I smile as Hannah's parents come to pick her up and I'm quite sad to say goodbye. She was still half-awake but Lily gave me her phone number, and now I have six contacts on my phone. I'm so happy that I want to dance. She even said that we could have a date together soon.
I made a friend. I could sleep smiling all day. It's almost four-thirty, Ayden is still busy as ever so I went to his office, since he told me I can go there. I told Susan that I'm going to his office and she said okay, cheerfully.
And I excuse myself to his office, he said, he will be there soon. I keep wondering if this gallery belongs to him since he even had an office here. If so, then, he is out of my league.
I rested myself at the corner of the sofa, leaning my head down on the hand rest. My feet are aching. I'm so tired. I slowly massaging my feet. I don't even do anything but why am I so tired?
"What are you doing here?" I heard a high pitched annoying voice and I lifted my head and straighten myself. Oh, her.
"Resting." I smile.
"Here? You know this is your boss's office right? You can't enter his office as you want!" She came closer to me and grabbed my hand forcefully. "Stand up and get out!" she roared. Oh god, what is her problem?
"I already told Miss Susan and Mr Winter told me I can rest here if I'm tired. I got permission, miss," I said, still smiling. I'm trying to be as polite as I could.
She scowled and grabbed my hand, which made me stand up by force. It hurts. This is not the first time. I've got worse. But still, where the hell did her manner go? I thought smart people have the best attitude, but I guess knowledge doesn't guarantee one's manner and attitude.
"Know your place, you slut!" she roared. Did she just called me...I yanked my hand off, rubbing it lightly.
"No. You are." I said, which brought her confusion. Look at the wrinkles between her eyebrows. "You are that slut, not me. I'm not sleeping with him. Not even once. You did. You are the slut. I guess you still want him to screw your arse? Why are you so mad, lady? Did he reject your offer?"
And my head turned by force as my cheek burned. That was the hellish hard slap. I even bit my tongue, I could taste the metallic and salty taste of the blood. I felt like my cheek's burning and my eyes started to water. It hurts, that's why. My heartbeat was hard, and I tried to shake what's coming to my head. Wake up, Maddie. Don't be weak.
"Watch your fucking mouth, bitch! You just a fucking maid, you're fucking gold digger! Get out! Now!" she yelled. And I sighed. I rolled my eyes upward, rubbing my sting cheek, this going to be swollen. I glanced at her hands, she wore rings okay. No wonder I feel extra pain. At least she didn't throw a punch with her diamonds. "Just because you sleep with him once or twice and he's being good to you, that doesn't mean he wants you!" she added.
Oh my god.
"Yeah. Right back at you." I said, shaken my head lightly, still rubbing my cheek softly. I'm going out? "Just because he fucked you once or twice, it doesn't mean you can chase me out of this room. I got the permission, why are you so mad, lady?" Yes, I said that.
She looked at me with hatred, finally took another step and slapped me again, at the same side, grabbing my hair and yanked my head backwards. I closed my eyes as that hurt so bad. I let out a chuckle. What is this? Deja vu?
"What the fuck are you doing?" She let me go, and I straightened my body, fixing my hair and glanced at the door. He looked at me with a frown, from the head, stopped to my face. "Leah?" he asked.
"Ah, she's entering your room with permission, Ayden. And she insulted me too," she said, I nodded. Smiling. Proudly. I mean yeah, she insulted me first. I just turned her word back to her.
And I burst into laughter. Both of them were staring at me. It's so funny. What are we fighting for anyway? Man? Wow. What are we? Teenage girl?
"I'm sorry…" I said, clearing my throat, and it hurt actually. My cheek hurt so bad.
"Get out!" I heard his stern voice, as his eyes stuck on me. I could see veins popping out from his forehead and neck. And she looked at me with a smug face, crossing her hands around his body.
"I mean you, Leah. Get out." He said, opening the door. "Get. Out," he repeated, saying the word one by one.
"What? Ayden!"
"Never come back," he said sternly, and I sat down, it's hurting my feet to keep standing up. And she glared at me. I shrugged my shoulders. Don't look at me, look at your boss.
"Did you just fire me? Because of her?" she pointed at me, and I couldn't help but smile. "This fucking gold digger? Come on, you can have better than THIS!"
He laughed, sarcastically.
"A what?" he asked, cold. Now let me explain, I never heard that voice before. I always heard his cold voice, but not this one. This one is one level above the usual cold voice I heard before. I'm freaking scared. He looks like he can kill her by twisting her neck in one go right now. His hands are shaking. Why are his hands shaking? I think this is a sign that Leah should go. Before she died, right here, right now!
"She's my future wife, get out." He said one more time and she scoffed.
"I see, so she's your favourite out of a hundred?"
"She's not even closed to compare to you, Leah. Out!"
"Oh, yeah? She's better? Oh my god, Ayden, you fucked your housekeeper? Really?" Why is she so obsessed with the word 'fuck'?
"That's it, John! Micheal!" he yelled, from inside. And she is still standing there, glaring at me with hatred, anger and rage. And two tall and sturdy guys showed up like mafia, which there are not, and she scowled.
"You can't do this!"
"I can actually." He said, rubbing his temple and she stomped out fiercely. What a drama. I'm quite enjoying it.
John and Micheal followed her out and he closed the door, locked them and ran to me, sitting next to me with concerned eyes.
"I'm your favourite out of a hundred, she said." He was stunned, frozen when I said that. I could see he was gulping his saliva. "You have a hundred flings? Really?"
"No! Not a hundred!" he denied, I guess he's telling the truth. "Just a few…" he said, in a slow voice.
"How many?" I asked. I'm just teasing.
"That was before I met you, baby."
"How many?"
He looked at me with soft and gentle eyes, he rubbed my cheek and I flinched. It's still burning.
"Few," he replied with a sigh. "Does it still hurt?" he asked, slowly looking at my dishevelled hair. His hands slowly fixed my hair, and I nodded.
"It hurts, so how many? Three? Four? Ten?"
"Just a few, baby. Leave it at that."
I pouted. Tch, I just ask.
"Princess...no, Maddie. I didn't mean to keep a secret from you but I don't want to hurt you. I admitted, yes, I slept around a lot. But that was before I met you. And yes, one of them was Leah, and one of them was Yvonne. But I swear, I didn't touch anyone or interested in anyone else but you. Only you. I am devoted to you. If I hurt you just now, I'm sorry. But I didn't mean it. I just think it would be unnecessary to talk about because you might get hurt knowing about it." he said. And I raised my brows. Okay?
"I only love you, attracted to you and crazy for you. I crave for you, baby. No one else but you." he whispered, leaning forward, trapping me in the corner of the sofa, sending a vibration to my bones. "And of course I want to eat you up, days and nights, every day."
What the fuck? I am scared. Diana, help me!
"You scare me." I blurt, and he flashed a mischievous smirk.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm not that hungry. And there's something else I want that is more important than my desires, princess."
"Wha...what is it?" I asked, stuttering upon my words, I'm too nervous and shaking because I'm too embarrassed.
"You. Healing. That's more important." He said, kissing me on my forehead. "But I barely can hold myself so don't tease me. Don't invite me."
I stared at him with a lot of questions. I didn't do anything to invite him.
"And I need to know why your trauma always triggered whenever we tried it. But I know, asking you now would be a bit of a no-no, right? I want you to overcome your fear. That's more important. Your happiness is more important than my desires. I love you enough, to hold back even if it would take a hundred years, princess." he said with a sigh.
He slowly touched my cheek, it didn't hurt anymore. But he looked like I was stabbed but Leah.
"Seeing you being treated like this hurts me too. I'm sorry. I truly am sorry, my love."
"I'm okay...it's not your fault. I used to it, and it's true. I do give back all of the insults to her, she just...you know...softie."
We stared at each other again, his frowning and slowly smiling, confused.
"What did you do?" he asked, laughing. He does look a bit proud and a bit scared.
"Not much. But I bit my tongue, it's bleeding." I put my tongue out and he clicked his tongue, pull me up to sit up.
"Damn, baby. How strong is she? How dare she!"
"You bet, I thought she's a hulk," I said, she's super strong though. Ayden looked at me with a frown. "A hulk," I repeated.
"Then you must be one hella lucky girl, princess. Because I just saved you from a hulk," he said, nonchalantly, staring into my cut.
"I will tell you soon. When I'm ready." I said, staring at him. His frown line looks perfect too huh.
"Hm? About what?"
"About me."
"Don't force yourself, baby. Just focus on yourself, okay?"
"About your question just now…"
"Which one, princess?"
"You sure you want to marry me? I'm broken."
He let out a chuckle, leaving a kiss on my forehead.
"Everyone has their broken pieces, Maddie. Everyone has one. Or two, perhaps more. And you? You have one too, perhaps more than I do. Me? Of course, I'm broken too. Maybe not as much as yours. But baby, every single piece that broke inside you, is proof that you are strong. Why? Because you keep fighting for your life. You keep searching and living."
"I'm not…I'm still broken and I still am."
"Look at me." he pleaded, and looking at him is what I do. He smiled until those dimples popped up. "I'm not perfect either. I'm a jerk who sleeps around. I'm not a perfect man that will always be a gentleman, like how you see me just now. I'm the type of man that will do anything and everything I want. But I'm trying my best, to be the better man, so I can be the best for you. So I can protect you, so I can make sure you will be safe, so you can lean on me, depends on me. I'm struggling too, baby, because my fight is my inner fight. Not as much as you, therefore you're better than me. You're stronger. Don't say that you're broken because you're fighting."
I just keep my mouth shut.
"You know you're healing, right?"
I nodded. I do. I know it very well.
"Did you realise you haven't had any single nightmares lately? You wear a beautiful dress, you stop hiding your beautiful face. You're fighting in your own way, and it's so wonderful. You are strong, so strong. It's amazing. You're no longer broken, you're healing. You collect all of the broken pieces and you build something even better, even beautiful, even stronger. And baby, I trust you, I believe in you, so trust yourself more okay." he said, eyes shimmering as he said that. "I don't know if that makes sense."
I just laughed and he smiled too.
"Hmm, not really but I try to pretend that I understand what you try to say," I said, teasingly.
"You sure you're fine, sweetheart? She grabbed your hair quite hard just now, I thought you're going bald," he said, stroking my hair softly. "And I think your face is a bit swollen now. I'll ask Susan for a pack of ice, okay?" he is frowning, stood up and walked to the door, yelling that he needs some ice. I heard someone shouting back and he closed the door and sat next to me, again.
"Catfights are scary," he muttered. He bet. I swear to god, that was the dumbest thing I have ever done and I do not even regret it. It's just feel good.