Mysterious CEO's Last Surrogate

Loney ignored Paul's last question, strode to Mabel's room and knocked on her door. Mabel was asleep but woke up at the sound of the knock. Being the housekeeper and being in charge of everyone, she couldn't sleep too deeply for fear of losing out on something important. She thought that perhaps an emergency had happened and one of the maids had come to inform her. She stood from the bed, covered herself with a morning coat and turned the knob open. She was surprised to see Loney at the door, padded with a stern grimace.

Mabel panicked slightly, fearing that something must have happened, as she forced a smile, "master, you are welcome," she said politely.

Loney ignored her pleasantries. For as long as he was concerned, Danica was being maltreated and treated like a maid, doing the chores she wasn't supposed to do and that burned him. "Downstairs, we need to talk." He commanded. Mabel's panic deepened, her heart rate increased. Loney never spoke to her in that manner and therefore, she was greatly disturbed.

She didn't have time to menace over Loney's reason and descended the stairs after him. It was quiet with all the maids asleep and a few guards around. Loney sat on the sofa and spoke as soon as Mabel arrived. He didn't give her the chance to even sit before firing her with bullets of questions.

"Who has been doing the cooking in this house?" Loney spoke in a deep expressionless tone, slightly harsh.

Mabel caught sight of Paul shaking his head. She couldn't decipher what he was warning her about and said, "master, I do the cooking most times."

Loney boiled with rage. He hated lies. Especially one that came from people he trusted. "Don't lie to me, Mabel, for the last time, who does the cooking in this house?"

Mabel was scared of Loney knowing the truth. She feared losing her job and couldn't bear to tell him the truth. Paul was helpless for Mabel not catching the hint and strode to his room. "Master, I do all the cooking but, is there a problem?"

Loney's patience had run out, so he pointed out, "now I have confirmed that you are lying to me. Why do you make Danica do the cooking?"

It was crystal clear to Mabel that Loney found her out. Her body began to heat up in anxiety, as her pores opened up with beads of sweat forming on her forehead. This is the worst. She deciphered that Paul must have told Loney because he didn't know that it was a secret. Now she only had to hope for what punishment Loney will impose on her. She only prayed that she wouldn't lose her job. "I'm sorry, master, but she won't eat anything I prepare for her. She has allergies but doesn't tell me the exact things she is allergic to. The only one I know is onions but there are others she won't tell because cooking is her passion and she sees it as exercise. Please forgive me master, but I didn't mean to lie to you," Mabel's words were coated in remorse and Loney was slightly moved.

However, another conflict inscribed on Loney's mind. 'Allergies?' He couldn't believe it and it didn't seem like Mabel was making it up. He also didn't know how to handle the situation at hand. Instinctively, he asked, "What else are you hiding from me?"

Mabel shivered, "nothing, master. Cooking is the only thing she insists on doing."

Loney's mind went in reverse. "So, the food I ate the last time, she cooked it?" Loney hadn't forgotten the taste of that food. It was the most delicious he tasted, just like one from his favourite restaurant.

profession," Mabel confirmed,

back to bed,

so generous, Master. God bless your good heart," Mabel said, after letting out a breath of relief, then she asked, "but

was in deep thought and was a little startled by the question. If she had allergies, then he couldn't negotiate on it. "Unless you have a solution to her allergies," he uttered a bit

Loney went to his room to wash down. He realized that it was nearing dawn by the time he

was keeping so much he couldn't understand. A part of him wanted to ask her certain questions directly but he feared she might reject him again as she did in the past. He could only show himself to her after he was certain that

hair. He bent to kiss her cheeks and Danica turned to the side. Loney realized she was about to wake and strode out instantly. When he got to

casually but conveyed a deeper motive. Loney didn't want to drag it. He felt that Danica

that I came

"But why Loney?" 

I will be back tomorrow," Loney said, before

Loney

intended parent had come but was confused that nothing had happened. Her clothes were still intact. 'Did he leave because

time, Danica?" Paul nervously asked. He realized that if Loney had stayed

came here, didn't he?"

who are you talking

nameless man? What do you call him?" Danica was anxious. She

let it show, "I don't know

somehow, his words roused Danica's irritation, "stop lying to me Paul, I can smell his cologne.

that, it's me," Paul

"You came

lingering now emanates from me,"

smelt it in my room and it's the same around here too but it's fading.