Chapter 26

Chapter 26
"I know what is going on here, Rory Anne. You are in love with him and you don't even realize that. Or maybe you did and you are ignoring your feelings."

Rory turned her head away from Caroline. Surely her friend wasn't telling the truth, was she? Was she really in love with Eren Cyrus? What really is love? She had a painful relationship with Charlie, but when he lied to her and tried to manipulate her once more, and they ended their toxic love story, she felt better. She felt relieved. It didn't hurt in the same way that it does now.

Her heart ached each time she saw Eren or thought of him. It had felt as though a sharp pin was pulling at it—as if her heart were elastic and would stretch if they drew on it. That wasn't the point, though. Her heart wasn't at all elastic. Does that imply that she was in love after all? a different emotion than the one she experienced with Charlie?

"You don't need to say anything." Rory was forced to look in Caroline's direction. Rory couldn't look her friend in the eyes. She was embarrassed. What more would Carol notice when she looked into her eyes again? that she tried to kiss the young master, and she believed their interaction wasn't solely one-sided? Definitely not what she wanted.

Rory Anne, come to your senses. Eren isn't in love with you. You overthink everything. Never in a million years would he fall in love with you.

"You don't want to get involved with the young master for your own sake or his." Carol sighed. "I am not the best person to preach love to you because I am also terrible at it."

She wished she hadn't. She wished she hadn't gotten involved.

She was going to ask why, but she already knew Carol's response. "He's not safe, and if you develop feelings for him, you'll become a target as well as a tool to make him less strong. Rory Anne, I don't believe you want that to happen." Carol said exactly what Rory had hoped to hear.

"No, I don't." In a whisper, Rory said. Finally, she mustered the courage to face her friend. "Trust me, Carol, I don't want that to happen. And..." She laughed, nervous. "I don't have feelings for the young master. Never will I fall in love with him." She denied her feelings. Only by doing that could she get her friend to stop criticizing her or worry about her.

"You're lying to yourself, my friend. Nobody can deny that they don't fantasize about being in Eren's arms or having their lips just inches from his jawline or lips, despite the fact that he is blind."

"So you have fantasies about him as well?"

"Everyone does, but that isn't the point. We are aware that the only romantic relationship we can have with him is one that exists only in our imaginations. We love our lives, Rory Anne, and you have to love yours too. You can only achieve your goal of becoming a doctor and get your family out of this situation by doing that." In an instant, Rory remembered the result.

As she sprung to her feet, she let out a loud gasp.

"Are you okay?" Carol asked.

"Yeah, I am." Almost out of breath, Rory said. Her awkwardness was apparent to Carol. There was no chance that anyone could miss that.

Rory didn't want Carol to learn about the plans she and Eren had. She had just a moment ago considered telling her friend about it, but something had prompted her not to. Yes, she had trust in Carol, but Carol isn't just someone you want to involve in a plan. She was more like...

Rory sighed. There was no word to describe who Carol truly was.

"Where are you headed?" Rory started toward the door, which Carol saw.

Rory swung around to look at her friend. She immediately pointed to the clock. She wasn't prepared to have her lies exposed. Rory's first thought was of the clock when Carol asked her that question. "It is time for me to get to the young master. By now, he must have been awake."

Carol looked away from the timepiece and then turned to face Rory, slowly nodding. After that, she added, "I'll be outside." She grabbed the skin care item and gathered everything in her arms as soon as she stood up.

"What are you doing?"

"I'll use it for you if you don't use it,"

After turning to face the door and leaving her room, Rory snuck into a nook to hide. When she realized Carol had left her room completely, she crept over to the scanner room.

                                                                              

There was a knock on Mr. Lewis' door. He stopped what he was doing and raised his head. "The door is not locked." He extended a welcome inside.

When he noticed Eren approaching him without Rory by his side, he was surprised. However, Eren was accustomed to getting to the library on his own. He had been for years.

"Where is your maid?" Mister Lewis scowled. In order to assist Eren in sitting down, he stood up from his chair.

Mr. Lewis took a seat once more and posed the same query.

Eren placed his cane aside and placed both of his hands on the table. "I told her to stay in her room and wait."

"But..."

"I'm fine. Mr. Lewis. I came here to share with you something that has been on my mind for the past few days. I didn't want Rory to be present while I discussed these things with you."

Mr. Lewis sighed. "What is it, my boy?" He was leaning toward Eren. He had both hands resting on the table. Waiting.

Before opening his mouth once more to speak, Eren took a deep breath. "It is about the maids."

"Would you like them changed once more? Are they making you angry again?"

Eren gave a head shake. "No. That's not what I mean. This is a distinct issue."

Mr. Lewis' interest in Eren's intended conversational topic piqued suddenly. In the past, whenever Eren brought up the subject of the maids, he would always end up firing them. However, he was now more perplexed as to why the current maids, whom they had hired a few months prior, were still on the premises.

The personal maids for Eren don't take up much time. Every day, in order to get them changed, he complained about them, but never once about Rory Anne Spears.

"Go on, boy."

"I was thinking if we could change some things in the mansion."

"Some things?" Despite not knowing where the conversation was going, Mr. Lewis was interested.

"Yes, and I am also aware of how hard the maids have worked, and in my view, the three months they spend here before returning home for vacation are unsatisfactory."

Mr. Lewis' eyes grew slender. He was lost.

"I'll cut to the chase."

"Yes, please do."

"I was thinking we could create a Maid's Day."

"What? Maid's Day? What is that supposed to be?"

"Twice a month, the maids would take a break to go to the park. The 15th and 25th, perhaps?"

For Mr. Lewis, it was difficult to really participate in that conversation. When he heard the knock in his study, he was busy. "Eren." He called with a sigh, with a plea. "I don't believe that is what we want for the maids. I agree with you, but despite working, they are also paid. We must therefore treat them strictly as a result. You have to instill fear in them. If you give them this... Maid's Day, they won't respect you anymore."

"But Mr. Lewis, Hear me out. The maids are really trying, and I am aware that you are doing everything you can to maintain their fear of me and respect for me. As a human being with emotions, I believe it is best that we grant them this day. Think about it. They'll be more devoted. They'll be more focused on us and hate Mr. Julian even more. In both rich and poor communities, our name will be big."

Mr. Lewis slowly nodded his head. His palm was now resting against his chin. Eren was making sense. Way too much sense. "So, if we give them these days off to enjoy themselves in the park, will they be more motivated to work?"

"I can assure you of that, Mr. Lewis. They'll correctly complete their chores and be content if you do this and give them Maid's Day."

Eren grinned. He knew exactly what he was doing. He was fully aware of what Mr. Lewis would desire. Furthermore, he had heard rumors about how poorly Mr. Julian always treated his housekeepers.

With Mr. Lewis persuaded to make the Maid's Day happen, he would finally be free to leave the mansion without Mr. Lewis or a bodyguard.

It was freedom for him at last, and it was all thanks to Rory Anne.

Rory Anne. Also, where is Rory Anne? He suddenly became aware. Since he got out of bed for his afternoon nap, he hadn't heard from her.

Fuck!