Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Dylan has been avoiding Madison since the incident happened in the swimming pool. He summoned another maid to bring him food instead of Madison, ensuring that Madison and his path wouldn't cross. There were times when the two met accidentally in the garden because Dylan needed some fresh air; he had a casual talk with Madison and then left her, along with his unusual behavior.

He knew that Madison was clueless and didn't have any idea about his sudden treatment of her. Before turning his back to walk away, he saw a glint of sorrow in Madison's eyes, and his guilt kept bugging him overnight.

Dylan buried himself with the piles of papers on his desk, checking and finalizing proposals and mapping out every detail that would benefit R & D Inc. In the future. The company's future lies in his hand, so he must do his best to meet what his father and mother foresee from him. Dylan heaved a sigh as he leaned on the backrest of his swivel chair, his hands clenched into a fist reminiscing Madison's face when the last time he saw a glimpse of her.

"I couldn't understand…damn it," He growled in frustration. He wanted to clarify what he truly felt towards Madison.

"Perhaps, the reason why I became interested in her was that she's the exact opposite of Scarlett?" Dylan mumbled while persuading himself that perhaps that was why he took a liking to Madison.

Scarlett is a fierce, stylish, attractive woman who drives him wild when they play fire beneath the sheets. Madison, on the other hand, is warm and cheerful, and she can make everyone around her feel radiant and carefree. Dylan's most significant problem is why his heart skips a beat every time he sees Madison?

"What the hell is this? What's this? Damn it!" Dylan closed his eyes harshly as the image of Madison's smiling face kept on occupying his sanity.

The empty feeling of his heart when Madison wasn't near, the warmth and happiness he felt only in Madison's company, and the fear of his failure suddenly lifted because of Madison's words of affirmation.

Dylan puffed for air as he cleared his throat. Dylan tapped his fingers on his desk when Mila opened the door while holding a tray of his lunch.

The Head of the Housekeeper placed Dylan's food slowly. Dylan immediately grabbed an empty glass and poured it with water. Dylan immediately drank the water without hesitation to quench his thirst. "How's the Young Master?" Dylan almost choked and kept coughing when he remembered Madison's face upon hearing Mila's question.

Mila panicked and got a napkin to hand him, "Were you Alright? What happened?" Mila's face wrinkled.

"I'm alright…." Dylan murmured while gazing away from Mila. He silently curses himself. He can't understand himself. Different people can throw him the same question Mila asked, but why does Madison occupy his mind?

"Alas, I've noticed you are not looking for the maid," Mila stated, seeking Dylan's reaction. The last time she saw the two, they were fine. Suddenly, Dylan stopped asking for Madison's presence and seemed to be avoiding her.

"Mila, not now." Dylan retorted, trying to focus his attention on his meal. He divulges himself by distracting his mind not to think of Madison by eating.

"I've known you, young man, since you were born, and you can't slip from this Old Woman. I can tell when you are lying," Mila said bluntly while crossing her arms across her chest.

Mila knew how Dylan lied and how his emotions affected his actions. She also noticed

the reckless actions of the Maid named Madison ever since Madison came back

into the Maid's quarter while she was soaking wet.

"Really? It seems like I can't pass from your judgment Aunt Mila." Dylan said, raising his arms in surrender.

Mila sat near the couch as she crossed her legs and leaned on without breaking her eyes on Dylan. "It's about my feelings…." Dylan confessed.

"Feelings? For Madison or the Rich Man's Daughter?" Mila inquired, firmly seated.

"How should I put it...?" Dylan palmed his face in frustration before delivering the precise response to Mila. I'm not sure what I feel about Madison; I'm confused. I know it's terrible since I'm in love with Scarlett, but I can't stop smiling because of her, and it drives me insane!"

"I am not sitting in front of you as Mila, the Carter Family's Head Housekeeper; I

am speaking and listening in front of you as Mila, your Maid since you were a child." Mila smiled warmly, and despite her expression, Dylan couldn't help but think of Madison.

"Now tell me, how do you describe your feelings when you are with Scarlett, and how do you feel when you are with Madison?" Dylan felt his stomach sink; hearing Madison's name made him stiffen.

Dylan closed his eyes and tried to think before speaking out about what he truly felt without realizing it.

"Scarlett has been my source of comfort to me since we were children, but our relationship deteriorated as we grew older. The fact that she was by my side during my darkest days proves how much I love her..."

"Anything else?" Mila asked. That sounds like an interrogation.

Dylan tried hard to think of what he genuinely felt for Scarlett, but his mind went blank, and he couldn't come up with anything other than Scarlett was there when they were childhood sweethearts, and the rest of their past was filled with conflicts and misunderstandings.

"I see…" Mila muttered as she fixed her eyeglass, "How about when you are with Madison?"

Dylan tried hard not to suppress a smile from his lips. He didn't realize the emotions behind his words when Madison was around. "Madison, when I first met her, I thought she was just a mere maid, but I was wrong. Madison can be a mood lifter; she makes my heart flutter with her simple words, I was amazed how she looked upon the challenges in life, and she was the first one who patted my head—"

"But you don't like getting your head patted?" Mila blinked twice as she digested what Dylan had spoken. Dylan dislikes being touched in the head, and Mila had never sought to pat his head, but a mere maid named Madison Lopez was the first person Dylan allowed to touch his head.

Dylan nodded. "But when Madison did it, it felt warm. It feels like every moment with her was magical. However, when she got out of the pool the last time she was with me, I couldn't help the urge to stare at her body, asking myself if it was lust or love. Don't get me wrong, Aunt Mila, I am a man, but I still manage my self-control and leave her."

Mila's mouth twisted sarcastically, saying, "I didn't know love can make you fool, Dylan. You are blind that you didn't know the answer was already in your words. Hah…This Old lady had a headache upon hearing your words. Sort out your feelings, child. The answer was in your heart. Find it and accept it."

Dylan's forehead creased, and he was about to speak when his phone buzzed. He immediately took his phone and found a message from Sven and the Gang that they accepted Dylan's invitation for their get-together in the Carter's Mansion.

"Asked the cook to prepare some food for tonight's feast; Sven and the Gang will be there. Prepare the drinks and foods before six at the Swimming pool area." Mila nodded and was about to leave when Dylan added, "Don't let Madison serve us. Call other maids."

A flash of unknown emotion lingers in Mila's eyes before leaving. When the door closed, Dylan removed his necktie and unbuttoned his polo, knowing Sven's attitude and the Gang. Madison wasn't in their league. Dylan doesn't want Madison to be played by those morons. She's too naïve to know their existence. He doesn't want to see Madison unless he is sure of what his feelings are for her.

***

Madison noticed how busy Emily and the other Maid were. In Madison's eyes, they were

preparing skewered meat called Barbeque and other new dishes. Her

eyes widened when she saw a case of liquors and when she asked them to lend a

hand, Emily and the other maids just told her that she must rest in her room.

It was already 5:30 pm, and the sun was about to drown in the darkness. Madison was

about to call Emily, who was walking in her direction, when the woman rushed as

if she saw a ghost and immediately changed her direction.

"Are they avoiding me? Or Emily's too busy to notice me?" Madison murmured. When she reached the Maid's Quarter, she heard someone coughing; to her surprise, it was Sophie.

"What happened? Are you unwell, Sophie?" Madison immediately attended to Sophie and drew her forehead on hers to check her temperature.

Sophie coughed again and nodded, "I didn't know that I'll be catching a cold right now; Mila instructed me to serve the Young Master and his friends, but look at my state now. I can't stand it for too long, or else I'll feel hazy."

Madison assisted Sophie in lying on the bed. She left Sophie for a moment to get a basin

and a clean towel. Madison soaked the towel into a basin filled with cold water and folded it into three. Then, she placed it on Sophie's forehead. Madison even took water and medicine for Sophie, who was huffing in the bed.

When Sophie was asleep, Madison couldn't help but remember what happened that day. Dylan wrapped the towel around her and suddenly left her alone, clueless; that was the last time that Madison saw Dylan's face. She could feel that Dylan was avoiding her, she used to bring him food, but now, Sophie was the one who was getting the food to his office.

Madison's hand slowly traced where her heart was located; she couldn't help but feel this

pain in her heart. She realized that Dylan was her special someone; maybe this

feeling inside her heart was what they called love.

Minutes passed. It was already night. Madison heard the voice of Emily, who was

shouting at a low pitch.

"Sophie? Where are you?"

"A-Ahm, we're here…" Madison answered.

Emily seemed shocked when she saw Sophie sleeping with a towel on her forehead.

"What happened to her?" Emily asked.

"She catches a fever," Madison said while checking Sophie's body temperature.

Emily's face was filled with worrywart, and she started to panic. "Then, who will

serve the Young Master and his friends? I can't because the kitchen maids need

me!"

"Maybe I can help." Madison volunteered.

Emily seemed to have difficulty glancing at Madison; she closed her eyes harshly and

murmured something that didn't reach Madison's ears. "Ghad…The Head Housekeeper will kill me…."

Without words, Emily clung her hand to Madison and dragged her inside the Kitchen. "We need to hurry! Come on! Sir Sven is already looking for food!" One of the Kitchen

maids shouted.

"Sir Sven?" Madison asked while accepting the food that Emily gave. Emily placed the food in the tray perfectly while her hands were shaking nervously.

"If you saw a man wearing a polo with printed flowers, tall, blonde and handsome, that's Sir Sven! Give him the food and leave as soon as possible, or else I'll die!"

Madison was about to ask what's the meaning of Emily's last words when Emily didn't let a minute pass and pushed her outside the Kitchen.

Madison found herself walking in the pool. A memory flash made her stare at the water when she saw the pool. She returned from her reverie when loud music bombarded the entire pool, and the laughter of men was evident.

Madison can also smell the scent of liquor that she had discovered recently. "Blonde man…. Blond man…" Madison murmured and noticed a man at the side of the swimming pool who was grinning while holding a bottle of alcohol. Madison can see the people. Some girls are wearing weird clothes while sitting on the men's lap.

"Maybe I should ask Emily to add some chairs so they wouldn't sit on the men's lap. It's

unethical for a woman." Madison murmured as she crossed the distance between her and the blond man named Sven.

"Excuse me, Here's your food Sir," The blond man seemed in awe upon seeing her. She

handed him the tray of food and was about to turn her back when Madison felt a

hand gripping her wrist.

"Wait!" Madison faced Sven, who was struck by Madison's appearance. He gave the tray of food to the man beside him.

"What's your name?"

Madison replied with a polite tone. "My Apologies, but I am just instructed here to serve the food, Sir," She let an apologetic smile that made the man's brow shoot up.

"Whoa! Bro, you are hitting on a maid!?" One shouted until mixed voices followed it.

"What's the commotion all about?" Madison stiffened when she heard Dylan's serious

voice.

Dylan seemed shocked when he saw Madison, but his anger rose when he saw Sven's hand holding Madison's wrist. Dylan couldn't know, but he didn't want what he had seen.

"Brute, you are here. Would you mind telling me this Maid's name? I think this is love at first si—what the fuck?!" A loud hysterical gasps came from the crowd on what had happened.

Sven shouted in rage when he found himself wet because Dylan pushed him and pulled out the Maid from his grasp. "What's your problem?!" Sven shouted; he was also driven

by the boost and drunk.

Dylan didn't speak, grabbed Madison's wrist, and dragged her out of the scene.

Dylan couldn't think straight right now. He instructed Mila not to let this woman serve his friends because he knew this incident would happen!

"It was my fault, Young Master I—"

Emily appeared on the scene and was about to attend Madison when Dylan's voice roared like thunder, making Emily stiffen. "Get out of my way! I will be talking with her. Scram!"

Driven by alcohol, he dragged Madison inside his room and pinned her on the wall.

"What's wrong with you!?" He growled. Madison felt a shiver in her spine and couldn't

even find any words to answer Dylan.

Dylan pierced Madison, who seemed quiet and guilty. "Listen, I instructed Mila not to let you serve us, but…." Dylan let out a mocking grin. "You still disobey me?! For what? To hook Sven and smile for him!?" Dylan laughed low in his throat, and a flicker of irritation and disappointment shone in his eyes.

"That's n-not it!" Madison answered nervously; the words were half dead in her throat.

"Liar! I can see it, Madison! You let him touch you! Were you that kind of woman? When you don't have my attention anymore, you will hook another man!? Know your place, Madison! I'll pay for you! You are just a maid under Carter's Family!" Dylan's eyes blazed down on Madison, who seemed frozen in her spot.

"I-I…"

"What? Can't you find your words? Can't you smile warmly in front of me? Come on…show me that fuckin smile that keeps on making me insane!" He shouted; Dylan wasn't on his senses. He was under the spell of booze and wasn't in control of his mouth.

Dylan distanced himself from Madison. He ran his finger through his hair. "You are beautiful that it started to irritate me…Say, Madison, wanna know why I instructed Mila not to let you serve us the food? Because…" Dylan let a heavy sigh with his breaking voice, "I don't want to see yo—"

Dylan was dumbfounded and returned to his senses when he saw Madison's eyes misted in tears, "That's enough…."

"I-I may be a maid, but…I know my place! I didn't do anything! I volunteered on behalf of

Sophie because she's sick…." Madison's tears started to crawl on her face until her voice broke.

"S-say, Young Master… I didn't smile for him; I just served him the food and was about to

leave…." Dylan almost lost all of his strength when he saw Madison cry. "I didn't know that the Master….h-hated m-me. I may be an M-maid, but…I am a human too, a woman who is fragile and…vulnerable." She murmured while wiping her tears.

"M-Madison—"

For the last time, Madison smiled in front of Dylan and said, "I'm sorry." She even vowed and left the room with a heavy heart.

Dylan couldn't help but to break the wooden chair in front of him and shout, "What have you done!? Damn you!" Dylan sat on the floor helplessly. She smiled for him, but the smile wasn't warm anymore; it was a smile of apology.