Chapter 15

Matthew Devin’s house was fitting for a billionaire. After Matthew gave her a tour of the interior and the exterior of the house that was the conclusion that Miranda came to. Fitting for a billionaire.

Now, Miranda had never been to a fancy house before. To her, the most expensive house she had been to was the place Karly tried to kidnap her. And that was nothing compared to the house she currently stood in.

It was voguish, polished, sophisticated, modern, and of course, large. The house itself was surrounded by the greenest lawn she had ever seen. Truly fitting for a billionaire.

And it was in this house that she was now living. Not in the house itself but a detached building behind it. The bungalow was originally intended to serve as a home for live-in servants. However, as Matthew had no live-in servants –they all came once every two days, the building was free to use.

Matthew had described it as a small house. In her opinion, though, there was nothing small about it. It was too much house for her. Even now, as she stepped out of the house, fully dressed and ready for the day, she still felt the house was too big.

It was a Wednesday, but it was her first day of work. Miranda had been discharged from the hospital on Monday, but the doctors had told her to take it easy for the rest of the week. She couldn’t, however.

To her, it was too long a break to take. Though the CEO of the company gave her his approval, she just could not stay at home. Besides, her work was not so physically taxing. So there really was no reason for her to stay home.

These were the points she presented to Matthew Devin this morning as he was about to depart for work in his black SUV. She had prepared, dressed up, and eaten as early as she could so she could catch him before he left for work.

She did not know how to drive, so if he left, she would be all but stranded in the multi-million-dollar house. And she did not have to ask to know that taxis did not enter such areas.

The small house that Miranda now lived in was about a two-minute walk from the main house and since it was behind it, she could not see the front of the building. That meant she would have no idea when Matthew left for work and she would miss the chance to hitch a ride with him.

So, after begging and pleading and debating, albeit gently, the CEO had agreed to take her to work. Now, the day was over. It was time to return home. The same problem arose. How would she get back home?

Miranda watched as her workmates shut down their systems, packed their belongings, and bid each other goodbye. She should be on her way herself, but she had no idea what to do. Mr. Devin had given her the codes and keys she needed to enter the house, but should she just leave? Without telling him or waiting for him?

Miranda did not know the etiquette for this sort of thing. She just did not want to offend the man who continued providing and protecting her. She would tell him, she decided. If he said to wait for him, then that was what she would do. If he said to leave, then she would do that as well.

Fueled by the reasoning, she packed her bag carefully, the bandages around her cut hand impeding her speed, and left the department floor to the forty-eight floor. When she arrived, she walked straight to the elevator that would take her to Matthew’s office, greeting the receptionists as she did. They didn’t stop her, nor did she stop to be searched.

Mr. Devin was kind enough to waive the security check, allowing her to access the elevator whenever she wanted. The doors closed and she was transported to the last floor of the building.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked gently on the mahogany door and turned the knob. The door was open. She stepped gingerly into the office, the lavender air freshener tickling her nose. The scene she met, however, was nothing to sneeze at.

Matthew Devin sat in his chair, which was very normal considering this was his office. What was not normal was the woman who pressed herself unto him. She was dressed impeccably in a dark red formal gown, accessories glittering on her wrist and ears. Her hair shone and fell to her waist.

Her gown was hitched up, revealing the dark, silky skin underneath. Her knee was planted firmly between Matthew’s legs, her hand was placed on his chest, twirling the plain blue tie he wore.

Miranda’s entrance drew the woman’s attention, and she titled her head towards the door. “Oh, dear. It seems we’ve been interrupted.”

Miranda reeled back, shock radiating through her whole body. Her eyes met Matthew’s and she immediately bowed in apology. “I’m very sorry. Excuse me.”

With that, she sped out of the office, ignoring the strange look the receptionist gave her, and into the elevator. She dashed back to the PR department and plopped on her seat, breathing hard. Her heart raced and her mind whirled trying to make sense of the scene she had just witnessed. Mr. Devin and the woman… Were they getting intimate?

For some reason, her heart throbbed in pain. Miranda rubbed her chest, trying to ease the ache. Was that his lover? She could not see the woman’s face properly, but she was certain that she did not recognize her.

She had never seen her before. And seeing the CEO with a woman… What a strange sight.

Miranda was not stupid. She had noticed several times that Matthew distanced himself from women. He avoided them, never looking comfortable when he spoke with them. It made her remember the day he saved her.

She had run to him, reaching out to him and he kicked her away, flinching at her proximity. Initially, she had jettisoned his reaction, taking it as the reaction of a man who was wary of being attacked. Later though, she began to realize that he had an aversion to women.

Was she wrong?

The image of the woman pushing down on him crossed her mind once more. When their eyes met, Miranda felt that he looked strange. He looked like he was uncomfortable like he was begging for her help, much like she did that fateful day.

As soon as the thought crept up, she dismissed it. If he was uncomfortable with her presence, he would simply have resisted. Pushed her away. He was stronger and larger than the woman, after all.

What she saw was just her mind’s way of making the sight easier for her to process. Matthew Devin had a lover. No, he did not have an aversion to women. That was her mind misinterpreting things.

Miranda sighed and tossed her head against the headrest. Sadness clouded her mind and her heart. Matthew Devin had a lover. Should that fact come as a surprise? No, it shouldn’t. He was a billionaire. He had access to all the women in the world.

She stared down at her injured hands. So why? Why did it hurt so much? Why did she feel like someone had caught her heart in a steel-vise grip? Had she come to desire his attention as a man?

Sighing, she rose from the seat and picked up her bag once more to begin the journey home. Mr. Devin didn’t seem like he was going to be heading home anytime soon.

Miranda stepped out the revolving doors and into the late afternoon sun. The blare of horns and the hum of conversations emanating from the city seemed particularly loud as workers made their way home after a day of work.

Miranda joined the crowd, deriving comfort from the anonymity it gave her. Throughout her way home, she kept pondering about the scene she had witnessed in Matthew’s office. The look of anguish in his eyes. It kept appearing in her mind, time and time again.

All through the evening and well into the night.

Even when the evening news was being reported. Normally, the sight of her favorite reporter would be enough to enthrall Miranda, gluing her to the television screen.

But not today. Today, she watched the news half-heartedly, keeping an eye and an ear out for Matthew. He was yet to return. Should she even be expecting him, she asked herself. He could be at his lover’s house, spending the night there, while she sat here expecting him like a fool.

Shaking her head, she rose from the couch and walked to the kitchen to drop her dirty dishes. She took her time washing the dishes and preparing the outfit she would wear tomorrow. The physical labor refocused her turbulent mind.

The day was truly over when she returned to the living room to turn off the television. The TV went off with a blip and she was more than ready to hit the sack when she heard the massive iron gates of the compound open.

Miranda gasped, wrapped a night robe around herself, and dashed out of the house. Her bare feet slapped the stone pathway as she ran towards the gate. He was around, he had come back.

Curving around the main house, she was met with the sight of an unfamiliar car. Fear halted her steps. That was not Matthew’s car, neither was it anything she had seen in the garage.

So, who was it?

The gates opened without issue, so it was someone that Matthew had programmed into the security system. An ugly thought popped up in Miranda’s brain. Was it the woman?

Thankfully, the car’s door opened, and Walter stepped out from the driver’s side of the vehicle.

Sighing in relief, she re-tied her robe and walking up to the car, she said with a smile, “Good evening, Walter.”

“Good evening,” he responded, his voice low.

She stopped in front of the car and the light from the main house highlighted the grim look on his face. Alert, she stepped even closer and asked, “Is there a problem?”

Walter looked indecisive, as if he was currently debating what, or if, to tell her. He reached a decision soon though. “Mr. Devin has been admitted into the hospital. He overdosed on some medication.”