Chapter four
An unwanted meeting
"What are you doing here Myles?" She queried. He got up and dusted his uniform.
"Why are you here? I thought i made it clear that you can't work as a maid." He shouted.
"Keep it low, how did you even know i was here? You didn't put GPS on my phone, did you?"
"Does that matter? What matters right now is that you can't work here! You attended a prestigious university Maddie! How can you stoop so low to being a domestic worker?" Myles said again.
That was true. Maddie studied in one of the most prestigious universities through a scholarship.
"It doesn't matter Myles. Let's go out and talk." Madison said.
"There's nothing to talk about. You are going back home with me and that's final." Myles said determinedly.
"Are you for real right now? Myles, mum is not feeling well, you have to go to school, you need the idol trainee fees also, and I need to provide for our family." Maddie said, relaxing the atmosphere.
"Leave it to me, I'll start working as a part timer. I'm the guy in the house so just stop all these."
"Myles no. Look, you're just 19,and you should what 18 year olds do. I'm the eldest so it is my responsibility, don't try to share it with me." Maddie said.
"But I want to. I really want to."
"I'll be fine, I promise. It's not like I'll be working here forever, it's just a matter of time. Hm?
Now, go to school. You'll be late." Maddie said gently and hugged him.
"Let go of me." He said and barged out of the house.
Maddie almost fell. She broke down and sobbed gently. Everything is hard already and her lil bro is not helping the situation.
"You'll be fine, I'm sure of that." Lady Mariah suddenly said from behind.
She had been watching the whole scene since it started. She made Maddie stand up and held her shoulders.
"He's just being a kid. Everything will be fine, okay? That shouldn't get to you." She soothed.
"I want to believe that."
*
"Now give me a reason why she shouldn't be fired." Logan requested calmly.
"I understand that she is clumsy and too forward but--"
Lady Mariah got cut off by Logan.
"No buts! I don't want her to spend one more second in here." He stated firmly.
"Gael's memorial is coming up." Lady Mariah said and he went silent.
"I would be staying abroad for more than a month this time around and I need someone to take care of you while I'm away." She continued.
There was a pause for a while. "I'll be fine." He said.
"I know you can't be, I know you too well. Young master...it's just for a month." Lady Mariah said, pleadingly.
"Bring me some coffee." Logan ordered, ignoring what she said.
***
Logan sat on the divan, with legs crossed, hands folded, eyes staring keenly at the wide-screen television.
There was a stir of emotions in him as he watched the movie scene going on.
Leia, the leading actress, was who attracted his attention to the movie.
He smiled gently as he watched her display acts. He was happy, seeing her like this. She looked really beautiful on screen and he wished that he could see her physically and hold her in his arms.
He watched the movie till the end, before retiring to bed that night. Having seen her like that, he felt pleased.
...
Maddie stretched and yawned. She had slept really well. She checked the time and saw that it was just 4am. She tried sleeping again to buy time but she didn't get any sleep.
She then took her bath and dressed up, Putting on a blue jean trousers and a white T-shirt. Maybe it would be nice to start that day's work early.
Picking up the vacuum cleaner, she started sweeping the floor steadily.
Eventually, still cleaning the first floor, she got to the closed gym area, which was under the same roof.
She heard some muffled sounds and she moved closer to the glass demarcated gym.
Then she saw him. A man. The first thing that came into her head was the thought that he was her master... her allergic master.
He was running on a treadmill, at an average rate. He was putting on a black joggers and a black sleeveless sports top. His hair was dripping wet from sweat and his top was evidently wet too.
She only saw his backside.. and he even seemed more hot and sexy that way.
Maddie was lost in her trance like world, admiring her master.
She suddenly wished she could see his face. If his back view was that dreamy, what would his facial looks and abs look like?
Logan, being a sensitive human, noticed he was being watched. He quit running on the treadmill, grabbed his face towel and a bottle of water then left the gym.
He still had more exercises to work out, but he hated being watched discreetly. There was another route that led to the second floor, so he didn't have to bump into whoever might be watching him.
Maddie didn't fall out of her trance till he was out of sight. She hit her temple repeatedly. *Maddie you must be going mad.* She said to herself,before resuming her work.
***AT TORRES' MANSION
"What! 72kg? How come?" Vanessa yelled as that the result the weighing machine amounted to.
"Just few weeks that I was away and you've added this much weight? What have you been eating?" She asked, shouting at Leia.
"Mum..I--" Leia was about to talk when a sounding slap hit her on the cheek. Her mum, Vanessa slapped her.
"You insolent brat! How will you get endorsements when you have become this fat? Huh?!" She continued scolding.
Leia hung her head low as tears rolled down her cheeks. The slap was stinging and Vanessa's hand was imprinted on it.
Vanessa looked at her disgustingly before turning to the gym manager. "Make her work out for 6 consecutive hours in a day with just one fruit and water. She needs to get back in shape. And by the way, you're switching agencies." She stated firmly and the manager nodded.
Vanessa walked out, leaving Leia, who was in a devastated mood. *She was back to this life again. Working everyday with just fruit and water? When will this life end?*
"Mum." Lucas called as he entered Vanessa's study.
"Oh you are here. How have you been?" She asked,standing from her desk to hug him.
"I've been well." Lucas smiled. Vanessa held his face gently. "You must have been...I heard you succeeded in talking the board of directors into making you the president."
"Yeah. It took a lot of time but I succeeded. I did great right?" He said proudly.
"Of course you did. You are my true son..and I'm so proud of you." Vanessa said, smiling so broadly.
She felt like she got what she wanted already.
"So...when are you getting inaugurated?" She asked.
"Next week...that is."
"Whoa...then I should make some cards and invite people, Brenda?" She called onto her personal assistant.
"Here ma."
"Get some invitation cards for my son's inauguration ceremony. I want it in less than 5 hours." She ordered and after came a sneer.
***AT ELROD'S MANOR
"You're traveling? Where to?" Maddie asked surprisingly.
"Overseas...my son's commemoration is coming up." Lady Mariah replied.
"Your son?" Maddie was flabbergasted. She never knew Lady Mariah had a son..in fact, no one knew.
"Commemoration? How come?" She asked again.
Lady Mariah sighed.
"I lost my son few years ago to a car accident. I was working Logan. I've been his nanny since he was very young. We got used to each other and when he wanted to stand on his own, he told me to come with him. So we became foster mother and son." She explained.
"I see...I'm so sorry about your son. Maybe I shouldn't have asked..I'm sorry." Maddie said sincerely.
Lady Mariah laughed. "Common child...it's nothing." There was a pause. "So, while I'm away, can you please take care of him?"
Maddie had to think for a while. She couldn't guarantee that...
"I'm not sure about that..." Maddie drawled.
"I know Logan can be scary and condescending but trust me, he has another side to him. He requires a lot of warmth and patience."
"Why are you telling me this?" Maddie asked cluelessly.
Lady Mariah cleared her throat awkwardly and avoided eye contact at that minute.
"Do you perhaps... have another motive?"
The old woman sprung on her feet. "What motive? Just..do me this favour." Lady Mariah persisted before walking away.
*Aishh..what is that old woman thinking?*
...
It was Friday so I got to home. *Ugh...i got to leave that stuffy and suffocating house.* Maddie thought aloud.
She wanted to enjoy the cold breeze for as long as she could before she had to return to that manor, so she took trekking home as an option.
She walked care freely, not minding anyone's thoughts or opinions of her.
She decided to branch at a mall to get some chocolates and milk to feed on as snack, on her way.
When she a few metres away from the chocolate café, she saw Stacy and Asher walking out of the café together, hand-in-hand.
Maddie's scar was opened and she started feeling shattered again. Her broken heart became more broken...almost beyond repair.
She didn't want to cry but the tears came, flowing down freely. She never thought they would still be together after she caught them but sadly, they were.
*What do you expect Maddie? You called off the wedding." Her inner mind reminded.
She tried wiping her tears..."They don't deserve my tears." She consoled herself.
Just then she heard a creepy whisper in her ear and she flinched.
"Mel, what are you doing here?" She asked surprisedly.
"Well, I was just coming from work and I saw from the other side. I can never fail to recognize my best friend so I knew it was you." Melissa said. She looked high spirited.
"Oh really?" Maddie said and sniffed.
"What? This is unlike you.. wait, were you crying?"
"Crying? Why would I cry? I'm not crying...my eyes just itch." Maddie said ,trying to cover herself up.
"Of course. why would you cry? It's Friday night, in for a drink?" Melissa proposed.
Madison didn't think twice, she gave in immediately. "Yes..but, it's on you... I just started working."
"Oh right... you haven't told me about the job." Mel reminded.
"I didn't?"
"Hm."
"You really don't want to know..."
"Tell me."
"I won't."
They chatted continuously on their way to a drinking spot.
***
"Get up you brat." Fiona said as she tried waking Maddie up, but the latter didn't comply.
Then,Fiona walked to the window and drew up the blinds, making the sun shine directly into Maddie's face.
She groaned loudly and hit the bed continuously, before she sat up.
"Mum..it's weekend." She grumbled.
"Of course, it's weekend and we need to work." Fiona retorted.
"What work?"
"Aish...you must be really sleepy. What kind of work are done on Saturdays?"
"House chores? No way mum...call on Myles, I'm so tired." Maddie objected.
"He left for his training already....so, it's just you and me in this house. You don't expect me to do the chores alone."
"Mum..." Maddie dawdled again.
"Enough of the talk. Today is unnegotiable, so take a shower before coming out. I give you 10 seconds." Fiona said and started walking out of the room.
"Ugh..that wouldn't even be enough for me to get off the bed." Madison replied, raising her voice a little.
"Whatever. Just get out, you need to shop groceries."
...
Madison paid for the groceries and held the white thermoplastics in which the groceries were packaged.
As she stepped out of the supermarket, a guy came from behind to stop her.
"Yes?" She asked impatiently. Being forced out like this was something already. She just hoped he wasn't coming to ask her out or something.
"Sorry, you dropped your wallet." He said.
Maddie dipped her hands in her trousers' pocket but found nothing. She really dropped it.
"Oh my...thanks so much." She said, collecting the wallet from him.
"Hold on." The guy said again, as she made attempt to walk away.
"Can...I get your contact?" He asked and Maddie scoffed. She really wished this guy wouldn't step on her nerves but he really did.
"No, you can't!" She replied bluntly.
"You can just--"
"Excuse me! Don't you think you are unnecessarily resolute?"
"What?"
"Well if you must know, I am also not easy...so do not bother me." She warned him fiercely before walking away.
He was surprised. *What's with her?*
Walking out of the supermarket premises again, she saw Asher walking in.