The Billionaire's Torment

Chapter 2. Fire her

Nora

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.