Chapter 5

A New Day Begins

After the long day with Emily, Iris was completely exhausted. As soon as she stepped into her room, she wasted no time heading straight for a quick shower. All she wanted was some rest, especially since tomorrow was going to be hectic.

Once she was done, she sat down to eat the food Emily had bought for her. I can't let her money go to waste, she thought, smiling to herself.

Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, her phone buzzed. It was a text message from her dad and Emily, both wishing her goodnight. With a soft smile, she replied before finally falling into a deep sleep.

The Anniversary Preparation Chaos

The next morning, Iris was woken up before sunrise. Tomorrow is the anniversary of the McCall Company, and that meant a hectic day ahead for her and the rest of the staff.

With no time to waste, she quickly took a bath and slipped into her uniform before starting her work.

She cleaned non-stop—the study, kitchen, floors, walls, and windows. There was so much to do, and the day had barely even started.

Finally, after hours of working, she decided to take a short break in the garden. The cool breeze was refreshing, and it felt good to step outside for a moment. Since she had missed breakfast earlier, she brought her food along and enjoyed a quiet moment to herself.

But she knew this moment of peace wouldn't last long. A big staff meeting was scheduled soon, and in the evening, the preparation on the main events will be tomorrow."

Iris sighed, preparing herself for the long day ahead.

Preparing for the Big Day

After finishing her breakfast and short rest, Iris went back to work. The afternoon sun was scorching, and she still had a long list of tasks ahead of her. Around her, the decorators were already busy, transforming the mansion for the grand event.

By the time the decorations were well underway, it was time for the staff meeting. All the McCall Mansion workers were gathered as the head staff began assigning roles for the anniversary.

"Iris, you will be in charge of the ball tomorrow," the head worker announced.

Everyone was shocked on why iris had to be picked, they started murmuring about it, almost causing an outbreak of argument.

But the head worker was quick to calm them down down. Will you all be quiet, and with that the silence came back. But it didn't stop the envious eyes others threw at Iris.

The meeting continued with discussions on the menu, the serving arrangements, and final preparations. Once everything was settled, the staff dispersed to finish their duties.

Iris immediately returned to work. After completing the evening dishes, she even helped the decorators with the final touches before heading to her room.

A Surprising Announcement

When it was time for dinner, Iris, as usual, preferred eating alone. She took her food and was about to head back to her room when the head worker suddenly stopped her.

"Sit down. We need to discuss something."

Curious, she obeyed. The air in the room felt tense.

"According to some rumors," the head worker began, "both sons of the McCall family are arriving tomorrow for the anniversary."

A murmur spread among the workers.

"That means everyone needs to be on their best behavior," they continued. "We all know that Scott McCall is not someone to mess with. Same goes for his younger brother, Stanley."

Iris felt a strange unease. She had heard about the McCall sons before, but she never expected to see them in person.

After dinner, she finally returned to her room, exhausted. Tomorrow is going to be hell, she thought, bracing herself for what was to come.

The Big Day Arrives

Finally, the day had arrived. Iris woke up as early as three in the morning, knowing there was no time to waste. The kitchen was already bustling with activity as chefs from different cities and countries arrived to prepare the grand feast.

Meanwhile, the musicians and entertainers were on their way, and the decorators and designers were making their final adjustments. Mr. and Mrs. McCall's outfits were delivered, and Iris rushed to take them over.

Since the event was a night celebration, everything had to be perfect before evening.

A Moment to Breathe

Once the preparations were mostly in place, the workers took a short break to freshen up before returning to welcome and guide the guests.

Iris headed to her room for a moment of rest and quickly texted her dad about the event. He promised to be there.

She then called Emily.

"Are you coming tonight?" she asked eagerly.

"Of course! Wouldn't miss it for anything," Emily replied.

They chatted for a while, but then Iris glanced at the time.

"I have to go get ready now. See you soon, Em!" she said before hanging up.

Time to Get Ready

With that, Iris quickly took a shower, dressed up, and made her way downstairs. The night was just beginning, and she had no idea what surprises it would bring.

As Iris made her way downstairs, the soft melody of music filled the air. The event had officially begun, though only the regular guests had arrived so far. The main guests were yet to make their entrance.

Since she was in charge of the main hall, she needed to be there on time to coordinate the workers and ensure everything ran smoothly.

But just as she descended the staircase, her foot slipped.

With a sharp gasp, she lost her balance, tumbling forward.

Before she could hit the ground, strong arms caught her.

"Oh my—! I'm so sorry," she stammered, steadying herself.

The man holding her let out a soft chuckle.

"No need to apologize," he said smoothly.

Flustered, Iris quickly tried to step away, brushing off her dress.

"Honestly, you don't have to do this. I can manage on my own," she muttered, embarrassed.

But the stranger's sharp gaze caught something.

"Looks like you sprained your ankle a little," he noted. "Here, let me help before it swells up."

Before Iris could protest, he knelt down and gently took her ankle in his hands, massaging the sore spot.

She instinctively tried to pull away. "You really don't have to—"

"Relax, it's fine," he cut her off, a teasing smirk on his lips. "At least let me do this for a pretty lady like you."

Iris felt heat creep up her face but said nothing as he finished.

When he finally let go, he flashed a roguish smile.

"Be careful next time, beauty. Wouldn't want you falling into my arms again."

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she turned to leave. "Thank you," she mumbled under her breath.

But he heard it.

A small grin tugged at his lips as he watched her walk away.