Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Dragging along with her a large suitcase, Kendall followed Grayson and an elderly woman, who appeared to be their maid. They guided her through hallways leading to the room where she would temporarily lodge.

As they stopped in front of a door and opened it gently, a large, clean, and beautiful room was revealed before Kendall. There was a wall-mount TV, a large bed, a small living room set, aircon, and its own bathroom at the far end. She stood there, amused and staring at the elegant room. It was more than what she expected and she felt slightly taken aback to stay here.

“This will be your room,” Grayson broke the deafening silence. He then gestured at the woman beside him to introduce her, “And this is Esther, she is the one who will guide you on things around the house.”

“Hello, I’m Hailey,” Kendall greeted the old woman, who looks like she was over sixty, with a smile.

The maid smiled back, replying, “Ma’am, do you need help to arrange your things?” she offered, gesturing over the large suitcase beside Kendall.

“Oh no, it’s fine. I’ll take care of it. I can handle it,” she politely declined.

“There’s no need for you to help, Esther. She’s not a guest here,” Grayson cut into their conversation. He raised an eyebrow when Kendall suddenly looked at him with a questioning expression. “You’re one of them,” he said shortly. “It won’t be free for you to live here, you have to work for it. You will be a maid when you decide to stay here at my home.” Then, he turned around and left the two speechless.

Amused at his last words, Kendall smirked. “And I thought he did it out of compassion. Tch!”

Grayson stopped in his tracks and turned around, making Kendall regain her composure. “By the way,” he started. “Your room is next to mine. I think it’s better that way so it would be easier for me if I need someone, particularly you, to order around and do something for me.”

Slightly frowning, Kendall remained silent as she stared at the man. He somehow noticed the resistance in her eyes, so he uttered in a deep, firm voice, “What? You don’t like it?”

“No. It’s just I know nothing about housework,” she answered bluntly.

“Esther will teach you then. If you’re unwilling to learn, you can go look for another house to stay in.”

Forcing herself to change her expression, she smiled brightly. “I’m just kidding. Of course, it’s only fair for me to work while living here! Alright, Esther, you can continue what you’ve been doing. I’ll just arrange my things, and then you can order me once I finish.”

As Grayson continued walking, he can’t help but smile. Honestly, it is not a big deal for him if the woman lives in the house for free. He just wants to make her do something to avoid any gradual abuse of his kindness.

He almost jumped when his cell phone rang. “Chester,” he addressed the caller. “Why?”

“Hey, where you at?”

“At home.”

“Do you remember Brittney? The one we met at Embassy club.”

“Yeah, I do. The super hot and beautiful Brittney. Why?”

“She’s inviting us to go out tonight. She was actually asking about you.”

“I don’t think I can go out now. Hailey is here at home.”

"Then send her home. Grayson, you’re gonna miss a lot if you dismiss Brittney’s invite tonight!"

“It’s not as easy as that. Hailey is not going home. She’ll stay here at the house for a while.”

"What?! But why?"

"She was kicked out of their house."

“Are you out of your mind? Why did you agree for her to come there, in the first place? Don’t you realize any consequences of that upon you? She might control you even more!”

"I'm sorry, Chester. Her parents cut her allowance and cards. She has nowhere else to go. And who said I’ll let her control me? I’ve learned since the last time."

"Then prove it. Let's go out tonight without considering her."

"O-okay I'll find a way. Bye."

"Planning something tonight?”

Grayson almost dropped his phone when a familiar voice came thundering out of nowhere. Turning around, his eyes landed on Kendall standing near with her arms folded.

“How long have you been there?” he asked, trying to hide his surprised tone.

“Just now. Why? Is there something I wasn’t supposed to hear?”

“N-Nothing,” he replied, avoiding her gaze.

Removing her hands from being folded in front of her, she approached him. “Is that Chester, the one you’re talking with?”

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

“Whenever he initiates the call, it’s usually about truancy. So, are we going somewhere? Tell me right away so I can hurry and fix my things.”

“No, we’re not going anywhere. We’ll just stay at home tonight.”

Stepping closer, she stared him directly into his eyes. Gradually, he felt his mood soften again. He knew he couldn’t lie further when she brought her lips to his ears and whispered, “Okay. As you said, we will stay at home. In short, no one should go out. No one.”

Tapping him on his shoulders, she then walked back to her room and continued unpacking her things. Grayson could not speak as he felt the temporary weakness of his knees. He felt his cheeks burning as the familiar electricity flowed through his body again when he felt the lady’s hot breath in his ear.

The ringing of his phone dragged him back from his trance. He hurried into his own room to answer the call.

Meanwhile, Kendall, closing the door behind her and making sure she was alone in her room, opened the suitcase and took out her belongings one after the other. Clothes were placed in the wardrobe, toiletries were arranged in the bathroom, and a few pairs of shoes were positioned aside in places easier to grab. After placing her personal belongings in accessible areas, she left her police equipment in the suitcase. She stared at the .45 caliber for a moment, took it, and placed it under the folded clothes in the cabinet.

She scanned the room once again before walking near the window and drawing the curtains back. Her room is perfect. It faces the gate and the road. She approached the suitcase again and took the handy telescope before going back to the window. Scanning the area, she saw three guards in their respective positions around the mansion. She looked down the road and carefully investigated the areas where the criminals spying on Grayson could possibly be hiding.

She hoisted the telescope back to the gate when it slowly opened. A guard approached as a fancy car came rolling in and spoke to the driver. Focusing the telescope on the driver, she noted it was a woman. Moments later, the guard greeted her and let her in. Kendall lowered the telescope and returned it to the suitcase. Closing it, she then hid it carefully and smartly inside the cabinet.

She then grabbed a towel and went into the bathroom to take a shower. With her hair still dripping wet from the bath, she dressed in household clothes: jogging pants and a T-shirt. She left the room and traversed the quiet hallway.

She went from one hallway to another, circling around the area and studying each corner. She wanted to know the places where people could possibly go to, stay, or even hide. She secretly opens each room she passes by and examines them carefully. Despite being overwhelmed by the amount and sizes of each room, she still continued checking each of them, together with the ones standing opposite them.

In one specific room, she stopped by the door upon hearing a strange sound from inside. She pressed her ear against the door, there was a crack. Grabbing the doorknob, she gently pushed the door open and was stopped midway at the sight.

“Oh my goodness,” Kendall’s words were cut in midair. She was startled by the scene that welcomed her. Grayson is with a woman, kissing and all. The woman sat at the console table, her arms wrapped around his neck. One of the man’s hands was inside her short skirt.

The two didn’t seem to notice that someone has entered the room, watching them with a surprised expression. Kendall, who was still swallowed up by what she just witnessed, regained her consciousness and closed the door, half-thankful that they didn’t notice she has been there.

She was shaken and wanted to stop going around the rooms when something entered her mind. She smiled and then returned to that room, reopening the door–this time, in a not-so-gentle way.

“Grayson!”

The man, looking like he had heard a ghost, almost pushed his companion away just to stop the kiss. His eyes widened as he turned to the source of the voice.

“Ha-Hailey!” The shaking in his voice was evident. “What are you doing here?”

“Who is she?” his companion asked, pertaining to the newly-arrived woman, scanning her from head to toe and back.

“She? Oh, she’s one of our maids, Br-Brittney,” Grayson stammered.

Kendall slowly stepped closer to the two as she stared at the man with narrowed eyes.

“Maid? Your maid? Aren’t you going too far, Grayson? I accept that you have another woman outside, but here, inside our house? You’re betraying me even inside our house!”

Grayson’s eyes suddenly widened at her words, “W-What the hell are you talking about, Hailey?”

“Now, you act like you’re surprised?! Yes, I know you have an affair. But I put up with it for the sake of our future child. I still agreed to marry you, despite the fact that you’re a womanizer. But I can’t accept this anymore! The deception you’re doing to me is beyond what I deserve, Grayson,” Kendall expressed those words a little tearfully.

With a confused look, Grayson didn’t know how to explain to his female companion, who then had both a baffled and angry expression.

“Are you crazy, Hailey?! Are you possessed or what?!” Grayson exclaimed, still confused. “Look, Brittney–”

The woman cut his sentence with a slap on his cheek. “You’re a liar! You said you’re single! But what is this? You’re not only married but a soon-to-be father too!”

Brittney hurriedly straightened herself up, grabbed her handbag, and walked out of the room without throwing a single glance. Grayson immediately chased after her.

“I’m not lying, Brit. That woman is crazy, she’s the one who’s lying!”

The woman stopped walking and faced the man explaining. "Then why is she here?"

Grayson was stunned and looked for an answer. "W-Well... that's because... because..." he stammered while scratching his head. He couldn’t think of any good answer to explain the situation and convince her.

"Liar!" the woman growled at him.

Brittney turned her back on him again. She walked straight away and never looked back.

Flushed with anger, he returned back to the room and stared at the girl, who has the audacity to grin at him. “What do you think you’re doing, Hailey?” he thundered.

Kendall didn’t answer, but instead, stuck out her tongue. He tried to control his anger. Her calm reaction made him even more upset.

Slowly, he approached her. As he does, she didn’t realize she was retreating voluntarily, taking a step back as he moved closer. He didn’t stop until they reached a bookcase cabinet. The man pushed her against the bookshelf she was leaning against and gave her a warm stare as he slowly brought his face closer to hers.

“You sent her away. Now you have to replace her,” he muttered, raising an eyebrow, a corner of his lips curving into a devilish smile.

However, she wasn’t affected by Grayson’s words. Instead, she also reciprocated his stares. She even pursed her lips as she saw him moving closer. But even before his lips landed on hers, she suddenly stepped on the man’s foot with great force.

“OWWW!”

Grayson landed on the floor, grabbing his leg. Kendall looked at him with a smile as he winced in pain.

“You thought you could handle me. Didn’t I tell you never to play such jokes again?” she spoke as his eyes glared at her.

“Don’t you think that’s too much? I can sue you for physical injury!” he complained while massaging his foot.

Kendall left the room smiling. Grayson tried to stand up and followed the woman on his heels.

“You’re too much, Hailey! You’re always ruining all my chances! Who do you think you are?!”

“A protective friend,” the girl casually replied without looking at the man tailing her.

“No! You’re acting like a girlfriend. First, you don’t want to let me out. And now that I instead invited the girl here, you still interfere. You act more intense than a girlfriend should be!”

Kendall turned around to confront the complaining man. “Don’t you want that? I’m keeping your relationship whenever I keep you from sinning against Abigail,” she replied with a smile.

“But Hailey, you are not Abigail. You have no right to interfere if I am with a woman! You have no right to control me this way!”

“What? Why? Am I controlling you?” Kendall continued walking.

“Yes, you do! You always dictate to me what I should do.”

“Why are you obeying me then? Did I tell you to obey me?”

Grayson was suddenly startled. He reflected and felt confused. "N-No..."

They were exactly across from Kendall's room. The woman again confronted the protester while whispering in his ear.

"Exactly. I didn’t say you should obey me, so why are you here complaining? Alright, go to your room, and let’s call it a night. Goodnight, Grayson," she said with a teasing smile.

She opened the room while Grayson was still confused and standing on his spot. The man seemed to have no intention of leaving that place until their conversation ended in the proper way that he wanted.

“Why are you still there? Go to your room. Our class will start early tomorrow.”

“We’re not yet done talking, Hailey.”

Kendall glared at him, pointing in the direction of his room.

"See? This is how you do it!" Grayson gasped but he immediately walked into his own room.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” the girl whispered, smiling, and shaking her head as she watched him enter his room and close the door behind him.