"Retrieve the drinks from the fridge, Miranda," Lady Loretta instructed. She served as the lady of the house, and preparations were underway for her only son's birthday.
"Very well, Ma," Miranda replied. As a young woman in her early twenties, Miranda wore a pink dress and black slippers. Night had fallen, and they were preparing a birthday party for Derrick Luis, the only son of the Luis family. Among seven sisters, Derrick stood as the sole son in his wealthy family.
Many guests had already arrived at the Luis family mansion. Among these guests were prominent admirers, business partners, and their family members and relatives, but the birthday celebrant remained absent from home.
Far away, at a luxurious office, Derrick Luis still worked when his mobile phone rang. "Hello, Mother," he answered. His mother then said, "Derrick, you know that today marks your birthday. So where are you?"
Derrick glanced at his wristwatch and noted that it was already 6 p.m. He replied, "I am at the office, Mother."
"Come home, Son. It is your birthday, and we have made extensive preparations to ensure that today becomes a special occasion to celebrate your 25th year."
Derrick murmured, "Hmm, I have no interest in birthday parties, Mother. Why can you not understand my perspective?" His mother had reached an advanced age, so he refrained from blaming her.
"I understand. Please, return home quickly before the guests begin to depart. If I had anticipated that you would stubbornly remain at the office until this hour, I would not have permitted you to go there today, knowing that it is also your birthday."
"Mother, I cannot set aside work for the party. Who will manage Father's company?" Derrick muttered. His mother responded with sadness, "You are correct, but during your father's prime, he never skipped returning home from work. He attended parties—or where do you think I met him?"
Derrick rolled his eyes at his mother's words. "Very well, Mother. I will return home now," he said, and the call ended.
"Running a multimillion-dollar empire at this age, yet my mother still expects me to prioritize the party over work. Tch," Derrick mused as he rose from his exclusive office chair. He shut down his computer, seized his suitcase, and departed from his office with elegance.
Derrick arrived home in a brand-new Prado Jeep. He exited the vehicle and proceeded toward his family's mansion. He heard the sound of music and frowned upon seeing numerous guests' cars parked within his late father's estate.
Derrick advanced toward the mansion's entrance. He rang the doorbell, and the maid opened the door for him.
"Welcome, Master Derrick," the maid greeted him.
Derrick ignored the maid's greeting. His mother, who waited in the living room with many guests, ushered him inside.
"Welcome, Son. Happy 25th birthday to you."
"Happy birthday, Master Derrick!" All the guests in the living room raised their glasses to toast the young master's new age.
"Thank you all," Derrick replied. He intended to retire to his bedroom for rest, but his mother halted him. "Derrick, it remains your birthday. Come, cut your cake and make a wish."
Derrick paused at the staircase and looked back at the faces of all the guests: his seven elder sisters, who had all married and borne children; his nephews; and his nieces. He wished to protest once more that he was no longer a child and desired no birthday party. However, he swallowed his protest as silence enveloped the crowded living room.
Derrick approached the cake, which stood in the center of the living room, and cut it. The guests beamed with happiness and clapped for him.
"Happy birthday, brother," his sisters cheered, and he replied, "Thank you all."
"That is not all, Derrick. Make a wish," his mother urged him again.
"Oh, Mother, I am no longer a child," Derrick protested at last, but his mother approached him as they all stood in the living room.
"No one has called you a child, but you remain my baby, so make a wish," his mother pleaded with an assuring smile.
Unwilling to sadden his mother, Derrick wished for a long life, a happy family, and a prosperous business.
"Happy birthday to you again, Master Derrick; we wish you all the best." The guests shared in the joy, and the toasts continued as they resumed drinking and chatting happily.
Derrick excused himself from the living room and ascended to his bedroom on the mansion's top floor. Meanwhile, among the maids, Miranda harbored a crush on the master of the house. She was not the only one who admired Derrick, but she could not tear her eyes from him.
She gazed openly at his handsomeness. "Too handsome for one person," Miranda thought. She had observed Derrick; he appeared exceedingly hardworking. He devoted no time to women and focused solely on his business.
Derrick maintained no girlfriend, and Miranda felt intense desire, yearning for Derrick to notice her. She originated from poverty as an orphan. After five years of serving the Luis family as a maid, Miranda aspired to a life of elegance. She refused to return to poverty.
In the Luis family mansion, maids were required to wear casual, inexpensive attire. No competition existed, as all the daughters of the Luis family had married, including Derrick's eldest sister, Nicole Luis.
"Come, Alexa. I wish to introduce you to my brother. I fear he might be gay. Why has he not taken a girlfriend at this age? Do you not find it peculiar?" Nicole spoke to her friend as she brought Alexa to her brother's birthday party.
Alexa worked as a secretary in the Luis Group, a multimillion-dollar firm. She admitted that she had never seen any young woman visit Derrick at the office.
"I do not believe he is gay. Master Derrick simply remains too occupied to notice any woman," Alexa replied. She wore a seductive red dress. She had arrived at the Luis mansion shortly after Derrick departed from the company.
Alexa Godwin also took an interest in Derrick. She desired him, as she was only 22 years old. She knew she would secure a husband like Derrick in the future. She required no strenuous work or hardship to sustain herself, for his family's wealth would cover her lifetime expenses.
"Alexa, what do you think of Derrick? Do you harbor no crush on my brother? If my older sisters had not spoken to me about introducing you to Derrick so that you could serve as his new secretary after my departure, do you believe I accepted you solely based on friendship? Come now." Nicole grasped Alexa's hand and led her to the top floor, where no guests lingered.
Alexa felt nervous. For a year, she had served as Derrick's personal secretary through Nicole's influence. She had never crossed professional boundaries or sought to attract his attention. He remained aloof and stern, and she feared the consequences if she dared to transgress those limits.