5: Morning Feelings

Patrick woke up the next morning with a headache. He sat up in bed and looked around, trying to recall the strange dream he'd had.

"FỤCK!" he cursed.

"What happened here?" he muttered. A knock on his door interrupted his thoughts. He looked up as the door opened and Jeff Hudson stepped in.

"Good morning, boss," Jeff greeted, then stared in surprise. Patrick was still sitting in bed, clutching his head.

Patrick started to get out of bed, then realized he was nàked. Jeff quickly averted his gaze, even though he was older than Patrick. Patrick was still his boss.

"Get out!" Patrick commanded.

"Yes, boss!" Jeff replied, hurrying out of the room, wondering what was wrong. Jeff went to take a call from some important clients who were inquiring about why Patrick had missed their meeting the previous night.

Meanwhile, Patrick slid out of bed, trying to remember his dream. He recalled a beautiful woman in his arms, making love, but he couldn't see her face. "But her eyes…" he murmured, frowning. He looked at his bed, about to pull back the covers, and saw the stain.

"Oh my! What happened here?" Patrick exclaimed.

Jeff, who was still just outside the door, rushed back in, ending the call. He stared at his nàked boss and the stained bedspread in shock.

"Get out and give me some privacy," Patrick said.

"I'm sorry, boss, I heard you yell," Jeff stammered, and quickly left, thoroughly confused.

Ever since Patrick had taken over as CEO of his father's businesses, he had become increasingly irritable. Jeff couldn't understand why; Patrick had inherited a fortune. Shaking his head, Jeff left the sitting room, took the elevator to the ground floor, and went out to the garage. It was already past 8:00 AM on a bright Wednesday morning.

"Wasn't it a dream?" Patrick asked himself, throwing back the bedspread and staring at the dried, dark red stain.

Patrick went into his large bathroom to shower, thinking he might have injured himself somehow. He turned on the water and quickly bathed, realizing he was late. Being the boss, he wasn't worried. He owned the Anderson Hotel and Suites, as well as several fashion and blog magazines. Patrick also ran his father's oil business and had numerous personal investments.

He finished showering and stepped back into his room. He glanced at the stained bedspread on the floor and tried not to think about it.

Patrick went to his wardrobe and pulled out a blue suit with a white shirt. He quickly dressed, putting on his underwear and undershirt first, then his trousers. A knock on his door interrupted him. He assumed it was the maids, arriving late to clean his room because he had overslept.

Patrick walked to the large mirror and looked at his reflection. Suddenly, an image flashed through his mind, and his heart skipped a beat.

"What was that?" Patrick muttered, shaking his head. He remembered someone entering his room the night before while he was naked. His eyes narrowed. He strode to the door and flung it open, ready to confront the intruder, still convinced it had all been a dream.

Two slim, dark-skinned maids in pink uniforms stood there.

"What do you want? Can't you wait until I leave?" Patrick yelled, slamming the door in their faces. He walked back to his desk and saw the covered tray of food. He frowned.

"Obviously, it wasn't a dream," Patrick said.

Patrick put his hands on his hips, trying to remember who had brought the food. "That new maid. My goodness!" he exclaimed. He went back to the bedspread, picked it up, and sniffed it, then touched the stain.

His fists clenched. It hadn't been a dream. He threw the bedspread onto the bed, went to the desk, and opened the covered dishes.

"She brought this last night, and she dared to… peep on me? But how?" Patrick shook his head in disbelief, grabbed his briefcase and suit jacket, and left the room.

Patrick glared at the two maids waiting outside. It wasn't either of them; they were both small-chested. He ignored them and went to the elevator.

Downstairs, his mother was sitting at the dining table, smiling and talking to someone. Patrick put his briefcase down, put on his jacket, and picked up his briefcase again. He looked up and saw Willow, smiling at him.

"He's here, Mom," Willow said, winking at him. Patrick narrowed his eyes, his shoes clicking against the tiled floor as he walked toward his mother.

"Good morning, Mother," Patrick greeted, giving her a hug. His mother pulled away, smiling.

"Patrick, your girlfriend is here! I'm so happy to see her," Mrs. Eleanor said.

Patrick remained expressionless, trying to figure out why Willow was there. His mother didn't know they had broken up.

"Son, what's wrong? Didn't you eat your dinner last night?" his mother asked.

Patrick's eyes darkened at her question. Just then, he saw the familiar maid emerge from the kitchen carrying a tray. She looked radiant in her pink uniform and white apron.

Loveth had been preparing her employer's tea with another maid, Aria Jameson, who had worked for the Andersons for ten years. However, Loveth carried the teacup carefully, surprised to see Patrick with his mother in the dining room.

Her grip tightened on the tray; it was the last of the medicinal tea. She walked slowly toward the table, feeling everyone's eyes on her.

Willow looked at Patrick and saw him staring at the maid. She was also surprised to see such a beautiful young woman in the house.

The maid reached the table and greeted them. "Good morning, ma'am. Good morning," she murmured, blushing.

Willow glanced at Patrick. He still had an expressionless face. She knew he was angry; she hadn't expected Tony to record their encounter and send it to him. She had wanted to sleep with Tony after he sent her a picture of himself naked to her W******p chat, but she still loved Patrick.

Willow hadn't expected her secret affair with Tony, and her unannounced trip to New York City to be revealed. She knew Patrick loved her, but Tony had made it look like she had deliberately dumped Patrick for him.