Chapter Five

After crying her eyes out for what seemed like forever, Vanessa decided to go take a shower. She dried her body and hair and changed into a pyjamas dress. She reached for her phone and decided to call her mom. Hearing her family's voice would give her some sort of comfort.

Diane, Vanessa's mother picked up after a couple of rings. "Hi, Mom." She said to the other side, trying her best to sound like everything was fine.

"Hi Love, I'm so happy to hear from you. How are you?"

"I'm fine, Mom. Hope you're good? How's Dad and my siblings?"

"We are all fine, dear. Your Dad stepped out with your brothers. They will soon be back. How is work?"

"Work is fine, mom. I miss you all very much."

"We miss you too, sweetheart. And we are anticipating your visitation"

"Yeah, I'll discuss it with my Boss. I'll ask for a weekend off. I'll let you know what weekend I will be coming home."

"Ok, dear. Looking forward to seeing you again. Thanks for the laptop you got Katherine. You don't know how much you've saved us. And thanks for the money you sent the other time. We were able to pay off some debt."

"Mom, You don't have to thank me. I'm glad that I'm able to help. And I will continue to help you guys as much as I can.

"You've always been a blessing to us. Thanks love."

Vanessa heard someone knock on her door.

"You're welcome, Mom. I got to go. I'll call you again tomorrow. My regards to Dad, James and David. I love you guys so much."

"We love you too, Darling. Goodnight."

Vanessa placed her phone on her nightstand and went ahead to open the door. She was surprised to see Henry Matthews standing on the other side of her room. Not only that, he had a tray of food with him.

"Will you keep staring at me or usher me in?" Henry said with a small smile playing on his lips. The Matthews boys looked so much like their father, Logan Matthews. Henry was very charming, handsome, sexy and had a good heart. Brian on the hand was a heartless greek god. He was also more muscular than his younger brother, Henry.

"You sure you want to come in?" Vee finally whispered when she found her voice.

He nodded. "After my brother's outburst, I needed to make sure you're fine but it's okay if you want to be alone. I can leave if you want me to."

"No. Please come in." She opened the door wider for him, gently shutting the door behind him. 

Vanessa's room was okay. She was the household manager so she had one of the most beautiful rooms in the servant quarters. It wasn't that big but a very comfortable room for her. A normal size bed, a desk area and living area; an adjoined bathroom and a small walk-in closet.

"I hope your parents won't be angry that you came in here." She asked.

"I don't think so." He said placing the tray on a table. It had a plate of food and bottled water beside it. "Matilda told me you didn't have anything for dinner so I brought you some food." He said, as he got comfortable on her couch.

"You didn't have to but I do appreciate your kind gesture," Vanessa said, still not believing Henry was in her room.

"You're welcome. I apologize for my brother's behaviour. He's a douchebag. He has always been. You're so humble and friendly. I wonder why he was throwing daggers at you."

Vanessa swallowed painfully. "I had no idea he was back. I had wanted to replace a vase in his room so I barged in not knowing he was in and busy." Vee said, trying to erase his naked image away from her thoughts. She clenched her thighs, hoping to stop the tingling sensations in her core.

"You shouldn't feel guilty about anything, Vanessa. Brian is just a fucked up person. He gets pleasure from making people feel stupid and miserable about themselves but please don't let him get to you. Ignore him as much as can and I promise to always protect you from him."

"I appreciate you standing up for me but I don't want to be the reason you fight with your brother. Who knows, your mom or Dad would fire me first thing tomorrow morning."

"No one is getting fired, Vanessa. And I don't want you to feel guilty about anything because Brian and I haven't been on good terms for a while now. I honestly don't care about him but I won't stand him disrespecting you."

"Thanks. I appreciate you being there for me."

"Don't mention. I guess I should get going so you can have some rest but first, you have to promise me you will clear that plate." He pointed to where the tray of food was.

Vee nodded with a small smile. "I promise."

"Good. One more thing, I don't know if you're comfortable handing me your sketchbook. I would love to go over your designs. I promise not to steal any of your ideas or sell them."

Vanessa chuckled. "Even if you steal them, I doubt you would be able to make any money off them."

Henry frowned. "I don't like the way you underestimate yourself."

"My designs are not something to be crazy about." She justified.

"Then let me be the judge of that." He said.

"You are nice to me and you will obviously tell me they are good."

"If they are good, I will tell you that they are and if they are not, I will tell you the truth. So, may I have your sketch pad?"

Vanessa sighed. "Don't say I didn't warn you." She disappeared to her closet and came back almost immediately with a sketch pad. Well, it wasn't a sketch pad, it was a book where she put down crazy designs and sketches.

"Thanks. I'll go through them tonight and let you know what I think about them tomorrow."

"I shall anticipate your criticism," Vee said with a small smile. "And thanks for stopping by, it means a lot to me."

..........................

Even though Brian Matthews was rude and nasty to everyone, his parents were an exception. He adored them like no other. He facepalmed when he received a text on his phone. The text message was from his father, informing him that his attention was needed in the study room. He would be lying if he denied he didn't know why his father wanted to see him. It definitely had something to do about tonight.

Brian reluctantly paused the work he was doing on his laptop and proceeded to the study room which was on the ground floor.

He didn't see the need to knock since it was his father who requested his presence. He helped himself in, coming face to face with his father who was comfortably seated on a couch in the visiting area of the big study room. It had a visiting area space and a workspace.

"Where's Mom?" He asked, taking a seat opposite his father. He had expected his mom to be with him.

"She's in the room. I told her I can handle you alone. What is it between you and the new household manager?" Logan asked.

"There's nothing between us, Dad."

"Then why were you throwing her deadly glares. I noticed even before your brother talked about it. She was shaking while pouring you wine. I was praying in my mind for her not to spill the wine on you because there was a probability of you hitting her if that had happened."

"Dad?!!!!" Brian groaned. "I will never lay my hands on a woman."

"It looked like you were going to if that had happened," Logan explained.

Brian sighed. "She barged into my room without me giving her the permission to enter and she ran off before I could scold her about unruly behaviour."

"Vanessa is always well behaved. I'm sure she didn't mean to intrude. She probably didn't know you were in there."

Brian was very pissed at the fact that She saw him naked. He found it embarrassing to open up to his father. That was the main reason for the deadly glares. Vanessa could apologize but she could not unsee him naked. To him, it was a GREAT Disrespect!!!

"If it will do you any good, I'll tell her to apologize to you," Logan said.

"No, Dad. That won't be necessary. I don't need her apology."

Logan arched a brow at his son.

"She need not apologize to me. Instead, I would appreciate that she stays away from my path."

"You should know that that will be impossible as far as she holds a very important position in this household. Well, since you don't want her apology, I'm pleading that you don't make her feel uncomfortable again."

Brian nodded to ease his father's tension.

"Don't you think it's high time you started getting along with your younger brother? Words couldn't describe how disappointed I was seeing you two wanting to beat yourselves up." Logan said.

"I'm sorry about that. I'll learn how to control my temper. No rule says all siblings must be lovey-dovey. I have no problem with Henry but he should always learn to stay out of my business. He did nothing but disrespected me before the house manager."

"You two used to be best friends." Logan reminded, referring to Brian and Henry.

"Used to but not anymore. Life happens and people change. As far as Henry stays out of my way and business, we will have no more fights or arguments." Brain explained.

Logan sighed. "We didn't raise you guys with so much love just to turn against each other's back. It makes your mom and I so sad. You boys aren't laying any example for Laurel."

"Laurel is our baby sister and she will forever have a special place in my heart and Henry's heart. Despite my differences with Henry, I know we will always be there for her in our own way. As for Henry, I don't hate him. We are just not on good terms."

"You're the elder one and you're the one I will plead with. Try to settle whatever differences you have with your brother. It will mean so much to me and your mother."