Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Maya gasped, relieved that he had thought of buying her an engagement ring and confused that his words were getting to her and making her emotional. Even though she knew, none of that happened.

It was just a beautiful love story. The fairytale she had visualized with Jason.

"Maya, I know you have already said yes to marrying me, but a man like myself can never be too sure. Since you can have anyone but still picked me. I am a lucky bastard, I dare to say, and might be pushing my luck way too far by asking the second time.."

Mrs. Salvador chuckled while Maya sniffed. Mr. Dominic rolled his eyes.

~Of course his son would think of a ring.

"Will you Maya make this man happy and marry him despite his massive ego, his tantrums, temper, imperfections, and obsession with his look..." He grinned at the last part while Maya chuckled nodding.

"Yes, I will. I will." She whispered as he opened the box to reveal a rare blue 8.5-carat diamond ring and then slipped it into her finger.

Mr. Dominic scoffed and walked out, while Mrs. Salvador ran after him.

Xavier rolled his eyes. Typical! Nothing has changed over here he thought.

Melissa wiped her tears.

"Now you are done making me teary. Will you please let me borrow your fiancée? Many people are dying to meet her." Melissa said and without waiting for his reply, she grabbed Maya's arm and left with her.

***

Maya was astonished as she entered the house. Unlike Xavier's lifeless office, his house was the complete opposite.

Though intimidatingly big with huge chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, his sitting-room was an artistic wonder.

Different paintings seemed almost alive. Each stroke felt like a tale being told. In the middle of the room was a painting that caught her attention the most.

It was the painting of a scenery of a river. Rock and brush painted the hillside, ending where a Sandy inlet sloped into the ocean.

There were so many details on the artwork and Maya couldn't help but believe it meant something to the artist.

She tried not to ogle as Xavier had warned even though a side of his sitting-room was designed to show the view of the city and she could visualize herself sipping coffee and preparing for work while watching the sunrise.

There was a piano at the side of the room, and now she thought of it, Xavier's elegant long fingers were that of a pianist. She wanted to confirm her creeping suspicion with Melissa but decided against it

It will just be weird if she didn't know that much about her fiancée she reasoned.

Alongside acting like she didn't have a million and one curious question, she also had the tedious responsibility of responding with a huge smile that seemed almost goofy as Melissa introduced her to most of the Salvador.

Most of them had their noses up in the air and she resisted the urge to ask them to remove the stick up their ass and paddle themselves out of the house with it.

Since it was obvious they had no interest in seeing her but instead, she smiled pretentiously, offering snarky comebacks good-naturedly when poked way too much.

"Now I see why Xavier loves you. You are different. A good kind of different." Melissa said as they both walked away from Mr. and Mrs. Mac Donalds. One of their uncles and his wife were among the nice few.

Maya looked at her and she smiled.

"I like you too." She whispered nudging Maya, Maya nudged her back smiling.

Melissa froze mid-step her eyes trained on a woman worried. An expression that didn't go unnoticed by Maya.

She stared at the plumpy woman who was on the short side with red curls that framed her face. She was probably in her mid-fifties and though she was wearing an expensive gown and was acting the part of an elite, Maya could tell she hasn't had it all rosy in her life.

She had worked her way painfully to the top with sighs, grunts, and whimpers. Unlike many people she had seen tonight who had wealth thrust into their arm as a birthright.

"That is Anne Gracie. Xavier's best friend's mother." Melissa informed her.

Maya narrowed her eyes at her. Does Xavier have a best friend? She thought.

"Why doesn't Xavier talk about this best friend of his and why hasn't he come around to say hello?" Maya asked, knowing that although she didn't know anything about Xavier, she could tell what his social life was like and it was non-existent.

"Is there anything I should know? I hate surprises." Maya said tensed while smiling at a group of people who acknowledged her presence.

Melissa winced, realizing she was headed towards them.

"I am going to get you help. Don't ask why but she hates you already. Xavier invited her probably because of the guilt he still feels and wants her to feel like family and his best friend, Is a she and she is dead." She hurriedly said as a hushed whisper in one breath and before Maya could turn to voice the millions of questions ringing in her head, she was gone.

"Hello, ma'am." Maya greeted ignoring the undisguised disgust in the eyes of a woman who just hated her for no reason and was more like a mystery to her.

Who was Xavier's best friend and why does Xavier feel compelled to do right by her mother or even guilt-ridden?

She scoffed.

"What is your name?" She asked.

"Maya ma'am."

"Full name." She took a glass of alcohol from one of the waitress' trays and turned towards her expectantly.

"Maya Luke."

She nodded and emptied the content of the glass into her mouth, gulping it in one go.

"Mmm Luke... Any relation with Luke Todd?"

"No"

"Luke Barth."

"No"

"Luke Ajas."

"No" Maya replied again, wondering what exactly this vengeful woman wanted from her.

"I thought as much because I have never seen your face and that can only mean you don't run in this circle. So you are a product of a man of low birth?" She asked thoughtfully.

Maya didn't reply stunned at the insult laced in her question.

"All I can see is just a piece of ass. A titled one but a toy regardless though a new one." She continued, then laughing bitterly, she shook her head.

"I had wanted to see what was so special about the girl that Xavier has decided was fit enough to be his wife. To have a lasting position in his life. A woman that had the qualities that my daughter failed to possess but truly, I am disappointed. Just like the others, you too are just another one-night stand, though he is a bit confused and...."

"I am not sure Xavier will be too glad to hear you talking to his fiancée like that." Mrs. Salvador said behind her.

Maya blinked and to her chagrin, her face was damp with her tears.

"And yes," Mrs. Salvador continued, now standing beside Maya.

"She is not a piece of toy or ass that Xavier will soon tire of. My son doesn't go about giving random women rings and making a big deal about them. I know it, You know it too. You are only bittered because you know she is a woman Xavier is eager to spend the rest of his life with, a woman he is really in love with."

She took a step threateningly close to the woman and Maya would have laughed if not that she was in a state of confusion as she wondered why the woman's words were like knives aimed at her heart because Mrs. Salvador was so much smaller in size but yet Mrs. Anne Gracie cowered in fear.

"Forget about Xavier's anger. I consider Maya, here, my daughter, and I can't stand back if anyone insults Melissa in such a manner, so also Maya. A repeat of this act and you won't like my reaction trust me. She might not have a last name that is familiar to you but I hope Salvador is popular enough? Because that is what she will be bearing soon." Holding Maya's hand, she pulled her into her arm and led her to the house balcony while she cried her eyes out confused yet thankful she had waterproof mascara on.

Was she beginning to believe her lies?