Chapter 27

Maya’s P.O.V

If I could choose between being in hell and being in the Ice Castle right now, I’d definitely choose hell. I thought I’d never have to see Yolanda ever again but the universe had just done me dirty. And she was going to be here for a week? That smirk she gave me earlier was a clear indication that she as going to make the next 7 days an inexplicable form of torture for me.

Instead of being afraid, I was pissed at Mr. Duke. Why on earth would he bring her? So many questions swarmed my mind as I watched her cling to his arm and she smiled affectionately at him. He reciprocated the smile, but I could see him glance at me in the corner of his eye.

“Yolanda, sweetheart, it’s so good to see you again. It’s been so long!” Ms. Duke beamed and went in to give her a hug and an air kiss. It was obvious that she was Team Yolanda and for some odd reason, I felt a pang of jealousy even though I really shouldn’t.

Meredith appeared a few feet away from Yolanda and did a curtsey. “Miss Heinz, a pleasure to have you here,” she inclined her head towards her and Yolanda feigned modesty even though she was no doubt eating up every second of it. “Shall I take your bags?” she offered and immediately went over to carry one of her many suitcases. My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, as Leslie and the other driver lulled them in, with what seemed to be a lot of effort.

Yolanda redirected her witch eyes over to the kids who regarded her with caution. She took a step towards them and they immediately came over to me, hiding their tiny forms behind my legs. “Aw, don’t be afraid little ones. I mean no harm. Your daddy and I are friends, right daddy?” she purred over her shoulder at Mr. Duke and he rolled his eyes.

“Yolanda, why don’t you get situated upstairs. Let Aiden and Brianna show you the way,” he spoke calmly and tilted his head towards the kids. With angry pouts, they began to lead Miss Venom towards the grand stairwell and she giggled at them, striking up conversation with Ms. Duke as they went together. Mr. Duke then move closer to me until he was about two feet away from me.

I couldn’t meet his eyes, so I looked down at my bare feet. He lifted my head gently until I met his hollow yet strangely comforting blue eyes. “What’s wrong?” he asked softly and I bit my lip, shaking my head to tell him nothing. He sighed before clasping my hand in his and pulling me towards my room. He shut the door behind him and cupped my face afterwards. “Now that we’re alone, tell me what happened. I can tell you have been crying.”

And then I started to cry again as I wound my arms around his torso and burrowed my head into his chest, soaking it inevitably. His arms immediately covered me and he patted my hair soothingly, allowing me to let out all these emotions I’d kept bottled up inside. Somehow, he was able to manoeuvre us to the bed so that we both laid on it with me still in his arms.

“I’m sorry for crying,” I murmured in a cracked voice and used my free arm to wipe the saltiness from my face. “You must think I’m dramatic and troubled…which I am,” I tried to joke but ended up sounding like a charity case. Yikes.

He sat us up so that we faced each other. “I don’t think you’re troubled. I just think you’re someone whose been hurting for a long time and you finally let it all out. I admire you for that,” he told me with a small smile and my heart literally melted. It was official. I’d just realised that I’m falling for this man. Not my best move, but I couldn’t help. I hadn’t known that underneath all the ice and arrogance, he was actually a very sweet and caring guy. Who wanted want a man like that?

I exhaled shakily before running my hand through my unruly brown locks. “My dad called…and I honestly don’t know why but he was acting nice. Like the last time I’d seen him he hadn’t overtly disowned me, and now he’s just disturbed my peace. How dare he act casual about that? He has no idea how much he and my mother destroyed my life. Am I really that pathetic to them? Am I even worthy of their love…,” I mumbled with a sob but he quickly wiped away the tears that had already escaped my eyelids once again.

“I want you to listen to me very carefully,” he began, his tone stern. “Your parents are the vilest creatures in the universe for not acknowledging how blessed they are to have a spectacular daughter like yourself. And I have no idea what you’ve gone through in the past, but I can safely say that you are far from pathetic. You’re amazing in your own right. Hell, look at how much colour you’ve brought into this bland mansion. I don’t ever want to hear you question whether you’re worthy of their love, because if anything, they are not worthy of your love. They don’t deserve you,” he profoundly declared to me. I’d never heard such profound words directed towards me and for the first time in my life, I believed something positive about myself. I was so overcome with raw emotion that the next thing I knew, I’d latched my lips onto his smooth ones.

Even though I’d initiated the kiss, he’d quickly turned it in his favour. It was overpowering, passion filled; I felt my head reel as his lips fiercely stroked mine. Alas, we had to break about to gasp in some air and no doubt quench our raging hormones. I blame these period hormones. Any other day, I’d have never done this with a straight mind. But it felt so damn good.

He regarded me with hooded eyes, a lazy smile playing at his impeccable mouth. “I take it that my point got across,” he teased and I cupped my warm face before nodding shyly. He leaned down to peck my lips once more before rising from the bed.

“Thank you for that pep talk, Lord knows I really needed it. And again, so sorry for being an emotional wreck. I swear, I’m not usually this childish,” I remarked sheepishly and he laughed in that deep, alluring voice of his. He has it all; the looks, the body, the voice, the money, the power…is there anything this man doesn’t have?

He rubbed his hands together before letting them fall limp at his sides. “There’s no need to thank me or apologise. I really don’t like to see such a beautiful woman cry,” he admitted wistfully, and I swear my heart exploded. I’d heard those words before, but coming from him, they were worth more than gold.

I bit my lip to supress my crap-eating grin from bursting through. He really has no idea how much he is boosting my ego. “Why is Yolanda here?” I found myself asking after a couple of seconds. I hadn’t forgot about that and the fact that we were under the same room was both scary and irritating.

He visibly grimaced momentarily before covering it up with a poker face. “She was in town, and asked to stay her for a few days. I couldn’t exactly say no since she basically showed up at my office with her luggage and stuff. So, in the end, I conceded…and the rest is history. It really isn’t a big deal. She’s my friend and I’m just lending a helping hand,” he told me, so desperately trying to reassure me but my nerves were all twisted up like a pretzel.

If I hadn’t said this before, I’ll say it now; Yolanda Heinz is bad news. Back in Malibu, the employees at Ooh La Food called her the Louis Vuitton She-Devil, or LVSD for short. And she really did live up to that nick name, having had a couple of employees fired during her visits. It was just in her nature to wreak havoc wherever she went, and that’s exactly what she was going to do right here.

But this time around, I was her target.

I was so exposed to imminent danger, and by the looks of it, Theodore wasn’t even aware of it. I bet he even forgot about what happened the day of my clumsy mistake. How she’d belittled and berated me in front of the whole restaurant. She was also why I lost my job. And it wasn’t rocket science that she was hopelessly in love with him…and somehow viewed me as a threat. Deep down, her trip wasn’t just some coincidence. She was here to outright end me, if her little smirk earlier was anything to go by.

Noticing my unsettled demeanour, he leaned down and caught my chin his hand, directing my vision to him. “There’s nothing to be worried about, darling. I highly doubt that she’ll be any trouble. When she’s not in the spotlight, Yolanda is relatively harmless,” he spoke soothingly and I nodded demurely, but inwardly I was face palming at how naïve he was being. Harmless? Are we even talking about the same person?

With one last peck, he made for the door and turned the nob. “You’ll be joining us for dinner, won’t you?” he asked expectantly, but I shook my head no. I was still riled up from all that had transpired today. Solitude sounded like a much better and palatable option right now. Plus, I’d lost my appetite as soon as I saw Yolanda’s stunning yet malevolent face.

“I’d rather be alone right now, if that’s okay with you,” I whispered timidly, hoping not to give away any inner turmoil I was currently feeling. I would not show him or anyone for that matter, just how much his so-called friend got under my skin. I hate to say this, but he really did have lousy taste in friends. First Meredith, now Yolanda? That’s just messed up, bruv.

He nodded in understanding before leaving my room. I sighed and threw my body back in grogginess. I so desperately wanted to sink into my blooming love for Mr. Duke but there was this foreboding premonition that I was now living on a countdown. At this rate, it was only a matter of days before it all came crashing down. Stop being so damn superstitious, you’re being silly, I tried to mentally reprimand my wayward conscience but even my rebellious side was telling me otherwise.

All good things must come to an end and my situation was no different.

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Hey guys. Sorry for the somewhat late update. Technical difficulties on my end.

I don't think I have much to say about this chapter. It is a filler of some sort. Hope you liked it.

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Enjoy your weekend!

~Deetronite