Chapter 74 The Car
Mariko's POV
I was surprised that Maddie was cooking dinner, but she kept it together. Gerard was coming over to discuss things about Ash with me. I didn't want Maddie to know what this meeting was about. I didn't want her to stress again. I stood across from her as she chopped some vegetables and I couldn't help but smile.
"How is the morning sickness?" I asked.
"It is behaving itself with me this evening, which I'm happy about. I don't want to feel sick when my father is here though," she said.
"I love to see you behind the stove," I smirked.
She looked up at me, "My father will be here soon, so you better behave."
"How about a quickie?" I suggested.
"Stop it!" she chuckled and threw me with a piece of cucumber. She was making a salad. I loved to hear her laughter after how I treated her. I must admit that I wanted to f^ck her on the counter, but Gerard would show up at anytime, and he would ruin that for us. I also have something planned for Maddie tonight...a surprise.
"So what will you and my father really be talking about?" She asked again, she was trying to pry, but she would not get the answer to that.
"It's just some business-related things. Your father wants to get back on his feet, so I'm just helping with more advice," I stated.
"But he was the CEO of his own company before, so why would he need your advice?" she asked, her brows furrowed.
"Maddie, please just drop it. If he wants more advice, then I will give it to him. I am trying to give him a chance too. Be happy about that, please," I said, hoping that she would let it go.
She let out a sigh just as there was a knock on the door. I am happy about that. I walked to the front door and opened it. "Gerard, welcome," I said politely as I opened the door wider, stepping aside so that he could enter.
"I brought some juice seem that Maddie is pregnant and cannot have wine," he stated as he walked further in the apartment.
"Hi, Dad," I closed the door and joined them. Maddie smiled at him but her smile didn't meet her eyes. I took the bottle of juice from him and I placed it on the kitchen counter.
"Dinner smells great," he smiled.
"I had to make dinner for you. It's my first time that I get to cook for my father," her smile reaches her eyes now.
"So, while Maddie is busy cooking, why don't we head to my study room and have our meeting?" I asked.
"Lead the way," he replied.
Gerard and I headed to my study room and I closed the door for privacy. "You may have a seat," I said as I rounded the desk and took a seat.
"I plan to give that dress to Ash tomorrow. I will give him a warning to stay away from Maddie. I know that I do not have all the resources, but if I could get a private investigator to get some things about him, then that could give us something to hold over him. Now, I do not want to get to the point where we have to come face to face with the security of Leonard's at the company. Leonard could have security everywhere that he goes. One wrong move, and then we could be beaten up by them. I would approach them as a potential business partner. I do want to take them down and if that means that I get my hands on that company, then I will. I have my way to getting that company. I did things back in the day, but this time, I am using them for good. Do not pick a fight with the Leonard. Things could end up going from bad to worse. Only use words. That is what I can advise on for now," Gerard said.
"I have my own plan, and it doesn't involve any fights. I know how I will pull this off, they will not see it coming. But if you are trying to bring them down, I would say do it. I hate to see men like them treat a woman like crap every chance that they get. I am surprised that Maddie hasn't made it in the papers yet. Why haven't they done that?" I asked.
"They are too preoccupied with things. But there was one time when there was an article about five years ago. I have had my eye on them from when I had my own company. They were one of my rivals. Maddie was in that article. The Leonard's painted Maddie as a bad person who is a gold digger and all sorts of nonsense. I am sure that the media has forgotten about it and, of course, the media isn't that interested in the Leonard's because they are not interesting enough. It was only Ash's love affair that captured some attention. They are desperate. That is why I think they will never leave Maddie alone. She was the perfect person for Ash, as business partners believed that she was the face of the Leonard's. They saw through all the other women after Maddie. I don't know what went wrong there, but the partners began to pull out. I think Maddie knows the reason for that. Has she told you any of this?" he asked. I was taken aback. I was too focused on my work, traveling, my kids and marriage to even be bothered to read the papers back then.
I shook my head, no, "No, she hasn't told me any of that," I furrowed my brows. I hope that Gerard was not lying about this, but why would he? "Are you lying?" I asked.
"No, ask her yourself if you don't believe me." he shifted in his seat.
I leaned back in my chair, thinking about what he said. I need to see that article. It should still be up on the internet. If not, then that should be a good thing. I did feel as if Maddie held back a bit when it came to telling me about what had happened with Ash, but I looked past that. Now, I want to know about it.
Maddie's POV
I set up the kitchen counter with the plates and glasses. Dinner was ready. Many times I wanted to go to the study room and just eavesdrop. I had to talk myself out of it. I should trust them together. I sucked in a deep breath, and then I switched the stove off. I made salad and chicken strips.
My phone rang, and I went to the lounge and grabbed my phone from the coffee table. It was my mother, "Mom?" I answered.
"How are you?" she asked.
"I am good, how about you, Mom?" I sat down on the recliner.
"I'm okay. I just wanted to hear your voice. I had permission to call you. I am so sorry for putting you through that..." her voice broke, and I knew what she meant. The men that barged into her apartment when I was there.
"As long as you are getting help, and you stay away from that men and the apartment, then you will be fine... We will be fine. If you relapse, then I will not want to see you again. So please make sure that its genuine, Mom," I said, although it was breaking my heart. I didn't want to even be saying this. She was my mother. But if she didn't get her sh^t together, then I wouldn't be sitting with this problem every time.
"I want to have a better life, Maddie. I'm sorry that I have failed and put your life in danger. I tried to call your father, but he wasn't answering, so I just wanted to call you too. I miss you so much," she said with so much longing.
"I miss you too, Mom. I have to go, and I hope that you will be much better when you get out. I will see you then. I love you," I said. I just wanted to end the call, tears stung the back of my eyes. I just couldn't speak to her any longer, otherwise I would cry.
"I love you too," I hung up the phone, and then I heard voices. Mariko and my father came into the lounge. I stood up from the recliner and I walked to the kitchen counter. "Dinner is ready," I said as I took my seat across from Mariko and my father.
"This looks good," my father said.
I smiled, "I try," I said as I took my fork and I sunk it into the chicken strip and I brought it to my mouth as Mariko and my father chatted. I was happy that they seemed to be getting along. As I chewed and swallowed, I stopped, forcing it down.
It was like blood drained from me, and it felt as if something was trying to pull me towards the ground. Nausea took over me. I placed my fork down. "Are you okay?" I heard Mariko, but I was just trying to keep my nausea at bay and not even pass out. "Maddie," His hand was on mine. I took in a deep breath and I exhaled through my mouth. "Are you having cramps?"
I looked at my dinner and then bile rose, covering my mouth, gagging. I hurried to the bathroom. I felt embarrassed and sick. I didn't want my father to see me this way. I guess I spoke too soon about my morning sickness. After I finally stopped vomiting, Mariko entered as I brushed my teeth. "You look pale, Maddie. Maybe you should go to bed. I am worried about you," he said as he stood in the doorway. He was worried, I could see that.
"There is nothing to worry about when it comes to morning sickness, it's not like I'm throwing up every time." I said. "Please, tell my dad that I'm sorry. I just can't look at my dinner anymore," I said.
"I will. Please, get into bed and I will join you soon," he said, but he lingered in the doorway, making sure that I was okay.
"I will be fine to walk to our bedroom," I chuckled.
"Okay, I need to make sure that you're okay," he said before he finally left.
I let out a breath as I went to our bedroom and I got undressed. I just want the twins out of me already. I do not like to have these symptoms. I still heard them talking in the kitchen.
After a while, I went to the kitchen after my dad had left and Mariko was cleaning up. I needed apple juice and I poured some. "How are you feeling?" He asked.
"I'm thirsty, but okay," I smiled. I did feel okay.
He dried his hands with a cloth, and he hung it over a hook. He took the glass of juice from me, placing it on the counter, and he took my hand. "I want to show you something," he smiled. His eyes had a glint of mischief in them.
I furrowed my brows, "What is it?" I asked.
"Let me show you," he said, and then he led the way out of our apartment. All the way down to the parking lot outside. Cars were parked. "Where are we going?" I asked as he continued to lead me down the parking lot until he came to a stoop by a blue Jaguar. It was brand new. "This is yours," he smiled. I looked between him and the car.
"My car?" I asked as I let go of his hand and I stepped forward. I was stunned.
"You deserve it."
I didn't know what to say. I didn't expect Mariko to buy me a car. Thoughts tried to come back about what Ash had said. I'm a gold digger, I can't accept this. It is too much for me.