Chapter 7: Chapter 7

When Lorelai woke up she noticed that Maxwell is not beside her anymore. She wore her bathrobe and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. Last night, Maxwell explained that she should not expect anything more in their marriage other than power, wealth, and protection, nothing more.

Now, Lorelai realizes how crazy she is accepting that.

She bought herself a coffee and then headed toward the office. She put her stuff on the desk and sits down. Everything is so tangled up now, but it is a good thing that no one knows even her best friend that Maxwell, who lives in the same house as her. If they did, she will be doomed.

“She is so pretty! She might be his new secretary.” Kelly said to Lorelai, she is telling her about the new woman that will be working in the company.

“She did not introduce herself yet, but I am sure that Kelly is lying. She does not look like she belongs here with us, she looks classy, elegant, and beautiful.” Clara exclaimed with her sparkling eyes. Everyone around Lorelai seems excited to meet this woman, whom no one knows. She hasn’t seen her but based on everyone’s description she is beautiful.

“That’s just a rumor. But we all know that Mr. Maxwell is always being linked to the prettiest woman is not a rumor. I heard that all of his secretaries before scream beauty.”

“No doubt that he is a playboy.” Kelly said. While Lorelai is just sitting listening to everything Clara and Kelly say about Lorelai’s future husband.

Lorelai is about to drink her coffee when suddenly someone grabbed it and throws it in the bin beside her. She furrowed her brow and looked at whoever did that.

She is flabbergasted when she saw Maxwell handsomely standing in front of her with furrowed brows, the suit makes him look hotter. Then she noticed that someone is beside him, a tall and sexy blonde woman, she looks classy in her formal attire. Lorelai can not deny that indeed she is beautiful.

“Louis, let’s go. Leave her alone” the woman said as she grab Maxwell’s arms.

But Maxwel’s gaze is fixed on Lorelai only. Lorelai on the other hand is nervous as to what she did to make him angry at her.

“Let’s talk.” Maxwell said completely ignoring the woman beside her. He walks to his office waiting for Lorelai to follow him.

“Yes, Sir.” she said, bowing at the woman to excuse herself.

When Lorelai arrived he gently push her to his office and locked the door. He pinned her on the wall by holding her shoulder. Lorelai can see his jaw move.

“You know that drinking coffee is not good when you are pregnant right? Or you are just dumb?” he whispered to her ears causing goosebumps in Lorelai.

Lorelai did not utter a word.

He then let her go, he goes to his desk and sit there. He rummage through the files cluttered on the desk. When he finds what he’s looking for he gave it to Lorelai.

‘Contract’ Lorelai reads silently. It was all about their marriage’s terms and conditions, rules everything. With this, it looks like their marriage will be purely acting, all about the business.

“What’s this about?” Lorelai asked, obviously she knows the answer but she chose to act dumb.

“Contract, just for formality and security in case one of us forgets. Firstly, I want my heir to be my legitimate child, so I have to marry you in exchange for my protection, wealth, and power. You can have anything you want as long you keep my child alive. That also means I can interfere with your lifestyle as long as you are still carrying my child.” he explained, coldly.

“I will only meddle with your lifestyle but not who you interact with. We will not also meddle in anyone’s affair, for example, dating.”

Lorelai is speechless, she shouldn’t expect anything from this man. He just loves using everyone.

“Oh, then okay. But, I want to add something.” she said writing something to the contract. When she is finished she gives it to him.

“You want me to keep our relationship a secret?” he firmly said, Lorelai nodded.

“Okay, if that’s what you want” he said as he signed the contract. Lorelai also signed it.

“Now that it's settled, go back to work Ms. Harris” he opened the door for her, he also gets out of the office and goes to the woman from a while ago. The woman secretly frowned at Lorelai, and suddenly changed her expression when she saw Maxwell approaching.

When Lorelai arrived at her desk, Kelly shot her an interrogating look. She just shrugs as an answer to her best friend. Lorelai feels like she is betraying her best friend by not telling her, but she is just looking for the right time when at least the situation is somewhat settled.

Lorelai makes herself busy until she feels she’s about to puke so she decided to go to the restroom. Finally, she pukes everything that makes her uncomfortable. When she came out of the stall she saw the woman from a while ago staring at her reflection in the mirror.

She ignores her, then goes to the sink to wash her mouth. While she is gargling she can see that woman is still looking at her. She spits the water out and wipes her mouth with a tissue. She is about to leave when the woman spoke.

“Oh, well look who we got here. An employee who doesn’t know her limits, must be starving for money right? Why are you flirting with your boss?” she said in a monotonous tone and raised her brows to Lorelai. That catches Lorelai’s attention, she gave her a confused look.

“Can you hear yourself? What do you mean?” Lorelai said. She feels annoyed because the way that woman says that is like she is some sort of disgusting employee who milks their own boss. This is not entirely true, but still, she doesn’t have a place to meddle with Lorelai’s business.

“Because I just know–” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Well it looks like I am wasting my time here-” Lorelai said as she is about to leave but the woman stood right in front of her blocking the way.

“Well, you must not know me for you to act like that.” she said boastfully, with pride and confidence. She holds Lorelai’s arms and squeezes them hard.

“No, I acted like this because you acted like shit earlier. Besides, you are not worth knowing, excuse me please.” Lorelai said angrily, she removes her arms and leave at the restroom leaving that woman furrowing her brows.

Lorelai feels like her whole day is finally ruined, thanks to that woman. She tried to finish her task, but she is not in the mood and she feels distracted.

She doesn’t know who that woman is, or who she is to Maxwell’s life. But she knows that a person should respect her for them to gain her respect too. She keeps herself busy, time passed slowly for her, until it's finally lunchtime.

“Yey! It’s lunchtime already. Let’s go, Rory. I have some hot tea to spill.” Kelly whispered the last sentence not wanting anyone to hear.

They decided to eat on the rooftop, very few people eat there. Most of them are smoking cigars.

“Sooo what’s the tea, Kellyana?” she said trying to make herself sound cheerful.

“You know that woman right? The one beside Sir?” Lorelai nods while chewing. Of course, that woman only just say nasty things to her moments ago.

“She is Elizabeth Palmer, one of the major shareholders of the company. And what more? She is Sir Maxwell’s ex-fiancee, and Albert wonders why she came back. Many guess that they might be in a relationship again, but no confirmation about that yet.” Kelly said before she slurps her noodles.

‘We will not also meddle in anyone’s affair, for example, dating.’ Lorelai remembers what Maxwell has told her. Then it only leads to one conclusion, Maxwell and Elizabeth might be dating again. Maybe that is why Elizabeth is furious at her. Lorelai doesn’t understand why that thought makes her sad.