"Is that Sir Gabriel? Good Evening" Maid Alina said
"Good Evening, Alina. Can you please explain?" Gabriel replied
"Alright, after Miss Maria arrived at five this evening..."
"Skip to the part of what happened immediately after I left the house" Mark cut her off
"After you left the house at five twenty, the kids offered to show Miss Maria around the mansion" Maid Alina said "Miss Maria of course, didn't feel any I'll intention and went off with them towards the garden. They had gone missing in the garden for exactly one hour and fifteen minutes"
"Good Lord" Mark mumbled
"Apparently, the twins had ditched Miss Maria in the maze and went to the pool to play. Unfortunately, the young mistress fell into the adults' pool" Maid Alina said and Mark's eyes widened
"Is Cia alright?" Mark asked
"She's fine. Luckily, Miss Maria found her way out of the maze and went looking for the children. She dived into the water and saved the young mistress" Maid Alina sighed "The events that followed after, were, Miss Maria scolding them, only allowing them thirty minutes screen time, dinner at seven thirty and bedtime at eight"
"Dan and Cia Page actually listened to someone who wasn't their parents or family" Gabriel mumbled "I'm both shocked and impressed"
"That's good" Mark sighed in relief "So your reason for this unprecedented call is?"
"Miss Maria is wondering when you'll be back home so she can leave" Maid Alina said
"She already wants to leave?" Mark asked
"She doesn't have any clothes to wear and after the incident at the pool, her clothes and phone have been ruined" Maid Alina said "I thought we'd have some spare clothes but there are none and for a woman without clothes... she must feel insecure"
"Those kids of mine" Mark mumbled "Use the compensation bank card and buy a new pair of clothes and a new phone for her. Also, tell her that as soon as I'm done here, I'll be on my way home"
"Yes sir" Maid Alina said "I'll await your arrival" she added before hanging up
"What the hell is a compensation bank card?" Gabriel asked
"It's a bank card I placed millions in for any unfortunate babysitter of those twins of mine" Mark explained while he sat back down "If anything belonging to the babysitter breaks because of the twins, the bank card will be used to cover up the damage"
"Even if the babysitter herself is damaged?" Gabriel asked
"Yep"
"No hospital trips and only having her clothes and phone destroyed" Gabriel said while nodding his head with a smirk "She must be a really good babysitter"
Mark wanted to say something when the door to the labour room finally opened. He swallowed his words and jumped out of his seat
"How is she?" Mark asked
"Mr Mark honestly speaking, I'm really impressed" a doctor said "Your wife and daughter are very strong and healthy. You can even take them home today if you'd like"
"He had a daughter?" Gabriel asked in surprise
"Yes"
"Only one daughter and not daughters?" Gabriel asked again
"Only one" the doctor said smiling
"Ignore this guy. He's probably asking because my family genes usually concocts twins and only on rare occasions is a single child born" Mark said with a sigh "Is there anything I need to sign?"
"Mrs Vivian...signed her and the child's discharge papers immediately after labour" the doctor said
"Of course she did" Gabriel scoffed
"Then can..."
"Can you just take me home already?" Vivian asked as she walked out of the labour room with her daughter in her arms. She was dressed in a black high neck sweater, a white duster coat and an equally white midi wrap skirt and fluffy black slippers. While the child was wrapped with a soft baby pink towel.
"There's no need to be in such a hurry" Mark said trying to calm her down "We haven't even given the baby a name..."
"The twins said they wanted to name the baby. So, let them" Vivian said sternly before looking at the doctor "I'll contact you so you can put down the name in her birth certificate" she said before walking off
"I guess I'll contact you later, Gabriel" Mark babbled "Bye" and just like that, he was off
Gabriel sighed as he raised a brow at Mark's retreating figure before standing straight and fishing his car keys from his pockets, he left the hospital.
******
At the mansion,
Maria had just come out from Cia's room. She had already put Dan to sleep and placed a cup of water on his nightstand and now, she had just finished doing the same for Cia.
Due to what happened earlier, she was only wearing a bathrobe that was slightly bigger than her, with nothing underneath. The robe slightly exposed her fair collarbones and a bit of her shoulders. She traversed a few steps before arriving in the living area and sitting on the couch with one leg crossed over the other.
"I'm so tired" Maria groaned and Maid Alina dropped a glass of orange juice on the table beside her
"Well, you haven't eaten and have been running around since five twenty" Maid Alina said "Taking care of the young master and mistress is a truly difficult task" she brought over a tray of food
"I actually have plans to eat with someone. It's a friend of mine" Maria said "I'm gonna have to kindly reject your offer for food. Light snacks are good enough for me" she said with a smile
"Oh. Okay" Maid Alina said before taking the food away "Miss Maria, the boss will soon be home. I suggest you get changed"
"But I don't..."
"While you were away, we replaced your phone and your clothes" said Maid Alina "They should be waiting for you in the guest bedroom"
Maria finished the glass of orange juice before standing straight and took long strides to the guest room
As soon as she left, the door to living area was pushed open by Vivian
"Where's the fire?" Vivian asked
"Miss Vivian, welcome home" Maid Alina quipped and Vivian looked at her
Mark strutted in after her while holding the baby "Vivian, I told you. There's no fire this time" he sighed
"Welcome back, Master Mark and Madam Vivian" Butler Frank said from behind Mark which spooked him
"Frank, can you never do that again?" Mark asked and Butler Frank nodded "Anyways, where is Maria?"
"She's getting changed in the guest bedroom" Maid Alina conferred
Maria came down the stairs immediately after Maid Alina spoke. The new black phone was in her hand as she spoken to someone on it
"I'll be on my way home as soon as Mr Mark and Mrs Vivian come home" Maria stated "I might be a bit late for dinner"
Since the phone was on speaker, the person's voice could be heard clearly "Don't push yourself too much. You and I both have three jobs so we can split the rent. I'm still working at the bar right now, and my shift will soon end" the person said with a sigh "Be careful on the streets. And don't hesitate to punch, kick or bite any bastard that touches you. If possible, carry a metal pipe and whack them with it" the person added in a gentle yet serious voice
"Right back at you, Helen" Maria said before hanging up and putting the phone in her pocket. It was only when she looked up that she realized Mark and Vivian were already home and they had both heard her conversation with Helen
"Welcome back" Maria said standing straight
"You have a friend who works at bar and is a street fighter?" Vivian exclaimed
"Punch, kick, bite and whack with a metal pipe" Mark said while nodding his head "You have a good friend" he added leaving Maria speechless
"T-Thank you" Maria stammered
"I see the clothes fit you perfectly" Mark pointed out
Maria was wearing a wine coloured lace blouse with a black wrap coat and black & white patterned leggings.
"T-Thanks" Maria let out
"So, when can you babysit the kids again?" Vivian asked with a smile
"Eh?" Maria exclaimed while waving her hands "I don't think I'm suitable to be taking care of...."
"Aunty Maria, are you going home already?" she was cut off by a cute sleepy voice from behind her
"Cia dear, sorry for waking you up" Maria said "I'm actually heading home since your parents are back"
"But I don't want you to go" Cia started to whine and stomp her feet "Dad, can't she stay?"
"Keeping her here against her own will is kidnapping" Mark said "Plus, when did you start acting like a brat?"
"Then, can she come tomorrow?" Cia asked
"She has three jobs, Cia" Vivian said "She can't babysit you and Dan"
"Dad" Cia complained
"Maria, do you want to become they're nanny?" Mark said "If she hears a clear 'No' from you, she and Dan might not push forward with it. But, we will suffer the consequences" he stated smiling "So, what do you want to do?"
"I..." Maria was trying to think of several things to say but when looking at Cia's pouting face, her will to say no, disappeared "...I'll think about it" she sighed in defeat
"Your choice" Mark said before looking at Cia who was sitting on the staircase "You heard her right? She'll think about it" he repeated and Cia only nodded her head
"Bye, Aunty Maria" Cia said before standing up and heading back the way she came
"Frank, please send Maria home" Mark said
"Yes, sir" Butler Frank said "Miss Maria if you'd please come with me" he said before he started to walk off in the direction of the door and Maria silently followed him
"Congratulations on the baby" Maria said before shutting the door
"Well, today has been eventful" Mark let out before sitting on the couch and lifting the baby up
"You seem...relaxed" Vivian said as she sat next to him
"Like I said, the day has been eventful and now, it has finally come to an end with the twins asleep, my beautiful wife beside me and a new kid in my arms" Mark said with a chuckle "I'm more relieved than I am relaxed" he said and there was silence for some time
"So, what are you gonna name her?" Vivian asked, obviously talking about the baby
"Kali Page" Mark said
"My mother's name, Kali" Vivian said "You played your cards well today, Mark Page" she said as she took Kali from his arms and walked towards the stairs "Hurry up and head to bed" she said before rushing up
Mark chuckled before standing up and following her up. But instead of entering the master bedroom with her, he went to the study, opposite. He sat at his desk and in the dim light, he brought his eyes towards the keyhole of his desk compartment. The keyhole instantly turned into a camera and a cybernetic voice was let out
[Optical Recognition, Confirmed]
The compartment opened and Mark brought out two folders which both had 'CONFIDENTIAL' written boldly in white while the whole folder was black with a white emblem of an eagle carrying the words 'SIA'.
He opened the first folder
[Name: Maria McKinley]
[Age: 24]
[DOB: 12/06/1999]
[Blood type: O]
[Biological Mother/ Mother: Ira Bright (deceased), Adoptive Father: Brayden McKinley (deceased), Biological Father: Jaycee Page]
Below, were a few pictures of Maria but each date and year was different. And the most recent, was a picture taken on that year's new year celebration.
Mark read through it and when the door to the study opened, he looked up and saw Vivian in her nightgown.
"I knew I'd find you here" she said as she shut the door and walked towards him "Another case?" she wanted to reach for the folder but Mark shut it and moved the two folders away from her
"It's a personal...or more like family investigation" Mark said, standing up and kissing her forehead "For now, you're not yet ready to see it" he opened the compartment and placed the folders inside before locking it
Vivian frowned and folded her arms "What's it about? And why can't I see it?" her eyes followed Mark as he walked around the desk and stood next to her
"It's something my father did and something he was trying to keep an eye on" Mark said "For now, it's best that secret is kept hidden..."
"Even from me?"
Mark lowered his head and bumped it on hers "...Yes. For now, I also have to keep it hidden from you. But I'll tell you one day" he kissed her nose "Let's go to bed" he added and they both left the room before shutting the door