Chapter 17

Maya’s P.O.V

I’d always imagined what it would feel like to get hit by a truck; and now I knew that it must be painful as hell but nothing compared to being fooled by someone you had a crush on.

As I laid in my bed last night, my mind racing with thoughts of how Mr. Duke and that bimbo were up to no good upstairs in his bedroom and I was downstairs crying myself to sleep like I’d just gone through a horrible break-up, I decided that this was totally beneath me.

I’m Maya freaking Knight and I do not cry over men. And yet, there I was doing the one thing I told myself to never do.

My teenage self would be so disappointed in me. The worst part is that I’d made myself believe in the absurd notion that Mr. Duke had feelings for me! How had I easily forgotten all the principle I’d engraved in my heart over the years? I need to get my crap together and remember my objective here; pay off my debt and get the hell out of here as soon as possible.

But who knows how soon that will be? I am but a puppy at the end of long leash held by a very handsome yet jerkish man. If I were in high school, he’d be the stereotypical hot bad boy that everybody tells you to stay away from and I’d have been the naïve and generic not so innocent girl who ends up getting mixed up with his bipolar tendencies.

So, by the time I woke up I had resolved that I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me sad. If he was going to act like that night didn’t happen then I was going to do the same. I peeled out of my covers at six o’clock sharp and got ready for the day. Feeling just a little bit devilish, I got dressed in a black sport-bra type of crop top, a plaid skirt that ended mid-thigh and black army boots. Sure, it by no means went in accordance with the weather here in London but why not? It’s my body and I can just about wear whatever I damn please.

After tidying up my room I made my way over to the kitchen humming an imaginary tune. I passed Meredith in the halls and she regarded me with wide eyes. “Where are the rest of your clothes?” she demanded with a stoic face and I grinned at her.

“The same place as your sense of style; in the ICU suffering from non-existence,” I quipped sarcastically and flipped my hair over my shoulder. Her face morphed into a glare but I didn’t stay too long to hear what next she was going to say.

When I entered the kitchen, I greeted Matt and Ann with a chirpy voice. With the way I was acting, nobody could tell that I’d spent majority of the night in tears. One of these days I should find myself in holiday brushing shoulders with Ana De Armas and the likes.

Matt paused momentarily from preparing the food. “I can’t say I’d ever thought I’d see you dressed like that. Any particular reason as to why you’re wearing this skimpy outfit?” he asked, brow quirked in curiosity.

I simply shrugged and tapped on the counter top. “It’s a bit hot today so I thought why not wear something that will give me some ventilation,” I voiced innocently and Ann guffawed at my comment.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re trying to entice someone. The master perhaps,” she aired sagely and I scowled at her.

I crossed my arms. “And why would I do that?” I asked, fake incredulity drowning my tone.

“I don’t know, you tell me,” She winked at me and then grabbed a broom in order to get her duties started.

Meredith entered the kitchen. “Theodore is by the table, go and serve him his food,” she ordered me harshly and I rolled my eyes before grabbing the tray with the food stuffs. I felt the urge to spit in his tea but that would have been too cruel. I’ll save that for another day perhaps.

When I got into the dining room, he was seated at his usual seat looking no less than a model in his crisp cream suit and baby blue shirt, his hair jelled back to perfection. He was looking down at his phone with a frown on his face. I placed the tray on the table and cleared my throat to grab his attention. He looked up but did a double take when he took notice of my apparel.

“Good morning,” I beamed, clasping my hands behind my back. I didn’t miss the way his eyes travelled along the length of my body with his steamy cobalt eyes. The intensity of his scrutiny made my knees wobble and for a split second, I regretted doing this. This was such a bad idea.

Our eyes locked for a few seconds before he broke contact first and looked away. “Good morning,” he spoke in a raspy voice full of raw emotion. I smirked inwardly at this. Okay, maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea.

I took a step further until I was a few feet way. I could see him struggle to control himself and his wandering eyes as he diverted his attention to his insipid breakfast. “Will your friend be joining you or has she already left?” I asked him boldly. I’d been wondering where his lady companion was because I didn’t hear her cuss him out yet as the previous one had done.

Guilt flashed in his eyes but he quickly masked it with an impassive facial expression. “I don’t see how that concerns you,” he sliced frigidly and I laughed humourlessly.

“It doesn’t but I need to know whether or not I should request Matt to make something for her to eat or has she already left like the last one,” I countered with my eyes narrowed. I knew what I was doing was perilous but I didn’t care. He needed to know that I don’t let anybody screw with my sanity and get away with it easily.

He banged his cup on the table and turned his scorching eyes to me. The flames dancing in them could have easily burned me alive but I extinguished them with the cold emanating from mine. “Maya,” he began in a strained and desperate voice. “I think you’re overstepping your boundaries.”

“Well, you started it when you kissed me,” I hissed lowly at him. He stood up and moved closer to me until our chests were almost touching. “Tell me, was I just another woman you could play with like a damn barbie doll?” I demanded, looking him square in the eyes.

He closed his eyes in frustration. “You aren’t just another woman to me,” he spoke so quietly that I almost didn’t hear him. I couldn’t quite tell if he was being sincere but those seven words made my heart rate skyrocket. What did he mean by that? When he opened up his eyes once again, they were now devoid of emotion and that hollow visage I’d witnessed before had diluted them. “When I’m around you, I can’t think straight. You make me want to do things I don’t normally do and make me think things I really should not think about. I cannot be around you and behave,” he again said blankly and took a step back from me.

“Meredith?” he yelled and she was in the room in a flush. From the corner of my eyes, I could see the young old maid exchanging curious glances between us. His words stung and felt like a slap right across my face. I chided myself for getting myself into this mess yet again, and my fists balled at my side. Twice he’d made me feel a whirlwind of emotions and then he says he can’t be around me. I can’t be around you either because you make me question myself too.

She clasped her hands in front of her body. “Yes, Theo?” she batted her eyelashes at him but sent a brief derisive look in my direction.

“Pack my suitcases. I’m leaving for some time,” he voiced, his eyes still on me. Meredith did a small curtsey and scurried out of the room ensuite to do the task.

Mr. Duke shook his head and then resumed his seat at the head of the table. I hugged myself and looked down at my boots, an uncalled-for sensation of hurt threatening to burn me alive from the inside out. Why was his abrupt departure affecting me so much? Should I care what he does with his life? Somebody tell me how I arrived at this freaking confusing juncture in my life.

“It’s for business, Maya. Don’t overthink things. Now, get back to your duties. I don’t think I’ll need you for anything now,” he waved me off flippantly, going back to his icy self and totally disregarding my feelings.

I nodded stiffly. “As you wish,” I reposited thickly and turned on my heels to leave.

Maybe this time apart will do us some good, or will it?

_________________________

Happy Monday loves? Was the weekend good? Were you thinking about this story?

What did you think about the chapter?

Thoughts on Theodore's behaviour and Maya's too?

What do you think will happen next?

Next Update : Friday 18 November.

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~Deetronite