The Unfilial Boss Woman

Chapter 7. The Rivals

Patrick stared at Loveth, who attempted to stand up despite having her right foot bandaged.

"Ah!" she groaned in agony, and he looked away from her to his mother, realizing he did not know who had hired her into their mansion.

"I don't know if she can handle it, but it's fine if she wants to stay. Isabel wouldn't be happy if she found out I sent Loveth home in this condition," his mother responded. Patrick then returned his gaze to Doctor Timothy Suleiman.

"Doc, you overheard my mother. I have no say in women's affairs, and I am not the one who employed her. I have to be on my way now," Patrick said, turning to leave.

"Son, wait!" His mother called him back, and Patrick frowned, knowing she would only ask him about the wedding date.

"Mom, you worry too much. I will be back, and we will talk about this," he said.

He quickly exited their crowded living room and saw Jeff rushing to meet him.

"Boss."

"Attend to Doc Timothy first and bring my briefcase and suit jacket from the couch. I can't stand my mother's constant questions about marriage," Patrick murmured as he walked away. Jeff quickly understood and approached Doctor Timothy, who was also stepping out.

"I will visit the clinic, Doctor," Jeff said, darting into the living room to retrieve his boss's briefcase and suit jacket. He noticed the beautiful young lady seated on the executive milk-colored couch in pain.

Jeff then picked up the blue suit jacket and carried Patrick's suitcase, bowing to elderly Mrs. Eleanor while avoiding Willow's gaze.

Jeff then walked up to the red Toyota Venza that had been made available, where the security guards opened the door for Patrick. As Patrick sat inside, Jeff entered the front driver's seat, placing Patrick's coat and briefcase in the second front seat before starting the car's engine.

Patrick remained quiet throughout the drive, images of his passionate encounter with the mysterious woman—who he didn't want to believe was the new maid—flashed in his mind.

He remembered how he had rushed to her and lifted her in his arms. It made him restless; he hadn't planned to touch a maid, let alone carry her as if she were a priceless possession.

Her sweet, feminine scent seemed to relax all his previous anger at the thought of Willow cheating on him.

"Who let that b***h in?" Patrick finally questioned Jeff, who was driving the Venza towards the company while slowing down due to traffic.

"Kelvin Austin, boss," Jeff replied.

"Hmm, that lunatic wouldn’t ask first before allowing anyone into the premises," Patrick murmured, staring out through the window.

"He did, boss. He asked Madam, and she ordered him to let her in," Jeff explained.

"Mother was already in the living room by then?" Patrick asked, surprised to hear that his mother was up at such an early hour.

"Yes, she had been there for an hour before I came up to check on you," Jeff responded.

"Okay. Just focus on your driving."

Patrick stared at the road as Jeff drove to their company, The Anderson Luxury Hotel in the state.

Patrick stepped out, not waiting for his bodyguards. He walked toward the magnificent ten-story hotel. Tony Miles exited his black SUV and smirked as he approached Patrick.

Patrick barely noticed the bodyguards around him and glanced at Tony.

"I told you I would get Willow Albert, didn’t I?" Tony smirked, and Patrick's eyes narrowed at him as interviewers walked up.

"Good morning, Master Patrick!" a female interviewer rushed up to him, and photographers began taking photos. Patrick ignored the interviewer's greeting, instead focusing on Tony. His bodyguards quickly stepped in and chased the interviewers away.

"I don't care if you marry Willow Albert; now excuse me." Patrick walked past Tony, stepping into the grand hall of his hotel. He had a business meeting at 10 a.m. to cover for the meeting he missed at 10 p.m.

Watching Patrick's retreating back, Tony laughed as he walked to his Honda Pilot, his guards opening the door for him.

Tony sat in silence, wondering what had changed in Patrick.

He knew Patrick wanted to marry Willow; they even had a formal engagement that was the talk of the town, especially since Willow's father was a billionaire and oil mogul.

"I will find out what changed. Start the car!" Tony ordered his driver. The driver quickly started the engine and drove away from the Anderson Hotel to Miles Hotel while Patrick took the elevator that went up to the sixth floor of his exquisite hotel, where the meeting would be held.

Patrick stepped out and walked straight to the meeting room, where he had about twelve top members to meet. The meeting was a brief overview of his partnership with them, and he was there because of his father, who was the former CEO and was currently on leave while traveling for medical treatment under the care of his eldest sister, Isabel Anderson-Owen, who was married to a politician in the state.

Patrick entered the conference room, finding around twelve top members already seated, waiting for him.

They wanted to discuss new changes and suggestions for the hotel’s operations and policies.

Patrick sat calmly, watching the elderly men—most were the account manager, the PR manager, the sales manager, and other top staff working under him.

The meeting was brief, and as he listened attentively, he stood up and shook hands with Mr. Samuel Kingston, the head manager overseeing the hotel's records. Samuel was his father's close friend in the hotel industry.

The meeting concluded, and Patrick walked out, taking the elevator to the eighth floor where his office was located.

As he stepped out, his mind was filled with thoughts of what had happened between him and the new maid the previous night, and more importantly, what Willow was doing in their home.

"I'm so sure Willow traveled out with Tony. How did she appear out of nowhere in my father's house?" Patrick walked into his office, which was wide and painted in ash-gray. He passed the four purple couches arranged around his office and moved to his main desk.

His office resembled a spacious room, and he used the four purple couches to relax and entertain models whenever boredom struck.

As the boss, Patrick did whatever he liked. He had repented from his sinful ways after falling in love with Willow Albert, but she never changed.

Patrick shook his head and walked to his black executive chair. Just then, he heard a knock on his office door. His secretary, Miss Ava Adams, a hot blonde beauty, walked in and greeted him.

"Good afternoon, Boss." Ava was dressed in a white shirt and a deep red skirt with black shoes, her black bow tie neatly tied around her neck.

Patrick stared at her in silence, noticing that she resembled his mother’s new maid, though her eyes were brown. This thought haunted him, bringing back blurry images from the previous night.

"What do you want?" Patrick asked coldly, not recalling if he had sent for her.

"Sir, here are the documents for the new magazine covers. Some have been published, and I am here to show them to you."

Patrick remained silent, staring at the computer on his desk that he hadn’t switched on, then glanced back at Ava.

"Drop them on the center table and exit my office. I didn’t send for you!" he said, his voice colder. Ava shuddered and immediately did as instructed before exiting his office.

As she walked away, Ava wondered what had angered Patrick again. Each day spent with him in the office seemed to trigger his growing frustration. She thought that after his engagement to Willow the previous month, he would have found happiness, but instead, he only got worse.

Ava shook her head and returned to her office to continue handling his affairs, as he rarely responded and often flirted with new models whenever he had the chance.

Patrick adjusted his necktie to loosen it and unbuttoned a few of the buttons on his white shirt as he felt hot and sick despite the air conditioning.

His office phone rang, and knowing he had a visitor, he answered it.

"Hello, sir, Willow Albert is here to see you," Ava informed him, and his brows furrowed.

"Don’t let her in, and send her away, or I will have the guards escort her out." Patrick immediately hung up the phone. Ava sat speechless as she lost her words in front of Willow, who stood in front of her in her short red gown and black boots, refusing to sit.