C10 Madam Xi

"You even look better than you sounded over the phone," Jack complimented her and she blushed evidently.

"Thank you Sir," she whispered with an intriguing smile.

Jack found himself craving time with her. There was something enchanting about her presence and her carriage. She was too poised for a waitress.

She placed his order carefully on the table and stood beside him.

"I will take my leave now, sir. If there's anything else, please use my number."

"I will use this number from now henceforth and I will make sure all my friends use it as well. You deserve all the points in the world; with your striking features and your sonorous voice."

"Thank you Sir," Rosemary chuckled. "I do appreciate these nice comments. I will keep your promise in mind."

Jack smiled at her.

"Would you like to have lunch with me? Different location, at your convenience?"

Rosemary thought for a while and then nodded.

"This is against our employee policy here. But, we can."

"I promise I won't get you into any kind of trouble," Jack winked at her. She smiled warmly and left him.

Jack turned around to get a view of her as she disappeared down the stairs.

"She is quite a beauty," he muttered to himself.

<<<<<<>>>>>>

XI VILLA

The evening breeze lets itself in through the window blinds, causing them to move gently.

Rowan is lying on his bed, going through his phone. He has sought pictures of his one- night-stand lady, whom he thinks is Mabel. He does not find any clue about her. He does see some Facebook pictures of Mabel but their faces are different from hers.

While he is at it, he hears a voice down the corridor and recognises it as his mother's.

"Why is he already locked up inside at this early hour? Is he alright, Anna?"

"Damn it mother!" Rowan breathed.

His mother always visited unannounced and her visits usually put him in an edgy state. He pulled his sheets above his head, trying to act as though he had been long since sleeping, but Mrs Lan Lin was not one to give up easily.

Her persistent knocks and calls were disturbing and Rowan knew the only freedom he could get was to stand up and let her in.

He quickly pulled down the sheets and grudgingly walked to the door. He unlocked it and his mother pushed open the door and stepped in angrily.

"Why did you take so long to let me into your room, Rowan? Did you not miss me?" She bemoaned.

Rowan looked at her with frustration.

"Why would you not let me have a simple rest, mother? I had a hectic day at work. You know I have been away for quite some time. A lot had to be put in place."

"And that is another point you just raised there," she added, walking further into the room and planting herself on his couch. "You do realize you have been in town for at least 48 hours and did not bother to pay your mother a visit? Did you not miss me?" She hinted with disappointment etched on her face.

"Urgh…mother," Rowan drawled. "We talked almost everyday for the past four years, even until a few hours ago."

Rowan moved onto his mattress and got back on it, pulling up his bed covers.

"Is everything alright son? You do not look like your usual self."

"I am alright mum. I just had a few challenges at work but they have been addressed."

"I'd like to know more about these challenges because, whatever it was, it seemed to have eaten deep into you."

Rowan put his face in his palm. His mother's inquisition was getting him exhausted.

But he could not afford to ignore her; Mrs Lan Lin would never take 'no' for an answer.

"Well, I had a situation. About four years ago, I met a lady whom I thought I could have something with. So, I brought her home to this villa and left her here."

"Yeah…yeah, I think I met her once or twice!" Mrs Lan Lin interjected. "Although, I don't quite remember her face because I did not like her personality at all."

"Oh, you didn't?" Rowan asked with interest in the fact that his mother did not like Mabel.

"Not at all." His mother responded with persistence. "She seemed a bit too flashy and looked like a gold digger to me. I could tell that she was here because of the things she could gain." His mother persuaded him.

"Very correct Mum! You thought very correctly because she is largely the issue I had to handle at work. Her expenditures in the last four years were overboard; totally overwhelming!"

"What?" His mother queried with her eyes filled with disdain for the woman.

"So, these expenditures were funded by whom?"

"By us, mother; by our company. The painful thing was how she never called, never texted, nor did she bother to see me upon my return. I caught her at a club the day I returned and she ran away, denying knowing me. I simply did not like such stupidity."

"I hope that little wench isn't in this villa anymore, because if I see even her shadow, I am prepared to send her to jail tonight." Mrs Lan Lin was furious and fuming.

"Easy mother…, I already sent her away. She does not live here anymore. There is absolutely no way I would have let her stay longer after such intense stupidity. I am not a fool, Mum."

Mrs Lan Lin nodded excitedly.

"And which of your employees sanctioned such extravagant expenses for a total stranger? It was such a careless thing to do."

"About that, Wilson has some explaining to do," Rowan accused. "He authorized a lot of things within the Company without contacting me, just because I was away. Now, I have to start cleaning up his mess!"

Mrs Lan Lin became sober. Wilson was her son too, but he was not as bright as Rowan and he had struggled hard to become like his brother Rowan, but never seemed to get to that point where he is loved and respected as much as Rowan is.

"Take it easy Rowan," she pleaded. "He is your brother and you know how slow he is with articulation."

Rowan shook his head, disagreeing with her pleas.

"Don't mother!" He caterwauled. "Wilson needs to grow up and learn to make better decisions. So, I am going to teach him this by making him suffer the consequences of all the wrong actions he took while I was away."

"And the right ones? Will he be applauded for them?" Mrs Lan Lin asked curiously.

Rowan shook his head with a mischievous grin.

"Unfortunately, mother, there were no right actions."