Maya's jealousy for Frederick and Emily has been for a long now. She hated the fact that Emily and her husband always seemed to have it all together but between her and Lewis, they never seemed to find it funny. Lewis never really gave her the attention she required of him. All he did was work and when he'd come back, he would keep talking about his work. And Maya was fed up of it. Lewis would just be all about his business and would still expect Maya to fulfill her duties as his wife even after neglecting her feelings and caring more about his business.
Time and again, Maya asked Emily about her relationship with her husband and how they keep it together but Emily didn't seem to tell her much. She would always say that understanding between the couple is what keeps them together. Maya was done understanding Lewis. She always tried to understand him but he doesn't seem to want to understand her.
There were times when she decided to try and take in all that was coming from Lewis but she couldn't bear it for too long. She felt used and her love tank was definitely empty. Lewis wasn't just interested in speaking her love language. But turning back to look at Emily's marriage, all seemed to be perfect. They seemed pretty much happy. That was when jealousy stepped in to the picture and sunk deep into her soul.
In Lewis part, he just couldn't understand why Maya was being so insensitive. Every morning, they would have an argument and she'd make references to the Malcolms. He kept wondering what had gotten into her.
On a good day, when Lewis was on his way home from work, he passed by Malcolms winery and saw Frederick about to open his car so he can enter it. Lewis pulled over and wind down his car's window. They exchanged pleasantries and Frederick suggested that they go for a snack. Lewis agreed and they both drove in their cars to a fast food shop where they sat at a table and sipped smoothies.
"Business has really been high up this season, sales are going pretty well in the market sector" Frederick said.
"What you expect, it's summer. These are the times for wine, Freddie" Lewis said.
"Hmm... True" Frederick said sipping his smoothy.
"Tell me something, Freddie..." Lewis said, staring at the smoothy cup in his hand which is held on his table.
"What's that Lewis?" Frederick asked, his eyes on Lewis.
"When you go home from work, isn't there something you bring for your wife?" Lewis asked now staring at Frederick.
"Well, sometimes, I do take home her favorite flowers or favorite snack then a nice chocolate bar for Aimee" Frederick said and sipped his smoothy while Lewis eyes wandered back to the smoothy cup in his hand.
After a while, the two men decided to go back home so they rest for the day. On their way home, Frederick went on ahead while Lewis dropped by a floral shop.
"Hello sir, welcome to flowers for you, what might you like to interest in?" A sales girl in the floral shop said after noticing Lewis.
"Yes, I would like something beautiful and special" Lewis said still staring at the flowers in front of him.
"For someone special?" The girl asked with a smile.
"For my wife" Lewis responded with a straight face.
"OK, then the red roses would do the trick..." The girl, picked a sample and gave it to Lewis. Lewis studied the flower then nodded.
"OK, bring me a bouquet" Lewis said and the girl nodded. She packaged the flowers properly and handed it to Lewis. After that, Lewis also bought a box of chocolate bar.
On getting home, Lewis saw Jasper in the living room, playing video games but as soon as Jasper acknowledged his presence, he stopped playing and walked towards his father.
"Welcome home dad" Jasper said with no smiles on his face.
"Thank you Jasper, I got something for you" Lewis said as he squat in front of Jasper who was still not smiling.
"Here you go" Lewis said revealing a box of chocolate.
"Wow!" Jasper squealed excitedly and he collected the box of chocolate.
"Thank you dad" Jasper said with a brightened expression. As he got into the bedroom, Maya was brushing her hair in front of the mirror and she rolled her eyes when she noticed him at the door.
"Hey, Maya" Lewis said with a straight face but hid the flowers behind him.
"Welcome Lewis" Maya said also with a straight face.
"I got something for you" Lewis said moving closer to her.
"What's that Lewis?" She asked and he brought out the flowers.
"For you" He said. Maya who saw the flowers from the view of the mirror turned around to collect the flowers. She stared at it quietly for a while before looking at Lewis.
"What's this, Lewis?!" Maya yelled to the surprise of Lewis who was not expecting the reaction.
"Roses... I suppose" Lewis answered looking a little confused.
"I know what they are Lewis, what are you doing with them?!" Maya yelled again.
"I brought them for you... To make you happy" Lewis said.
"Happy? Happy you say, Lewis this brings us back to what we keep arguing about, the fact that you don't acknowledge me. If you did, you would know that I hate roses, particularly the red ones and you would know why I hate them!" Maya yelled louder and flung the flowers across the room. Lewis was dumbfounded.
"You hate roses? Who hates roses Maya?! "Lewis asked a little annoyed, he didn't feel appreciated at all.
"I do, I do, Lewis and you would know that if you really cared!" Maya said folding her arms, she was now on her feet.
"Why do you keep saying I don't care, is it because I'm not like Frederick?! Well guess what I'm not like him. I'm Lewis Horace and that's the difference! You knew the kind of person I am before you married me, Maya, so stop with the complaints and just deal with it! "Lewis said and walked out of the bedroom breathing angrily. He entered his car outside the house and drove off to a bar. Lewis was really hurt that night so he drank a lot. That was Lewis attempt to make his wife happy but that was the last since it didn't work out.
Due to the raging elapses in Lewis marriage, he formed a certain bitterness against the Malcolms. And now, Frederick dared to take away his business right, the contract he was at the verge of winning, not that he knew about it but he had always looked for it. He wondered how one man could cause so much to go wrong. For him, Frederick was really crossing the line. He had gone way too far.
"I have a task for you, the pictures will be sent, trail him till you find him vulnerable" Lewis said on the phone then the call disconnected. He was in his office, seated behind his desk.
"Oh, Freddie, you think you can destroy all I have toiled for? That contract belongs to me!" Lewis said to himself in a deadly manner. He clenched his fist in anger to the thought of Freddie winning against him. Lewis was going to do anything just to get that contract back, no matter what it takes. Even if it means someone needs to get hurt.
For the Malcolms, it's all bliss and celebrations as Freddie, Emily and grandma Elizabeth prepare for Aimee's fourth birthday which was going to be big considering how big the contract Frederick won is like.
Even for the fact that Frederick's contract party was big, Aimee's birthday party was going to be big too to show the change in the financial level. In school, many teachers wished her happy birthday in advance to the party as all the teachers including Daisy, Aimee's classroom teacher and Mrs Devon, the principal were invited.
"Marie, would you like to come to my birthday celebration, dad is going to celebrate it for me?" Aimee asked Marie in class, it was time for lunch break.
"Yes, I would love to come, have you invited Clive?" Marie asked.
"No, I haven't seen him today" Aimee said.
"He should be in the play ground" Marie suggested.
"Yes, let's go to this play ground so I can tell him about my birthday" Aimee said and they left the class, holding hands.
When they got to the play ground, they saw Jasper and his friend laughing at Clive, who was on the ground, trying to pick something up.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Little Aimee yelled in her tiny voice as she ran to the scene. Clive's stuff was on the ground and he was trying to pick it up. As he picked up his notebook, Jasper kicked it off his hand again and started laughing with his friend.
"Leave him alone, Jasper, you are so mean!" Aimee said moving closer to Jasper who kept laughing. Jasper was only six but he was a really mean child. Clive was also six but since Jasper was taller than him, he used that as an advantage to bully the poor boy.
"Come on, let's go "Jasper said and left with his friend.
"Sorry, Clive" Aimee said trying to help him pick up his notebooks, pencil and the other stuff that was on the ground.
"Are you OK, Clive" Marie asked also trying to pick up the stuff on the ground.
"Hmm..." Clive hummed with a nod.
When they were settled on their favorite bench in the play ground, they ate lunch.
"Clive, my mum and dad are going to celebrate my birthday this weekend, would you love to come? "Aimee asked.
"Yes, Aimee, I will come" Clive said smiling.
"OK... Aimee said.
The birthday party was a big one. All kinds of food and drinks were shared including nice gifts for the children. All the neighbors including Maya and Lewis, Dennis, Ben, Sam and the rest of the crew were invited. Business associates and Aimee's school mates were present. The party was a huge one. Pictures were taken of Aimee, her parents, grandma Elizabeth and other neighbors.
There were some performances from teenage bands and teenage comic groups. The party was fun for Aimee. She was dressed in her sky blue dress in accordance to her favorite character, "Elsa" the queen from her favorite cartoon "Frozen."
Marie and Clive too came to the party. Clive was followed into the party by his bodyguard. Though Clive's parents were really rich, one couldn't tell because of how gentle and quiet he appeared to be. Clive was dressed in a suit jacket that had red shiny decorations on top with black trousers while Marie was in a pink short dress. The three of them played a lot at the party.
After the party, Lewis drove Maya and Jasper home. As soon as he got to the bedroom, he flung the car keys on the bedside table angrily and tried to remove his tie from his neck while Maya removed her heels by the bed. Lewis sat down on the bed, deeply lost in thought. Again and again, Freddie try to annoy him. He was laughing all through the event while Lewis watched him. Lewis was furious and his fury showed on his face. Maya studied his face for a while but knew better than to cough out any questions with him in such a dangerous mood. The man stood up moments later and walked into the bathroom with his cell phone making Maya curious so she walked towards the bathroom door to eavesdrop.
"Hasten it up already, intensify your trail! I'm getting impatient already! So be quick about it. The Malcolms must pay, they must be eliminated just like the rest."Lewis said on the phone and call disconnected. Maya was a little shocked.
Lewis got out of the bathroom and prepared for the night without any form of communication with Maya who stayed out of his way all through the night. As Maya sat up on the bed, the thoughts of what she heard Lewis say ran through her mind. Whatever the case turns out to be, whether Lewis planned on eliminating the Malcolms or not, she wasn't going to let out this piece of information ever. She hated them and believed they deserved whatever was coming to them.