Love, Lies and Billionaires

Maren raised her eyes for the paper on the table as soon as the knock on the door came. She knew who it was, and she gritted her teeth, just knowing that she would lose a very competent staff at any moment.

“Come in,” she answered and sat up straight with her eyes on the door.

Louise came in, file in hand, as she approached Maren’s desk with her cheerfully fixed face.

“These were the documents dropped off the other day that needed your signature, ma’am,” she announced, and Maren tapped the table for her to lay them.

“You sent for me?” Louise asked, staring at her boss who hadn’t taken her eyes off her since she walked in.

Maren scanned her from her head to where was visible to her. She looked so elegant in the yellow blazer and trousers which she wore.

She packed her hair into a loose bun in the middle of her head, which really gave her that sassy look coupled with the redness of her lips.

She really was the one thing Alexander had given her that she hadn’t regretted, and just the thought of what she’d done sent a thousand tiny needles into her skin and angered her.

Until now, Louise had been a really reliable and hardworking secretary who was ready to fill in her absence even when she wasn’t asked to, and Maren knew she was going to miss that.

Maren’s eyes traced their way back to Louise’s face, which now held a mixture of confusion and fear.

“Is there a problem, ma’am?” Louise managed to squeak as she shifted from one foot to the other.

Maren sighed and shifted her gaze to the tile in front of her. “There isn’t. Except you want to make it one.”

The secretary’s brows furrowed. “I really don’t get you.”

“I just need a brief answer or confirmation about something”

“What could that be?”

Maren raised her gaze back to the young lady and leaned forward on the table. “The last DNA test which you picked up”

*****

She bit her lip and stared out the window of the moving car. Her mind drifted off in different directions.

She was thankful that she hadn’t decided to drive herself or she’d be halfway to emptying half her entire bank account as a plus for a person of her status.

The more the ride lasted, the more she developed second thoughts on whether to go, as a lot was going to be determined in less than an hour.

And that really gave her the chills.

At the right moment, Maren’s eyes turned forward and the view of Kendrick’s house became visible.

“We’ve arrived,” the chauffeur announced as they waited for the gate to open completely.

Slowly but smoothly, the car pulled into the driveway and parked at a spot which was meant for vehicles which belonged to visitors.

The car engine turned off and Maren took a deep breath, trying to contain the massive amount of anxiety she was feeling right now.

What if he really was lying? What if they’d never met, and that was just a forged copy of the locket? But why would he lie? Just to get her? Or was he some undercover agent trying to ruin her?

More importantly, who exactly was the man in particular?

All these questions ran through her mind as she stepped out of the vehicle and headed with calculated steps towards the massive and elegantly designed building.

She didn’t even get to push the doorbell when it opened to the smiling face of a maid.

“Miss Sharppe, master’s been expecting you,” she informed and paved the way for Maren to enter.

With steady steps, she walked in and turned around. “This way, ma’am,” she said, indicating that she was to go up the stairs.

Maren lifted her eyes to the many staircases which went round a fat pillar and up to a part which wasn’t visible from where she stood.

The maid nodded, as if in encouragement at seeing Maren’s eyes.

With no words said, Maren complied, and they both began the journey up the roll of steps till they finally got to a door, where the maid bowed and climbed back down.

Maren looked at the door, which she stood before. The door, which Maren stood before, was brown and had a design that resembled flowers, but upon closer inspection, appeared to be giant splashes of brown paint.

She knew Kendrick to be overly dramatic sometimes, because what was it with the strange room? The other times she’d been in his house, they’d either been in the living room or in his room.

She had a strange feeling about this room-or maybe it was just the nervous feeling in her stomach. Yeah, that had to be it, she concluded and reached for the handle.

“I thought you’d never decide to come in.” His baritone filled her ears as she sighted him staring out the window with his back to her.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

“Good choice of location,” she complimented as she looked around the room.

It was widely spaced with a high ceiling but it was furnished like a living room and study , had sex and had an incredible child because the interior designs were to die for.

“It’s my everything room.” He explained. I come in here when I need to get away from things and think for a while, and it’s everything” he turned around to look at her.

Maren felt frozen to the spot as they locked eyes. Her intrusive thoughts got the best of her as he strolled towards her.

“You do look beautiful,” he complimented before turning his gaze to the rectangle-like bottle which he had picked up and began pouring into two glasses.

“Thank you”

“You look a little shaken. Is everything alright?” he asked and extended a glass to her, which she took.

“No, I’m fine” she took a sip of the liquid but was too absentminded to feel its sting in her throat.

“Well then, if you say so.” he downed the glass in a gulp and began pouring another. “How about you take a seat? You said you wanted to talk to me about something?”

Maren watched his every movement like he was some serial killer. “I really don’t think sitting would be necessary, Kendrick.”

‘If that’s even his real name,’ the red angel whispered.

“Really? Why so?” he asked and settled himself onto a sofa from which he could view her directly.

“I just want to know how you got that locket”