THEME: Should I apologize?
THE MARTINS EMPIRE
Betty barged into Mrs ina Martins office without listening to the words of the secretary telling her to let her get permission from her boss. Secretary Tracy rushed out her words. “Ma’am ina.. forgive.. me. I am really sorry. I tried to –”
Mrs ina Martins silenced her. “Don’t worry about it. You can go Tracy.” Then secretary Tracy bowed her head slightly before stepping out of the office.
Mrs ina Martins looked straight at Betty. “Where are your manners, Betty?” She asked in a low tone.
“Oh! Sorry ma’am ina, I lost them the very moment you hired a new worker to work for Knox!” Betty snorted.
Mrs ina Martins shed her a small smile. “Alright please sit down and let us talk things out.” The olddy gestured to Betty to sit on the chair facing her directly.
“No.” Betty declined.
Mrs ina Martins raised her eyebrows. “Okay. If you are not going to sit and talk to me politely so why are you here?” She demanded.
“Why did you hire a new worker for Knox even after he made it clear that he doesn’t want anyone?” Betty red at the olddy.
Mrs ina Knox leaned back in the swivel chair. “And did Knoxin to you about not wanting this new worker?” She asked.
“He doesn’t have to tell me.” Betty answered.
“I know Knox won’t tell you such a thing. And why are you concerned about this new worker? From what I can remember Betty, you never cared about them.” Mrs ina Martins said.
“Things are different now.” Betty folded her arms across her chest.
“What is –” Mrs ina paused. She thought for a second and realization struck her almost immediately. “Oh I see…” The olddy mumbled.
“What do you see?” Betty eyed her suspiciously.
And Mrs ina busted intoughter.
“What’s so funny?” Betty asked angrily. Fury crashed over her.
“Are you jealous of the new worker?” Mrs ina asked as herughter still lingered on the surface.
“Jealous?” Betty repeated and let out a snort too.
“Yes, you are jealous that she is beautiful. And you are concerned that she might capture my son’s heart.”
Mrs ina expressed her realization which seems to be true.
Betty couldn’t say anything. “How did you find out about her?” Mrs ina questioned.
“I won’t tell you. And what do you mean by the new maid capturing your son’s heart?” Betty questioned frantically as her hand dropped to her side.
“Well it is just something you couldn’t achieve for years. But I have a strong feeling that Eretia will do better.” The olddy said with confidence in her tone.
Betty eyes widened in surprise. “What?! But you told me that I was going to marry Knox no matter what and I have been waiting for years now.” She blurted out.
“Betty, I think you got everything wrong. Let me ask you this question, is Knox truly in love with you?” Mrs ina asked.
“You said he loves me.” Betty mumbled.
“I said he loves you? Well maybe I assumed that my son loves, you even kissed him on his birthday which made me believe that you guys might have something together. But did you ask Knox about his feelings? Does he love you?” Mrs ina asked.
Betty couldn’t give the right answers but one thing was certain, Knox Martins doesn’t love her. And as a matter of fact, he doesn’t believe in love.
Tears welled up in her eyes. “Why are you doing this to me? I wanted to give up on him but you begged me not to –”
The olddy interrupted her. “You are wrong, Betty. Have you forgotten the deal?”
“What deal?” Betty asked with a furrowed eyebrows.
“Deal of making Knox fall in love with you. I told you that if you seed then I won’t oppose your marriage to him. And you also promised to help me talk to him in return. You promised to bring us back together but what happened? You failed at everything, Betty.” Mrs ina Martins stood up from the chair.
“I still kept working on your career. I didn’t give up on you hoping that someday you would win his heart and help reunite us. But you were only concerned about your love for him that you neglected your promises to me and my emotions of wanting to be close to my son again.” She said with a serious look on her face. But her voice was so calm as usual.
“I can’t believe this..” Betty muttered.
“The terms in the deal was so clear but you failed from the very beginning.” Mrs ina Martins sounded so resigned.
“So you think she can win his heart?” Betty asked as she reached out to wipe the single tear that has strayed down her cheeks.
“My deal with Eretia is not about winning Knox heart. It is about reconciling me with my son and.. maybe to also show him what loves means. And I really hope that Knox will experience a true love thates from the heart and without pretense.” The olddy let out a sigh.
More tears streamed down Betty’s eyes.
“Should I apologize to you?” Mrs ina Martins asked.
They heard a knock on the door before Betty could give her response.
“Come in.” Mrs ina Martins said.
She expected to see Tracy but Knox walked in.
Knox furrowed his eyebrows when he saw Betty. “Good afternoon, olddy.” He greeted.
Mrs ina Martins stood up from the chair and went to her son. “Oh son! How are you doing?” She asked.
“I am fine.” He replied with no smile on his face
Betty Lawson wiped her face while Mrs ina shook her head and went back to the swivel chair.
“When did you get here?” Knox asked Betty.
“Not quite long.” Betty mumbled.
“Wait.. Betty was at your office right?” Mrs ina Martins asked.
“Yes.” Knox replied.
Of course that’s how Betty found out about the new worker at Knox’s home. Knox dropped a brown envelope on the table.
“What -”
He interrupted his mom’s words “The payment of the clothes I bought at the mall. Thedy at the desk refused it.”
“I gave the order son. I told them not to take a penny for everything you bought.” Mrs ina Martins replied.
Knox shook his head in disagreement. “I am working so hard to grow my agency.”
“Listen son, you don’t have to work so hard. I have enough money and I want to help you.” Mrs ina said seriously.
“No, I don’t need your money and the help you can offer to me. The mall is a business so I should for pay everything I bought.” He tapped on the brown envelope and passed it to his mom.
“Yes I know it is a business but you seem to have forgotten that it is all yours.” Mrs ina Martins countered.
Knox shook his head. He knew right from time that it won’t be easy convincing his mom to take the money. “How on earth did you find out I was at the mall?”
“Eretia told me when I called this morning.” Mrs ina replied.
“She did?” Knox raised his eyebrows.
Betty felt left out in the conversation but she was clearly listening to them.
“Yes.. and are you getting along well?” Mrs ina questioned.
“Why do you want to know?” Knox tucked his hands into his pocket.
“I am just curious. I am a bit surprise that you didn’t call me the first day she showed up at your doorstep and up till now.” Mrs ina Martin replied with a shrug.
“I am kicking her out of my house very soon.” Knox spat.
“Come on son, don’t be too harsh on the poordy. She is just trying to make a living.” Mrs ina Martins sat back on the chair.
“Well I might pity her. But you have to ept this money and I’ll let her stay.” Knox stated.
The olddy looked up at her son and she reached out for the envelope immediately.
“Well.. I n to pay double of the money you offered her and more by the end of the week.” Knox informed her trying to prove to his mom that he might have possibly tricked her to believing that he would let the new worker stay at his ce.
“She won’t ept it. Eretia is so much different from the other women I have hired, Knox.” The olddy seemed to have so much confidence in Eretia which made Betty envious.
Betty could tell something wasn’t right. The Knox Martins she knew wouldn’t bargain with his mom when ites to stuffs like this. He has always hated the women hired to work for him but this is different. He seemed calm about this new worker.
And without thinking Betty blurted out. “Are you in love with your maid?”
Knox turned to look at her with a scrunched up face. “What makes you think I am in love with her?” He asked.
“You don’t like people invading your privacy. You don’t like sharing your things with people. So howe you are so calm about this new maid? She should be out of your ce by now.” Betty responded.
“She is my personal assistant.” Knox corrected.
“Oh that’s trash. She is just a maid! And calling a maid your personal assistant is way out of your style.”
Betty spat.
“I hired her to do both jobs.” Mrs ina said.
Betty looked straight at the olddy. “Whatever! Have a nice time with your trashy maid!” She carried her bag and made her way to the door.
Anger crashed over Knox and he clenched his fists. He decided to defend the maid. “She is not a trash. Her name is Eretia and she is worth more than you are, Betty Lawson.”
Mrs ina gasped in shock. She didn’t expect those words from her son.
“What?!” Betty jaw dropped and she turned to look at him.
Mrs ina got out of the chair immediately and went to him. “Knox–”
“Have I said anything wrong?” His frown deepened. Knox hated the fact that Betty looked down on Eretia.
“Listen Knox–” He jerked free from his mom’s grip.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“I have to stop this nonsense now. Don’t let us pretend to her anymore.” Knox looked at Betty.
“What are you talking about?” Betty asked with a confused look on her face.
Knox went to where she stood. “I don’t love you, Betty and I never did. And like I said before I also can’t love you.” When he figured that Betty couldn’t put her words together due to shock from his words and then he walked out of the office.
Betty was furious. “I can’t take this anymore.” She gritted and looked at the olddy. “You will pay for humiliating me like this, Mrs ina Martins.” She grounded out and stormed out of the office.
Betty Lawson made a promise to herself that she would make both mother and son pay for causing her pain. She won’t let things go just like that.
“No one hurts Betty and gets away with it.” She grimaced.