Chapter 20 Chapter Twenty
Chapter 20
Being the only occupant in the house, Marlie decided to take advantage of the opportunity to familiarize herself with her surroundings.
She made a call and after speaking on the phone for a while, continued with her agenda.
After half an hour of exploring, she made her way to the kitchen to quench her thirst. As she reached into the refrigerator for a bottle of water, she was startled by the presence of Vien.
"Oh My God!" Marlie leaped back in surprise, causing the bottle of water to slip from her grasp and crash onto the floor. She immediately became frustrated by the sudden intrusion,
"Damn you old woman!" she cursed at Vien for sneaking up on her.
"Are you a ghost?" Marlie questioned the nanny, as she angrily bent down to retrieve the fallen bottle of water.
"Are you being haunted by one?" Fully aware of Marlie's troubled state of mind, Vien teasingly replied. She had seen her receive a secret package a while ago too.
"Do you have something dangerous up your sleeve?" The Nanny continued.
Annoyed, Marlie turned on the tap to rinse the bottle and then confronted the nanny as if they were equals. "What do you want, old woman?" She asked in annoyance.
Vien was in her late 40's. She started working in the family after Chad's parents got married.
Throughout their exchange, the nanny remained leaning against the wall, observing Marlie with accusatory and scrutinizing eyes.
"When do you plan on telling them the truth?" the nanny asked.
With an air of nonchalance, Marlie opened the bottle of water and began drinking, as though the question held no importance to her. She rudely placed the bottle down and responded to the nanny, "Once I have completed what I came here to do."
Clearly, Marlie had understood Vien's ultimatum, yet the nanny felt compelled to reiterate her previous warning. "Marlie, I stand by what I said. If you don't tell him, I will be forced to do so."
Vien turned to leave, but Marlie questioned her about how Charlie was treated in the household.
"If you answer me truthfully, I will pack my bags and leave," Marlie asserted.
Vien fell silent. A tear dropped to her cheeks and she quickly wiped it to prevent Marlie from noticing it. She was well aware of the mistreatment Charlie endured in that house. However, she also knew of Marlie's temperament.
Charlie had told her about Marlie. She does whatever she sets her mind to.
Charlie had confided in her. How could she possibly reveal the truth to Marlie?
"It is not my place to speak about my employers," Vien replied to Marlie's disdainful scoff.
Curious, Marlie pressed further, "Why?"
Madam Vien had a response. "Even if there was something to say, you should ask the bosses directly."
As if they will answer her truthfully if she asks.
Leaning in closer, Marlie whispered in Vien's ear, "Then just remain silent and observe if you can't tell me. After all, you are just an employee." Marlie paused for her words to sink in before continuing...
"Since you know me that much, I hope you don't wish to have me as an enemy!" With that warning, she left the kitchen, leaving Vien with tear-filled eyes, watching her departure.
In Baristanas Company
Chad sits in his swivel chair in a moody state. His friend Ken had been discussing a business proposal with him and noticed he was absent-minded from time to time.
"Sir..."
Chad's secretary, Carolina, walked to his office with a set of documents in her hands.
"Here are the documents you requested." She tried placing them on his table but mistakenly dropped the documents on the floor.
"What the hell! Can't you see properly?" Chad poured his anger on her.
In an attempt to defend the secretary, Ken signaled her to hurry out.
"Who dared to annoy you like this Shadow?" Ken asked.
When Chad arrived at the office, Ken immediately noticed that he was in a bad mood.
Chad dragged his seat back and positioned himself near the transparent glass window with his back to Ken.
Placing both hands in his pocket, he let out a sigh before forcing some words out of his mouth.
"Charlie is back."
"And?" Ken questioned, wondering why her return should trouble Chad.
"Shouldn't you be happy you can finally divorce?" Ken asked in confusion.
But that wasn't what troubled Chad the most.
"Marlie is dead." He started calmly.
With shock, Ken exclaimed from his chair,
"WHAT!"
He quickly moved to Chad's side, saying, "Dude, stop joking around, that can't possibly be true, right?" Ken couldn't bring himself to believe his friend's words.
The Anderson family was somewhat part of their social circle, and if something like that had happened, it surely would have been all over the news channels to gain popularity.
Chad's voice, sounding hoarse, revealed his sadness as he responded, "Charlie told me!"
"And you believed her?" Ken questioned.
"Come on, maybe she was just joking with you," he added, trying to find an explanation. Ken then retreated to his seat and picked up a newspaper to read. He wasn't buying that 'Marlie is dead.
"Why don't you try and meet Marlie?" Ken teased Chad.
"Why should I give her the importance she never gave me?" Chad retorted.
But Chad wasn't ready for that. He was so disturbed since he knew Charlie's character.
"Don't you miss her?" Ken asked.
"Does that matter?" Chad replied.
Ken looked at Chad's face which still carried he upset expression. He thought of saying a few words to calm him down.
"Charlie may be lying to you you know. A spiteful woman wouldn't hesitate." Ken emphasized the word "spiteful," as he continued
However, their conversation was abruptly interrupted by another person who defended Charlie.
"And what makes Marlie?"
Both Chad and Ken were taken aback when they turned to see their other two friends Spark and Gideon.
Without a doubt, those people were friends with Chad, as they had the same facial expressions - blunt, cold, and a devilish smile, which Spark displayed while staring at Chad.
His demeanor could tell that he wasn't on good terms with Chad. Back in college, he had feelings for Charlie, but she had never shown him any attention, let alone love.
What made him even angrier was that Chad had married her, despite not having feelings for her.
"Spark!" Ken rushed to hug him, surprising Chad.
Chad left the window and resumed his seat, wondering why Spark was there, since they weren't on good terms. Without lifting his head to look at Spark, Chad asked, "Didn't you say you wouldn't come? Why are you here?"
"It's not like I needed your permission to be here," Spark replied.
With head down and signing some documents. Chad retorted, "May I remind you that this is my company?"
"That's the only thing you have, and nothing more?" Spark responded sarcastically, still standing by the door with both hands in his pockets.
Chad's anger was growing. Gideon noticed the tension in the room and quickly intervened, saying, "Guys, guys... that's not why we came here, right?" This managed to calm them down a little, and they both settled themselves on the office couch.
"By the way, what were you saying again? Regarding Charlie?" Spark asked.
"You mean...my wife?" Chad scoffed at Spark, emphasizing the word "wife."
Chad wanted to gain the upper hand by annoying Spark, and it was clear that his tactic was working.
"You still have no shame, to call her your wife?" Spark retorted.