Chapter 12: The Secret Call

Chapter 12: Chapter 12: The Secret Call

The chef did not go back to the kitchen.

She walked toward the stairs, making her slippers sound loud so everyone would hear she was leaving. Flora was still on call in Maya ’s room.

At the top of the stairs, the chef stopped.

She looked left, then looked right. No one was watching.

She did not go down. She turned quickly and rushed through the side passage that led to the backyard. Her heart was beating very fast. Her hands were shaking again.

At the backyard, behind the big water tank, she brought out her phone. She checked around one more time.

She dialed a number.

"Hello? It’s me," she whispered. "Listen, something is happening. The court asked Madam to bring all the house documents. All of them. She is still on call with Barrister Martins. She emailed the court this morning."

She was breathing hard.

"Yes, yes. I will try to get the papers tonight from the study room when madam is sleeping. But you need ...

She did not finish.

She felt a shadow coming toward her.

She jumped a little but not obvious.

"Ah!"

It was Simon.

He was coming right behind her, his hands in his pockets, looking at her calmly.

The chef forced a fake smile. Her face was sweating.

"Simon... you scared me," she said, laughing small. "I was just..."

Simon did not smile.

"Who were you calling?" he asked. His voice was quiet but hard.

"My sister. It was my sister. She is sick," she said quickly.

Simon moved one step closer.

"You are lying," he said.

The chef swallowed.

"Simon, I—"

"Listen to me," Simon said, "If you plant a seed on a grown tree. It may affect the branches, but it can never make the tree wither."

The chef was shocked. She stared at him.

"What do you mean?" she asked, pretending to be angry.

Simon replied, "You cannot uproot a tree stump that is rooted to the soil."

He did not shout. He said it like a warning.

Then he turned and left. He walked back into the house slowly, as if nothing happened.

The chef stood there, her legs weak. She waited until he was gone.

She looked at her phone to continue her call.

The number was gone.

She frowned. She opened her recent calls. Nothing.

She opened her contact list. She searched. The number she just called was not there anymore. It had deleted itself.

"How?" she whispered. "How did the number delete from my phone?"

She checked again and again. It was gone. Her hands started shaking more than before.

Minutes later, the same number called again. Strangely, her mind was calm. She stared at the screen and picked up.

"Hello,

"No, he did not overhear our conversation. The plan is still safe," she said and ended the call.

The house was quiet.The light from the chandelier was bright.The floors were clean and shining. Everything looked well arranged.

Simon stood near the door. He was wearing a well-fitted black suit.The sweet smell of his perfume filled the air around him. He looked handsome, but his face was not relaxed. He was holding his hands together.

He saw Zoe in the living room. Zoe was cleaning the glass table.

Simon walked closer to her and asked in a low voice, "Zoe, how is Maya feeling now?"

Zoe looked up and smiled when she saw him.

"Simon, you are here," she said. "She is awake now. She is better. She is upstairs with Madam."

Simon sighed softly. He felt a little relief, but his worry was still there.

"Thank God she is awake," he said.

Before Zoe could say more, they heard fast footsteps from upstairs.

It was Maya.

Maya rushed down from the stairs. She was wearing a light pink lounge dress. Her face was still a little pale from what happened yesterday, but her eyes were full of light. When she saw Simon, her whole face changed.

"Simon!" she shouted with joy.

She ran down the last steps and ran straight to him. She did not hesitate. She hugged Simon tightly. Very tightly. She wrapped her arms around his neck letting her head rest on his chest.

Simon froze.

His body became stiff. His eyes widened. He did not know what to do.

Zoe saw it. She understood and smiled quietly and left the two alone. She walked into the kitchen and closed the door gently.

Maya was still hugging him. She was smiling and breathing fast because she ran.

"I’m so happy to see you," Maya said softly. "I missed you."

Simon slowly raised his hands, but he did not hug her back fully. He touched her back lightly and then dropped his hands. He was uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable.

Inside his mind, Simon was thinking fast.

If Madam sees us like this? What will she think? She will think I am trying to trap her daughter. But if I push Maya away now, she will feel bad again. She just recovered. I don’t want to hurt her feelings._

His heart was beating fast. He looked left and right. He was scared.

"Maya," he whispered. "Maya, please..."

Maya finally left his chest, but she was still holding his hands. She looked up at him. Her eyes were full of admiration. She was looking at his suit.

"You look so good," she said with a soft smile. "This black suit fits you so well. You look like a movie star. Your perfume... it smells so sweet. I smelled it from the stairs."

Simon tried to smile, but his smile was not free. It was tight.

"Thank you," he said quietly. "How are you? Are you fine now?"

"I am fine now," Maya said. "Really fine. I was trembling under the cold wind. But you came. You saved me. When you held me up, I felt safe."

She was staring at him like he was her hero. Her cheeks were red, her soft voice full of love.

Simon looked down. He could not look into her eyes for long.

"You should go and rest," he said. "You need to take enough rest."

"I have rested enough," Maya said. "Let me stay with you for some time."

But Simon stepped back a little. He created a small space between them.

"Maya," he whispered. "I am just a driver- working here. If I am seen with you,Madam will misunderstand. I don’t want trouble."

Maya’s smile reduced a little. "But why are you worried? I almost fell, Simon. I almost died up there.I don’t care if she worries. I hugged you because I missed you."

"I know," Simon said quickly. "I know you are scared. I saved you and anyone could have done the same. I don’t want Madam to be angry. Please understand me."

Maya nodded slowly, but her eyes were still on him. She did not want to leave his side.

At that time, the staff were watching from hidden corners. Zoe peeped through the kitchen door. The gardener was looking through the glass window outside. While the house keeper was standing behind the big pillar.

It was no longer news in the house that Maya had feelings for Simon. Everyone knew. They had seen it.

"See how Maya is holding the driver," the gardener whispered.

"She loves him," a newly employed staff." But she has refused to notice my glances at her for years". He whispered.

Just then, Flora came out from her room upstairs.

She walked with grace. Her steps were slow and calm. She looked like a queen.

As she reached the top of the stairs, she saw the living room below. She saw her daughter all over Simon. Maya was holding Simon’s hand tightly. She was standing very close to him. Her body was almost touching his. Her face was full of love.

Flora stopped.

She stood on the stairs and watched quietly.

Her face did not show anger immediately. But inside her mind, many thoughts started to run.

What is this?_ she thought. _Could my daughter be in love with Simon? Is this love real? Or is it just because of the rooftop drama? Why is she acting like a child with no manners around him".

Flora’s eyes moved from Maya to Simon. She saw that Simon was uncomfortable. He was trying to step back. That made her feel a little better. But still, she was worried.

She whispered to herself in a very low voice, so low that no one could hear her.

"I can’t wait for school to resume so she can go back to the States. This strange behavior is getting too much. She needs to focus on studies."

Flora sighed and then continued walking down. She made her face look normal. She smiled.

"Maya," she called.

Maya quickly removed her hand from Simon’s hand. She was shy.

"Mum," she said.

Simon bowed his head respectfully. "Good morning, Madam."

"Morning, Simon.

Flora looked at Maya. "You should be in bed resting. Why are you downstairs?"

Maya said, "Mum, I am fine now. I just wanted to see Simon and thank him for yesterday."

Flora did not answer. She just smiled. But inside her heart, she was not smiling. She was planning how to detach Maya from him.

After some minutes, Flora’s phone made a sound. Beep.

She brought out her phone from her small bag. She looked at the screen.

It was a message.

Her eyes changed. Her beautiful face became tight.

Flora quickly locked her phone. She did not want to open it in front of Maya.

Maya noticed. "Mum,l think you have a message . Your phone just beeped."

Flora forced a smile. Her smile was fake. Her heart was beating fast..