chapter 5:An unexpected visitor

As the days went by, Jonathan found himself growing more and more curious about his employees. He wanted to know more about them, about their lives and their stories. So, one evening, as they were all gathered in the living room, Jonathan decided to ask them.

"Hey, guys," he said, looking at each of them in turn. "I was wondering if you'd be willing to share your stories with me. How did you all end up working as a cleaner, a cook, and a driver?"

Elisa, the driver, spoke up first. "Well, sir," she began, "my family used to be pretty well off. My parents were successful business owners, and we lived a comfortable life. But then my mom got sick, and everything changed. Her medical bills were astronomical, and we ended up losing everything. We had to declare bankruptcy, and I had to drop out of college to help support my family."

Jonathan's eyes widened in shock as he listened to Elisa's story. He had no idea that she had been through so much.

Hector, the cleaner, spoke up next. "I used to own my own cleaning business," he said, a hint of sadness in his voice. "But it failed, and I ended up in debt. I had to sell my house and my car, and I was left with nothing. I've been working as a cleaner ever since, trying to get back on my feet."

Ray, the cook, smiled as he began to tell his story. "I've always dreamed of becoming a professional chef," he said, his eyes shining with passion. "I want to own my own restaurant one day, a big, fancy place with a Michelin star. But for now, I'm just working hard and saving up. I'm hoping to have enough money to open my own restaurant in a few years."

As Jonathan listened to his employees' stories, he felt a sense of admiration and respect for them. They were all hardworking, dedicated individuals who were striving to achieve their dreams, despite the obstacles they had faced.

He realized that he had been so caught up in his own problems, his own heartbreak, that he had neglected to see the beauty and resilience of the people around him.

As the evening drew to a close, Jonathan thanked his employees for sharing their stories with him. He felt grateful for the opportunity to get to know them better, and he knew that he would never look at them in the same way again.

From that day on, Jonathan made a conscious effort to treat his employees with even more kindness and respect. He knew that they were not just employees, but human beings with their own stories, struggles, and dreams.

Three months had passed since Jonathan's employees had joined his household. With their help, he had slowly begun to heal and move on from the heartbreak. Ray, the cook, with his feminine flair and talkative nature, had brought laughter and joy into Jonathan's life. Hector, the drama king, had kept everyone entertained with his antics. And Elisa, with her kind and gentle soul, had become like a sister to them all.

Jonathan had even managed to mend his friendship with Dave, who had been visiting regularly, drawn by the warm and lively atmosphere of the household.

But despite the progress he had made, Jonathan knew he still had a long way to go. The memories of Mel still lingered, and he couldn't help but wonder what had become of her.

Little did he know, their paths were about to cross again in a dramatic and unexpected way.

A knock at the door interrupted the tranquility of the afternoon. Elisa rushed to answer it, expecting it to be a delivery or perhaps a visitor. But to her surprise, she found herself face to face with Mel, Jonathan's ex-girlfriend.

Mel's eyes narrowed as she took in Elisa's presence. "What are you doing in my man's house?" she demanded, her voice rising.

Elisa, taken aback by Mel's aggression, tried to explain. "I'm just the driver, ma'am. I work for Mr. Jonathan."

But Mel was having none of it. She pushed past Elisa and stormed into the mansion, calling out for Jonathan. Hector, who had been watching the scene unfold, rushed to Elisa's side, ready to defend her if necessary.

Jonathan, caught off guard by Mel's sudden arrival, rushed downstairs to confront her. "Mel, what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice firm but controlled.

Mel's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at Jonathan. "My love, you totally forgot about me. You didn't ask about me, you abandoned me!" she wailed, her voice dramatic.

Jonathan's eyes narrowed. "Mel, that's not true. I called you for a whole month, but you stopped taking my calls and responding to my texts. How could I have abandoned you?"

Mel's face twisted in anger, and she slapped Jonathan, leaving him stunned. His employees gasped in shock, unsure of what to do next.

"How could you expect someone who's been in a coma to respond to your calls?" Mel spat, her eyes blazing with anger.

Jonathan's eyes widened in confusion. "A coma? Mel, what are you talking about?"

Mel's words cut deep into Jonathan's heart. "You should have known!" she sobbed. "You should have cared enough to find out! Why would I suddenly stop taking your calls?"

Jonathan's mind was reeling with confusion. He didn't know what to believe. Was Mel telling the truth, or was she fabricating a story to manipulate him?

"Mel, which hospital were you in?" Jonathan asked, trying to keep his emotions in check. "And what happened to you? You can't just go into a coma without any warning."

Mel's smile was bitter, and her eyes seemed to bore into Jonathan's soul. "Oh, so you think I'm lying, right? Well, I was hospitalized at St. Mary's Hospital. You can call them to confirm."

Jonathan's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with questions. "What happened to you, Mel?"

Mel's voice was laced with pain as she recounted her story. "I had a concussion, and when I fainted, I fell down the stairs." She showed Jonathan a mark on her head, hidden by her hair. "I lost a lot of blood. Thankfully, my friend found me on time."

As Mel finished speaking, she turned and walked out of the mansion, leaving Jonathan feeling confused and uncertain about the situation.

As soon as Mel was gone, Jonathan pulled out his phone and dialed Dave's number. "Hey, man, I need you to come over. We need to talk."

Dave's voice was laced with concern. "What's going on, Jon? You sound like something's wrong."

Jonathan took a deep breath, trying to process his emotions. "It's Mel. She just showed up here, and she's telling me that she was in a coma. I don't know what to believe."

Dave's voice was calm and reassuring. "I'll be right there, Jon. We'll figure this out together."

As Jonathan waited for Dave to arrive, he couldn't shake off the feeling that his life was about to take another dramatic turn.