"Ms. Hamilton," Cole Ramsden called his housekeeper who was passing in front of the widely opened door of his large and lavish bedroom, "Which one do you prefer?" he asked brandishing two different ties, "Blue or black?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPAyjBFUA6
She walked in the room and headed straight to him. She stopped before him and scanned his clothes then glanced at the two ties. She stepped closer to him leaving only few centimetres between their faces. Cole Ramsden closed his eyes for few seconds enjoying the heavy yet exotic flowery scent of ylang-ylang that came from her and gently invaded his nostrils. The young woman slid her hands on his neck and lifted up the white collar of his shirt, the brush of her warm fingers against his skin unexpectedly sending shivers through his body. She took the black silk cloth in his right hand and placed it around his neck.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBH9cXbedtI
"What would you like to eat for dinner, sir?" she inquired her employer as she knotted his tie.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnRACv8pCc
He looked at the ceiling, thinking. 760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UphpRd6ir
"How about a coq au vin, sir?" she suggested him.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM4fp949Sg
He looked down at her while she was setting the tie along his chest.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfnyaq8BEX
"Lovely choice," he said.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLukGmB9NRs
"A dessert, perhaps?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTx4E7js14
"An apple pie. The one you did last time was just exquisite,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEWADLLAuE
She leaned over the bed and took the suit jacket lying on the blanket. She helped him to slip his arms in the sleeves and fastened one button. She dusted up his shoulders and took the laundry basket back and walked to the utility room. Cole rushed to the kitchen downstairs. As usual, his breakfast was cooked and rested on the concrete countertop under a silver plate cover. He glanced at his watch and sat down on a stool. He put the plate cover aside and discovered three French toasts, two poached eggs and two slices of cured jam aesthetically set. He started to eat enjoying every bite of his meal. Cole never was a big eater, but since he engaged his housekeeper nine months ago, he became a real gourmand. With Bexley Hamilton, even the most simple meals turned into top-quality ones, so even when he tried to resist her lovely little meals, he ended up devouring them inevitably . Cole sipped at his freshly squeezed orange juice and glanced at his watch again. It was time for him to leave for work when his young employee came in the room, carrying his briefcase in one hand. He took it without a word and left the room.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHaVMFikpf
"Have a good day, sir," she slightly bowed down following their morning routine.
***
"You little incompetent! Is that what you call taking appointments?" he shouted furiously throwing papers across the room which caused his young assistant to flinch, "I ask you to settle this a week ago. You know how much it was important for the company and you," he said pointing his finger threateningly at her, "You dared to forget that! Do you really think that because I shagged you you're special and can do anything you want around here?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLn16CDs7l
"Mr. Ramsden-"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfdrK2V1P0
"Shut that dirty mouth of yours, Melissa!" he cut her off, "You are fired right this instant," he spat emphasising every word, "Take your stuff and you get your arse out of here. You have thirty minutes," he finished running a hand through his short black hair.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoUFU05GBM
He unfastened the button of his suit, sat back on his imposing leather swivel armchair and dialled the number of the security guards.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvhkQl20ht
"Yes, Mr. Ramsden?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCs0QXDSFX
"I want you to escort Ms. Mastriani out of the building in thirty minutes sharp,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMBkpgbtMD
"Yes, sir,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6u1uu5lWbT
He hung up and dialled the number of the human resources director right in front of his assistant's eyes who stayed still on her spot all along, dumbfounded.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OXKIJEFtS
"Hey, Cole. What's up?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYk15l4VcG
"Find me a new assistant for tomorrow," he ordered, "And this time, a skilful one otherwise you'll be next to be sacked,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRp1FqNQgEF
"What happened with-"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHczKvBEz1a
Cole hung up on his friend and looked up at the petite brunette who kept gazing at him.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uaIdS15bI
"Are you still here?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IwryCilG8
"Cole, you can't do this to me. I need this job, you know it," she begged him.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7WQz4ehf2
"Call me by my name again and I will sew your mouth. If you really needed this job then you should have done it properly. I thought about firing you long time ago but I pitied your situation, I wanted to see if you would fill your gap, work harder but you didn't. I'm maybe a philanderer, Melissa, but I'm not stupid enough to keep a useless element like you in my business. Now get lost,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMjgHKJ5hO
She opened her mouth in disbelief while he leaned against his seat and closed his eyes.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyGDQlMasA
"You'll regret this,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkbv90s53s
"Goodbye, Ms. Mastriani," he sighed.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiv2Mloj2PR
The woman finally stormed out of the room slamming the door violently behind her.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQY6vbfHdeg
"Bitch," he swore.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ601TtvOzKS
Cole rubbed his sore neck, his body tightening due to his fitful sleep last night. His thought instantly wandered to his housekeeper fantasising about her soft warm hands massaging him like she usually did when he was tensed. He checked the hour on his watch. It was half past noon. He swore as he realised he was late for his family meeting. Then, his phone rang in the interior pocket of his suit. He took it and saw his oldest sister's smiling picture came on the screen. 760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vN04Tg7iM
"I'm on my way," he said straightaway as he answered the phone knowing that she was about to reprimand him for his lateness.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDLp8axFTw
"On your way? I'm sure you're still in your office,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSgiw3N8la
He rolled his eyes.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZUGirJfJA
"Just get your arse in here. You know grandma hates waiting,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYvOqpyCtK
She hung up.
***
"Grandma," Cole said rushing into his elder's arms and kissed her cheek.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMd1VcUcVZ
"Oh, my sweet boy,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdl5oadrASL
"You look ravishing today," he complimented her.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzrq72S1Bz
"You, little smooth talker," Denise laughed hitting his arm playfully, "Come on, kids. Now that your brother's here, let's talk," she said to her grandchildren, "I have something important to tell you all,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEtEym5Rwo
The three adults all found a place to sit and stared at their grandmother, waiting for her to speak. The elder straightened up on her bed and joined her hands together.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Gk82yUBiU
"Few days ago," she started, "Dr. Solomons told me about the evolution of my illness. He said that the tumour grows up quite fast and has already reached other organs," she paused, her eyes moving from one worry face to another then lowered her gaze to her wrinkled hands, "Dr. Solomons said I probably have around six months from now or perhaps a year if God guards me till then," she shrugged.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1l7V0qrkzh
A long and deathly silence conquered the room as the three siblings tried to take in the bad news, then Clare the second older sister suddenly left the room holding her round seven-month stomach as she muffled her sobs with her other hand. The shattering announcement on the top of her hormones imbalance didn't help the mum-to-be to choke back her emotion.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PNyxwasBh
"Did mom and dad know about it?" Antonia, the oldest sister asked courageously with watery eyes.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahJJweKDgc
"Of course, they know,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RYPuP4yWS
"Aren't you scared?" Cole said annoyed by his grandmother's nonchalance regarding the situation, "You're dying for God's sake!"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOR7CJUBix
"I know, Cole, but thank you for reminding me that," she retorted.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPZzdo14GV
"You're welcome 'cause I can't understand how you could say that with such indifference,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwFaTOvZiY
"I'm not indifferent to my own death. I just learnt to accept my fate. Everybody has to die someday, you're gonna die someday, your parents and your siblings too. This is how life works. If I don't look scared or sad it's because I'm ready to leave,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXt17olEve
"But I'm not!" he yelled at her, "I'm not ready to see you..." he paused unable to finish his sentence as a lump formed in his throat.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI5IHv8pr0
"Oh, my love," she said, moved by his reaction. She got out of her bed to embrace him but he moved away from her fearing that at her touch, he would break down in her arms . Denise understood his feelings and accepted his rejection without taking offense.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieYPox0g0e
"Anyway, that's not the only reason why I summoned you all today," she turned to her other grandchildren and said, "The thing is that I want to share with you my last wishes. I know it's early but I don't have much time left so I made a quick list of things I've always wanted to do and see before breathing my last,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRM9GMq1YwL
They stayed silent so she kept on.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIZLs9OLFk
"My first wish is to see you, my dear," she began looking at Cole, "to get married,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsBH8rAtp4
Cole coughed, "What?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxir69nJQEA
"You heard me. Come on, Cole. Your personal life is so unstable! Are you seriously going to dip your wick everywhere for the rest of your life?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMoYErLrfE
His sister snorted and he cast her a glare.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tZHyRq60q
"You're joking, right?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3A5R4NWVc
"Cole, I'm dying and I don't want to die without seeing my handsome and gifted grandson finding the love of his life and getting married. Nothing would make me more happier than attending your wedding. That way I'll be sure that this wretch girl who broke you heart will not have any hold on you anymore,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8g7EISucP
He looked away knowing exactly who she was alluding to.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAYiTWgseF
"I just want you to be happy," she said to him cupping his face in her hands and forced him to look at her.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeY1aB7zhVm
She glued her forehead to his and he stared into those unique pair of grey eyes he inherited from her. Cole wasn't ready for marriage or any sort of commitment, at least not anymore. The last time he gave up his whole heart to love, he was betrayed mortified by the woman he loved the most. Now that he learnt his lesson, he would surely not take the risk to bring into play the few pieces of heart he had left, but in view of his love for the old woman, the man couldn't help but consider her demands. On other circumstances, Cole would have shrug it off even though he had always enjoyed pampering his grandmother, but since she was terminally ill, he couldn't say no to her, even if that meant for him to break his rules. Then Cole started to think of a way to grant her this wish, few plans already emerging from his imagination, but they were hardly believable. Suddenly, an idea sprouted in his mind. 760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bNKY9pd9e
"I have a girlfriend, you know," he lied to her in a whisper.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Q8JyVdJxO
"Liar," she exclaimed. 760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHGbDshKRU
"Come," he said grabbing her hand and lead her to the corridor, away from his sister's ears.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQZjw35Y6W
"Look, I know you want-"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeN2SsPwty6
"I'm not lying, grandma," he insisted, "I was about to propose to her but-"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEvxjnMtPb
"Cole, don't lie to me,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYdYHeCiO0
"I am not. Want me to give her a call so you can believe me?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8hNZ52Wy6
"You can call any of your mistresses and she would be glad to play your girlfriend on the phone," she pointed.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2bLDAqVpu
"She's not one of my mistress, I promise," he sighed, "It's just that...I'm scared. I did that once and it went sour. I don't want to get hurt again," he continued inwardly surprised by the story he suceeded to invent in such short time, "That's why I haven't told anyone about it yet,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fNDxxq0q3
"Is it really true?" she narrowed her eyes suspiciously.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuQvTp5pMi
"Yeah. Since I've met her, I don't know...I'm not the same anymore. I used to date many girl but with her, it's different, " he exaggerated to dispel her doubts, "she's different,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOZYNKsOLN
"Oh my. Then, just go and propose to her, you thick!" she hit him on the back of the head, "If you're meant to be together then there's nothing you should be afraid of, well as long as she's not like this tart you were engaged to one year ago,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW322VdJGQZ
Cole rolled his eyes.760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBhnpVVt2f
"Oh my God!" she exclaimed with excitement as if she had finally figured out what he declared, "My grandson's getting married!"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMj9i9lrZa
"You know that she has to say yes first, right?"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKpGWq7IJc
"She will,"760Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDNgwlyogi
She quickly went back to the room and after few seconds, he heard her screaming the false good news to his sister. He didn't take long for her to react, the room resounding with shouts. Cole lifted his head up to the ceiling and exhaled realising what he had just done.
∭∭
Hi, guys!
I hope you enjoyed this first chapter, I know it's quite long, but I couldn't stop writing, so thanks to those who were brave enough to read it till the end ;)
Don't forget to tell me what you think, feel about this chapter or my writing. Your comments, critics and opinions are dear to me.
Kiss!
L.S
ns 15.158.61.16da2
