The Royal Contract

They were not monsters but the two associates of her father. But she believed they might be the devil themselves. Nevertheless, today, she had a wonderful but tiring dream.

In her dream, she was running happily with Gerald and their son. She did not see Gerald’s face but assumed he was that man. But her son was a replica of his father. His features were the younger version of the man she loved.

“I hope you look like your father,” Haley whispered as her fingers made a circular pattern on her belly.

Although she had not seen the results of her test yet, they would not know the sex of her son in a couple of months. However, it seemed her consciousness had already decided that she would have a boy.

But whether it was a boy or a girl, she believed she would love their child the same. Even though Gerald never said love, she knew that deep inside, he loved her.

And she conceived their child out of love.

Then, she felt the grumbling of her stomach. “I guess you are hungry.” She mumbled, slipping out of bed and preparing for the day. She could see that it was still early, judging from the sun’s rays coming from her window. She hurried, wanting to catch Imelda still cooking their breakfast. She already learned a lot from her, not only cooking but also cleaning and doing the laundry. If she had to live in exile and away from her father’s prying eyes, she had to maintain a low profile.

That means no more luxurious housing and maids to do all her chores. Then, she had to find a job that her father would not pick up on his radar. But to accomplish all this, she needed Mike’s help again.

.....

“Hi, Imelda.” She greeted the woman that was busy working in the kitchen, but her eyes scanned the rest of the place, looking for her friend. “Have you seen Mike?” She finally asked when she did not see a glimpse of his shadow.

She looked beyond the window, but he was still out of sight. She noticed earlier when she passed the living room that his car key was on the side table where he usually left it unless he had other cars that he used to go out.

“I saw him earlier in the garden,” Imelda told her that Mike loved to work with his hands. She also learned he would lift dirt and toil on the land to break a sweat rather than go to the gym to work out.

“Did he already have his breakfast?” Haley asked the older woman as she stood from the stool and strode near the window.

“Nope. Mike went out early today. He said he had things to do.” Imelda informed her.

“I think I will visit the garden and check if he is hungry so we can have breakfast together.” She told her. Then, she strode to the back door, but not before grabbing a tasty toasted bread. She was starving and could not wait for later.

She leisurely walked along the pathway. She only explored the garden nearby the house but could see the entire estate was massive. She noticed two security men by the gates, which she believed was nothing out of the ordinary in a house this big.

At least, it was not the same in their house, where her father seemed to have an army of men. Now, she understood his reason. It appeared that her father was living a double life that she did not know.

“Mike...” She called out once in the garden but found no one there until the gardener showed up behind a large bush.

He slightly frightened her, but she quickly recovered, remembering seeing him before. He was not a bad-looking man, but the large scar on his face somehow made her feel uneasy.

Then, she recalled that he was working with Imelda’s husband in tending to the garden. Imelda said that the scar was due to some accident. But he was a good man. If Mike trusted him to work in his home, she guessed she had nothing to fear from him.

“I am sorry, Miss.” The man in a gardener’s uniform, carrying a spade and pale in his two hands, spoke to her. “But Sir Mike is not here.” He shrugged his shoulder when she asked whether he knew where he went.

She looked at the large area covering the place and debated whether to explore it. But the man could be anywhere. Suddenly, she could not help but wonder if Mike owned this entire land. The house alone was huge for a single man.

She decided to return to the house and asked Imelda if she knew where Mike had gone. She was starving and would also like to discuss a few things with him before he rode off somewhere again.

“If Mike is not in the garden, he is somewhere he did not want us to find.” The woman said to her, making her raise her brow in question.

Judging from the size of this place, it could be anywhere. So, Imelda was right. It would be hard to look for him if he did not want anyone to find him. Still, would that stop her from asking questions? She did not think so.

“You said you have been working for Mike for a long time. Do you know if he bought this place or inherited it from his parents?” She asked as she took a bite of the delicious egg benedict placed in front of her.

“Did I say that? Sorry but sometimes my English could be wrong. I said I worked for this place for a long time. But Mr. Mike doesn’t own this place as far as I know. Mr. Gerald did.” Imelda told her.

She had to check her brain, wondering if she had heard her correctly. Did she say that Gerald owned this place, not Mike? She was not expecting that. It was another startling revelation.