Chapter 36

MAY

I clenched my fists. I thought I could fake a smile but my face didn’t cooperate with my slyness. She was dressed in a different attire, one that I had never seen since I got to the mansion. The maid stepped backwards as she came forward.

“My name is Lydia and I am the current housekeeper. For the next two weeks, I will take up the duties of the butler and manage the maids until Mama comes back. Nice to meet you, Miss,” She smiled at me. Just by taking one look at her, I could tell that she was an opportunist. She was smiling so confidently, not minding that she was caught with my husband last night.

What an effrontery.

“Whose decision is this?” I asked calmly. I was so close to having an outburst. I had to control myself but it was getting harder every moment.

“It wasn’t Nicholas, don’t worry,” Lydia replied.

“And how dare you call my husband by his name! Are maids supposed to do such discourtesy?” I asked angrily. I was genuinely upset.

“You can leave,” Lydia told the maid beside me. The maid bowed and left hurriedly. Now, Lydia and I were alone. Lydia smiled at me and sat down as well, facing me.

“You are very bold,” I muttered.

“Thanks for the compliment!” Lydia replied.

“You must have heard me wrong…” I said calmly. “That boldness of yours will be what gets you out of a job. You should learn to be humble.”

“Is that so?” Lydia began to laugh. “Shall I get on my knees and beg for your forgiveness? It seems I have upset you.”

The anger brewing in me was uncontrollable. I was breathing hard and staring at Lydia. She seemed to be enjoying herself.

“You caught us last night. Your husband and I, I mean,” Lydia said quietly. “You must have been shocked. Well, I would be shocked too if I were you.”

“Don’t test my patience,” I muttered under my breath.

“But it doesn’t matter to you, does it?” Lydia continued. “He went after you yesterday.”

“Of course, he did!” I said confidently.

“And then he came back to me,” Lydia smiled. “Isn’t that what matters? It told me a great deal about your relationship with him. I know it very well.”

She knew how to make me angry. However, I knew I would only be making her happy if I acted like it. I stood up and she did as well. We faced each other. She was confident, I was angry. She was definitely winning for now.

“You can continue your affair with him,” I told her calmly.

“You don’t mean that,” Lydia laughed.

“You know nothing, Lydia…” I smiled. “There is a reason why I am his lawfully wedded wife while you are a mere maid…”

“A housekeeper,” She corrected. “I am no longer a maid.”

“You will return to being a maid when Mama comes back!” I replied.

“Oh, she is coming back,” Lydia said sarcastically. “Who knows? What if Mama encounters an accident on the way? What if something bad happens to her and she can’t come back again?”

I moved closer to her with threatening eyes.

“If anything happens to Mama…” I said under my breath.

“Calm down, Miss,” Lydia smiled. “I won’t hurt Mama. I am just saying that since the world is unpredictable. Who knows what would happen to any of us? Nobody.”

“Go away,” I told her. “Do not make me lose my temper.”

Lydia smiled as she always did. She left afterwards.

**

I was irritated by everything. My morning routine was now annoying to me. Everything felt like a setup. Surely, Nicholas must have promoted Lydia. Who knows? He might be the one who got Mama to leave the mansion. I was burning for answers. Around noon, I couldn’t bear it anymore. Abby had arrived at that time.

“Let’s go on a drive!” I told Abby.

“Why?” I heard her ask.

“No questions.”

Abby was resourceful in that way. She knew how to obey orders. She drove me by herself. I made sure the windows were open and feeling the breeze against my face made me calm down. I stared at the sky. It wasn’t sunny.

“Will it be unprofessional if I ask how you are feeling?” Abby asked carefully.

“Focus on your driving,” I muttered. I had a change of mind now. “But how is that unprofessional? Isn't it your duty to protect me?”

“From physical harm…” Abby completed.

“Oh, you don’t do the emotional part of it,” I smiled.

“I have never done it. Getting attached to my clients would go against my ethics,” Abby said. “However, I think I can break that rule for you. Tell me what happened.”

“It’s embarrassing!” I exclaimed.

“Is it about your husband?” Abby asked calmly.

“How did you know? Are you a seer by any chance?” I was genuinely curious.

“Romantic issues are always like that. I guess you had a misunderstanding with him. That happens a lot between couples,” Abby muttered. I wondered if that was her own way of comforting me.

“He… That jerk actually…” I contemplated telling Abby the truth. “Don’t bother.”

“Did he cheat on you?” Abby asked naturally. Now I couldn’t believe that she simply guessed that.

“Tell me the truth. How did you know?” I asked carefully. I was suspecting Abby now.

“Experience,” Abby muttered. “Many of the women I’ve protected are those going through a divorce. In most cases, their husband cheated on them and when they asked for a divorce, he threatened them and they needed a bodyguard. All wealthy men are the same. All are playboys.”

“He pays you. You shouldn’t badmouth him…” I told her.

“I guess so. So what are you going to do now?” Abby asked me carefully.

“You are the one with experience, Abby. What do you think I should do?” I replied to her question with another question. She stared at me for a second and faced the front again.

“Do what your heart tells you,” Abby told me. “But I know one thing for sure. Nicholas loves you. I could see it in his eyes.”