Gina sauntered out of Damien’s voice, in a hurry to see her daughter and find out if Damien’s speculations about her relationship with Max were true. She tried her best to keep calm to avoid giving away any vital information that may blow her cover. As she walked towards the elevator, she caught sight of a female silhouette that gave her a sense of familiarity, even from a far distance. Her interest was aroused as she walked over to the spot where the lady was standing.
She was stunned to see who was battling with a thick pile of documents on her open desk, the urge to spite her filled her heart. “Hey there, Rachael… It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
The lady whose gaze was fixed on the files in front of her, abruptly raised her head in recognition of the voice that called her name. “Oh! Hey, Gina. Nice to see you. You didn’t go to work today?… Oh! Sorry, I forgot you didn’t have a job” she taunted her with a feeling of satisfaction in her heart and couldn’t help but rejoice at the opportunity she had gotten through her demotion, to spite her enemy.
“I heard you got demoted to the post of a secretary. I hope you find your new job more appealing and easy” Gina countered, her voice filled with disdain, her scornful gaze on her. “You can always leave if you don’t want it”
Rachael let out a throaty chuckle, a playful smirk on her lips as she fired back at her,” Well, I’m really enjoying it. It lets me see less of shameless people if you know what I mean. I’m satisfied with my new post and would appreciate it if you could try to avoid me”
“Hmm…. Only a lawbreaker gets demoted. Tell me… What offense did you commit?” Gina probed, placing her hands on her chin while resting her elbow to keep her hands in place, her tone was laced with a hint of mockery. “You shouldn’t be ashamed to say it”
At that instant, Rachael could tell what she wanted but she wasn’t going to give her without taunting her back. “Why do you have to ask me?… Didn’t Mr. Russo tell you anything?… You should ask him, he’s in the best position to answer you”
The feeling of fury churned in Gina’s stomach as she threw a furious glance at Rachael who had a wide grin on her face. She felt the urge to wipe that smile off her face with a slap but they were in the office premises, her image was more important. “I see your demotion hasn’t humbled you but has made you prouder than the last time I saw you”
“Well, I’m enjoying it as you can see” Rachael replied, shrugging her shoulders, her gaze lingering on the documents she was working against on. She was tired of the woman’s pestering. “I don’t think I can help you in any way so you can take your leave, Gina.. allow me to carry out my task in peace”
Gina was enraged by Rachael’s stubbornness and couldn’t help but curse inwardly, storming out of the company’s building. She was going to deal with Rachael later, but first, she needed to see her daughter for some confirmation.
***
Gina alighted from a hired can that had been packed right in front of her future son-in-law’s house. She strutted into the room with an air of elegance, struggling to maintain her calm to avoid exposing her anxiousness.
“Who are you?” A female voice inquired, her tone rude drawing Gina’s attention to where the voice was coming from. “What business do you have here?”
Rachael was surprised by the new face she was seeing for the first time. Her gaze scanned the young lady before deciding to ask, “Who are you?”
“I work here as the housekeeper” the lady answered curtly, irritated at Gina who refused to answer her questions. “And you?”
Rachael nodded her head slowly as the realization dawned on her. Penelope was gone so it was necessary to replace her as soon as possible. “I’m here to see my daughter, the lady of this house, Isabelle”
“Oh!… Okay” the housekeeper pouted in surprise, it was her first seeing the woman, Rose had mentioned to her, the woman responsible for Liam’s engagement with Isabelle. “So, who are you here to see?”
“My daughter, of course. Do I look like I came to visit the likes of you?” Gina fired back, eyeing the lady in disgust, her tone filled with irritation. “Where is she?”
“Who is there, Anastasia?” Another female voice asked, but this time from someone older. She drew the attention of the two women throwing daggers at each other. “Who is this woman and why is she in my son’s house?”
A knowing smile morphed on Rachael’s face immediately she recognized the woman to be Liam’s mother, from her words. She felt a sense of repulsion towards the woman but chose to act nice. “Oh! You’re Liam’s mother.. nice to meet you”
Rose eyed Gina suspiciously and asked, “And you are?”
“Isabelle’s mother, Gina” Gina introduced herself, her brows twitching in annoyance at the woman’s proud gaze, just because of her son’s wealth which will soon become hers very soon. “I came here to see my daughter”
“Hmm… I see. So, you the infamous woman who sold her daughter to my son in exchange for money?” Rose queried, her tone filled with disdain, her scornful gaze on Gina. “I didn’t know I would get to meet you so soon…. ”
“I feel the same way” Gina replied in the same manner. “Now, can I see my daughter?”
“She’s not in” Anastasia chipped in, failing to hide her hatred for the woman before her. “Your daughter is not around, so you have to leave”
“What??… Where could she have gone to?” Gina uttered with a surprised expression on her face. She shook off the feeling that the two people before her were up to something. “I will wait for her, then”
“No, you can’t. You have to leave now. Visitors are not allowed in today” Anastasia refuted with a commanding tone that got on Gina’s nerves. “Please, leave to avoid any trouble”
Gina was about to leave when she heard a familiar voice call out to her.
“Mother???”