CHAPTER THIRTEEN: OWN IT!

MR LIN'S MANSION

It was getting late and Flora hasn't returned from the hotel with Mr Weeks. Mr Lin came back home and he became furious when he learnt that his wife was not home,

"Beatrice! Where did that woman go?!" He yelled.

Beatrice was terrified, she had no idea what to say. She began to stammer until Linda thought of a lie and said,

"So, she did not tell you? She was going to the hospital for a pregnancy test." Linda said with fear.

Beatrice knew that it was a perfect lie so she said,

"Yes sir, the hospital. She told us that she would be expecting your child. Soon, there would be a little child running along, in this big house." Beatrice said with a smile.

"She told you she would be expecting my child?" Mr Lin said confusedly.

"Yes sir," The both of them chorused.

"When did she leave?" Mr Lin demanded.

"A few minutes ago," Beatrice said as she rubbed her hands together in fear.

"Why would she go out so late. And why did she not take her car." Mr Lin said. He was already suspecting a lie.

"She took a cab, she did not want to stress her driver." Linds hesitated.

Mr Lin did not want to believe the maids until Flora came in. She was shocked to see her husband and the maids. She hoped the maids covered for her,

"Oh, there she is. Back from the hospital." Linda stressed the hospital so that Flora would know that they had told Mr Lin that she went to the hospital.

"How was the hospital madame Flora?" Beatrice asked Flora.

Flora walked with a longer stride and a greater pelvic rotation. Mr Lin noticed she was walking differently,

"What happened to your legs, you can't walk properly anymore?" Mr Lin said.

"The hospital was fine Beatrice and Linda. As for my legs, I took an injection. That's why I'm walking differently." Flora said indifferently.

Mr Lin wasn't buying it, so he told Beatrice and Linda to leave them alone. When they left, he grabbed Flora by the waist close to himself,

"Did the doctor fvck you?!" He said aggressively.

Flora wasn't terrified, she had gotten used to Mr Lin and his bad tempers. He looked her in the eyes and could tell that she wasn't afraid. He was dazed, he couldn't hit her, so he let her be. Flora dusted herself as she left for their room upstairs. Mr Lin couldn't contain his anger so he threw the expensive lamp from its stool,

"Linda!! Clean this mess." Mr Lin yelled.

********************

Deryn was driving when Maya asked him,

"What is your biggest fear?"

Deryn was surprised that Maya would ask him such, but he answered anyway,

"Hmmmmm, my biggest fear. I fear nothing."

Maya was stunned by his response,

"No way, you can't fear anything. Everyone fears something." Maya said as she laughed briefly.

"I believe I've gone through a lot in my life, so much that I don't fear anything," Deryn said.

Maya had a deep shirt reflection then she said,

"Even the rich have problems."

"I never felt like I was rich, even with all the money in the world, I still felt incomplete. What is money without happiness" Deryn said.

"Why did you feel incomplete?" Maya asked curiously.

"Have you ever been to Pine Hills?" Deryn asked Maya.

Maya immediately denied it,

"No," She said.

"Too bad. It's a beautiful place. I went there when I was 15. When I saw all the kids playing, they looked happy and free. No rules guiding them, they could play in the sands, under the rain, they were fuvking free!" Deryn said.

A single tear rolled down Maya's eyes, she quickly cleaned them before Deryn could notice,

"It sounds like a beautiful place," Maya said as she smiled.

"It is. I wanted to stay longer but unfortunately, the rich aren't supposed to be seen there."

"Who made such a stupid rule?" Maya asked.

"Society," Deryn said as they both laughed. Deryn stopped and the gates of his father's house were opened,

"I know this place?" Maya said confusedly.

"Your father's house? Mr Wayne?" Maya was already furious, she immediately came down from the car before Deryn could park properly. She was about to leave the gates of Mr Wayne's house when Deryn stopped the car and immediately ran after her. He caught up to her and held her back gently,

"Maya, you don't have to go. Please stay," He said as he bent low for a kiss. Mr Weeks watched them from the upstairs window as they kissed. He watched them with bitterness yet compassionately.

"Let's go inside," Deryn said afterwards. They both went inside the house. Mr Weeks came down to join them,

"Dad, you're home," Deryn said delightfully.

"I'm gonna go upstairs so you two could talk," Deryn said to the both of them. When Deryn left, Maya faced Mr Weeks with disdain,

"You know why I admire you?" Mr Weeks said.

"Because I'm not like your other whores. Because I'm different because I don't let people fvck me just so I could get a job!" Maya said furiously.

"No, not all of that Maya. I admire you because you are sincere and determined. No one can walk over you without paying the consequences. You're strong and vibrant, you are a woman I admire and respect." Mr weeks said.

"If you respected me you wouldn't have done such at your company! So don't talk about respect" Maya yelled.

"I tried apologizing using words, but it did not work. I'll try using actions." Mr Weeks said as he gave Maya an envelope. She opened it reluctantly and she marvelled at what she saw. It was an employment letter, Mr Weeks considered her to be the new secretary of his company. She was so happy that she jumped on Mr Weeks,

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!" She said.

Mr Weeks felt joy in him when he saw Maya in his arms. He never wanted to let her go until Deryn came,

"Maya are you staying here or I should take you home?" Deryn asked.

Maya wanted to stay back,

"You're welcome to stay here Maya." Mr Weeks said.

"Thank you, Sir, but I'd rather go home," Maya said.

"Okay Maya, let's go," Deryn said as they both left. Mr weeks sorrows came rushing in.

MR LIN'S MANSION

Flora went to the bathroom, she turned on the tap so that Mr Lin couldn't hear whatever she does. She brought out a pregnancy test strip, urinated into a container and dipped the pregnancy test stick into it. She waited patiently for about 1-2 minutes hoping that she was not pregnant. It came out positive, she was pregnant. She couldn't believe it,

"No, no, no, no!!!!!" She said crying repeatedly. She wailed and sobbed for so long. Her period was yet to arrive, so she decided to calm down. She told herself that if she misses her period then it's over.

**************

Deryn was driving when he said to Maya,

"I've never been to your place, can't wait to see it," Deryn said excitedly.

"It's no big deal," Maya said to him.

"Should I take a left?" Deryn asked Maya.

"No, right," Maya replied. Deryn was shocked because that was the route to motels and not Hotels,

"Are you sure? That's the way to motels." Deryn said confusedly.

"I'm sure."

Deryn took the right and drove until they arrived at Gogo motels. He parked properly, while Maya was ashamed of where she stayed,

"You can go now," Maya hesitated.

"So this is where you stay, huh," Deryn said to Maya as he looked around.

"It's not as huge as your home," Maya said sadly.

"Is that why you've never allowed me to take you home? Or pick you up from home?" Deryn said.

"Are you ashamed of where you live?" Deryn added.

"Hey I am not ashamed, I just think it doesn't meet up with the standards."

"What standards, Maya never be ashamed of who you are, where you come from, what you do or where you live! It's you, own it!" Deryn said.

Maya was deeply moved by his statement, but she still kept the truth hidden. She grabbed Deryn and kissed him goodnight. Deryn entered his car and drove off. Maya said as she watched Deryn driving off,

"I am Maya Hunts, a local girl from Pine Hills. I'm sorry Deryn but I can't tell you that."