Vivian POV
As soon as we got into the building and stepped into the elevator, I marveled, especially at the extravagant beauty of the company, it was undoubtedly fabulous and mighty. The elevator was purely made of silver yet a transparent glass that show the full reception hall of the company where everyone walked to and fro with files all in their hand; truly, this wasn’t a place of joke, the seriousness on everyone’s face already told me that the company tolerated less of incompetence.
“You must be wondering why I brought you here right?” Mr Norman said, jolting me out of my fantasizing reverie of the building. We were the only two people in the elevator and I wondered if the workers had suddenly disappeared by his presence. At least, I should see some people taking the elevator but I found none.
I blinked twice, pressing my lips together and gave a curt nod at him.
” I’ve heard a lot about you from Max” He stated, shifting his gaze towards me and I blinked again, fluttering my lashes in surprise.
Max told him about me? Unbelievable!
” Don’t be so worked up Vivian, he said good about you for the company, I’ve always known you as the right choice when I chose you for him” He leaned on the wall of the elevator, crossing his arms over the other in a lazy stare.
” I didn’t know about that” I replied, my voice calm but I couldn’t hide the hint of gladness in them. Had Max been saying things behind my back to his father? Then why did he hate me all these while?
“Don’t worry, I brought you so you could help me out with something and even if you can’t do anything about it, I won’t think less of you” He said and I creased my brows in confusion.
What did he mean by that?
” You seem confused” He said and I nodded again.
“You’ll understand when we get there” He answered.
I didn’t feel relaxed especially at the fact that his words had kept me hanging with curiosity.
” Is it okay to ask another question?” I chipped in, his eyes left mine and narrowed down through the glass window of the elevator, looking at the people that walked about in the reception hall. I was pretty much sure he heard my question and since he didn’t give any reply, I thought perhaps, I might have pried too much.
Damn you Vivian! You won’t get killed because of your unending inquisitiveness one day!
“Go ahead” His voice came subtly, shocking and confusing me at the same time yet his gaze still remained stuck on whatever he was staring down at.
” Max’s mother doesn’t seem to be at a good end with Max, is there something I should know father perhaps you could tell me”I urged in a plain tone that seemed forced.
Yet again, he went silent without giving a reply making me question my thoughts.
Perhaps my questions had become too sensitive? Oh Goodness!
“Max’s mother is dead” He divulged the information and my ears twitched in their corners.
“What!” I gasped, not believing my ears and pondering if I had actually heard him right.
No way! Max had not ever told me that! I always knew Hannah as his mother so what was he saying? Even on our wedding, she was introduced as his mother and they seemed to have a cordial relationship then.
“I don’t understand father, what are you saying? Is Mrs Hannah not Max’s mother?” I demanded all at once, fearing the reason why it seemed like Max was at arms length with everyone.
If that was the case, then his life was greatly threatened.
” I won’t give you all the details Vivian besides, Max should have told you all these, why don’t you ask him?” He teared his gaze away from the down hall and turned to gaze at me with one raised eyebrows.
I looked away, knowing that he had asked me a very sensitive question. He was right after all. But then, I wasn’t really on a good page with Max and he wasn’t ready to let me in on anything that has to do with him.
“I haven’t bothered to ask and even if I do, I doubt Max would say anything to me” I replied casually, hoping that he wouldn’t throw further questions but I was met with disappointment the moment he said his next words.
“You know Vivian, All these years, I know that you and Max haven’t really been the best couples. He can be a pussy at times and then the next minute, he’ll become a totally different person. I know how you’ve struggled to endure living with him despite his indifference, trust me, I monitor everything that’s happened between you both for two years and during the third year, he found out and cut out all connections I had kept to monitor you both yet I still have few ways left vand even though I act ignorant to some things, I know that Max doesn’t really hate you” He stated calmly. This particular reveal of his shocked me to the bones, especially at the part where he had been monitoring us for two years.
But then why and how? He had been the one that had arranged the Max between I and Max? Why would he choose to do that? Did he install a CCTV camera in the Mansion? That was an infringement of privacy!
” But___”
“Why did you do it? Your next question right?” He cut in on my words and I nodded.
“Because it turned out that if I hadn’t done it, I’ll be facing the wrath of my boss ” He answered.
“I needed to report of your daily activities and never let you get hurt even for a second and even the recent break-up with you and Max and he asked you to sign Divorce papers since Ruth returned, I saw and know everything Vivian” He cajoled an in that moment, my heart leapt with intense fear, the kind I have never felt before with three questions lingering on my mind.
Who was the mysterious boss that Mr Norman could take orders from? How did he know all these?
And lastly, Could he also have found out about Ruth and her pregnancy? What about mine own little secret? Mr Norman could know it all!