Chapter 18: Apologize To Him

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Apologize To Him

Simon brought out his phone again. His hand was shaking a little. He opened the message.

It was Maya.

_Come to the boys quarters now. We need to talk. Come alone._

Simon read it twice. He looked at Madam’s closed door. The door was still shut.

She had asked him to step out and shut the door because she needed a moment alone. But he knew she was upset. Her eyes were red. Her necklace was still tight on her neck. He had not finished helping her before Maya entered.

Now his mind is fighting between two heavy choices. Stay and guard Madam Flora’s doorstep, in case she calls him for water or help, but she already told him to get out and he is afraid if he stays she will be upset again and he might lose this job. Or go to the boys quarters to meet Maya, find out her reason and stop her before she spreads a bad lie about her own mother in the house. He knew Maya was working with Andrew, a man who hates her mother, Andrew is only using her . Maya has become so naughty these days. Does she not see her mother is protecting her? The earlier he talks to her, the better. He was just a driver and people do not listen to drivers, but if he ignores, she will think he is guilty.

He decided to go. He will go and tell Maya the truth, then come back quickly to guard Madam’s door.

He put his phone in his pocket and walked away from Madam’s door. His steps were slow and heavy. He did not want to leave, but he had to clear his name.

As he walked through the corridor to the backyard, he saw Grace. She was carrying a small bucket and a mop.

Simon stopped her.

"Grace, please go to Madam Flora’s room now," he said quietly. "Miss Maya broke a cup of tea on the floor when she entered. The pieces are still there. Madam is alone inside. She needs someone to clean it."

Grace’s eyes opened wide. "Maya broke cups in Madam’s room? Is Madam okay?"

"Madam is trying to be strong, but she is tired. Please go now. Knock first. Don’t just enter," Simon explained.

Grace nodded quickly. She kept her bucket down and rushed towards Madam Flora’s room. She had worked for Madam for four years. She knew Madam does not like a dirty floor. And she knew Madam does not like to be alone when she is tired.

Grace reached the door. She knocked.

Knock! Knock!

"Madam, it is Grace," she called softly.

Inside, Flora heard the knock. She was sitting on the edge of the bed. She had tried to remove the tight necklace herself, but her fingers were still shaking a little. She took a slow, deep breath to control herself.

"Come in, Grace," Flora said. Her voice was calm and steady.

Grace opened the door and entered. She saw the broken cups and the tea on the white tiles. She was about to start cleaning immediately.

"Madam, sorry, I will clean it now," Grace said.

But Flora raised her hand slightly. Stop.

"Grace, stop," Flora said. She looked at the broken cups on the floor. Her face was not angry. It was firm and controlled. She is not a woman who shouts when she is hurt. She is a woman who controls the room.

"Don’t clean it. Call Maya," Flora said.

Grace was surprised. "Call Maya, Madam?"

"Yes," Flora said. Her voice was low and clear. Every word was steady. "Tell Maya to come and pack the broken cups she broke. This is her mess. She will clean it herself. You will not clean what my daughter scattered in anger in my own room. Go and call her for me."

Grace nodded at once. She understood. Madam was not being wicked. Madam was teaching her daughter responsibility. If Maya can break cups in her mother’s room and walk away, she will never learn respect.

"Yes, Madam, I will call her now," Grace said and went out to find Maya.

Flora remained on the bed, sitting straight. She looked at the broken pieces on the floor. Her back was straight. Her eyes were clear.

Grace went to look for Maya. She walked fast through the corridor towards Maya’s room, but she was not there. Luckily, she saw the gardener who told her that she is at the boys quarters, immediately she headed towards there.

When she reached there, one of the rooms,the door was half open. Grace was about to knock when she heard Maya’s voice inside. Maya was speaking loudly. She was talking to someone, maybe her friend.

Grace stopped at the door and listened.

"I will blackmail you Simon," Maya was saying. Her voice was angry and sharp. "I will tell Uncle what you did today , I will tell everybody your hidden secret. Let me see how you will stay in this house. My mother cannot save you this time. I have clear evidence "

Grace’s heart beat fast. She could not believe what she was hearing. Simon had never disrespected anyone in this house. Who knows what he did to her?

Grace did not knock again. She turned back quietly and ran straight to Madam’s room. She knew this was not a small matter. If Maya carries out that plan, Simon will lose his job, and staff will spread it in the whole compound. She had to report it immediately.

She reached Flora’s room and knocked quickly.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Come in," Flora said.

Grace entered, breathing fast.

"Madam, sorry Madam," Grace said, her voice low and shaking a little. "I went to miss Maya to call her as you said. But I heard her shouting at Simon. Madam, she said she will blackmail Simon. She said she will tell everybody what Simon did and you won’t be able to rescue him . Madam, please don’t fire Simon."

Flora was sitting on the edge of her bed. When she heard what Grace said, she did not shout. Her eyes became very sharp and cold. Immediately, she understood what was about to happen.

It was not just Maya’s anger. It was a plan. Andrew was behind it. Andrew wanted to use Maya against her because his mission with the former chef failed. If Simon is blackmailed, Andrew will think that I am weak , maybe I can’t control Maya and my staff. She thought...

Flora understood it in one second. She is a businesswoman who runs companies. She knows how blackmail works. How fake stories spreads and the damages involved.

She stood up straight. Even without shoes, she looked tall and powerful. She left what she was doing, adjusted her dress and looked at Grace.

"Grace, thank you for telling me the truth. You did well," Flora said calmly. Her voice was firm and controlled. "Now I want you to do something for me. Go to the living room. Tell everybody to gather there now. Everybody in this house. The security, the new cook, the gardener, Zoe and the housekeeper, including Simon, and Maya. Tell them Madam wants to see them now. No one should remain in their room."

Grace nodded. "Yes, Madam."

Grace ran out. She went to the backyard first. She told Simon, who was still standing near the boys quarters. "Simon, Madam said everybody should gather at the living room now."

Simon was surprised. "Everybody?"

"Yes, now," Grace said.

Then she went to tell the security, the cook, the gardener, and she told Zoe,who was cleaning the glass with the housekeeper.

"Where is Miss Maya? She asked.

"She is in her room,Zoe said.

Immediately, she headed to her room. Her door was wide open.

Maya was inside, sitting on her bed with her phone in her hand.

"Miss Maya, Madam said everybody should gather at the living room now," Grace said.

Maya frowned. "Everybody? Why?"

"I don’t know. Madam just said now," Grace replied.

Maya stood up, feeling a little nervous, and followed Grace to the living room.

In a few minutes, everybody gathered in the big living room. They gathered in circles. Simon stood close to the wall, his head bent low, his hands clasped together. Maya stood at the other side, with her arms folded, trying to look strong but her legs were shaking.

Flora had not come out yet. The room was silent. Everyone was wondering why Madam called them.

Then Flora stepped out of her room. She walked into the living room slowly. Her steps were steady and powerful. She wore a simple long dress, and her hair was packed neatly behind. Her face was calm, but her eyes were burning with authority. She looked like the billionaire owner of this house.

Everybody stood straight when they saw her.

Flora looked around the room once. She looked at every face. Then she stopped at Maya.

"Maya, come forward," Flora said. Her voice was not loud, but it carried power across the whole room.

Maya felt fear enter her stomach. She did not want to move. But her mother’s voice was the kind of voice you cannot disobey when she is in control.

With fear, she came forward slowly and stood in the middle of the living room.

Flora looked at her daughter for a long second. Then she spoke, her voice clear and firm so everyone could hear.

"Maya, you will apologize to Simon now," Flora said. "You broke cups in my room and left without cleaning it.You insulted Simon. Now you will apologize to him in front of everybody here."

Maya’s face became red. She looked at Simon, then at her mother. She wanted to shout again, but she could not. The whole house was looking at her. Her mother’s eyes were fixed on her.

She turned to Simon with a stubborn face.

"Sorry," she said quickly, her voice small and hard. It was not a soft sorry. It was a stubborn sorry. She was still angry inside, but she knew she had no choice.

Simon nodded quietly. "It is okay, Miss Maya."

Flora watched her daughter. She knew that sorry was not from the heart. Maya was still very stubborn.

"Maya, that apology is not enough," Flora said calmly. "You will go upstairs alone now and clean the mess you made in my room. You will pick the dustpan with brush and pack every piece of broken cup. You will mop the tea you poured and you will do it with your own hands. No one will help you."

Maya opened her mouth to argue. "Mother, I -"

"Go now, Maya," Flora cut her sharply, but without shouting. Her voice was cold and final. "Go and clean it now."

Maya felt tears in her eyes. She was embarrassed in front of all the staff. But she knew her mother would not change her mind. She turned and walked upstairs alone.

She went to the store, picked a dustpan and a brush, and headed towards her mother’s room to clean the broken cups.

Downstairs in the living room, everyone was still standing quietly. Flora looked at them.

"Thank you, everyone. You can go back to your work," Flora said.

They were about to leave when they heard a loud horn at the main gate.

PAM! PAM!

The sound was long and impatient, like someone who owned the house.

Simon stepped forward immediately. He looked towards the gate.

One of the security was at the gate, checking to know who the person was. The security was speaking through the small gate intercom.

Everyone in the living room turned to look towards the gate.