Chapter 3 – Married?

Maeve did not know how to get out of this. She always went everywhere with Vincent in her past life but now that her eyes were opened and she wanted Gabriel Scott back, she wanted to go in a taxi, so Gabriel would be forced to drive her everywhere she went.

She bit her lower lip a little too hard, it was painful, turning from pink to red before she turned around with another smile to mask her agitation.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea today.”

“Why not?”

Dylan scowled, not willing to let her go without Vincent watching and reporting her movements to him.

“I can’t let you be with that scum by yourself. What if he does something crazy and hurts you? You know I can’t afford that!”

Care lined his features so well that should Maeve not have had the experience of a second chance, she would have fallen for it like before.

“You know that I love you so much. I can’t stand anything bad happening to you,” Dylan spoke lovingly, walking over and caressing her cheek. He leaned in, about to plant a kiss on her lips when Maeve took a step back to increase the gap between them and forced a smile,

“You know I have to keep an eye on the scum. The best way to get him would be to pretend that I’m helpless. If I go all hard and in charge, he would be extra careful and hide things from me.”

Maeve found her excuse a little lame but it was all she could think about at the moment, considering all the people working in the same boat with Dylan. She also hoped that by agreeing with him that Gabriel was a scum, he would believe that she was on his side.

Dylan smiled. When Maeve resisted his kiss, he felt something was wrong but after hearing what she said, he equated it to her eagerness to set things in motion for him.

“First time you spoke something sensible.”

“What?”

Maeve was offended by the remark but Dylan quickly said,

“Just kidding but I’m still disturbed. How will you make it to the office? I don’t like you taking commercial vehicles. Would you rather drive yourself?”

That would have been good but if she drove herself there, then how else would she convince Gabriel to drop her home so she could spend some more time with him?

“You know what? Let Vincent drop me off. He could come back after and I will get the scum to drop me off whiles I get more information from him to bring him down,” she said ironically but the plan sounded good to Dylan.

“Okay but spend the night with me. We are engaged already,” he held her hand and kissed the back before looking pleadingly into her eyes. Maeve was burning with rage on the inside but on the outside, she forced herself to remain calm.

“I know, I miss you too but won’t it be better if you unravel the parcel on the wedding night?” She spoke flirtatiously whiles enduring the disgust cruising through her from their closeness. Dylan pouted like a spoiled child,

“I can’t wait Maeve…”

“Same here but its for the best, don’t you think?” Maeve tip toed and kissed him on the cheek, making him smile like a fool.

Maeve rolled her eyes inside. Wouldn’t he get tired by pretending to love her all the time while sleeping with another woman at the same time?

She pulled away quickly and made it to the door when the she-devil echoed from behind her,

“Maeve, I bought this dress for you,” Sandra said from up the stairs.

Maeve grounded her teeth so hard, if felt like powder in her mouth before she turned around. Having forced so many smiles this morning, her jaws were aching badly from them all. She stared at the dress that looked beautiful indeed.

It was because of actions like these that she trusted Sandra in times past. She always behaved as if all she ever thought about was Maeve. Half of the dresses in Maeve’s closet together with the shoes were all bought by Sandra.

“Sandra, it’s a beautiful dress but I’m already late. I have to do a few things for Dylan at Gabriel’s office.”

Maeve did not miss the quick exchange in glances between the two people. She pressed her lips tightly to stop the chuckle which wanted to force itself out of it. If she had been a little open minded in her past life, it would not have been difficult to notice.

“That reminds me Maeve, let me drop you off and the scum can bring you later,” Dylan spoke hastily, Maeve noticed it was because she mentioned that she was doing something for him, he was eager to let her go. She stared at Sandra again and said,

“You are right, lets go and Sandra, please get a shoe to match the dress for me. I will wear it tomorrow.”

“Alright,” Sandra smiled and run up the stairs. Maeve turned around and her face hardened whiles she walked ahead of Dylan, who jogged a little to catch up and open the door for her.

“Idiot,” Maeve muttered under her breath.

Dylan dropped Maeve at Scott’s Automobiles, planted a kiss on her cheeks before driving away. Maeve walked into the elevator and punched the digits to the top most floor, her heart pounding all through. It felt like centuries since she met Gabriel and now, she was so eager.

“Maeve Cambridge, Mr. Scott is busy!” Gabriel’s secretary, Samantha yelled as soon as Maeve stepped out of the elevator.

There were a few guests waiting to see Gabriel so Maeve was slightly embarrassed, knowing it was because of the shame she caused Gabriel the last time she came here. It was the same time she threw the ring he gave her into the sewage.

However, knowing that Samantha was equally a traitor who worked with Dylan, Maeve regained her confidence and lifted her head high. Her green eyes turning into a lighter shade and her long brown hair cascading down to her shoulders.

Her stilettos were four inches and her black office dress was slightly below her knees, she looked stylish. Maeve allowed her confidence to shine through her voice, feeling all gazes on her,

“Even if Gabriel is busy, I have an appointment with him and I will see him now.”

Samantha scowled. Everyone including Gabriel knew her as one of the people who cared a lot about the company and its image. She was also one of Gabriel’s trusted persons.

“Do you think you are better than all the people waiting here to see him?”

Her voice was loud and unprofessional but she did not care since her intention was to cause Maeve the worst embarrassment.

Maeve looked around. The two waiting men were all business men in cahoots with Dylan and Samantha. She looked her in the eyes and spat,

“shut your mouth, Samantha, I will see Gabriel now!”

She began to walk towards Gabriels’s office when Samantha walked around her desk to stop her but someone stepped out Gabriel’s office. Maeve paused in her steps as guilt welled up in her heart.

“D…Doreen,” Maeve stammered a little, not expecting to meet Gabriel’s only sister, who used to be her best friend for decades.

Thanks to Sandra, the two had become enemies when Maeve accused Doreen of having eyes for Dylan as Sandra had informed her in time past.

Maeve had said some mean things to Doreen which she wanted to take back. Right now, she was so ashamed after knowing the truth, she could not look Doreen in the eyes.

“Maeve, I heard what you did to my brother so I don’t expect to see you here,” Doreen said calmly.

She did not care about Maeve’s accusation against her but from how she saw her brother suffer after watching the video Samantha sent her when Gabriel got home drunk and in a terrible state, refusing to talk to anyone for days, she swore to never allow her close to her brother again.

Maeve had changed but she knew that Doreen would not believe that. Besides, if she tried to explain now, Samantha would carry the news to Dylan. Regaining back the confidence which seemed to have been falling before, she responded with the same calmness,

“I’m here for business.”

“Emails, and phone calls. Any of them is fine,” Doreen blocked her way and spoke.

Maeve was saddened, remembering the times when she and Doreen were inseparable. When she would tell Doreen how much Gabriel cared for her and ignored everyone else. Doreen would even encourage Maeve to just have lunch at their house, so she could be with Gabriel.

Maeve let out a bitter smile, determined to win back her best friend but for now, she said calmly,

“Dad sent me over to learn a few things.”

“Things you can’t learn from Dylan? Let me guess. I might steal him from you, right?” Doreen said with a sarcasm that made Maeve to understand that things were not so simple.

Whereas, in spite of everything, she was certain that Gabriel would still want to see her.

“Doreen, I don’t have time for this. Please let’s meet and talk things through over the weekend,” Maeve suggested but Doreen shook her head and her eyes were cold. So cold, it made Maeve wonder if these were the eyes that used to be filled with warmth for her before but she was responsible for it.

“I don’t want to talk to you and I won’t allow you to see my brother. Just leave.”

“I…”

“Please Maeve, don’t let me call security,” Doreen threatened in a soft tone to not attract her brother’s attention since she knew that he still cared for the woman who was the cause of all his pain.

“Fine!”

Maeve turned around with tear-filled eyes, not able to see the man she was so desperate to see.

Samantha had a satisfied smile on her face but the elevator took a while to open. As soon as it did and Maeve took a step, a deep yet dreamlike masculine voice rang from Gabriel’s office entrance,

“Where are you going Maeve, I’ve been waiting for you.”

Maeve turned around as excitement filled her heart at the voice she had been longing to hear ever since she was given a second chance.

Her smile was frozen, and her knees shook when her eyes darted to Gabriel’s ring finger, wrapped in a wedding ring she had never seen before. She felt dizzy.