Episode Eleven
991 Words
Chapter Eleven
*First Person's Perspective*
~Marie~
What the hell did Mr. Grey say to them?
"Well, as a business trip that it was, and as his P.A, I followed him to all the meetings he had to attend, I..." I began explaining, but the interruption came before I could finish.
"That's not what happened. I can see it in your eyes-you're lying. Come on, don't be shy to tell us. We're all ears," Carrie teased, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Mama Gracie, you also think that I'm lying?" I asked, attempting to pout for sympathy.
"No, honey, I don't think you're lying," she said, and I let out a relieved smile.
"See! S-"
"I know you're lying."
"What?"
"Ha-ha," they both laughed, their synchronized amusement catching me off guard. I joined in reluctantly, feeling cornered.
"On a serious note, nothing is going on between my boss and me. It was a normal business trip, like any other one out there," I said, trying to sound firm, but Carrie wasn't letting me off that easily.
"Um... what kind of boss and P.A sleep in the same room during a business trip? Hm?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and giving me her trademark teasing smirk.
"Oh! Well..."
"Well..."
"Allow me to speak, Carrie."
"Of course, we're all ears," she said, her grin widening.
"When we got to the hotel, there was only one room available, and it was very late at night when we arrived. So we had no choice but to share a room. We didn't sleep..."
"On the same bed, because Lazarus chose to sleep on the couch. That's a fictional story. If you're going to lie, at least make it believable," she interjected, her voice dripping with mockery.
"Fine. We snuck out of town to be with each other. Happy now?" I gave up in frustration, my voice laced with sarcasm.
"Ooouh! Is he a gentleman or still the unapproachable Mr. Grey?" she pressed on, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"God, save me from this girl," I muttered under my breath.
"I'll answer that question only if you promise me one thing," I bargained, desperate to get some respite from her relentless probing.
"What's that?"
"That you won't ask any more questions."
She hesitated but eventually nodded. "Deal."
"He was a really sweet gentleman," I admitted with a small smile before making my way upstairs.
"Aww! Is he..."
"No more questions, Carrie," I called out, my tone firm as I disappeared up the staircase.
"Oh! Right!" she replied, disappointment evident in her voice, and I chuckled softly to myself.
---
After a long, refreshing shower-my first in two days-I felt human again. Just as I stepped out of the bathroom, my phone started ringing.
It was Sam. Despite the years that had passed, we still kept in touch.
"Hey, Sam."
"Miss Marie Ray-or sorry, I meant Talker," she quipped, her playful tone making me roll my eyes.
"How have you been? It's been a while," I asked, eager to catch up.
"Good, good. How about you? How are the kids? And your new mom and sister?"
"They're all fine. How's my old woman? I hope she's getting better?" I inquired, my thoughts drifting to my mother, who'd suffered a cardiac arrest last month.
"She's doing really great," Melanie replied, and relief washed over me.
"I'm glad to hear that," I said sincerely.
The conversation dipped into a brief silence before she broke it with a question that made my stomach flip.
"So, have you found your baby daddy?"
"Well, yes, I have. He's my damn boss," I blurted out before I could think twice.
"Wow! This is great news. Now you can have a complete family-a stinking rich one at that."
"Well, I don't know about that," I said quickly, realizing I might've said too much.
"What do you mean?"
"I... He doesn't recognize me. I'm confused, Sam. I don't know if I want to be with him or if he'd even want to be with me."
"Go for what your heart wants. Even if he rejects you, at least you'll know you tried," she advised, her tone firm yet comforting.
"I don't even know if I have feelings for him, Sam. I just-God, I'm so confused."
"Think about it. Anyway, I gotta go; hubby needs my attention. We'll talk later. Bye!"
"Bye."
As soon as the call ended, I let myself fall onto the bed, releasing a heavy sigh.
---
"So, Mr. Grey is the father of the kids?" Mama Gracie's voice startled me.
I whipped my head around to see her standing in the doorway. She must've overheard my conversation.
"Oh, Mama Gracie, you startled me."
"Sorry, I couldn't help but eavesdrop," she admitted sheepishly.
"It's okay," I said, sitting up.
"So..."
"Yeah, Lazarus Grey is the father of my kids. The scar on his chin gave it away, along with how much the kids resemble him," I explained.
"He didn't recognize you?"
"No, he didn't act like he did."
"Are you planning to tell him?"
I sighed, unsure of how to answer. Mama Gracie walked over, pulling me into a warm embrace.
"It's okay. Take your time. Don't rush into any decisions you might regret."
Her words comforted me. She was right-I needed to think this through.
"Thanks, Mama Gracie."
---
Later, I went to the garden to join the kids, but the cheerful scene quickly turned into panic when Kelvin went missing. Hours passed with no sign of him.
"I think we should call the cops," Carrie suggested.
"I left my phone on the couch. Use yours," I said, my voice tinged with desperation.
"My phone's upstairs. I'll go get it," she said, leaving me alone near the woods. My heart pounded hard in my chest, thinking of worst case scenarios
As I ventured deeper into the forest, I saw a faint light. A tent and a fire...
My heart beat doubled
Who could that be?
- Writer
