Mated For Revenge

CHAPTER FIVE: Knox's Decision

The morning sun spills its gentle warmth through the curtains, casting a golden hue over the room. I stir from my slumber, my eyes fluttering open to the familiar sight of my bedroom. But something is amiss. The warmth of Maxinne nestled beside me is absent. Panic grips my heart as I sit up, scanning the room in a frantic search.

"Maxinne?" I call out, but there’s no response.

Had she not transformed back into her human form? I hope she had before leaving my room!

The marble floor softly thuds beneath my weight as I dash towards Maxinne's bedroom. But then, a faint sound reaches my ears—a soft giggle, like tinkling bells.

That’s Maxinne!

Hearing her sends a wave of relief through me, knowing that she’s now in her human form. Following the sound, I walk down the hallway towards the guest room where the woman had slept the night before. As I approach, the laughter grows louder, mingling with the joyful chatter of two voices.

Pushing the door open, and there they are Maxinne sits cross-legged on the floor, her dark curls bouncing as she giggles uncontrollably. And beside her, the woman with hazel eyes and a warm smile—is engrossed in a game of dolls.

The woman’s once distraught features now glows with a radiant joy that defies the darkness of last night's despair. The weight of whatever burden she has carried seems lifted, leaving behind only traces of resilience. It’s as if something has completely torn down the walls of her sorrow.

"Maxinne," I call out, getting their attention.

"Daddy!" she squeals, holding up a doll for me to see.

I drop to one knee, my arms outstretched to catch her as she hurtles towards me. With a joyful laugh, Maxinne leaps into my embrace, her arms wrapping tightly around my neck as I scoop her up in my arms.

"Gotcha!" I exclaim.

Then my attention is drawn to the woman standing a few feet away, her gaze speaks of gratitude.

"Thank you," the woman murmurs, her voice soft and tremulous. "For saving me and even bringing me here.”

"Sure," I reply. "But I can't let you stay here."

The woman's eyes flinch in dismay, her lips parting in silent protest.

“I’ll give you a ride home, we’ll leave in half an hour,” I add.

The woman's shoulders slump in defeat, her gaze dropping to the ground as she nods in resignation. She whispers, “Understood. Thank you again.”

My attention is diverted to Maxinne when she clasps her hands together with eyes wide and pleading. "Daddy, please. I want Catherine here. She’s nice.”

My heart clenches at the earnestness in her voice, but I have to be firm. "Sweetheart, I understand that she’s now your playmate, but we can't just let a stranger come and go into our house."

Maxinne's bottom lip trembles, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "But she's not a stranger, Daddy," she insists. "Her name is Catherine."

As I think on how to respond without disappointing her more, the woman speaks up, her voice soft but determined.

"I'm sorry to intrude," she says, her gaze fixed on me. "I want to assure you that I mean no harm." She takes a step forward, her eyes pleading. "Please, Mister. I'm not asking for much. Just a roof over my head and a meal to eat. In return, I can help around the house—cleaning, cooking, taking care of Maxinne. You don't even have to pay me."

My jaw clenches at her audacity. On one hand, there’s a pang of sympathy for her plight. But on the other hand, there’s the cautiousness of not exposing my family’s secret. I wanna help her, but I can't allow a human to live here.

The woman’s shoulders tilt down again and so is her gaze as she murmurs, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be this shameless.”

“In thirty minutes we’ll leave. Maxinne’s babysitters will arrive before then, they’ll hand you your clothes back. For now, you can wear anything from the dresser. Whatever you choose, they’re yours. Don’t need to return them.”

Without waiting for her response nor her reaction, Maxinne and I leave her alone in the room.

As the sun begins to peek through the glass windows, the doorbell rings, signaling the arrival of Maxinne's babysitters. One of the babysitters starts preparing Maxinne's breakfast, while the other whisks my giggling girl off to her morning bath before her tutor's arrival.

I take a shower, slip into my crisply pressed tuxedo, before descending the stairs. The scene that greets me when I reach the living area unfolds like a poignant tableau, etched with the raw emotions of a father torn between duty and compassion.

Maxinne, dressed in her delicate doll-like lacy dress, stands before the woman, her tears shimmering against her flushed cheeks. With trembling lips, she pleads with the woman, her small hands clutching at the fabric of the dress the woman is wearing.

"Please don't go," Maxinne whimpers. "I don't want you to leave."

To my surprise, the woman’s eyes are also glistening with unshed tears as she kneels down beside Maxinne, her gentle touch soothing my girl's trembling form.

"I'm sorry, baby," she whispers as she wipes Maxinne’s tears with her fingers. "But I have to go. You'll meet other friends, for sure, because you’re a very good girl."

I approach them, my arms outstretched to envelop Maxinne in a comforting embrace. "Anything you want when I come home, sweetheart?”

Maxinne shakes her head, her tear-streaked face buried against the woman’s shoulder as she clings to her. With a heavy sigh, I smile sadly, my heart aching with the weight of my decision.

Turning to the babysitters, I nod at them to take Maxinne from the woman, before motioning for the woman to follow me towards the elevator. As we step inside the elevator, Maxinne’s sobs grow louder and become more painful to hear.

The dimly lit underground garage echoes with the low hum of engines as I guide one of my cars through the maze of concrete pillars. The automated steel gates slide open with a soft hiss, allowing our passage into the bustling city beyond.

As we navigate the winding road, I steal a glance at the woman and ask. "Where can I drop you?"

She draws a stiff breath, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. "Anywhere.”

I frown at her vague answer, but don’t have the luxury of time to press her for more details. With a resigned nod, I steer the car towards the nearest gasoline station, my mind already racing with thoughts of the day ahead.

Once the car is pulled to a stop, the woman opens the door and steps out onto the pavement, her movements slow and hesitant. For some reason, I stay still, watching her for a moment. She sits down on the pavement, clutching her knees close to her chest, her teary eyes downcasted, her expression dejected.

It isn’t until I’m halfway to the office that my thoughts turn back to last night’s event. But I quickly brush off the idea as foolishness, convincing myself that she would never dare to attempt such a thing again.

From the moment the sun kisses the horizon, my day as the owner of a TelCo company unfolds in a whirlwind of meetings, negotiations, and strategic planning sessions. Emails flow back and forth, calls are made and answered, and decisions are reached with the precision of a well-oiled machine. As twilight descends, signaling the end of another bustling day, I wrap up my affairs, tying loose ends with a sense of satisfaction.

Slipping back behind the wheel, I navigate through the city streets, the neon lights painting a vibrant backdrop against the gathering darkness. As my car rounds the corner, my eyes fall upon the gasoline station where I left the woman earlier. To my surprise, she’s still there on the same spot in the same position. Her arms are trembling, her face is drained of color again, and her lips are parched and dry.

“What’s wrong with this woman?” I murmur.

With a sense of urgency, I bring the car to a stop and rush towards her. “Catherine, right? Why are you still here?"

She looks up at me, her eyes hollow with exhaustion. She then says feebly, "I have nowhere else to go.”

My heart twists with pity, though I try to keep my emotions in check. Offering her my hand, I help her to her feet. The instant our skin touches, a tingling sensation wriggles through me, but I ignore it.

"Can you buy me some water, please?” she asks.

Water? It seems to me that she hasn’t eaten anything since… Well, not sure when.

"Come on," I say. "Let's get you something to eat."

Her gaze flickers at me with surprise. Then she smiles, her gaze softening with unspoken gratitude. As we make our way towards my car, her frail form leaning heavily on my arm and I feel a peculiar tug at my heartstrings. It isn’t just her pitiful demeanor or Maxinne's fondness for her that’s drawing me in, though those are undeniable factors. There’s something more profound at play, something I can’t quite put into words or to be precise, something I refuse to entertain.

I hope I’m not making a decision that I’ll eventually regret.