"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?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8cZEBujKS
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.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoYaK9mVU4
"What would you like to eat for dinner, sir?" she inquired her employer as she knotted his tie.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpes8ffAMBK
He looked at the ceiling, thinking. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFFOJQUMJG
"How about a coq au vin, sir?" she suggested him.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOublBfUiXg
He looked down at her while she was setting the tie along his chest.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGqOQZSd79
"Lovely choice," he said.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7ldL8cCQh
"A dessert, perhaps?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KBeIywo45
"An apple pie. The one you did last time was just exquisite,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6t0ddaCHg
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.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFUnVoaI7c
"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?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqsgZIwZ9o
"Mr. Ramsden-"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnA62USw5t7
"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.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHNHuMEJ0e
He unfastened the button of his suit, sat back on his imposing leather swivel armchair and dialled the number of the security guards.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzK762kVnbI
"Yes, Mr. Ramsden?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxU1tABAtv
"I want you to escort Ms. Mastriani out of the building in thirty minutes sharp,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsPBifXhY7
"Yes, sir,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV22WPUxFo4
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.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWL2fl2BJdf
"Hey, Cole. What's up?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu06SzlCRgG
"Find me a new assistant for tomorrow," he ordered, "And this time, a skilful one otherwise you'll be next to be sacked,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9cskjLIBr
"What happened with-"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4f116MQbu
Cole hung up on his friend and looked up at the petite brunette who kept gazing at him.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Q7FgbrtEe
"Are you still here?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPypJof57o
"Cole, you can't do this to me. I need this job, you know it," she begged him.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDCNWGuM83
"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,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAA1R4bcxx
She opened her mouth in disbelief while he leaned against his seat and closed his eyes.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69bZg63Yzz
"You'll regret this,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0a0snKwjv
"Goodbye, Ms. Mastriani," he sighed.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMtNRhXYd0
The woman finally stormed out of the room slamming the door violently behind her.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bPWh6WA3n
"Bitch," he swore.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QUvPNm1Fd
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. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G30u1zseY
"I'm on my way," he said straightaway as he answered the phone knowing that she was about to reprimand him for his lateness.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmvzaEF0zi
"On your way? I'm sure you're still in your office,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOL8suQogXF
He rolled his eyes.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H4NhscX9T
"Just get your arse in here. You know grandma hates waiting,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtlx10Xx9F
She hung up.
***
"Grandma," Cole said rushing into his elder's arms and kissed her cheek.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX2VDPBvhf
"Oh, my sweet boy,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcEvja06PQ
"You look ravishing today," he complimented her.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFXwq3taRY
"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,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSLRql4eKD
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.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj9SQkJS8A
"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.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNtBRTvYxQ
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.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKFVeNAGu9
"Did mom and dad know about it?" Antonia, the oldest sister asked courageously with watery eyes.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UPE3pbhP7
"Of course, they know,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAVL7L0xTu
"Aren't you scared?" Cole said annoyed by his grandmother's nonchalance regarding the situation, "You're dying for God's sake!"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQv7GzJIg0
"I know, Cole, but thank you for reminding me that," she retorted.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPuq2u08da
"You're welcome 'cause I can't understand how you could say that with such indifference,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR24W7pAbgw
"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,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSL9XYXDZT
"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.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4I85P3j9F
"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.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5xuvvUab2
"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,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqHMFK2TAe
They stayed silent so she kept on.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE0HmnHxvo
"My first wish is to see you, my dear," she began looking at Cole, "to get married,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIorOmR9I5H
Cole coughed, "What?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtotxCMimIi
"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?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ceFe0u6Rr
His sister snorted and he cast her a glare.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu12h0HyFnw
"You're joking, right?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSawqhiLDnu
"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,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17RtdMn4K4
He looked away knowing exactly who she was alluding to.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwtytw3QPD
"I just want you to be happy," she said to him cupping his face in her hands and forced him to look at her.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6isKkOYMs
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. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OkVqMDcoK
"I have a girlfriend, you know," he lied to her in a whisper.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYRIQFFTiI
"Liar," she exclaimed. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMCMxmlGaS
"Come," he said grabbing her hand and lead her to the corridor, away from his sister's ears.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSS14IJc3Mq
"Look, I know you want-"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkap0aQ1dqg
"I'm not lying, grandma," he insisted, "I was about to propose to her but-"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGufNP5zyz
"Cole, don't lie to me,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXJgJIAGKp
"I am not. Want me to give her a call so you can believe me?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIEHR5x2Ic
"You can call any of your mistresses and she would be glad to play your girlfriend on the phone," she pointed.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyQ8crT78f
"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,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxTsHrQxmf
"Is it really true?" she narrowed her eyes suspiciously.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qDJIQtht7
"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,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqygatv4vmB
"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,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfjKzQUyRJ
Cole rolled his eyes.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbF8PkCr86
"Oh my God!" she exclaimed with excitement as if she had finally figured out what he declared, "My grandson's getting married!"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirBiHChUQr
"You know that she has to say yes first, right?"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF2xaRVO4Q
"She will,"798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG1q1tiVZE
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 15.158.61.20da2
