Chapter 7

• So Mr. Bennett had granted me the weekend off as I requested. With the advance payment I had received from his accountant, I had rented a new house and moved in with Mami. It gladdened my heart to watch her smile, she was very grateful but I fear I could never pay her back for all she had done for me.
• Anyways, it is a new week and I am back to work. I arrived at the Bennett mansion a bit earlier than my work hours today because I hoped to see the Boss before he left for office.
• “Good Morning Sir.” I greeted when I walked into the dining room and met him there. Alex was there as well, stuffing his mouth with food.
• “Sophie, welcome.” He replied coldly.
• He called me by my first name; I will take it that he is in a good mood today.
• “Oh is that the new maid?” I heard a feminine voice utter as she walked out from the kitchen, carrying a tray of snacks.
• Maid? Did she just call me a maid? Okay, now I know how Leah felt when I called her that.
• “The Babysitter, Yes,” Mr. Bennett replied, turning from her to me.
• I stood there gawking at him, hoping for an introduction- a proper introduction. Who was this red haired lady? A relative? All I could tell was that I already disliked her.
• “Oh,” he muttered when I wouldn’t stop staring. “Natalie, meet Sophie, and Miss Miller, please meet my girlfriend.” He spoke casually.
• I felt my heart dip when he announced that. Did he say girlfriend? He had a girlfriend?
• I don’t know why I felt so uncomfortable after hearing that, I dare say hurt even. But why would I be hurt? What do I care if he has a girlfriend? I am not jealous, right? I don’t even like men!
• Okay, that came out wrong. I am not gay, I just think men are annoying and too full of themselves.
• “I asked you a question, Miss.” That annoying voice called me back to attention.
• “Oh sorry, did you say something?” I muttered in confusion and Natalie stared at me in disbelief.
• Mr. Bennett chuckled, like making fun of me. “Don’t stress yourself, she is always like that, forgetting herself like a grandma with dementia.”
• I clenched my fist on hearing that, I couldn’t believe he would say that about me, especially in front of his so-called girlfriend. Fuck you Ethan Bennett!! I only wish I could yell that out loud.
• “So why is she still hired?” Natalie queried.
• “Oh, Alex likes her, as long as he approves, she stays.” Mr. Bennett said softly as he slowly stood up.
• “Are you leaving already?” Natalie asked.
• “Yes babe, I need to get to the company, I have a meeting to attend.” He replied, then he walked to her and kissed her.
• I felt my stomach churn in disgust at the sight of that. Couldn’t he have not done that?
• “Okay baby, please don’t stress too much, let your assistant handle the whole thing, it is what she is paid for.” Natalie said proudly.
• I huffed. Such ego? They were fit for each other.
• Mr. Bennett pecked his boy before leaving the dining room. I waited till he had crossed the door and when Natalie wasn’t looking, I went after him.
• He was outside the main door when I caught up with him. “Sir Ethan, if you don’t mind.” I called out.
• He sighed. “Not today, Sophie.”
• “It is about Ethan.” I said and he quickly paused, turning back to me with worry etched on his face.
• “Is something wrong?”
• I shook my head. “Not exactly, but I would like to take him out of the house today.”
• Ethan furrowed his eyebrows like he didn’t expect that. “Why?”
• “Well, I think he needs it.”
• “No.” Ethan stated without a stammer and turned to walk away.
• “Why not?” I asked immediately and he paused again, turning back to face me. “I said the boy needs it, he has been locked in for months, at least so I have heard. The boy needs to leave the corners of this building every now and then, he is lonely and isolated. He needs fresh air, he needs a new environment even if only for a few hours, he needs to have fun outside of here.”
• “Why must it be outside of here? He has everything he needs here, a recreational park, swimming pool, game house.” Ethan argued.
• “You don’t understand, Sir. he is a child, his mind is still young, he needs to explore, he needs a different serenity, that is the only way he learns to be open. You hardly let him out of the mansion, he only sees the same few people everyday, he doesn’t even attend schools as you put him through house lessons, it is almost like he is a prisoner and this would affect his growth.” I explained.
• Mr. Bennett groaned, a frown on his face as he stepped closer to me. “Miss Miller, are you saying that you know better than me how to raise my child?” he queried.
• I swallowed hard, fighting not to submit. “That is not what I am implying Sir, I am only giving you my observation. I am his babysitter, at least for the past one week. I have spent more time with him than you have, I am only giving you an additional pair of eyes because you are too busy to see it. The boy is suffocated, he needs to go outside.”
• “You have got some nerve speaking to me in that tone, Miss Miller. Again, do your job, leave the rest to me. He is my son, not yours.” Ethan uttered with a stern face, before he walked to his car where his driver was already waiting for him.
• I sighed and shook my head. He is stubborn for sure, but so was I, and if he kept refusing, then I would take the child outside without his permission, I swear it!
• I walked back into the house and met Natalie standing with her hands folded, Alex was still there at the dining table.
• “Where did you go?” she demanded.
• I had to first look behind to see if she was speaking to someone else, turns out it was me.
• “I went to see the Boss,” I answered truthfully.
• “And may I know why?”
• I stood there confused, why did she look mad? And why was I being interrogated?
• TBC!!