Chapter 19: The Garden Confession

Chapter 19: Chapter 19: The Garden Confession

PAM! PAM! PAM!

The horn blasted again. This time ,it was louder and longer. Like the person at the gate was angry that nobody was opening fast.

In the living room, Flora was still standing. The staff had already left after Maya went upstairs to clean. Only the echo of the horn remained.

Simon was standing at the gate., signalling Madam for approval.

The security opened the small iron window and looked out.

"Who are you?" the security asked.

"Open the gate! It is me, Andrew!" a voice shouted from outside.

The security knew that voice. It was Maya’s uncle.

He looked at Simon. Simon nodded.

"Open," Simon said.

The security opened the big gate.

A black Mercedes entered. The car was shining and new. It drove in very fast, spraying small dust on Simon’s shoes. The car did not stop near the normal parking space. It stopped right in front of the main door, blocking the entrance.

Andrew stepped out.

He was wearing a black shirt and dark glasses. He didn’t turn to look at the staff. He just locked his car with a loud beep and walked into the house like he owns it.

He pushed the living room door open.

Flora was standing in the middle of the living room. Her hands were behind her back.

When she saw Andrew, she did not smile. She did not frown. She just looked at him.

Andrew removed his glasses slowly and smiled.

"Greetings, Flora," he said, his voice full of pride.

Flora looked at him for two seconds. Then she said calmly, "Andrew, what brought you here."

She didn’t offered him a seat. Not because of what happened, but because she wanted him to stand and say what he came to say. He should stand strong and expose himself.

He looked around the living room.

"I heard there is drama in the house today," Andrew said. He was smiling.

Flora was still standing. She did not sit.

"What drama?" Flora asked, her voice very cool, like she knew nothing.

Andrew laughed. "Flora, you don’t need to pretend with me. I know everything that is happening in this house. Maya told me. Maya tells me everything."

Flora’s eyes became sharp, but her face remained calm.

"Oh, Maya tells you everything?" Flora asked.

"Yes," Andrew said. He leaned forward. "She told me you are dating your driver. Simon. The driver. I heard you were hugging him in your bedroom. Flora, this is not good for your reputation. You are a widow. People are talking."

Flora did not move. She did not shout. She behaved like nothing. Like his words were just wind passing.

"Andrew," Flora said softly, "you can feed the information to the birds,I am not answerable to you,if not for my late husband,i would have gotten you arrested instantly.do you really think I will explain my life to you?"

Andrew’s smile faded a little.

Flora continued, her voice now stronger and full of emotion. "I know what you are doing. I know Maya gives you information. You call her every day, you put ideas in her head. You are using my daughter against me because she is young and does not know the world. At your age, you have no job, no house, no company, but you want to control my house through my daughter and probably marry the mother"

Andrew stood up. He was angry now because Flora had spoken the truth.

"Flora, you are insulting me," he said.

"No, I am telling you the truth," Flora said. Her voice was still controlled, but her chest was rising with anger. " You told my maid to steal from me. Now you are poisonong my daughter’s mind against me . You are not smart.You are just wicked."

Andrew’s face became red. He pointed his finger at Flora.

"Okay, fine! If you know everything, then I will tell you another thing. Your daughter, Maya, is in love with that driver! Yes! She is in love with Simon! That is why she is jealous! She saw him on your bed and she went mad! Your own daughter loves your driver!"

Flora felt pain in her heart for one second. But she did not show it. She stood straight.

"Maya is young," Flora said with deep human emotion in her voice. "If she is confused, I will correct her with love, not with your dirty lies. But you, Andrew, you will leave my house now. Immediately."

Andrew laughed again. This time his laugh was threatening.

"I will leave. But before I leave, I will tell you this. I have so many secrets about the will. Your husband’s will. If you push me, I will go to court and make sure you lose everything. This house, this company, everything will go to Maya, and Maya will give it to me."

"For your information,he continued, Your husband handed the properties in Manchester to me secretly,I think you should know now, so do not look me less , or let my looks deceive you,I control millions of dollars, so you have no other choice but to marry me and make me richer, after all,I am also a widower ". What you don’t know about your husband is bigger than you?."He laughed.

Flora ignored his meaningless points.

Flora looked at him and smiled for the first time. It was a cold, powerful smile.

"Andrew," she said, her voice like steel, "listen to me very well.I was rich when my husband married me. I had money before I met him. I built my own company before his company. My mother gave me lands and shops before I said yes to my husband. So you cannot threaten me with property. This house you are standing on, I and my husband built it . My husband’s will cannot take what is mine. You cannot threaten a woman who made herself. You are a big liar"

Andrew opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Flora pointed to the door.

"Now leave my house. Now."

Andrew picked his glasses from the sofa. His hands were shaking a little. He knew Flora was not a woman he could threaten.

"This is not over," he said quietly.

"It is over for you, If you want war, I will give it to you in trailer loads" Flora replied.

"All my husband property belongs to me, including the ones he gave you secretly, on the appointed time,I will take it away from you, Watch and see... Flora said looking straight into his eyes.

Andrew walked out like he had walked in - fast, with pride, but this time his pride was broken. He entered his black Mercedes and drove out with speed. The gate made a loud sound when it closed behind him.

Flora remained standing in the living room alone, her eyes fixed on the gate, her heart beating strong.

The living room became silent after Andrew left. The gate had closed with a loud clang. The black Mercedes was gone.

Flora was still standing in the middle of the living room. Her chest was rising up and down. She was tired. She was tired of shouting inside the house where all the staff were looking.

She turned and saw Grace standing near the kitchen door.

"Grace," Flora called. Her voice was calm but firm.

"Yes, Madam," Grace answered quickly and came forward.

Flora looked at her straight in the eyes.

"Grace, go and tell Simon and Maya to meet me at the garden immediately. Now. I want to see both of them under the tree." Flora said.

Grace nodded. "Yes, Madam."

Grace went out first to call Simon who was at the boys quarters, then she went upstairs to call Maya who has been on a long in her room, after packing the broken cup.

Flora walked alone to the garden.

The evening wind was blowing. Her hair was blowing on the wind. She did not tie it. It was flying around her face. She stood under the big tree with her hands folded, waiting patiently for Maya and Simon.

After two minutes, she heard footsteps.

Simon came first.His face was down. He was holding his cap in his hand. Behind him was Maya. Her eyes were still red. Her hair looked unkempt.

They both stood in front of Flora. They did not look at each other.

Flora looked at both of them for a long time. The wind was still blowing her hair.

"Simon. Maya. I called both of you here because this is the only quiet place in this house," Flora started. Her voice was not shouting. It was deep and motherly. "I want to know what is happening between both of you. I want the truth. No lies. I am asking both of you now."

Simon was about to talk, but Flora stopped him.

"Maya, you start first. What is happening between you and Simon?"

Maya was shaking. She looked at the ground, then at her mother, then at Simon. Her hands were tight.

She took a deep breath and said it.

"Mummy... I love Simon."

The wind blew stronger.

Flora’s eyes opened wide. Her heart jumped.

"What did you say?" Flora asked.

Maya started crying again, but this time she spoke with force, like she had been holding it for long.

"Mummy, I love Simon! Since the first time you brought him to this house! I love him! That is why I was angry when I saw you too on the bed! "

Flora’s face changed immediately. The calm mother became an angry mother.

"Maya!" Flora shouted."What are you saying? .You love Simon? .My driver? You are supposed to be reading your books! Not about a man!"

"Mummy, I cannot help it," Maya cried. "I love him."

Flora was very upset. She pointed her finger at Maya.

"Listen to me, Maya. You will focus on your studies. I did not send you to expensive school for you to come and fall in love with my driver. If you continue this nonsense, I will be left with no choice but to sack Simon. I will sack him immediately and send him back to his agency.Do you want that? Do you want Simon to lose his job because of you?"

Maya covered her mouth and cried louder. "No, Mummy, please don’t fire him."

Simon was standing there, frozen. He was shocked. The words hit him like a bomb.

He never expected it to come out this way. He never loved Maya, he never looked at Maya like a woman. He saw her as a small girl, as his Madam’s daughter.

The woman he loved... is Madam.

He loves Madam so dearly and can’t afford to lose winning her heart because of Maya. Never!

Now Maya says she loves him. He prayed that Maya shouldn’t be a weapon pressed against him.

Simon raised his head. His eyes were red.

"Madam, please," Simon said, his voice shaking. "Please don’t sack me. I swear, I never looked at her in that way. I respect you, Madam. I respect this family."

Flora looked at him.

But Simon’s mind already travelled in deep thoughts .

If I leave this house now, they will come for you. The problem ahead is bigger than what is written in the will.

Flora’s hair was still blowing on the wind. She looked at Maya who was crying because of love, and at Simon who was still in shocked.

For the first time that day, Flora did not know what to say.

She just stood under the tree, looking at the two confused hearts in front of her.