The Billionaire's Playmate
He Knows Me!

I couldn't move because of surprise. He's Rozzean's brother, and he recognizes me. As in me as Thaliana Tangi Dela Vezca. A daughter of a Billionaire! not just a maid! How did this person knows me?

But no, I should keep my identity a secret. Not now, especially when I found out that Rozzean has feelings for me. He would hate me if his brother tells him the truth. Our meeting might not happen if I return. I won't have a chance to explain my reasons.

That's what I want to avoid.

I just need time... that's all.

"Sir, what are you saying?" I asked with a smile.

So that's why he said that to me earlier. He knows that I am not just a simple person.

"Oh? Why are you denying it? We're the only ones here. That's why I sent coffee to the gazebo to talk to you."

Oh no. It means he noticed me in the kitchen earlier. He recognized me. But how? I wasn't in the spotlight when my father and brothers celebrated their success in their businesses.

He stood up and approached me. He was smiling, but it felt different.

"So, what are your intentions? You entered my brother's house as a maid. Tell me, Miss Dela Vezca, are you playing with him?"

When he took another step, I stepped back. I couldn't replace words to say. I felt cornered.

He seemed sure, but I needed to deny what he was saying.

"Sir, it seems you're mistaken. I don't know-"

I stopped when he took out his cellphone from his pocket and showed me the screen.

Damn.

"I am not dumb."

My lips slightly parted. I bit the inside of my cheek. I tried not to show my surprise. When he approached again, I was about to step back, but he grabbed my arm. "Isn't this you?"

He was showing me my photo. It looked like he had been looking at it since it was the first thing that appeared when he opened his cellphone.

"Sir, let go of me," I gave him a stern look.

"I will let go of you if you tell me your reasons. Also, why are you denying it?"

He put his cellphone back in his pocket, and I was surprised when he put his arm around my waist.

"What the hell?!" I shouted at him and tried to push him away, but he held onto my waist tightly.

"What a childish act, Miss Dela Vezca."

I was shocked when he lifted my bangs and brought his face close to mine.

"You can fool my brother, but you can't fool me."

My heart was beating fast because of fear.

I'm scared that he might tell Rozzean the truth. I can't even imagine what would happen next. I don't want Rozzean to be angry with me. Not now...

"The disguise you did was not that hard for me to notice you, Miss. Dela Vezca."

I lowered my head. It seemed like there was no reason to deny the truth to the man in front of me.

"Let me go."

He didn't move. When I looked up at him and gave him a stern look, he smiled at me. He smirked.

"Scary. No wonder, you really are a Dela Vezca."

When he let go of me, I took a deep breath and fixed my hair.

I thought my two months in Rozzean's house would end without anyone recognizing me. I was confident because Dad didn't require me to attend business parties. I am a private person; I choose to live my own life away from the mess of running a business.

I saw how Dad and my siblings struggled in running our company. There were problems that almost ruined our family. I didn't want our family to have conflicts because of the business. So when Dad gave me the choice of a high position in his company or my own business, I immediately said that I wanted to have a flower shop.

My own business that has nothing to do with big people. It means, in their world of businessmen, I'm not known as a Dela Vezca.

Few people know about me.

That's why I am confident. Even if Maki recognized me, I managed to handle it.

And this... I didn't expect that Rozzean's brother would notice me. I'm not sure if I can get through this.

"How did you know me?" I asked.

"Who doesn't know the Dela Vezcas-"

"I do not accept the reason that people know me because I am a Dela Vezca. Yes, my family is wealthy, Mr. Luther Rico Valleje, but only a few know me, especially if they are not colleagues of my father and brothers."

That was the truth. Many people didn't know that George Romualdo Dela Vezca had a daughter. It was always my brothers who were in the business world. Dad didn't force me to be involved because he noticed I had no interest in our businesses.

"So, you know about it, that only a few know you. Is that why you had the courage to pretend to be poor and work as a maid in my brother's house?"

I glared at him.

"You don't know my reasons-"

He brought his face close to mine and held my cheeks. I moved my face away because of what he did. I don't like other men touching me like this. This man is getting on my nerves.

"That's what I want to know. What are those reasons for you to fool my brother? Are you playing with his feelings?"

"I am not!" I shouted angrily at him.

I am shaking in fear. It's scary to think that he might stay here for the night and talk to Rozzean. The man clearly wanted me to be exposed.

"That's not my intention. I went here because I wanted to know if he-"

"If he deserves you? If he's a good person?"

I paused at what he said. I-If that's the case, he knows about my meeting with Rozzean.

"N-No..."

Tears are threatening to fall from my eyes. I don't know how to get through this situation because of Rozzean's brother. "N-No... not like that."

Tangi, you decided to pretend to be a poor woman who wanted to apply as a maid in Rozzean's house because of one reason.

You don't want to go through with the marriage that your Dad wants.

"I am thankful that our Dad told me about this woman that Rozzean will be meeting next month. I was curious because it was Cyron we were talking about. I did my research. I was surprised that the woman is a Dela Vezca. I didn't know that Mr. Dela Vezca has a daughter. I've already met your brothers, but they never mentioned that they also have a beautiful sister."

"But be thankful."

I was looking at Luther, and my eyes were filled with tears.

"Be thankful that Rozzean was not interested in any woman-no matter how beautiful, sexy, or famous she is. Even the daughter of George Dela Vezca, who was supposed to marry him, didn't catch his interest. Be thankful that Rozzean didn't bother to ask about you or what you look like."

I made a mistake. I know that.

He's not like the man I thought Rozzean was.

"He's not interested because he was busy running his company. Now, what do you think he'll feel if the woman he's supposed to marry enters his house to deceive him and-"

I held Luther's hand. My tears fell. I don't want it to reach the point where I see Rozzean looking at me with anger in his eyes.

"P-Please..."

I looked into his eyes while crying.

"P-Please... give me time. I-I'll leave here on my own, don't tell Rozzean. I-I'll leave willingly. I want to be the one to tell him the truth and explain why I did this."

I felt Luther hold my hand.

"Why are you crying now? Didn't you choose to enter this? You should be prepared for whatever might happen."

I am crying because I was wrong. The decision I made backfired. I developed feelings for Rozzean, and that was unexpected.

"I really don't want to get married. I wanted a peaceful life alone. I-I don't want to get married because my life is already in order. When Dad told me that there was a man he wanted me to marry-a good man, I doubted him. I told him that he couldn't be sure if this man would treat me well."

"But Dad was so sure of the man. He even said that if I proved he was wrong-that Rozzean is not good for me-then I could do whatever I want with my life. I was content with my life as Thaliana, the owner of a flower shop. That's why I'm here now, that's why I pretended because I wanted to see Rozzean's qualities that my father wouldn't like."

"I wanted the meeting and the marriage that my Dad wants to not happen."

Luther wiped the tears from my face.

"B-But I didn't expect that my Dad was right. T-That Rozzean i-is a good person. That h-he is a great person."

My lips quivered. I can't control my emotions right now. Rozzean said he likes me, I declined him, then he went out with Klari, and now I am here with Luther-his brother who found out my real identity.

I am feeling a mix of emotions.

"I-I was wrong. I know and I regret what I did, s-so please, give me time and I will leave this house. I'll go."

I was looking at Luther. He sighed and wiped the tears from both sides of my face. When I was about to speak again, I was surprised when he pinched my right cheek.

"You are cute."

"W-What-" I was a little surprise because of what he said. Is he fooling around?

"Okay, I will not tell my brother. Stop crying."

But when he said that I felt relieved. "T-Thank you!"

He smiled and caressed the side of my head. But his smile disappeared when he looked behind me.

"What--"

"Fix yourself, Thaliana because my brother has arrived. Let's talk again later. I don't know, but... he looks mad while looking in this direction."

Oh gosh.