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The sound of cutleries clinking against plates could be heard in the dining room as Maddie, Mathew and Audrey ate the hearty breakfast of spaghetti and meatballs, which Mathew had prepared. As they ate, Mathew's worried eyes would occasionally move to his sister. "Stop staring at me like that Matt!" Maddie warned Mathew when he did this a couple times. It was already getting on her nerves. Her eyes moved to glare at him as she spoke. He sighed, and then averted his gaze from her, a frown forming on his face. "You can't blame your kid brother for caring Maddie," Audrey intervened, offering Mathew a smile when he turned to look at her on hearing her words. He returned her smile with a full blown one. There was a certain light playing in his eyes as his gaze lingered on her for a while before he shyly looked away after she turned back to look at him and caught him staring. Maddie rolled her eyes at him while Audrey smiled in amusement. "Don't worry Matt, you can stare at me all you w
After breakfast, Maddie and Audrey had their movie marathon for the rest of Wednesday. Thursday was quite uneventful until the early hours of the evening. Maddie spent most of the day surfing the internet, stalking Jake Conat. She still couldn't believe she would be living in the same apartment with him starting the following week. Breathing the same air as a legend as him. Mathew too was indoors throughout the day, which was unlike him but Maddie was glad, at least he wasn't outdoors causing trouble like he used to. It was in the early hours of the evening that she got a call from an unknown caller. She hesitated but picked the call eventually. "I am Steve Wills, Mr Jake Conat's lawyer. Can we meet up so you can sign the employment contract? I will text you the address," the man on the other line was straight to the point and as soon as Maddie muttered an "Okay," he hung up. An hour later, Maddie was all set to go meet Jake's lawyer. He had sent her the address a few minutes afte
Maddie was confused but of course she had to keep her smile on as she kept her gaze on little Andrew. "We are going shopping?" she muttered, her tone questioning. Andrew didn't reply with words, he just gave her a full blown smile, sheer excitement dancing in his eyes. "Here," the butler's voice made Maddie avert her gaze from Andrew to him. His hand was stretching out a small envelope towards her. "Umm, what is this?" she asked, taking the envelope, unsealing it, and then slipping her mid-finger and index-finger into it. She took out a black card and the confusion playing on her face grew. "Mr Conat wants you to get new clothes," the butler offered her an explanation when she turned to look at him, her expression questioning. Maddie frowned, and then started to return the card into the envelope, stretching it out to him after sealing it back. "I don't need new clothes," she told the butler point-blankly. First it was buying her and her brother dinner and now he wanted get her
One look at the price tag and Maddie froze, literally. The butler hadn't exactly given her a say as to where they were going to be shopping but of course Maddie had an inkling before they got there that it would be one of those high end shopping malls and she had been damn right. Although she had changed her clothes before they had left her place to something less casual, Maddie still felt out of place at the very exquisite shopping mall they were at. Everything in the mall was so classy and expensive, ranging from the clothes to the shoes and then to the other accessories. And the people going in and out of the mall were too. Everyone except for her… "That would look great on you Miss Maddie. Go try it out," Andrew's excited voice rang out as he pointed at a red frilly strapless dress with a slit on one side. The dress was made of organza material. Maddie could tell because she had always had an interest in fashion and clothes, and having a friend like Audrey who was quite the fashio
The female attendant that had been waiting on Andrew Conat and Maddie was a brunette. Hearing Andrew's single word, she immediately made her way towards him, maintaining a safe distance and bowing slightly. "Get your boss here now!" Andrew told her and she immediately ran to do as he had ordered. Maddie was confused as she looked from Andrew to the butler who just kept a straight face not uttering a single word. What the hell was going on? she wondered. The female attendant returned soon after with an elderly man that was bald. "Is something the matter young Mister Conat?" the elderly man addressed Andrew. "Do you know how much I hate being bothered? I am sure you don't because if you did you wouldn't let these two annoying bunch come to the same space as me," Andrew muttered, his eyes were as cold as the tone with which he spoke. "An…" Maddie wanted to cut in but the butler reached out to hold her hand and when she turned to him he shook his head at her as if to tell her not to
As the car drove smoothly down the tarred road, Maddie turned her head to Andrew to receive a smile from him, compelling her to smile back. Something occurred to Maddie so she asked Andrew, "You didn't go to school today?" Thinking about it, he hadn't been at school on Monday morning either, which was the day they had met. Did he skip school a lot? She didn't like it. Andrew shook his head in negation as a response to her question, and then said, "It isn't a big deal as I am being homeschooled." "Oooh," was all Maddie could say. He was homeschooled? Why? She could think of a number of reasons why but then, was it even what the boy wanted? To be homeschooled? She didn't want to press on the topic but she couldn't quite help it as she was concerned. She was curious too but she was more concerned than curious. She couldn't help but think, if she was going to be a good nanny to the boy then she must get to really know him. "Do you like being homeschooled?" she asked Andrew and she did
"Hurry up Matt!" Maddie screamed from outside as she put the last of her stuff inside the boot of the vehicle parked outside her home. Jake Conat had sent the vehicle to them to help them in moving over to his place. The wind was blowing against Maddie's hair causing it to fly all over, even covering her face. She had to reach into her coat's pocket to take out a hair band, which she immediately used to hold her hair up together into a ponytail. She was dressed in a casual wear of pants and a turtle neck sweatshirt, with the coat draped over her body. A few minutes later, Mathew finally came outside dressed in a tracksuit and a hoodie and carrying a single bag. He moved to put it in the boot as Maddie, who had stepped away from the boot, eyed him. "Is that all you are bringing?" she asked him. The bag Mathew had brought outside with him had been quite small, and it was the only bag he was bringing along with him and hence Maddie's question. "Yeah… Everything I need is in there,"
"Wow!" Maddie exclaimed with widened eyes as she took in the overall decor of her bedroom. The room was Chic and Polished yet Simple at the same time. The room was spacious and rugged. The lighting was natural as there were two large windows aligned on both sides of the room with the bed, which had covers and pillows comprising of soft pastels of peach, and mounted right in the centre of the room. A few metres in front of the bed was a desk with a minimal chair giving the vibes of a cozy workplace as a laptop was right on top of the desk with a few books piled by the side, and a flower vase containing fresh flowers on the other side, and just a few metres away from where the desk and the chair was set up was the door which Maddie and Andrew had stepped in from. Not far from where the bed stood, by the side, was another door, leading to the toilet and bathroom. The interior colouring combined peach and white, including the wallpapers. There was also also a huge wardrobe set up on one
The sun was slowly dipping below the horizon, casting a rather warm and golden hue over the serene seascape. The air was cool and soothing. The gentle sound of waves crashing against each other gave off a a soothing backdrop to the scene. Along the sandy shore, an aisle was crafted, adorned with seashells and colourful flowers. Audrey had been the one in charge of all the wedding decorations and she had done one hell of a job! The salty breeze carried with it a sense of anticipation, mingling with the laughter and chatter of everyone gathered, half of which the wedding couple didn't even know. Being the global favourite couple, people had come for their wedding from all around the globe. The place was packed full. It was a good thing that the private beach was immensely spacious. Underneath beautifully constructed bamboo arches, adorned with billowing fabrics and fresh blooming flowers, the guests were sitting in groups. A romantic melody soon started to play and the procession
The long awaited day of the trial of the state versus Linsley Conat finally came. As the masses were now actively involved in this case, Linsley Conat had been unable to bribe her way out of prison. The few people she knew in power in the judiciary system refused to help her. Her last resort, which had been to fake mental illness, had fallen apart because her son had made sure to cut her off completely from those that might be able to help her fake the reports and all the other necessary documents. Backed in a corner, helpless, all she had been able to do was wait dejectedly in her cell for the day of her trial…"All rise!"Everyone in the courtroom rose immediately as the command from the judicial assistant rang out. The judge stepped in and it was after he took his seat that he muttered a lazy, "Sit!" and everyone else in the courtroom took their respective seats.From across the courtroom, Linsley's almost lifeless eyes caught sight of her son and she gave him the most deathly st
It was all over the news the next morning being a Saturday, every news channel was airing it. Newspapers, magazines both online and in hard copy print all carried the news of the arrest of Linsley Conat. The news however didn't say under what grounds she was arrested but in the news published by Starlight Media agency, they announced that the son of Linsley Conat, Jake Conat had agreed to an exclusive interview to discuss the subject of his mother's arrest and give them all the scoop there was. The interview was scheduled for the next day being Sunday. The internet was in a frenzy. Jake got a call from the company warning him not to come because the paparazzi were everywhere. Even the security stationed far ahead at the entrance of the street leading to the mansion had called to inform him that the paparazzi were gathered there as well. Thankfully, the paparazzi couldn't get into the street because of the tight security at the entrance so they couldn't get anywhere close to the ma
It was a lot. Everything that had happened in the past couple days. It was too much revelation. She was angry, bitter, sad, frustrated, and hurt but most of all, what she felt the most was fear. The fear of losing the love she shared with Jake. The fear of losing the happiness he had brought into her life. The fear of losing the peace he had brought her. The fear of losing the complete perfect family she had envisioned. The fear of losing her brother even. It was because of this fear that she hadn't come to a decision all the while or even address the situation. Now she was ready. She knew what she had to do. Karen had ended their session with the words, "Maddie dear, don't forget that the past is past. It actually has no control whatsoever on your present or future, not unless you allow it. Your happiness does not lie in the past but in your now." Karen's words had been the final push she had needed to come to a decision… "Welcome mummy," Andrew who was in the living room rushed
Maddie had been sitting right across Karen for roughly fifteen minutes already, yet she hadn't said a word other than the greeting she had muttered to the lady when she had first stepped in. The warm smile playing on the therapist's face didn't falter, she continued waiting patiently for Maddie to speak. Drawing a sharp breath, Maddie finally opened her mouth to speak. "I umm, it's umm, complicated. I don't even know where to start." Karen's smile widened. "You can start anywhere you like Maddie. " The way Karen's office was designed, it was a modern office setting with an office table and a chair, and then across the table on the other end were two other chairs, arranged to slantingly face each other. There were a stretch of cupboards right behind the office table and chairs, at the far end of the wall, it contained drawers containing files of patients. Ahead of the office table before one got to the door or if one came from the door, were two adjacent reclining sofas. This w
"Idiot!" Linsley cursed under her breath the moment Stephanie was gone, kicking at her feet in fury, and just then her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and then picked the call rather hurriedly. "So, have you found that fool Harry?" she asked the person on the other line. "No we haven't. He seems to have disappeared," came the reply from the person on the other line. "Then find his f**king family fool and use them to lure him out!" She practically yelled into the phone. "Well, umm, his father and younger sister have disappeared as well. I think your son is protecting them by keeping them hidden somewhere." "Arrrgh!" Linsley screamed, tossing her phone across the wall in anger. "Incompetent fools!" she cursed, and then started to parade about the room. Her son was protecting Harry! Was he f**king insane? He had threatened to send her to jail but it had just been an empty threat, right? Well, she was beginning to think of the threat as more than just an empty threat.
Jake couldn't believe she was really in his arms. Sleeping so soundly with her face pressed against his chest. He had been on his way out to get himself a fresh cup of coffee when the knock on his door had sounded. He had immediately known it was her. So, he had quickly answered the door and alas! It had been indeed her!Even though she had not exactly voiced out her reason for being there, he had seen it playing so evidently in her eyes. But then, there had been conflicting emotions playing in her eyes too and she had almost scurried away. Thank goodness he hadn't let her! He hadn't known where the courage had come from to ask her to stay and let him cuddle her. He had almost thought she wouldn't stay or let him even as much as touch her but she had agreed. She had stayed and now she was in his arms.However, Jake didn't know whether to be pleased or not. It was almost like she was giving herself one last time to be with him, and then afterwards she would leave him for good. It wa
"You umm, you have something on your mouth," Jake's voice sounded seconds later when Maddie didn't look away like he had expected her to when their gazes first locked. His shaky voice gave away his nervousness. He wasn't lying though, she did have food particles smeared on one corner of her lips.On hearing his words, Maddie reached for a serviette piece on the table to wipe her mouth all over as Jake hadn't specifically pointed out the part of her mouth that was smeared with food particles. And she wasn't ready to ask him for specifics. As she performed this action, Jake found his eyes lowering to her lips, swallowing as he remembered how it tasted. She finished cleaning her mouth, her eyes returning to him and catching the desire playing in his eyes. Her gaze on him turned into a glare and he quickly looked away from her feeling slightly embarrassed. "Mummy, can you please pass me the ketchup?" Andrew's voice was Jake's saving grace as Maddie averted her gaze from him to her s
Jake did well to stay out of Maddie's way for the rest of the evening. Even skipping dinner. He was already content enough that she had returned to the mansion although he knew that her reason for returning was most probably because of her son. It had been evident in her face earlier when she saw him after getting out of the car. The way she had turned away from him so swiftly. He was pretty sure that if she could, she would have dug a hole and hidden herself in it right there and then. It was how much she despised him now. Well, she did have every right to. Closing his laptop, Jake rose from his chair and started to make his way out of the office study. He proceeded towards the kitchen in the second floor, opening the refrigerator to take out a foil covered plate. The plate contained the quesadilla pizza his son had given him earlier saying that Maddie and him had baked it and kept some for him. He knew that them keeping some for him was all his son and not at all Maddie's decis