My Gateman and I: Chapter Five
1112 Words
As the days went by, Max's behavior towards me changed dramatically. He started avoiding me at all costs, never wanting to see me or interact with me unless necessary. His only obligation, it seemed, was to open the gate for me when I was going or coming from work. He would do so with a curt nod, his eyes avoiding mine, and then quickly retreat to his gateman room.
I tried to reach out to him, to talk to him and find out what was still wrong, but he shut me down at every turn. It was as if he had erected a wall around himself, a wall that I couldn't breach.
One morning, I decided to take a different approach. I went to his gateman's room, my heart pounding in my chest, and knocked on the door. He came out, his eyes narrowed, and didn't even bother to greet me. I was the one who spoke first, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Max, please, can we talk?"
He raised an eyebrow, his expression unyielding. "What do you want, Summer?"
I took a deep breath, my hands shaking. "I came to apologize, Max. I know I hurt you, and I'm truly sorry."
He snorted, his eyes rolling. "Fine, you've apologized. You can leave now."
I felt a stinging sensation in my eyes, tears pricking at the corners. "Max, please, don't be like this. I care about you, I value our friendship-"
He cut me off, his voice cold. "Friendship? Do you call what we had a friendship? You used me, Summer. You used me to get what you wanted, and then you discarded me like trash. I don't want anything to do with you outside of my gateman work. Just leave me alone."
I felt a pain so intense, it took my breath away. Tears streamed down my face, and I couldn't speak. I turned and walked away, my heart heavy with sorrow. I knew that I had lost Max, and it was all my fault.
I left his gateman's house, my head bowed in shame and didn't stop until I was back in my bedroom, where I collapsed on the bed, sobbing uncontrollably. I knew that I had to respect Max's boundaries, but it was hard to accept that our friendship was truly over.
The next day, I decided to pay Williams a surprise visit. I arrived at his house, my heart racing with anticipation. I entered the house, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of him. As I made my way to his bedroom, I heard his voice, low and conspiratorial, speaking with another woman. My heart sank as I realized he was with his main girlfriend, the one he had denied having.
I crept closer, my ears straining to hear their conversation. They were discussing how to extort more money from me, their voices dripping with greed. My blood boiled as I listened, my mind reeling with shock. The one million dollars I had given him, was all a ruse, a cooked-up story to get his hands on my money.
I couldn't hold it in anymore. I pushed open the door, my eyes blazing with anger. Williams and his girlfriend were taken aback, their faces pale with shock. "Williams, I never thought you could do this to me," I said, my voice shaking with tears. "You lied to me, manipulated me, and betrayed my trust."
Williams' eyes darted back and forth, searching for an escape route. His girlfriend's eyes were fixed on me, a mixture of guilt and defiance. "Summer, please understand-" Williams began, but I cut him off.
"No, Williams, I don't want to hear it. You've lied to me enough. I warned him never to step foot in my house again. And as for you," I glared at his girlfriend, "you're just as guilty as he is. Stay away from me, both of you."
With that, I turned and stormed out of the room, leaving them to their guilt and shame. I couldn't believe I had trusted Williams, had believed his lies and deceit. But I knew one thing for sure - I would never make that mistake again.
As I left Williams' house, my heart heavy with sorrow and anger, I drove back home, my mind reeling with thoughts of betrayal and deceit. I couldn't believe what I had just heard, what I had just witnessed. Williams, someone I had trusted, had been playing me all along.
As I pulled into my driveway, Max opened the gate, his expression neutral as always. I drove in, my eyes fixed on him, hoping to find some comfort, some solace in his presence. I came out of the car, my legs shaking, my body trembling with tears.
"Max," I rushed to him, my voice barely above a whisper. "Max, I need to tell you something."
He looked at me, his eyes softening slightly, but his expression remained guarded. "What is it, Summer?"
I took a deep breath, the words tumbling out of me like a dam breaking. "I just came from Williams' house. I overheard him and his girlfriend talking about how they scammed me, and how they extorted money from me. Oh, Max, I feel so stupid, so blind."
Max's expression didn't change, his eyes didn't flicker with surprise or anger. He just looked at me, his gaze steady. "It's none of my business, Summer," he said finally. "You need to fix your issues. I can't get involved in this."
I felt like I had been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Max, the one person I thought I could trust, was turning his back on me.
"Max, please," I begged, my tears falling like rain. "Please help me. I don't know what to do."
But Max just shook his head, his eyes cold. "I told you, Summer. It's none of my business. You need to handle this yourself."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, alone and heartbroken. I couldn't believe what had just happened. Max, the one person I thought I could count on, had abandoned me in my time of need.
I stood there, my tears falling like rain, and my heart shattered into a million pieces. I couldn't move, couldn't speak. I was frozen in pain and sorrow.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I took a deep breath and quietly entered my house, my heart heavy with grief. I couldn't believe what had just happened. I couldn't believe that Max had turned his back on me.
Do you think Max was right this time?
- Writer
