Mysterious CEO's Last Surrogate novel Chapter 19

Loney ignored Paul's last question, strode to Mabel's room and knocked on her door. Mabel was asleep but woke up at the sound of the knock. Being the housekeeper and being in charge of everyone, she couldn't sleep too deeply for fear of losing out on something important. She thought that perhaps an emergency had happened and one of the maids had come to inform her. She stood from the bed, covered herself with a morning coat and turned the knob open. She was surprised to see Loney at the door, padded with a stern grimace.

Mabel panicked slightly, fearing that something must have happened, as she forced a smile, "master, you are welcome," she said politely.

Loney ignored her pleasantries. For as long as he was concerned, Danica was being maltreated and treated like a maid, doing the chores she wasn't supposed to do and that burned him. "Downstairs, we need to talk." He commanded. Mabel's panic deepened, her heart rate increased. Loney never spoke to her in that manner and therefore, she was greatly disturbed.

She didn't have time to menace over Loney's reason and descended the stairs after him. It was quiet with all the maids asleep and a few guards around. Loney sat on the sofa and spoke as soon as Mabel arrived. He didn't give her the chance to even sit before firing her with bullets of questions.

"Who has been doing the cooking in this house?" Loney spoke in a deep expressionless tone, slightly harsh.

Mabel caught sight of Paul shaking his head. She couldn't decipher what he was warning her about and said, "master, I do the cooking most times."

Loney boiled with rage. He hated lies. Especially one that came from people he trusted. "Don't lie to me, Mabel, for the last time, who does the cooking in this house?"

Mabel was scared of Loney knowing the truth. She feared losing her job and couldn't bear to tell him the truth. Paul was helpless for Mabel not catching the hint and strode to his room. "Master, I do all the cooking but, is there a problem?"

Loney's patience had run out, so he pointed out, "now I have confirmed that you are lying to me. Why do you make Danica do the cooking?"

It was crystal clear to Mabel that Loney found her out. Her body began to heat up in anxiety, as her pores opened up with beads of sweat forming on her forehead. This is the worst. She deciphered that Paul must have told Loney because he didn't know that it was a secret. Now she only had to hope for what punishment Loney will impose on her. She only prayed that she wouldn't lose her job. "I'm sorry, master, but she won't eat anything I prepare for her. She has allergies but doesn't tell me the exact things she is allergic to. The only one I know is onions but there are others she won't tell because cooking is her passion and she sees it as exercise. Please forgive me master, but I didn't mean to lie to you," Mabel's words were coated in remorse and Loney was slightly moved.

However, another conflict inscribed on Loney's mind. 'Allergies?' He couldn't believe it and it didn't seem like Mabel was making it up. He also didn't know how to handle the situation at hand. Instinctively, he asked, "What else are you hiding from me?"

Mabel shivered, "nothing, master. Cooking is the only thing she insists on doing."

Loney's mind went in reverse. "So, the food I ate the last time, she cooked it?" Loney hadn't forgotten the taste of that food. It was the most delicious he tasted, just like one from his favourite restaurant.

"Yes. She said she's a chef by profession," Mabel confirmed, making Loney even more confused.

"You may go back to bed, sorry for interrupting your sleep."

"You are so generous, Master. God bless your good heart," Mabel said, after letting out a breath of relief, then she asked, "but master, should I stop her from cooking?"

Loney was in deep thought and was a little startled by the question. If she had allergies, then he couldn't negotiate on it. "Unless you have a solution to her allergies," he uttered a bit sarcastically but Mabel wasn't offended. She knew that Loney had a temper but had just not experienced it as much as that night.

"I understand, master. Thank you very much," she said and ascended the stairs to her room. After Mabel went back to bed, Loney went to his room to wash down. He realized that it was nearing dawn by the time he finished, therefore, he didn't intend to do as planned. Instead, he dressed in his suit and was ready for the office but still, he couldn't leave without a glimpse of Danica and decided to check on her.

He gently pushed her door open and saw her form on the bed. He could tell that she was asleep. He ambled a few steps and sat on the bed beside her, admiring her figure. She looked so innocent like a baby yet, Loney felt she was keeping so much he couldn't understand. A part of him wanted to ask her certain questions directly but he feared she might reject him again as she did in the past. He could only show himself to her after he was certain that she had developed feelings for him. Feelings strong enough to match his.

He trailed his fingers around her smooth face and stroked her long silky brown hair. He bent to kiss her cheeks and Danica turned to the side. Loney realized she was about to wake and strode out instantly. When he got to the entrance, Paul was standing there.

"Living so soon?" Paul asked casually but conveyed a deeper motive. Loney didn't want to drag it. He felt that Danica would realize he was around and come out any moment.

"I don't want her to see me. Don't tell her that I came and tell Mabel too when she wakes up," he ordered impatiently.

"But why Loney?" 

"I can't tell you now. I will be back tonight and I repeat don't tell her that I came or that I will be back tomorrow," Loney said, before turning the knob of the door to the garage. Paul uttered behind him, "for friendship's sake, I will do as you please."

"Thank you," Loney said and left.