Chapter 12

Theodore’s P.O.V

Thanks to how my morning began, I had a bloody crappy day at work. I was more irritable than usual and it was all because of one person; Maya Knight. Damn her! I should have never brought her back with me here. But how else was she going to pay for what she did? I was pretty sure that she was almost as poor as a church mouse, and heaven knows Yolanda would have taken advantage of this.

I had a series of meetings with my various associates all over the world. My business was growing exponentially that sometimes the numbers rolling in looked like phone numbers. Literally every big cooperation wanted to do business with me. And that boosted my ego way too much, I was afraid that my door wouldn’t fit through the doorway one of these days.

My schedule was packed with new projects and social events I was to attend. I’d be flying back and forth in the coming weeks. I was happy about that, at least I’d be preoccupied and I wouldn’t think too much about Dana.

Her name was taboo in my household and in my heart. That evil witch ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped on it right before my eyes. Whenever I think about it, I get so emotional. My only solace is alcohol, and occasionally, finding somebody to release my tension on. I know it’s wrong, but it’s how I cope. Before, I had no problem bringing my various conquests home, since everybody would be asleep by then and I’d make sure they’d left my dawn, but having Maya under my roof makes it a little harder.

By now she must know a bit about me; my reputation will always precede me. I’m a monster who doesn’t believe in commitment or love. Well, at least not anymore. Love is just a lie, an illusion we are made to think exists but it really doesn’t. It’s cruel and sucks the energy out of you.

I’ll never be dumb enough to entertain that nonsense again.

It was about six o’clock in the evening when I received a Zoom call from Yolanda. Hell, why couldn’t she just leave me alone for a while? Granted, she was my closest companion but that didn’t give her the right to nag me this frequently. When will she get it through her thick skull that what exists between us will never be anything more than friendship?

Hitting the answer button, a fake smile wiped across my face when hers came into frame. She was dolled up as usual, thick fake lashes, intricate makeup and an elaborate hairstyle. At this point, the only natural woman I’d ever noticed was Maya. She was so effortlessly beautiful, even more so when I saw her with wet hair and the tiny towel she was wearing living little to the imagination-

Seriously, what the bloody hell is wrong with me?

“Theo baby, how are you?” she cooed at me, her blood red lips tilted up seductively.

It took so much just to not hang up then and there. “Yolanda. Good to hear from you as always. I’m quite well and you?” I asked her, and she flipped her voluminous hair across her shoulder.

“Doing much better now that I’m speaking to you. I’m still kinda upset that you took that clumsy waitress with you. I bet she’s a total pain in the ass,” she sliced snidely and I snorted lowly. She wasn’t an ass, but she did have a fine ass. I need deliverance at this point.

I offered her a flat look. “I told you that it was the only viable solution. If it had been up to you, you would have escalated the situation and then I’d have to clean up the mess you would have caused. I don’t appreciate being questioned about my actions,” I said rudely and she scoffed.

“You’re so damn impulsive, babe. How many times has that come to bite you in the ass?” she taunted and I glared at her. She held her hands up in surrender. “Anyway, I didn’t call to fight. I called because I wanted to know when you’d be back in Malibu.”

Not anytime soon, that’s for sure. I had so much more happening all over the world that going back to California wasn’t part of the agenda. “I’m not sure. My schedule here is packed. Most of my projects are in Europe for now.”

She pouted, her hand simultaneously lowering to her exposed cleavage. Okay, that was downright desperate. Why did she feel the need to throw herself at me? Did she not have any dignity? “Okay. I hope you do come, or I could always stop by and visit…” she trailed off and I grimaced.

That sounded like a recipe for disaster.

“Look, I have to go now. I still have quite a lot to do before I head home. Au revoir,” I said to her gently and then ended the call, not giving her the chance to say goodbye. I know it was quite impolite, but I couldn’t possibly care less. My business will always come first.

It was around nine in the night when I exited my building and entered my Rolls Royce. The lethargy I was feeling had me wanting to collapse in my bed. I couldn’t wait to do so. But what was keeping me awake was hunger. I was so famished. The only meal I had had was breakfast and that was about twelve hours ago.

My driver pulled up to my driveway and opened the door for me. I immediately removed my suit jacket and loosened my neck tie as I entered my house. “Good evening, sir,” chirped a feminine voice and I got so startled. When I turned around, it was Maya.

“You scared me,” I breathed and closed the door.

She shrugged and put her hands behind her. She probably didn’t mean too, but her sudden posture gave me full view of her curves in the pyjama shorts and tank top she was wearing. She looked sinfully tempting; every fibre of my being was drawn to her. It made absolutely no sense how I responded to her like this. No woman had made me feel this way in a long time.

“I’ll be down shortly, get my food ready,” I remarked, avoiding her gaze and then ascended the stairs.

Before I went to my room, I got into Aiden and Brianna’s room. They were fast asleep, both of them snoring lightly. Looking at them, I realised that I hadn’t been in their lives much ever since the divorce. It wasn’t fully deliberate, they reminded me too much of what I once had; a happy family. Working much helped me to get distracted and in the process, I’ve neglected my own children. I feel ashamed to admit it and yet I made no moves to make amends. I was aware that they needed their father around more, that they yearned for my attention…but I just couldn’t do it. Not yet.

Kissing them both on their foreheads, I left their room and entered mine. After a brief shower, I changed into a pair of pyjama bottoms and a muscle tee. Downstairs once again, I found Maya in the dining room, having sat the table for me as she sipped on something in a mug. She was seated in a chair the farthest aware from mine, and it irked me for some reason. Did she think I was going to bite her? I guess she didn’t think too highly of me after this morning and I sincerely don’t blame her.

After a few bites in silence, I decided to speak. “So, why exactly did you drop out of college?” I asked her boldly, and she looked intently at the table like it was going to suddenly come to life. Must have hit a sensitive spot, I guess.

She cleared her throat. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” she replied curtly, and tucked a lone tendril behind her ear. Ouch, feisty I see. If I was wasn’t interested in her past before, well now I am.

“It’s really not but it amazes me how the daughter of two very influential people could pull such an audacious stunt like that. And from your track history, it’s not the most obnoxious thing you’ve done. I wonder why,” I trailed off with my eyebrows raised and her eyes narrowed into slits.

“Don’t assume you know about me just because you read a couple of sheets of paper that held insignificant data. What I do with my life is my problem. Not yours, or anybody else’s. I’m sick and tired of everybody in this forsaken house thinking they know all about me. Would it kill you snobby Brits to keep your long noses out of my business?” she huffed in utter exasperation.

Believe it or not, I smirked at this. I’d never heard any woman talk to me like that before. “If you’re done with your dinner, I think you know where the kitchen is. Goodnight, sir,” she spurted at me, threw an eyeroll my way and evaporated from my presence.

I wanted to know Maya. I wanted to know everything about her. I wanted to know her better, to understand why she is the way she is. It seems like there is some unresolved anger rooting from her past. Well, that makes two of us.

So far, I’ve failed miserably at keeping her at arm’s length. I’m falling deeper and deeper into whatever this game is, and it’s obvious one of us will get burned.

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Hey guys. What's good?

This is Friday's update and I hope it is a good one. Our lead man is getting himself into some hot soup?

Had anybody missed Yolanda?

I missed her 😂

Anyways, enjoy your day and weekend!

~Deetronite ❤️