Torn between emotions

~CHAPTER THREE~

•••••The unknown traitor•••••

Mel felt a sharp pain in her head and decided to excuse herself- "Where are you going?!" Gwen grabbed her wrist.

She felt the sharp pain again. "Nature's calling."

* * *

As Mel stepped out of the restroom, a gasp escaped her lips- there, slouched against the wall, in the dim hallway, stood a man. Her heart lurched in fright.

"Your friend is beautiful." His male voice stopped her. Mel turned, confused. "I like her. what's her name?" He said again, coming out to the light.

Mel widened her eyes periodically on seeing his face. She swallowed the lump in her throat, composing herself. He is really more handsome than she'd seen on TV- how could she have not noticed it was him?

"I just want to know more about your friend."

"My friend?" Mel was confused all over again.

This was not working. Marco could tell. In that case, he had no choice left but to pretend to be what everyone thought he was. He sucked in an impatient breath. "What important thing of yours do I have to mess with before you stop playing dumb?"

Mel staggered a bit at his threat. "She's not as friendly as she appears. At least not to men."

Marco smirked. "Interesting... So what's her name?" He asked again.

"G-Gwen," Mel stuttered.

"Gwen," Marco echoed and tilted his head, scanning her from head to toe before turning to leave with his hands in his trouser pocket.

"Mine's Mel by the way!" She said after him, sure that he heard, even though he did not turn back. "Did I just talk to The Marco Gerald?"

Mel was about to go back in after some minutes when someone bumped into her. To her surprise it was Gwen, and it was looking like she cried? "Gwen are you okay?" She asked in concern.

"I want to go home."

"At least tell me what's wrong with you."

"I met a jerk worse than Handsome." A tear threatened to fall but Gwen blinked it back.

"That arrogant Marco Gerald!!" Mel fumed, looking back inside.

Gwen scoffed in disbelief. "It was you?"

Mel suddenly turned dumbstruck and did not know how to explain to her friend that she was threatened.

"Why did you do that Mel?!"

"I'm sorry. He made threats," Mel explained but Gwen looked so disappointed. "I'm sorry Gwen..." She apologized again.

"Just take me home." Gwen insisted and Mel nodded agreeably.

***

Marco who was seated beside Khalil could not stop replaying the scene of his embarrassment, with anger clearly visible on his face while he changed his shirt. Khalil on the other hand would not stop laughing at him. "What were you thinking?"

"She's no different! There's no doubt about that. I'll make sure I find her."

"You're not going to let this slide?"

"Not this one!" Marco snapped at him.

"Ohhh... So are we done for the night?" Khalil asked sarcastically.

-Marco shot him a glare. "Let's just go, I'm pissed right now," he said and drove off roughly.

▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫

"What?!" Gwen widened her eyes at Mel like she has grown four horns suddenly. "How could you do this to me?!"

"I'm sorry, again, for the hundredth time now. It all happened so fast. I was rushing to come and tell you- only to find out he had already approached you." Mel explained, still avoiding her intent angry stares.

"I just got this job Mel.... Now I'm stuck for real!" Gwen uttered plaintively.

"We'll figure something out-"

Gwen hastily stoned her a pillow which hit her head hard and dropped to the floor before she could complete the word.

"Ouch... Gwen?" Mel gawked at her, pained.

"I don't think you know what I did to him. I splashed him a drink. On his face!" She exhaled and scattered her lengthy hair in frustration. "And now he turned out to be Marco Gerald?" The thought of it gave her shivers and she bawled, burying her face in her palms. "I'm doomed."

Gwen stood up, and Mel followed behind her. She sank into her bed in a lying position.

"Gwen, I'm sure we'll sort something out." Mel stated in deep remorse, standing by the door.

"Just leave Mel..."

Mel sighed plaintively. "I'm really sorry." She shut the door.

***

Marco and Kalil were both in the club discussing when a stripper walked up to them seductively with Marco's eyes all over her. Skank eyeing her like she was insane.

"Hey guys..." She cooed at them. Khalil smiled back, "hey..." he said lustfully, gazing at her.

"Hii pretty boy..." She directed this time at Marco, twirling her fingers down her curly braids, and chewing a gum.

He scoffed at her irritatingly. "Boy?" He found it offensive but she kept smiling and was going close to him while he watched her watched her like a hawk. She tried to sit on his labs but he gently pushed her off, causing her to stagger slightly on her heels. She gasped at this.

"I'm not interested," he simply said, gulping a glass of alcohol down his throat.

She scoffed and walked off.

"That was rude Marco!" Khalil murmured to his hearing.

"Rude?"

Khalil just shook his head.

* * *

"Good morning Gwen," Mel greeted looking at Gwen through the mirror who ignored her completely.

Gwen who was brushing her teeth, rinsed her mouth and poured out the water into the sink, ignoring Mel who just walked in, now applying toothpaste on her own brush.

"Are you going to work with me?" Mel asked but still got no reply. Then she sighed, "okay, I admit it is all my fault, but you can't stay mad at me forever. I'm the only one you've got!"

Gwen slowly turned to glare at her. "So what? You're rubbing it in?"

Mel quickly lifted her hands in defense, "no- no. I was just saying." Her eyes softened," I promise we'll figure something out. Please-" she dropped her toothpaste on the sink handle and started rubbing her palms together apologetically.

Gwen's eyes narrowed, searching Mel's face for sincerity. After a long pause, she exhaled sharply and said, "You owe me braid crowns for the rest of your life!"

Mel smiled in relief. "Thanks", shoving her toothbrush into her mouth and brushing enthusiastically.

Gwen turned to leave, her lips curled in a smile that didn't quite stick.

* * *

"I heard he's back from L.A", an elderly man in his late fifties informed the younger man seated opposite him across the table. The latter paused and looked at him, reprocessing what he just heard. "Who?" he asked carefully. Appeared to be a man in his late twenties, with chiseled features that seemed more carved by character than vanity- eyes that held a steady, unreadable glint as a man, there was something lurking in his aura- the kind that lingered.

"Marco. He flew in last week", the old man answered.

"How do you know this?"

"I had my boys follow his every move as soon as the press announced it."

He just smiled to himself and back at the elderly man. "Any valuable information about him?"

The man shook his head skeptically, "Few days after he got back, he was embarrassed by a young woman in a bar-"

He burst into hysterics- "what?!"

The old man was taken aback by his own laughter too and it ended before he could even start. "So what do you think we should do, Handsome?"

Handsome was lost in thought for a while. "I think we should study him for now. That bastard has got to pay what he owe me."

"Does this mean that you still want to get your company shares back?" The old man asked curiously causing Handsome to smirk. "Certainly. Whatever it takes in my power, I must!"

Abruptly, a lady sexily walked into the office. She wore a loose tank top that clung just enough to hint at the curves beneath, the fabric soft and worn like it had weathered countless summer days. Her bum short rode high on her thighs, frayed at the edge, unapologetically casual.

Handsome caught her eye and titled his head slightly, a silent summons. He turned to the old man who kept watching them carefully. "You should leave Guerrero. We'll discuss later." His attention was now completely divided.

Guerrero stood up and excused himself.

* * *

"Mel!!" Gwen yelled in terror as she stared at her hair in the mirror.

Mel rushed into her room with searching eyes. "What?"

"I look like a....." Words failed Gwen as she could not find words to describe the way she was looking. "Like a piece of s**t!" She cried and glared at laughing Mel. " You're laughing?"

"I asked you to go natural but you refused," Mel shrugged, indicating it wasn't her fault.

"We had a deal. You promised to make me braid crowns?"

"The last time I styled your hair, we were both teens so I guess I outgrew it," she shrugged again.

"Really?" Gwen muttered like she's just been played.

"You know I like your hair better when you let it free... Are you done? It's past seven."

"Whatever," Gwen scoffed and turned back to herself in the mirror, she packed her hair in a tight bun, then turned to Mel for compliment.

"Better than nothing!" The latter smiled in satisfaction.

* * *

Marco watched his niece walk into his room, still in her night dress, her hair looking a bit tattered. She went over to his side and kissed his cheek, sitting on his legs. "Good morning uncle Marco."

"Morning." He closed the document in from of him and smiled in reply. "No school?"

She shook her head and shrugged. "I feel different. Mum already phoned school."

"Where's she?"

"She left early-" they both heard a knock on the door and a maid politely walked in.

"Good morning sir Marco," the maid slightly bowed and he nodded. "I came to take Allie."

"I'm not a child!" Allie snapped causing Marco to glare at her but she just rolled her eyes. "For real uncle."

He turned to the maid, "She'll meet you in a minute." The latter nodded and left.

"That is no way to talk to someone who looks after you." Marco scolded in a stern voice.

"She has to earn my respect uncle and besides soon I'll be a teenager, I'm old enough to take care of my self."

"You have no choice, because she has been assigned to take care of your naughty ass!" He poked at the bridge of her pointed nose and she gasped, "Mum says I take after you."

"At your age I wasn't rude. So better go apologize to your nanny that you're sorry."

Alliefrowned in refusal.

"Ten, nine, eight,-"

"Fine!" She stood up from his legs and went out the door while he smiled after her.

▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫

"Such an ungrateful brat!" The maid from earlier growled in anger, pacing round.

"Gigi are you okay?" Mel asked on seeing the angry expression written all over her colleague's face on her arrival.

Gwen just stood close in observation.

"It's Allie of course!" Gigi fumed.

"What did she do this time?" Mel smirked, not surprised.

"like how could a child be so disrespectful?! If I were her mother I would-" she sighted the bag crossed over Mel's shoulder and realization hit her. "Are you just coming?"

"Yes. Is Nora inside?" Mel's voice went lower on mentioning the chief maid.

"Yes. You better go in before she finds out you're late today again," Gigi advised, whispering back at her. "Where's your duty post today?"

"Cleaning Ma'am Thea's room. By the way, this is Gwen, my sister." Her voice went up back as she patted Gwen's shoulder with a proud grin.

"Nice to meet you," Gigi smiled sweetly at Gwen. "See you around. Her little majesty must be waiting." She whispered sarcastically and ran off.

Mel chuckled. "That little girl is something!" She turned to see Gwen lost in thought, toying with the tiny lock on her charm bracelet. "Are you okay? You only do that when you're nervous."

Gwen sighed, "what if I see him?"

"You won't. He's barely at home." Mel assured her. Gwen nodded to ward off negative thoughts. "Come," Mel tilted her head and clutched Gwen's hand while they both went in.

°°°°°°°°°°°°

"Misha!" Marco yelled while coming down the stairs.

Misha groaned in frustration from inside the kitchen where she was with the rest of the workers. She ran to his call, and stood in front of him."Sir Marco?"

"Coffee", he requested, rubbing his forehead between thumb and forefinger.

When Misha was back in the kitchen, she started, "You know for once I'd be grateful if sir Marco didn't remember my name!"

Mel laughed as she was changing into her uniform. "Or you should be grateful he does."

The other maids burst out in laughter at this. Except Gwen of course who was seated at a corner.

"Why did he call you?" The chief maid asked Misha, walking into the kitchen. the laughter died down immediately.

"He requested for coffee," Misha answered.

Mel gestured at Gwen who quickly stood up.

"Who's she?" The chief maid asked, scanning Gwen from head to toe in an irritated way.

"She's new amongst us Nora. Her name's Gwen", Mel answered. Nora nodded but her glare at Gwen did not waver.

Misha was about to leave with the coffee when Nora stopped her. "Let the new one go. That way we can know how fit she is to work here."

Gwen and Mel locked eyes in terror.

"Erm Nora you know how sir Marco can be. Why don't we take things slowly?-" Mel tried to sound convincing but Nora casted her an unfriendly glare.

"Misha will lead you the way." She concluded, turning back to Gwen.

Misha handed the cup of coffee in a portable glass tray to Gwen who nervously took it from her, following behind her slowly.

Marco glanced at Gwen as she entered the sitting room and dropped his coffee on the table, trying to avoid his eyes on hers.

He's handsome but a jerk! She thought to herself. On excusing herself, Marco called and when she turned, they accidentally locked eyes. She quickly looked away.

At first he was quiet, trying to understand why her face looked awfully familiar. Suddenly he smirked in disbelief, scanning her from head to toe. He could not believe his eyes.

"Its you, isn't it?" He chuckled malefully this time. Gwen swallowed hard, still trying to avoid his gaze. She was done for, wasn't she?