His Housemaid

Chapter 19

I ended up spending the weekend at Ian's house. Now, before you start blabbering on and on about safety and stranger danger, let me just say that I'm still alive.

Marianna, Mrs Lancaster was so accommodating and friendly. We binge watched a lot of series, shopped and even went to the spa. She convinced me to get blue highlights in my hair and I really loved it.

So here I am now, with black hair streaked with royal blue, cute acrylic nails and a whole lot of clothing and accessories I probably wasn't going to wear.

Currently, I was fretting about how Justin's parents are going to ground me for not informing them off my whereabouts.

I was so dead.

"What's wrong, Pookie?"

I wrinkled my nose at the name.
Marianna had resulted to calling me these weird nicknames over the weekend and oh, are they horrible. Names like Pookie bear, Snookie, Cookie and Hearty.

I really tried but the names made me sick in the stomach everytime. I think she just does that because of my reactions after her actions.

"I forgot to inform Kevin I was staying over..."

"That explains why there are police cars in front of the house." She said in deep thought.

I shot out of my seat and clutched her hand in fear.

"Am I going to jail?? Or juvie?? Oh, I'm too young for this!"

She burst into laughter and fell on the sofa. I stared at her in confusion because I wasn't seeing anything funny with this.

"Relax Pookie, I'm just kidding."

She said and continued laughing.

Angrily, I grabbed one of the sofa pillows and approached her.

Her eyes widened and she stretched out her hands.

"Now wait a minute Pookie, let's deal with this like adults, okay? We can talk over tea and biscuits and settle this."

"Too bad, I'm not an adult."
I said, grinning.

I screamed and run towards her making her roll off the sofa to escape me and started running around the house.

I have to admit though, she could run. I stopped immediately I saw Ian recording. Marianna hid behind Ian and I glared at her.

I burst into laughter when Ian pushed her in front and run away.

I did manage to catch her but I was exhausted by then so we just laughed it off and rested for a while.

Soon, it was time to go. Marianna offered to drop me off. Actually, she didn't offer, she imposed it on me.

So, I accepted. I mean, who in their right minds will reject a free ride.

Soon, we were packed in their driveway.

"So ... Who goes in first?"

I asked because I was so not ready to face Layla's wrath.

"Relax Chookie, I got you."
Marianna reassured me whiles she was on her phone.

"Okay, we can go in now."

With that, I got out of the car and followed her. When we entered, Layla and Kevin were seated at the hall waiting for us.

I hid behind Marianna who smiled at my theatrics but still left me to sit beside Layla. I was left standing there alone with no idea what to do.

"I hope you had fun, Nicolette?"
Layla asked.

"Uhh..."
I didn't know whether she was angry or ...

Marianna whispered something to Layla and they both chuckled and looked in my direction. I was red and burning because of the three pairs of eyes fixed on me.

"You can go to your room Nicolette. We'll call you when you're needed."

I smiled at Layla and headed off to my room.

I met Justina on my way who started at me with wide eyes and a large smile.

"Woah, Nicolette. What did you do to your hair. You look so cool!"

I blushed slightly and explained to her what actually happened.

"Can we do same for me?"

I laughed at her request and touched her shoulder affectionately.

"Later, okay?"

"Promise?"

"Pinky promise."
I locked my little finger and thumb with hers and she hugged me before rushing off. I smiled and headed to my room.

I completed my assignments and I was about to my read a book when I heard a knock on my door.

It was Layla. She was smiling so I guessed I wasn't getting grounded.

She sat on my bed and patted the space beside her. I got up from my study table and sat beside her with a sheepish smile.

"I am not being grounded, am I?"

I asked just to be on the safer side.

She laughed before shaking her head with a smile. I smiled at that and felt myself relax fully.

"I just want to ask you some questions. Don't think too much about it and just answer them honestly, okay?"

I nodded and turned to face her fully.

"Do you know any of your immediate family members or have any knowledge of them?"

"No, I don't. Is there a problem?"

She thought for a moment before nodding slowly.

"There's no problem, sweetie. Just, keep your mind open, okay?"

I nodded and with that she gently patted my hair and left.

That was weird...
I silently left my room and followed her.

I hid and watched as she sat beside Kevin and held his hand. She was silent for a moment before she leaned into him and whispered something to him. Kevin wrapped his arms around Layla who in turn turned and buried her face in his chest.

Her shoulders moved a bit and she -- was she crying? I felt uneasy as I tried to think of why she'd cry.

Did I do something wrong?

After a while, she calmed down and turned to face Marianna.

"I'm sorry, Anna. I couldn't do it. I j--ju--just couldn't. I tried but I--I..."

Kevin drew her back into his arms and she started crying again. Now, that was bad. I silently retreated to my room but I couldn't help fretting over what had just happened.