2024-07-28 00:12:49Nora
Maxwell Ratliff entered the room with urgent footsteps. Did this guy follow me here?My eyes tracked his movements as he circled the table. He stood beside Mrs Ratliff.
He raised his head and his sharp gaze fell on my face. He frowned and scowled down at me. I pressed my shoulders against the chair and straightened my legs to make myself smaller.
Marylin beamed at me. “Nora, this is my son Max Ratli..” This man was my employer's son? Why did l not think of it.? The same surname on both their businesses. Maxwell removed his dark eyes from my flushed face. He addressed his mother, his voice irritated.
“ What is she doing here?.”
His deep hostile voice inquired. Marylin glared at her son. “ What? Max behave please, this is Nora Reidy, my new employee.”
Max stared daggers at me,“ fire her.” Fire me? Before l even started? The man was not only rude, he was also cruel. I gave my employer a quizzical look. She was staring at her son with burning eyes.
"Why would l do that, l don't meddle in your affairs, don't meddle in mine.”
Max drummed his fingers on the smooth surface of the table, his intense black eyes bore into mine. “ She is a mess and clumsy, she will cost you customers.”
Mrs Ratliff's gaze moved back and forth between Max and I. “ You two know each other? Perfect.” l kept quiet because l did not exactly know the rude louse in front of me.
“ Mum, were you listening to anything l said? She is not fit to work for Ratliff Restaurants.”
As the duo argued about me as if l was not there, l took the opportunity to study Maxwell Ratliff thoroughly.
He was a six footer, his broad shoulders filled the suit jacket nicely. His jet black hair shone with good health, his neat trimmed beard had me fantasising about nuzzling my face against his. I had a thing for bearded men. His symmetrical face was a sight to behold.
He opened his lips, his white teeth gleamed. I watched as he tried to sabotage my chances at a job.
“Look at her, she is ogling me like a fool. She is absent-minded, she is going to mix up the orders. Mum fire her, she didn't sign anything yet, right?.”
l blushed as two pairs of eyes observed me curiously. I slapped myself mentally for daydreaming.
Marylin glared at him, “ get back to your own playground, leave me alone.”
Max raised his hands, “ ok, don't come running to me when she starts to cost you money.”
Max pinned me with a stare before he sauntered to the door.
"Hold on, come back here.” His mother called him back.
He came and stared down at her, “ what now mum?.”
Jeez what a rude jerk.
“ You know your grandfather has been on your neck about a grandchild. We waited and waited but failed to deliver. I have a solution for you. Her.”
Marylin Ratliff pointed her manicured finger at me.
Max snorted and started to leave,“ stop right there young man, l'm serious, so is your grandfather.
Take this seriously too, you know the consequences if you don't. Your grandfather is running out of patience.”
“ Mum, you are killing me here, she is a ruffian. You should have seen her after she poured water on me. Instead of apologising she went on a rant. She will disgrace me if l marry her.”
“Come on baby, it was a small tiff between you, forgive her.”
They went back to talking about me as if l was a commodity, as if l was invisible. I became irritated.
I stood up abruptly and pushed the chair out of my way. “ I'm sorry Mrs Ratliff.I don't appreciate you and your son talking about me as if l'm a thing. Yes i spilled my guts to you but l was looking for a job not marriage.”
Mrs Ratliff sheepishly rubbed her nose,“ see, l told you mum, she is a sniper.”
Marylin turned on him,“ shut up, she is right, we discussed her as if she was invisible. Nora, l'm sorry. Please forgive me and my son.”
Max walked rapidly to the door,“ bye mum." He waved before he exited and closed the door behind him.
There was an awkward silence between us. I cleared my throat,“ Mrs Ratliff, do l still have a job?.” Marylin smiled at me,“ of course you silly child, you do. You didn't do anything wrong, instead l wronged you. You can go home now. We will tackle the paperwork tomorrow. l suddenly have a headache.”
I stood rooted to the spot. There were so many questions in my mind. “ Mrs Ratliff, can l ask you a question?.” She nodded.
“ Is Maxwell handicapped somehow? Why doesn't he find a wife for himself?.”
Marylin threw her head back and laughed, her shoulders shook in merriment. “ Nora, my son is more than capable. The problem is his grandfather is seeking a particular woman for him. Max's circle of females are vain and snobbish. We don't want that type in our family. You are exactly the type we are looking for.”
I raised my brows,“ why? Because l'm poor and wretched in your eyes?.”
Marylin got to her feet and halted in front of me. “ Listen daughter, don't ever look down on yourself like that again. You achieved so much against all odds. Hold your head high, be proud of your accomplishments, ok? I'm a good judge of character. l marked you as a good person as soon as I laid my eyes on you”
I nodded my head vigorously, tears clouded my vision. No one ever praised me for my achievements except granny. l felt in my heart her praise was genuine.
Mrs Ratliff wiped off my tears with her soft hands,“ stop crying, give me a smile.”
I gave her a weak smile. “ That's my girl, come to work at eight o'clock tomorrow. My driver will take you home now. Greet your grandmother for me, ok?.”
I sniffed,"yes Mrs Ratliff, l will.”
“ Come on, stop with the Mrs thing. It makes me sound so old. l don't have a grandchild yet, you know.”
She winked playfully at me. I said my goodbyes and the Ratliff driver took me home.
My granny was so happy when l told her l got a job. Her wrinkly tired face split into a wide smile. I decided to withhold the marriage nonsense from my granny.
I rested in my room the whole day, thinking about what happened at the restaurant.
I liked Marylin so much, she was down to earth despite being so rich. Her son was another matter.
I shot up from the bed, unlocked my phone and searched for him in the local newspapers. I was not active on social media. l knew next to nothing about Max Ratliff, besides the common news that he was a bachelor billionaire.
The tabloids described him as a 31 years old multi billionaire.He owned an airline business, had shares in the family construction business. He also had his hand on many other business ventures. They also mentioned he went through women like an electric razor. What a sleazeball.
On Saturday morning, l did my routine, then swept the yard. Afterwards l rested on the rickety chair on the porch.
At around ten o'clock, a fleet of armored black SUV's sped into my yard. I watched as the middle one opened and the last person l expected at my house stepped out. He strode towards me with purposeful steps. His sharp black eyes stared intently on my face.
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Chapter 74. Camera room
Max On our way back from the mountains, l had to remind myself from time to time l was flying the chopper. I lost concentration so many times. My gut told me Selborne was up to something. His insolent demeanor forewarned me to gear up and be prepared. The how, when and where remained a mystery but a problem was coming my wife's way. I could feel it. As the chopper crested the mountain range my anger and fear intensified. My anger stemmed from Selborne's assumption that he could hurt my wife and go scott free. He was about to see the other side of me if he dared to try. When it concerned my loved ones humanity left me. I turn into an unrecognisable beast. The fear stemmed from the unknown time frame, will he do it tomorrow, next week or next month? The feeling left an unpleasant taste in my mouth. We arrived in Bluewaters at five o'clock in the afternoon. Shad hurried home, Robert to The Falcon. He planned to leave the following day, we had a meeting later today. I heard noises in
Chapter 73. Snatched
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Chapter 72. Chicago
Selborne The cold wind made me hurry to my house. Out of the corner of my eye, l saw one of Shad Rolan's hotel cars. I never went to the hotel, Shad was Max’s friend. I valued my money, l refused to give even one cent to Shad. I ignored the car and proceeded to my house. It was a beautiful house with furniture but i hated it. Or rather l hated the place.I opened the kitchen door, fired the microwave and warmed last night's food, spaghetti and meatballs. I headed to the living room, switched the heater on. Summers here did not make much difference. They were slightly warmer than winters. You still had to wear your jacket in summer. Maxwell Ratliff did me dirty. I tried so many times to seek transfer, it fell on deaf ears. It hurt. Everytime l felt down, my mind gravitated towards Max. I wanted to gut him, bring him to his knees. His affluence made it impossible to take him on financially. I had to find other ways. The heater turned red, l extended my hands to warm them. Someone knoc
Chapter 71. In the mountains
MaxThe following weekend on a Saturday, l woke up early. Nora performed an emergency surgery last night. She laid on the bed dead to the world. Good, l did not have to explain my movements to her. I stressed all week, wondering how l would explain my absence on a weekend. I knew how her brain worked.She had the same mentality with Shad. I would be forbidden to confront Selborne. That's why l chose to sneak out of the house. I rolled out of bed, careful not to wake her up.I tiptoed to the bathroom, took a quick shower and donned a complete black outfit. Black jeans, t-shirt, black hoodie and black sneakers. In the bedroom l peered at my wife, still asleep, perfect. I opted not to kiss her, she might wake up.I ran out of the house, went to the back of the house to the hanger. Shad and Robert waited by the hanger’s big doors. “ Morning boys. You're true scout boys, you respect time.” Their burning eyes tracked me to the door,” you dog. You're not the only one who is married, you know
Chapter 70. Rattle his cage
Max“I'm fetching Martha from Robert's place. Are you coming with me?.” I questioned as l applied aftershave to my cheeks. I studied my wife’s face in the mirror while l waited for the answer. I could almost tell what her response would be.She shook her head,”no. I have things to do.”She and my sister did not see eye to eye. I smiled indulgently at her,” things like what? It's your day off.” She settled more comfortably in bed, gave me an irritated look,” woman stuff. You don't want to know about it, do you?.” I finished what l was doing and faced her,”no thanks. It sounds dangerous. I will try to get back tonight, if not l will let you know.” Nora’s brows furrowed,” don't you dare sleep over there. Everybody knows Robert is a casanova. I don't want him matching you up with some woman.”I reached the bed in three strides, flung the bedclothes aside and hauled her off the bed. I bear hugged her, put my chin on her fragrant hair,” fortunately for you, your husband isn't a casanova.