Chapter 8

A few days later the bruising around Maya's neck had disappeared. She constantly avoided Jason out of fear. On her way downstairs to get breakfast she bumped into Jason, whichwas thelast thing she wanted.

"Join me." He instructed while he chewed on his bacon. 

Maya sat down and the chef placed her food in front of her. This was the first time she sat down and had breakfast with Jason. 

"I'll be working from home today then right after we can go see your brother. Sound good?" 

Maya nodded her head and they ate the rest of their breakfast in silence. 

After breakfast Maya went up to take a shower. As soon as she stepped into the shower she felt the hot water running down her body. It immediately calmed her. She took her time in the shower. She shaved her legs and washed her hair with her favourite Vanilla scented shampoo. When she was done, she wrapped a towel around her body and one around her hair. 

"I won't be available tonight Celia. I'll see you another night." Maya heard Jason respond to someone on the phone. 

It hurt her that Jason felt the need to be with another woman while he was married to her. Every time Maya thought things were going well between them, Jason decides to do something idiotic. She knew he didn't love her but she still had hope that he would one day. 

"I'll talk to you later." Jason ended the call as soon as he heard Maya. 

"I'm just going to sort out a few things before we leave." 

Maya gave him a soft smile and walked to her room to get dressed. She had no idea what to wear. 

When she finally got an outfit she stared into the mirror not knowing what to do with her hair. She really wanted to cut her hair shorter. 

"Ready?" Jason asked when he saw Maya standing at his office door.

"Yea." 

He closed his laptop and shut the office door behind him. Maya walked ahead of him and he could smell her vanilla shampoo. He hated how Maya made him feel. He didn't understand why he couldn't get her out of his head but he hated every minute of it. 

"When we get there you can go up to Blake's room so long, I just need to sort things out and I'll be sure to join you as soon as I finish." 

Maya didn't respond. She just stared out the window. 

"I'm talking to you Maya." He calmly said. 

"I understand." Her voice cracked as soon as she spoke.

She wasn't ignoring him. She was just scared to see her brother in the condition he's in. Maya was trying to put on a brave face for her little brother but failed miserably. As she continued to think of her brother she felt tears running down her face. She didn't bother wiping them away. She just closer her eyes. Jason noticed but didn't know how to comfort her. 

"We're here. He's on floor 5, room 101. It's the fanciest room there. You won't miss it." 

Maya knew Jason said that to lighten up the mood but she wasn't up for it. The pair go their separate ways at the door and Maya heads up to Blake's room. As soon as she got onto the floor she noticed all the rooms looked the same except for one. The room was a lot bigger than the others and it was decorated on the outside. Maya gently knocked on the door before walking it. 

"Hey kiddo." She whispered.

Blake noticed her while he was eating his pudding cup. His face lightened up as soon as he saw her. He put his pudding cup down and held out his arms for a hug. It broke Maya when she saw how frail he looked but she put on a brave face. 

"Maya!" 

She gave him a soft hug and felt her eyes start to water up but she blinked the tears away. She two stay in that position for a long time. Maya was afraid if she let go of him she would lose him. 

"Is Jason here?" He asked with a smile.

"You've met him?" 

Maya thought Jason only came here to cover the payments. She didn't think he ever came to see Blake. 

"Of course I've met him Maya." He chuckles.

Just then, Jason walked in with a smile on his face. Maya had never seen him smile before. He came in with a burger and fries for Blake. 

"Hey little dude. The nurse told me you were living off of pudding cups so I decided to get you something way better than a plain old pudding cup." 

Jason placed the tray of food on the table in Blake's room. Maya just stared in disbelief as she watched Jason with her brother.  

"Nothing is better than a pudding cup." Blake defended himself. 

"Well I ordered this from the best burger joint in town. Try and tell me what you think."

The two boys give each other a challenging look before Blake bit into his burger.His facial expression immediately changed. His eyes widened as he took another bite. He had forgotten Jason was watching him. As soon as he looked up he saw Jason smirking. He put the burger down and wiped his mouth.

"I don't know about this burger, It tasted pretty basic to me." 

Blake tried to keep a straight face but burst out laughing. Jason let out a chuckle. The doctor came in and asked to speak with Maya outside. 

"How's my brother doing?" 

"Very well Mrs King. He is responding really well to the treatment. If he keeps it up we can have him out of here by next week Friday."

Maya felt so much peace after hearing that.

"That's amazing news Doc. Thank you." 

Maya walked into the room and both boys looked at her waiting for a response.

"Only great things." 

The two smile at her answer and carry on arguing about pudding cups. 

"I'll give you a hundred bucks to admit burgers are better."

Jason would do anything to get his way. even if it means bribing Blake. Blake thought about it for a minute and finally agreed.

"Fine, burgers are better than pudding cups."

"Atta boy." 

Jason pulled out the hundred from his wallet and gave it to Blake. Blake opened his drawer where Maya saw even more money. Maya was far from amused by this. They both looked at Maya after they realised she saw the money. 

"I'm not even going to say anything." 

"We gotta get going little dude but I'll come around again soon." Jason told Blake and gave him a fist bump.

Maya walked over to Blake and gave him a hug. 

"I love you Maya.

Blake tightened his grip around Maya.

"How much?" 

"Too much." 

Maya let go of Blake and kissed him on the forehead.

"I love you too." 

Jason stood behind them with a lump in his throat. He fought back tears as he watched Maya with her little brother. Jason started to feel bad for how he had been treating Maya. He cleared his throat hoping it ended the sweet moment in front of him.

"Let's go." Maya said and walked out.

The couple got into Jason's car and drove off. 

"Do you perhaps want to get something for dinner?" Maya asked.

"The chef is preparing something already."

"Oh right. I forgot." 

Jason's mood changed once again. He was no longer the sweet and loving gentleman Maya saw at the hospital. He was back to being 

"Do you know of a place where I could go cut my hair?"

Jason thought about it for a while before he responded. 

"I know a place, why?" Jason asked firmly.

"I want to get a haircut."

Jason frowned at the idea of her cutting her hair but he knew he couldn't stop her. 

"Oh okay. I will ask someone from my office to accompany you." 

Maya smiled.

"Oh yea? Who?" 

"My secretary."