself, and darted to the bathroom.
Zhu Momo chuckled, then stretched again before sitting up. She suddenly realized the room was uncomfortably "clean." The thin blanket Tao Yuelei had taken was gone, and there weren't even clothes lying around. Grabbing a pillow to cover herself, she glanced at Jian Xin.
Jian Xin was also clutching a pillow as she sat up. She seemed to know more than the others and reached for the crystal orb on the bedside table.
Zhu Momo's curiosity was piqued by the faint electrical sparks within the orb. She reached out to take it, but Jian Xin stopped her. "What's that?" Zhu Momo asked.
"A servant summoner," Jian Xin replied. "I saw Simon use it this morning."
Zhu Momo blinked in surprise, then hesitated. "Can we use it?"
Jian Xin paused, then seemed to realize something, her face growing uncertain. This was likely meant for the master of the house. They… weren't exactly in that role.
Before they could decide, the bedroom door opened, and Jill Peckett walked in. The woman studied the two girls on the bed, smiling as if waiting for instructions.
Zhu Momo and Jill locked eyes, but neither spoke.
Finally, Jian Xin mustered her courage, awkwardly gesturing and speaking in halting English. "We… need clothes."
Jill nodded. "Of course. Please freshen up first; I'll return shortly."
"Thank you."
After Jill left, Zhu Momo pursed her lips. "She was mocking us just now."
"You're overthinking it," Jian Xin replied, getting out of bed and heading toward the bathroom.
Zhu Momo followed her, still hugging her pillow, grumbling, "You didn't see how deferential she was in front of Simon."
As they entered the enormous bathroom, Jian Xin knocked on the locked door to let Tao Yuelei know they were coming in. She turned back to Zhu Momo as she entered. "That's because she was dealing with Simon. We're not Simon."
"Still, I think she was giving us attitude," Zhu Momo said, brushing her teeth beside Tao Yuelei at the vanity.
Once they were out of the bathroom, Jill returned with two other maids, bringing racks of clothes and an assortment of shoes and accessories. After helping the three women choose their outfits, the trio, now radiant, descended to the dining room, where they discovered it was nearly one in the afternoon.
The lavish lunch spread was missing one key figure. Simon had already left for the West Coast earlier that morning.
The meal was subdued, as all three women felt a mix of apprehension and uncertainty. What now?
Since meeting Simon Westeros yesterday afternoon, their lives had turned upside down in less than 24 hours. Having tasted the life of a princess, who would willingly return to being Cinderella, picking lentils out of the ashes?
After lunch, Angie Davis arrived to deliver an ultimatum: they could either accept a generous parting gift and pretend yesterday had never happened or stay and officially become Simon Westeros' lovers.
The offer was stark, and Angie's matter-of-fact demeanor made it clear she wasn't one to sugarcoat things. She gave them time to think it over. If they chose to leave, they'd depart that afternoon. If they stayed, they could remain at the estate another night.
By the next day, none of the three had left.
When Angie returned, she began arranging matters for them, from signing a stack of agreements that felt uncomfortably like selling themselves, to assigning them their own luxurious townhouse on the Upper West Side, complete with wardrobes filled with designer brands, a team of attendants led by Jill Peckett, and even $1 million checks. There were also promises of career opportunities, including a Victoria's Secret runway debut and a role in a film directed by a Chinese auteur.
It was surreal. Were they really worth this much?
At their new townhouse on West 87th Street, after two days of nonstop activities, Zhu Momo collapsed onto the living room couch, groaning about sore legs. She instructed Annie, one of the maids, to massage her calves.
Annie Zhao, a petite Chinese girl with a round, pleasant face, reluctantly complied, pulling up Zhu Momo's legs before sitting down and resting them on her lap.
"Take off my shoes and rub my feet too," Zhu Momo demanded.
Annie removed the high heels but refused. "I don't do feet."
Zhu Momo pouted, muttering about disobedient servants. Next time, she thought, I'll ask Simon for a team that listens better.
Meanwhile, Jill sat nearby, engrossed in a Mandarin textbook. When Jian Xin and Tao Yuelei returned from changing clothes, she closed the book and addressed the group. "I have something to discuss."
With Annie translating, Jill proposed investing their $1 million checks into a business venture. Zhu Momo objected, suspicious of Jill's motives, but Jian Xin and Tao Yuelei agreed to listen. The conversation revealed that Jill, a Princeton graduate with an MBA and impeccable credentials, had Simon's trust for a reason.
Faced with Jill's qualifications and her own lack of education, Zhu Momo reluctantly conceded, though not without a warning. "Fine, but don't try to scam us. Simon will find out."
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