The Beauty In Our Scars.

Mandy Miller (the new mistress)

The morning came quite quickly and beautifully with the sky looking more radiant than ever. Craig was all ready to have breakfast at the rooftop that morning. Mandy had gotten him ready on time and managed to help him move to the torooftop wait. Not long after he got there, his mother, Maria, got there too, alongside Mr Maurice. Immediately Maria set her eyes on her son. She smiled slightly, she had the urge to run over to Craig and hug him but she controlled her impulses. She walked gracefully to the table and sat on the seat in front of the table.

"Good morning mother" Craig greeted, his expression as cold as ice.

"Morning son. Never thought you would want to eat with me this morning" Maria responded calmly. Craig smiled slightly, then he turned to both Mr Maurice and Mandy.

"Leave us" he said. Both Mr Maurice and Mandy bowed and excused themselves, leaving just Maria and her son.

"Alright then, let's dig in" Maria said. Craig nodded as a sign of agreement and the two began to dig into their breakfast. They both ate in silence until they were done. After Craig sipped a little bit of orange juice from the glass.

"Mother, I have something to talk to you about" Craig announced. Maria lifted her head from the table, her eyes searching Craig's desperately.

"Speak right away, I'm listening" Maria said. Craig lifted his juice into his mouth and sipped it again and looked straight into his mother's eyes.

"I want to make Mandy Miller myself and my mistress" he announced. Maria's eyes widened in shock and in disbelief, her cup of coffee slipped off her hand, shattering the fragile ceramics and it's cntent on the ground.

"What did you just say?" Maria asked as she still looked at her son with shock.

"I said I want to take Mandy as my mistress" Craig said calmly.

"Are you out of your mind? How on earth will you want to take a maid as your mistress?" Maria asked furiously.

"I have my reasons mother" Craig said,

"You really called me out for breakfast to discuss this?" Maria asked, she then scoffed. "Yeah, it was never about me, you didn't even want to sit with me" Maria said, her voice cracked as each word proceeded from her lips, Craig bent his head in frustration.

"You haven't even tried to listen to me first before jumping into conclusions" Craig said firmly. Maria stopped and looked tensely at her son for a bit.

"Okay, tell me then, what are your reasons?" She managed to ask after a few minutes.

"I want to make Mandy my mistress because she seems to be a very good ally. She doesn't seem to be corrupted yet. And while I watched "business today" yesterday morning, I saw Martin and Clarissa, they talked about their plans to expand their transportation business and all. Mandy is an intelligent woman from what I have noticed, keeping her and using her would benefit me and the impression I seek to create for my comeback" Craig explained. Maria didn't seem impressed with all he said until something clicked.

"Comeback? Did you say comeback?" Maria said, her eyes lighting up with suprise and excitement. Craig smirked,

"Yes ma'am, a comeback. I'll prefer to work with someone I can trace and handle. I feel Mandy would be a good tool, probably till everything balances up" Craig responded calmly. Maria kept silent, staring long and hard at her son for a few minutes.

"Alright, I'll allow it cos it's important. But make sure you get things together soon" Maria finally said. Craig smirked.

"Thank you, mother. And I'll have breakfast with you as often as I can. I have to get going now" Craig said as he wheeled himself off the table in front of him. "Anyone? We're done" he announced loudly. In no time, Mr Maurice and Mandy walked in. They both bowed and Mandy instantly went behind Craig and slowly wheeled him out. Maria watched them keenly until they disappeared through the door.

"That redhead is one heck of a something. I'll have to watch her closely" Maria said after she scoffed. Mr Maurice looked at her in confusion,

"Is there any problem madam?" He asked.

"None my dear, none" Maria answered calmly.

"Alright sir, I'll get going" Mandy announced as she left the wheelchair and took a bow. Just as she was about to leave, Craig held her by the wrist. Mandy froze at the spot and turned back.

"Is there any problem sir?" She asked.

"There is none. I just have news for you" Craig said calmly.

"Ok sir. What is it?" Mandy asked again, curiosity blazing in her eyes. Craig let out a quite chilling smile.

"You, my dear, from today will be my mistress" Craig announced proudly. Mandy's eyes widened in shook, her wrist began to tremble in Craig's grip, suddenly, her breathing became rapid. She chuckled a bit in a bid to control her nervousness.

"Uhmm sir this joke is quite expensive. Don't you think?" Mandy asked as she continued to chuckle. Craig smiled and looked up at her.

"It's not a joke Miss Mandy Miller. I'm dead serious" Craig said coldly, the smile disappearing from his face swiftly. Mandy jerked, fear griped her as she stared at her boss.

"No, no no no. It's not possible, I can't" Mandy chanted as she broke free from his grip.

"You will" a voice echoed, followed by the opening of the door. Maria walked in gracefully without a care in the world. Mandy jolted and instantly turned her back.

"Madam" Mandy muttered.

"From totally, you're now his mistress" Maria announced.

"Madam I can't. I possibly can't, why?" Mandy tried to ask until she was cut short.

"It's a part of your contract and it's going to last for as long as your contract lasts. You can make adjustments since your ranks are now up. But any refusal to comply with the original contract means I'll have no other choice than to throw you out" Maria stated calmly. Mandy just stood there, her mouth wide opened. She couldn't speak any words, only air escaped her throat as she tried to talk.

"I'll await your response in the evening. You may go on now" Craig said. Mandy just stared at Craig and his mother before finally walking out of the room. Mandy shut the door behind her and walked down the hallway and up the stairs, her face looking like she had seen a ghost. She walked that way until she got to her room. She sat on the bed, still dazed by what had just happened. No matter how hard she tried to think about it, everything didn't make sense. How could they just treat her anyway that they pleased? Was it because she had no place to go and basically no options to stick to? Just as she thought of her unfortunate condition, she heard a knock on her door.

"Who is it?" She managed to ask.

"Mr Maurice. Please open up" the voice behind the door responded. Mandy took a deep breath before she stood up and went for the door.

"May I have a word with you?" Mr Maurice asked, a smile spread across his face. Mandy sighed before she ushered him in. She sat on the bed while Mr Maurice sat on the only wooden chair in the room.

"Why have you come to see me sir? Is there a problem?" Mandy asked, her tone as cold as her expression. Mr Maurice smiled again.

"Mandy, I perfectly understand what's going on right now, but I just came to tell you it's okay" Mr Maurice said.

"It's okay? It's okay? It's okay that I'm already bond to a three years contract and in the space of that time I'll be used in anyway possible? Who knows what they'll tell me to do next? Maybe I'll be sent to assassinate someone or probably worse. Is it because I don't have a place to run to?" Mandy asked furiously, her body jerked uncontrollably as more rage consumed her with every word she spoke. Mr Maurice watched her without saying a word. When he was sure she was done talking, he lifted his face and looked straight her.

"I still understand you, just listen to me Mandy, please" Mr Maurice pleaded. Mandy just stood there looking at Mr Maurice for a while before finally sitting down on the bed once more.

"What do you want to say?" She asked nonchalantly.

"What is asked of you is s very important and sensitive thing. I know it's hard for you especially since you have no feelings for Craig. But being his mistress can save both him and his company" Mr Craig said.

"How so?" Mandy asked again.

"For Mr Craig to make an appearance again, he needs to cause a little stir. Having a mistress would be a good start, plus more doors could be open to him if he has a woman by his side. And having you by his side would help him. I have seen some progress with him since you came here, I feel he'll be more comfortable working with you, so give it a thought. You are free to be able to make some adjustments to your contract and see this as an opportunity to change your life forever. Just think about it, okay?" Mr Maurice said calmly as he stood up slowly and took his leave. Mandy sat there, staring blankly at the empty space in front of her. Her opinions were beginning to waver, her thoughts were beginning to make room for other thoughts, her confusion slowly increased.

"What should I do? What the hell should I do?" She muttered, before slowly laying on her bed.

"Do you think she'll be okay with our arrangement? Cos I don't see her coming anytime soon" Maria asked as she frantically paced her son's room.

"Don't worry mother, I have a strong feeling she'll not decline, she's not that daft" Craig said confidently. Before he could say any other word, Mandy flung the door open and walked in. Her face was as blank as an empty sheet of paper, her eyes looked dead and emotionless. In fact, her overall appearance gave both Craig and his mother chills. When Mandy got to where they were, she stopped.

"I thought about everything, and I decided to be Mr Craig's mistress" she announced. Craig smiled as he stared at her.

"I knew you would make a valid choice" he said proudly.

"But, I have a few conditions of my own. And I'll like to discuss it with you, Mr Craig" Mandy said firmly. Craig have her a puzzled look. She swiftly turned to Maria who also stared hard at her.

"Ma'am, I'll also make some adjustments to my contract later tonight. But for now, I'll want to Mr Craig, please bear with me" she said, a cold smile spread across her lips. Maria looked at her son who in turn, nodded in approval. Maria sighed and gracefully made her way out of the room.

"You want to discuss something with me I guess. Now we are alone, so spill" Craig said. Mandy scoffed hard before she leaned forward to the table in front of him.

"I got three requests sir" she said.

"Out with it" Craig said, his attention highened.

"Firstly, you are not going to touch me. Secondly, I will be entitled to at least $10,000 every month. Thirdly, I'll want a day to be by myself, it would make this whole thing bearable" Mandy stated calmly. Craig chuckled a bit before he stared intensely at her.