Loving, Mr Waters

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

MATTHEW
"Why is this steak not cooked medium rare like the customer requested?" I shout questioning every chef in the kitchen but no one answers me instead they all murmur words I can't hear which pisses me off.
I ask giving them my best don't test me look. "Who cooked this steak?"
"Khalid, Sir." Mariah one of my chef answers and I can't hide the surprise look on my face because Khalid is one of my best chef and he hardly makes a mistake.
I demand staring at him. "Explain this meal to me."
"The customer was very rude and demanding the impossible." He answers not hiding the fact that he's not impressed by my behavior.
If we didn't share such a close relationship I'd be firing right here.
"Nothing is impossible in my restaurant and you of all people should know the customer is always right." I tell him getting more angry. "Prepare the steak exactly as the customer requested and do it immediately. I don't want to hear any more excuses."
I get out of the kitchen running into my assistant who was clearly eavesdropping.
"What are you doing here?" I shout at Richard as he shifts around not saying anything. "Do you make it your habit to eavesdrop then?"
"No, of course not boss." He answers looking like he's about to cry.
Good God, if Richard is about to cry and calls me boss then it means I've been really rude to my staff and I took out my frustrations on everyone which is not professional at all and how I treat the people I value.
"Richard." I call out to him as he's about to leave. "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for."
"No problem Mr Waters, I shouldn't have eavesdropped on your conversations."
"Yes, that was wrong but I shouldn't have used that tone with you." I tell him giving him a small smile and he nods before he says. "I just booked the trip to the Bahamas for you and told the Pilot about your trip which you will be taking on the weekend."
"Thank you Richard." I tell him expecting him to go but he doesn't. "Anything else?"
"Are you okay Mr Waters?"
I startle at his question wondering how bad I look.
I guess this is the price I'm paying for the way I handled things with my girlfriend yesterday.
Everyone in my restaurant can tell bad my mood is.
"I'm okay Richard. You can go back to work." I dismiss him and he walks away without a question. I walk back to the kitchen and clear my throat to announce my arrival and all my chefs look at me alarmed.
Honest, I don't blame them.
Once I have their full attention. "I'm sorry for shouting to all of you and taking out my frustrations on you." I smile a little. "Alright then, I guess I'll leave you to it."
I get out without further embarrassing my self and take out my phone calling Thando for God knows how many times today but she doesn't answer.
Fuck. I really fucked up for her not to answer my calls. I try again but get the same result.
I decide right then to go to her and tell her about my plan of how I wanted to be the first one to confess my love for her and how I wanted to actually plan something really special for when that day comes. I look at my watch the time reading half past four meaning Thando is either at home or at the gym. I waste no time and get inside my car driving away.
I arrive at her place first but she's not there which only leaves me with the one place I know she'll be at during the week.

I open the gym door, Thando's favorite flowers in my hands which I bought on my way here and walk inside finding one of the receptionist, Lila. Our eyes lock and I see the excitement look on her face. Yes, this is already going easy for me.
I give her one of my smiles which I reserve for the ladies and she swoons within a second.
Geez.
"Hi, Lila." I lean by the table staring into her eyes.
She plays with her blond her flattering her eyes. "Hi, Matthew. It's so good to see you again."
"You too gorgeous." I smile at her again and the poor girl reddens on spot.
"So, what brings you to our gym after so long?"
Technically its been about three months since I've been at the WeGym but I suppose since I haven't been spying on my sister and her friends for a long time it does feel like it's been long since I step foot in here.
"I'm actually looking for Thando, can you please direct me the where I can find her?"
"Oh." She says hiding her disappointment then clears her throat. "She's in the rooftop having her private session with Lucas."
"Okay, thank you so much Lila." I wink at her before ascending the never ending stairs. After an endless step climbing I arrive at the rooftop, opening the door expecting to see Thando and her personal trainer exercising but instead I find them locked in a steamy kiss. I stand there unmoving, the flowers falling off my hand and my walls closing up as I'm unable to breathe. The only thing I'm cable of doing right now is only watch as my past replays itself except this time this betrayal hurts more because it's with a woman I never in my wildest dreams thought she could betray me let alone when she knows about my past.
I guess it's true what they say about people. You never fully know a person indeed.
I must have gasped or made a voice at the back of my throat because suddenly I see Thando pushing this Lucas guy away sending him flying as our eyes find each other.
Mine are angry and hurt, hers wide eye open and panicking.
"Matthew, oh my god babe it's not what it looks like." She say walking to where I'm standing but I move back.
I don't want her anywhere near her.
"Funny, that's the exact words cheaters use when they're caught cheating."
"Cheating?" She asks shaking her head vehemently. "I promise this is not what you think it is."
I question in anger not bothering to acknowledging the stupid kid she just kissed. "Is this why you're not picking up my calls? Because you're too busy exchanging tongues with this kid."
"Alright bro, you need to mind your language." The kid speaks and to my surprise I see that he is the same guy she went on the date with when I kissed her for the first time.
I laugh unable to stop myself. How could I be so stupid to think I've found love? That someone could love me again and not betray me.
"Lucas, shut up and leave this minute." Thando tells this Lucas kid and he smirks and winks at me before leaving us.
"Why? Do you not want him to know that you're dating the both of us at the same time?" I ask my voice poisoners. Thando's tears fall down her face and she wipes them angry but I'm past caring about how she feels.
"How long have you been cheating on me?"
Fuck this hurts but I want no, I need to know how long has this been going on between them.
"I've never cheated on you Matthew, please trust me and give me a chance to explain." She pleads but I'm not up for it.
"Are you telling me you kiss people for the fun of it then?" My voice booms and she jumps. "For fucks sake Thando, you of all people know how I feel about cheaters. How can you do this to me?" I  slam the wall my heart tugging.
"You're scaring me and I'd like to leave. We can talk about this once you've calmed down, I promise."
Thando starts walking to the door but I block her path standing by the door. "It's funny how you you've constantly reminded me that you're nothing like Miranda yet here you are doing exactly what she did, except she didn't deny it."
I don't see the moment her hand connects with my cheek but I definitely feel the burn on my cheek as she slaps me hard catching me off guard.