Chapter Five

Leslie

As her palm connected with my cheeks, everyone’s eyes settled on me with shock apparent on their faces, including mine.

I held my face with so much fury bubbling inside me, but I waited for Alex to do something that was evidently taking too long.

He did nothing but stare out of shock before dropping the bags in his hands and grabbing her by her wrist.

“You don’t just go about having what isn’t yours!” she yelled before Alex dragged her out of the house without saying a word to me.

I just stood there, shocked without saying a word. I turned my head around, following them with my eyes as they stormed out of the room.

I stood there in silence with tears pricking the corner of my eyes. I was in disbelief at what had just happened. Did Alex just drag her out without doing anything? Not even a word to me?

“Do you need anything, ma’am?” the housekeeper which I had come to know as Lydia spoke, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I sniffled back my tears before looking over at her and feigning a smile.

“Can you show me my room, please?” I asked, feigning a smile as I slowly lowered my hand from my cheeks and she nodded with a broad smile.

She picked up the bags from the ground and led the way up the stairs.

The earlier encounter had not even made me realize how majestic this place looks. It looked like one of those graphic designs on the internet; looking too good to be true.

We walked up the giant stairs and as my legs stood on each of the steps, a green light came on. I was amused and if my cheeks were not burning, I might have smiled.

As we got to the room, I internally marvelled but my face did not fail to light up. The room alone looked bigger than my entire apartment and the lightning; it was just so perfect.

I admired the interior decoration, although a minimalist approach was evident, which was not totally against my preference, but personally, I would still love some things to be put in place.

“This would be your room, ma’am,” Lydia smiled as she walked to the closet to drop the bags while I still looked around the room.

I saw a neatly placed robe on the bed and every other thing I would be needing including body lotion and other skincare products.

“I tried to put everything in place since my boss told me a lady would be residing with us now.”

Residing.

Sounds heavy to my ears that my life was about to take a whole different turn. A turn where I get slapped by a random lady.

Speaking of a random lady, she looks so familiar.

“Who was that lady from earlier?” I asked and Lydia looked away nervously. “It’s fine. You can tell me,” I smiled, trying to reduce the tension between us.

Lydia glanced over at my cheek which I knew was probably red before she spoke.

“That was my Mr Cassel’s former secretary,”

Then, it dawned on me where I had seen her. The realization made me want to puke. There had been several headlines as regards the two which was the reason he needed a new Secretary urgently.

What have I gotten myself into?!

“Does she come by often?” I probed further but Lydia looked like she was over the questions.

“Ma’am. I really know nothing. I’m just a housekeeper,” she replied frankly and I nodded.

“Sorry. Sorry,” I ruffled my hair. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have put you in a tight position like that,” I said and she nodded. “Thank you so much for the effort,” I said, waving my hand around the room.

“Anytime,” she smiled before turning to leave. “Let me know if you need anything, ma’am. I’m Lydia, by the way, and I’m just across your room.”

“I’m Leslie,” I retorted and she nodded.

As she was about to turn the doorknob, I called back. “Lydia, do you know when Alex will be back?”

“No, ma’am,” she replied plainly and I nodded.

I was alone in the room now and I slowly slipped on the bed. I stared blankly ahead with tons of thoughts rumbling in my mind. I had no particular order to my thoughts.

I got up from the bed and pulled my clothes before heading to the bathroom to have a bath; a deep cleansing from the day’s stress.

After I was done, I lay on the bed, feeling more refreshed as I remembered Alex mentioned we would be going to an event the following day. I checked the time, and it was past midnight, but Alex wasn’t back, or at least, I had not heard any footsteps arriving.

I stared blankly at the ceiling and a wistful of hot tears prickled at the corner of my eyes and soon rolled out to my temple.

I shut my eyes and could feel the heaviness of my heart; it weighed on me, and I wished my life hadn't taken this turn.

He had asked me earlier if I regretted my decision. I couldn't reply to that but right now, I feel like I was drowning in the world of regret.

Does this really solve my financial problems? Do I really have no other choice but to go about sorting out my bills and help my mum?

I let out a deep breath, but I could feel my eyes weaken, ready to succumb to the hands of the night slumber, when the suddenness of my phone buzzing made me jerk my eyes open.

I groaned before stretching my hand out to reach for it.

At first, I thought it was Alex but the screen appeared to be an unknown number.

I furrowed my brow before picking up the call.

“Hello,” I said as I pressed the phone against my ear.

The caller was quiet for a while before finally speaking.

“Hello, Leslie. This is Ethan. Ethan Hamilton. We met earlier today.”