Chapter 19

At 4:30 on the nose, Jasmine and the cleaning girls arrived at the Brooks's mansion. While Lady Jasmine was leading the way on the blossoming flowery walkway with colorful emission of bright lights, the other girls were trailing behind her.

"Ugh!" Looking around, Rosa exclaimed. "I so missed this place! It's just heaven on earth!"

"I'll finally get to see Cayden's sexy face again…and those cute smiles aww!"

"Ssshhh!!" The girls chorused and chuckled with their palms on their lips.

"That was way too loud, Vera," Mia said.

"And Vera, you even addressed him by his first name…" Leah looked up at her. "That's daring…"

"No one heard that anyway." Vera said, swinging her hands."

"Wait," Tory raised a brow. "Tryna call us deaf? Of course, we all heard the name." She said and whispered, "Cayden…"

"Aww!" The girls teased.

"I so love him." Zaria blushed. "Sometimes I wish I was Elodre."

"Mr. Brooks is so cute and his damn name so romantic. Leah said. "He's romantic." She shrugged.

"Obviously," A few girls said.

"But Mrs. Brooks gotta little problem…

"A huge one!" Tory covered her mouth as she spoke. "She's so fuckin problematic, if not, why did she suspend us all of a sudden?"

"Yeah…"

"Girls! Hurry!" Jasmine's voice echoed from a distance. "Mr. Brooks could probably be awake by now so we gotta beat the clock!" And with hums of conversation, the girls started jogging over.

**

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The cold plus the sweet mild scent of the living room hit them hard once they opened the huge door. At the drop of a hat, they embarked on their various chores.

**

The plate clinked as Jasmine opened it and she let out a gasp. He never even touched the food! Didn't he like it? She wondered, glancing at the raspberry juice and the rock glass. Everything is just the way she kept them before leaving last night. Oh, God! What has she done?! She was gonna ruin her job!

She covered the plate and carried the tray to the kitchen.

Rosa was cleaning one of the large windows with the aid of a high wooden stool on which she stood while Mia was dusting the sofas when the door suddenly slammed and they jerked.

"Goo…good morning, Mr. Brooks!" Damn! She almost fell off the stool.

"Morning Mr. Brooks!" Mia bowed.

Wearing a grim countenance Cayden just walked past them and jogged up the stairs. With curious looks, the girls exchanged glances and continued with their chores.

Jasmine had just brewed some coffee. Pouring it into Cayden's favorite mug, the billows of flavorful vapor filled the air.

"Wait," Leah said. "Don't tell me that's for Mr. Brooks."

Scooping a few spoons of creamer into the hot coffee, Jasmine said, "Exactly who it's meant for." She blew her right hand as the heat burned her.

Leah rolled her eyes and said, "Thought the mistress had said she'd handle his food always."

"Yeah," Jasmine raised the mug by its handle and placed a small tray under it. "Regardless, the mistress is quite under the weather and can't perform such a tax now." She stirred the coffee and wiped off its stains from the mug.

Leah's thin lips curved into an 'o' shape as she picked up her cleaning clothes to proceed. Cleaning the microwave's interior, she glanced over at Jasmine. "But how did you know that?"

Jasmine glanced back at her and took the tray to the dining table.

At that instant, Cayden jogged down the stairs vigorously, looking hot in his fitted white long-sleeve shirt with well-pressed and tailored black pants. If there's one pretty thing everyone knows about him, he doesn't wear ties. His corporate black shoes were perfectly polished and glittery.

His shoulder-length straight black hair was center parted and alluring. Holding a briefcase and glancing at his designed gold wristwatch, he walked across the room and his cologne seemed to have snatched the airs from his employee's lungs as they bowed.

Jasmine watched him curiously as he approached the door. She gazed down at the coffee and then looked at him. "M…Mr. Brooks?" Stuttering, she railed off as he slammed the door. Gazing at the door, she flushed red with embarrassment. She gazed down at the coffee and the vapor hit her face.

**

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**

Pain twitching her joints and body, getting outta bed was rocket science for Elodre. The effect of the sun ray sipping in through the translucent curtain made her puffy eyes ache. It felt like she was glued to the bed as she could hardly lift any part of her body.

Groaning softly, she was struggling to lift herself with the support of her elbows. Her head was banging menacingly, coupled with a twirling sensation in her head.

Sharp pain struck her forehead excruciatingly as she sat up and she winced, placing both palms on her forehead. Her temperature was extremely high.

Oh god! She needs some massage. She thought. Her stomach rumbled severally. She was feverish, weak, and starv…

A sudden knock at the door intruded on her thoughts.

In a few seconds, the mild knock sounded again. "Ma'am?" A soft voice called.

"Who's it?" Elodre feigned a bold voice and her head hurt more.

"It's Jasmine, ma'am," But Elodre didn't respond. "Please ma'am, would you like pancakes and some tea?"

Oh, exactly what she was…

"Momma! Momma!" Raiden screamed from outside the room and Elodre's heart melted.

"Oh, little man!" A smile lit up her face as she gazed expectantly at the door. "Come in honey."

Smiling, Jasmine opened the door slightly, and the kid ran inside all giggling and energetic. Enthusiastically, he hopped into Elodre's arms. Silently absorbing the pain, she was cuddling him hard, pressing kisses on his forehead. She hadn't seen her son for days.

She didn't realize the tears that had welled up in her gray eyes until she blinked and they rolled freely down her cheeks. Burying her face between his tiny shoulder and neck, she wept.

Standing outside, Jasmine was dumbfounded upon hearing her mistress weeping. She couldn't help but wonder what was wrong. She lifted her fist to knock on the door again but after a brief hesitation, she slowly dropped her hand. Her lips curved severally to speak but she'd run out of words.

Hesitantly, she turned, walked a few stairs, turned away to gaze at the door, and then walked down the stairs slowly.

"Momma, why are you crying?" Raiden's tender voice vibrated Elodre's eardrums.

She sniffled severally.

"Momma, what's wrong?"

"I'm crying because…I missed you…" She wiped the tears with her palm and looked at his tiny innocent face. "I missed you, my son." All she could see in those ocean-blue eyes was her husband. Just him. She sniffled again. She missed him so much…she truly missed the old Cayden…not the venomous monster that he'd claimed to be.

It hurts. More tears flowed down her cheeks. It hurts to see her husband like this. It… it's hard to admit that she cheated on him. Her lips trembled. She's turned her loving and caring husband into a monster.

She needs him. She needs his love. She needs his care. He's the only one that can erase her scars. He's the only one on earth who loved her, cared for her genuinely, and changed her life positively.

Blinking, tears spilled down her bleak cheeks.

But now that he's furious at her, should she blame him? She sighed. No, not after that night. She shut her eyes and tightened her lips.

That night…