A Mistaken Night With The CEO

7: Arrogant mam

"Derrick, come here. I would like to have a word with you," Lady Loretta said as she called her only son back. She knew that Derrick was not pleased with her decision to pardon Miranda; however, she liked Miranda a lot. Since Miranda had not wronged her personally nor done anything wrong to the other maids, she could not just terminate Miranda's employment in her home.

More likely, Lady Loretta had other hidden objectives. She could not disclose her plans yet, as she had personally taken Miranda away from the orphanage and enrolled the young woman in school.

There was a time when Lady Loretta had gone to the orphanage for one of her leisurely kind-hearted works. There, she saw the beautiful young girl who was unhappy and mostly staring at the door.

Lady Loretta knew the young girl's wish was to leave the orphanage and explore the world beyond to establish herself. She never disclosed to Miranda that she was the woman behind Miranda's freedom. She made an offer to the orphanage to adopt Miranda and gave her a job as a maid under her, if she wanted her freedom.

Lady Loretta already had seven daughters, and her first daughter was 45 years old and a grandmother, making her a great-grandmother. So, what did she need another daughter for?

Similarly, she liked Miranda a lot and wished Derrick would notice the beautiful girl, but Derrick didn't care about any of the maids.

Lady Loretta also saw the way Derrick stared at the maid with pure irritation. It raised an alarm in her heart that Derrick would never like Miranda, even if she set them up.

She was wrong to think her son would like the maid, knowing he would have his own preference for the kind of woman he wanted.

Lady Loretta sighed as she watched Derrick walk back to meet her.

"Derrick, come sit here. I want to have a word with you," Lady Loretta repeated, and Derrick sighed and took a seat on the pristine white couch beside his mother.

"Mom, I just wanted to take a stroll outside to clear my mind," Derrick said as he finally sat down beside his mother.

"Why is that? Are you thinking about what I told you the previous night or about the maid? You know that Miranda is my maid, I like her a lot, and I cannot just send her away when she has not wronged me."

"I understand, mother, and I am not concerned about the maid. What would you like to discuss with me? Is it about the birthday party from the previous night or about the fact that you want me to marry?" Derrick inquired, and his mother smiled at him and replied, "Both.

"I want to discuss with you about settling down first. Ever since you returned from college and took over your father's company, you have not introduced any lady to me yet as your girlfriend nor brought any woman home for me to see and meet. Or do you not have a girlfriend at least?"

"No, mother. I already told you that I do not need a woman." Derrick's face contorted with a frown.

"Well, you should, my son. I want you to marry in a timely manner, as your father already set aside so much wealth for you. It shouldn't be until you are aged and considering marriage. Would you like me to marry a woman for you and bring her here?"

"No, Mother. I do not need that. Actually, last night, I was discussing this with Nicole. She wanted me to court Alexa Godwin, my secretary, who isn't a bad person. She comes from a well-respected family here and also has a good work ethic in the office."

"Hmm, I am not familiar with Alexa Godwin, and I do not really know her. Maybe the next time Alexa comes to visit us, you can introduce her to me. You know, you won't be able to gauge Alexa's true character if you both are in the office. The next time she visits, you should bring her for me to see the kind of person she is," Lady Loretta concluded. Derrick agreed with her, "Okay, Mother."

"Thank you for the birthday arrangements yesterday. I really appreciate it, even though it wasn't something I wanted." Derrick had a frown on his face, and his mother smiled at him.

"It's only fitting that I celebrate your birthday with you. You know that you look so much like your father in his younger days, and if only he was here with us. He was a good man, and that's why he had so many business partners all over the world. I remember when I met your father. Coming from a lower-class family, he never minded that and fell in love with me at first sight. We met in the supermarket, though. He was running some errands for his mother while I was doing some shopping for my boss. I mistakenly bumped into him, and that was how we met."

"Really, you are from a lower-class family, Mother?" Derrick looked perplexed, and his mother smiled at him and said, "Yes. Did you think I was born with a silver spoon like you? No, I was not. After I met your father, he did not let me go back. He wanted to know more about me, and he elevated my family's status from our lower status to the level my family is now."

"Hmm. That's very good of my father, but I cannot have anything to do with a lady from the lower class," Derrick said, and that only shattered his mother's heart.

"Why is that, Derrick? You know you cannot judge anyone based on their backgrounds. All that matters is to find a good woman who will love you and treat you right. You know, your father used to think that women from lower-class homes are more refined, more homely, honest, and genuine."

"No, mother. I see them as gold diggers, liars, and dirty people. I cannot associate with anyone from a lowly status, whether women or men. They are dirty, irritating, and I find them repulsive."

"What? Do I irritate you, my son?" Lady Loretta looked bewildered by her son's statement. She would not blame him, knowing that he had never tasted hardship. He was brilliant and always got everything he wanted correctly.

"No, mother. Except you, you do not irritate me, but I do not think I will ever want to associate with or have anything to do with a woman from a poor background. I cannot stand such poor women. I would rather prefer a lady from a higher-class home that matches my status and academic intellect. Or do you want me to have dull kids in the future? I do not like those poor people, and that's the truth. They do not interest me."

Lady Loretta sighed, and Derrick held her left hand warmly and assured her, "Not to worry, Mom. I will marry since that's what you want. I will try to get along with Alexa and bring her over for you to meet. Is that okay with you?"

Looking at her only son's dark, handsome face, his well-featured face, full brows, and midnight blue eyes, Lady Loretta's heart broke after hearing Derrick's statement regarding poor people. She knew that her hope of having Miranda as her daughter-in-law had failed. Miranda was pretty and hardworking, but her academic performance was poor, and Miranda had no plan of furthering her education either.

Well, she was equally responsible, as she wanted Miranda at home with her. She feared, 'what if another man out there spots Miranda and falls in love with her? Miranda looks beautiful with her nice shape, blonde hair, pointed nose, and brown sparkling eyes. A gentleman would take Miranda away from her, and she did not want that.

"Mother, are you listening to all that I have just said? I apologize for my words regarding poor people, but the truth remains I don't like them. I just find them lazy."

"No, they are not lazy, Derrick. Don't say that. It's life for you. All fingers are not equal, but they work together to assist us in doing our daily activities and what we want. You shouldn't look down on anyone simply because you were privileged. It broke my heart to see that you think of lower-class families this way. How about kids without homes and parents? You were fortunate enough to have a home and family to call home, and you should not use your glory in life to rub it in other people's faces. They would not admire it but rather think of how to destroy it and put you in such agony as them. Think of them as equal and don't look down on anyone. I made a terrible mistake, and during my next visit to the orphanage and while helping the poor from the lower class, you will accompany me, and not just give gifts in your name."

"Mom," Derrick scowled as he rose from the couch. "I cannot visit the town if that's what you want."

"You will. Where are you off to?" Lady Loretta queried as Derrick turned to stroll out of the mansion.

As he turned to leave the living room, Derrick met the gaze of Miranda standing in front of them. She quickly looked away from him, having heard everything he said. She usually listened to his conversations with his mother, and this was the first time she got to know that his mother was from a poor home. Still, he was such an arrogant man.