Imperfection Series

Chapter 8

Book 1 Chapter 7-04

The door opened and in walked Paulina, "good you are up girls. There is good news, young master Shane will be joining us today and Mrs. Lockwood wants to throw a little party for him. So get your asses off the bed, let's get this done. Up you go, chop chop" she clapped her hands as the girls scurried to get up and dragged who should use the bathroom first, "you all should fit in there, I need every one of you in that kitchen in twenty minutes" with that said, she left the room.

All through this time, Lilly has been in shock, Shane is coming back! The sweet boy who treated her like a sister is coming back. He is really coming back and she is going to see him again after thirteen years. How will he look now? The last time she saw him, he was fifteen and she was just five. Now after the years, he will be twenty eight, will he still recognize her? Will he still treat her like his sister?

Hell no, she is not a young girl who only play around while her parents are busy, she is now a grown girl and a maid in his house. She is to serve him now not play with him.

Without her knowing, her heart was thumping loudly in her chest, Shane is coming back. Why is she reacting like this?

"Lilly what are you waiting for? There is no time" Nora's voice dragged her out of her thought into the present and she hurriedly stood up from the floor to join them in the bathroom. But deep inside her heart, she knew today will be really different from the rest of the days she had spent there as a maid.

The household was busy as everyone rushed to get one or two things done. Margaret didn't want to go to the office but a very important meeting had to call her out. But she made a mental note to be back right before her son would.

The house was arranged and many meals were prepared, mostly Shane's favourite food. As the oldest staff, Paulina knows all that he loves for she has been around from when he was just three years old.

Abigail didn't have the time to discuss with her daughter as they all rushed to get everything ready before Margaret would be back. They all knew how angry she would be if they couldn't get the house ready.

Finally, it was time for the highly awaited young master to be back, Margaret wasn't back from the office and Paulina figured she might have gone to the airport to pick up Shane.

Just as they were starting to get worried, the gate opened and Margaret's car drove in.

"Outside everyone" Paulina shooed and they all went outside as they watched Margaret's car slowly come to a stop in front of them. Her chauffeur first climbed out and opened the door for her, she stepped out, her gaze scanning the faces of her servants before she turned to the young man, getting out from the other side of the car.

He walked around the car to stand beside her, his hair was darker than the night sky and it was parted at the side, he has a long face like his mother, his eyes, a pale gray like hers too, his nose perfectly pointed and a thin line for his lips. He was tall, his mother who was considered tall was a head shorter beside him. The black blazer he was putting on top a red shirt was as dark as his hair.

His red pants enhanced his strong long legs, a mere looking at him, took the breaths of the young maidens away. His gray orbs fell on their faces one after another until it settles on Lilly's. He let his gaze linger on her small face for a little longer before shifting to Paulina, he smiled, showing perfect set of white teeth, "Paulina" his deep voice resonated around them.

"Master Shane, it's good to have you back" she curtsied.

"I hope it would be good to be back too" he looked at his mother as he said this but she said nothing.

"Paulina, set the table. He is quite famished" Margaret ordered.

"Yes ma'am" she curtsied then turned to her followers, signaling with her eyes to them to greet Shane.

"Welcome home sir" Diane was the first to say with a shy blush, making Margaret frown when she saw that but she said nothing. Her son is quite eye catchy to the ladies so it's understandable if a little blush is seen here and there.

"Welcome home sir" the rest said together.

"Paulina, introduce them" Margaret commanded.

"Yes. Master Shane, this is Diane, Patience, Nora, Gina, Martha and Lillian" she pointed at each of them as she mentioned their names.

Shane's eyes settled on each of them when introduced and once again, his gaze lingered on Lillian's face a little longer than the rest.

Lillian could feel his gaze on her, she was already having a hard time calming her fast beating heart at the sight of him, now with him staring at her like he was trying to remember her, her heart was like a thousand drums were drumming in her chest. She tried her possible best not to look him in the eyes, the eyes she remembers quite well and often think about. He looks so different now than how she remembers, he looks taller, more mature and much more handsome. Even his very face takes her breath away, just what is wrong with her? She has never react in front of a man like this before.

"Welcome home Master Shane" Abigail greeted. She had noticed the longer look he gave her daughter and she wondered why, it can't be that he recognized her, she was only five when he saw her last.

Shane smiled when he saw her, "Abigail. I'm sorry I never had the chance to show my condolences on your loss."

"It's okay, I understand."

Shane had a question at the tip of his tongue but at the end, he didn't ask, they will be plenty of times to ask her later.

"Master Shane" Julia and Rebecca also greeted. They were among the maids who were around when he was still there.

Shane gifted them a smile too and a small greetings.

"Alright, let us go in. I will want him to have a little rest before the guests will start arriving. Paulina, everything is ready right?" Margaret inquired.

"Yes ma'am."

"Good. Let's go in son" with that, they both went into the house while the male servants brought in his luggage's and the maids placed them in his room.

Shane sat in the living room, waiting for them to be done before he finally went upstairs. Like he expected, his mother cleaned up his old room, not like he is complaining, he preferred it to a new room.

He placed his hand on the doorknob and pushed open the door only to freeze when he saw the young girl standing inside and staring into the space.

Lillian wasn't among the maids that cleaned the room in the morning, after such a long time, she finally entered this room once more. Happy memories had come rushing into her mind that she didn't realize that Nora and Martha who came in with her has already left, when she sensed a strong not so familiar presence around, she turned only to stop shut at the tall man standing with the door closed behind him, his gray eyes searching her face for something.

"Sir, the...the room is ready" she forced herself to say without stuttering.

"Lillian?" He titled his head to the right as he asked, his pale gray eyes sparkling in the bright room.

Book 1 Chapter 8-01

"Lillian?" He tilted his head to the right as his pale gray eyes sparkle in the bright room.

Lilly's heartbeat increased when she heard him pronounce her name, it was almost as if he was caressing her skin with his voice. Don't, don't, what the hell is wrong with her, what is she thinking about? She wondered, but she still looked up at him and answered, "yes sir?"

Shane scanned her face with his eyes but at the end, he shook his head softly with a soft smile, "never mind. You remind of someone."

Her heart was ecstatic at the thought that he might be remembering her, she couldn't stop herself from asking, "who?"

Shane looked at her briefly, "not to worry. I'm sure they are looking for you now downstairs, close the door after you" he walked passed her as he spoke.

Lilly couldn't hide her disappointment, she thought he remembered her, she must have been stupid. She should be happy that he didn't even get angry at her for standing, lost in thought in his room. Thinking to that, she concealed her hurt feeling and nodded curtly, "yes sir" she curtsied before leaving the room, closing the door gently behind her.

Shane turned then and looked at the door she left through, he was lost in thought for a second before he started undressing. If it's up to him, he would prefer eating and then resting but his mother still has to throw a welcome home party for him, upon he called her on his way to the airport last night to avoid it. He took off his blazer and shirt, then down to his pants. He just have to put up with it for a while, that's all.

Lilly went into the kitchen only to be snatched by Nora on the hallway, "where have you been?" She asked.

"I-I-I was just...em...arranging the room, there...there was some dirt's in the wardrobe."

Nora gave her a look that she doesn't believe her but she left it go, "come on, Mrs. Paulina has been looking for you."

They both entered the kitchen to the ordering voice of Paulina, "finally you two are back, set the table will you, you heard Mrs. Lockwood didn't you?"

"Yes Mrs. Paulina" they both answered and got themselves busy.

Shane came down the stairs after freshening up, he met his mother in the living room who seemed to be talking with someone on the phone, she nodded at the sight of him before speaking into the phone.

Shane made himself comfortable on the single sofa, he casually picked a magazine as he flipped through the pages, a glass shattering sound behind him got him to look back immediately only to be met with the sight of Lilly bending in front of some shattered plates.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Margaret's voice rang behind him and he was on his feet immediately, "what were you thinking that you have to break those plates!"

Her voice had already got a lot of the servants to the living room. Lilly was standing with her head bowed, she looked so guilty that her figure tugged at people's heartstrings, "I'm sorry ma'am, it was a mistake, it won't happen again."

"Do you know how much those plates cost that you have to break them like that and tell me you are sorry?" Margaret was furious.

"Mom calm down, it's just plates" Shane commented, "the important thing is that no one got hurt."

"I don't care if she got hurt" Margaret rolled her eyes.

Shane was shocked at her words, "mom!" He called, his eyes not leaving her face.

Margaret waved at her hand to die off the matter, "whatever. Just make sure you clean every where, I don't want to see a single piece, is that understood?"

"Yes ma'am" Lilly bowed before bending down to pack the broken pieces.

Shane watched at she did so with her naked hands and he was tempted to tell her to wear gloves but at the end he didn't, he can't tell why he was compelled to be gentle with her, he is just meeting her for the first time! He sat down and opened his magazine again, willing himself not to look back at her even when two of the maid joined her in packing the broken pieces.

"We will be going to the company tomorrow. The boards want to meet you and you can join in the meeting on providing strategy for the bridge thing I told you about" his mother's voice rang in his thought and he nodded in response, "how is mom lately?"

"She is getting better. Although she refused going to any old care and she wanted me to pass her refusal to you in person."

"I don't get it, she doesn't have to depend on you to take care of her, for goodness sake Shane, you should have been back five years ago."

"She was sick mom. I couldn't leave her in that state" he replied.

"And after the years did she get better?" She looked smug.

Shane looked at her, "mom, she is old, it's understandable if she gets sick once in a while."

"And you should have been here to take over the company a long time ago."

"Am I not here now?"

"Finally she let you off her clutches. The old witch. How did you manage to leave her then?"

"I hired a caretaker. Besides, this is your mother we are talking about here, your mother and my grandmother."

"Well isn't she a witch?" Margaret was adamant.

Shane pitched the bridge of his nose and sighed in exasperation, "I have just get back mom, shouldn't you at least give me some time before you start your nagging?"

"I don't nag, I merely speaks the truth, why did my father leave her in the first place?"

"Why did dad leave you?" Shane challenged.

A flint of anger flickered in Margaret's eyes but she composed herself immediately, "your father didn't leave me, I left him."

"Yes, that was what you told me."

"Are you doubting me son? Since when do you doubt mommy?"

"I don't doubt you mom" he sighed "I just don't want to talk about this anymore, especially now. So can you drop it?"

"Fine" she sat on the couch and sipped her orange juice, "did he contact you again?"

"For Christ sake mom, enough. Why do you always bombard me with questions about him if you so claim you left him?"

"I just want to know."

"He didn't, happy now? I haven't heard from him in years, not that you even care or ever let me talk to him" he stood up and left the living room. Margaret watched him leave and silently sipped her juice, looking as elegant as she can be.

Shane walked out to the lawn, he stood staring at the statues, fountains and animal shaped flowers. He had missed this place, a lot. The house hold all of his childhood memories but he couldn't stay anymore after his parents' divorce and now he is back, but a grown man now. He has finally accepted his parents' divorce although it was very hard for him to do.