Chapter 3 Maya's POV

Chapter 3

Maya's pov

Good things never last...but I thought this would.

little lingering looks, trivial touches and cautiously catching each other's eyes.

All these made every tiresome day easier to get through, and at night, He'd sneak into my room for passionate nights.

But eventually I got greedy.

"What were you and Madeline laughing about this evening?" I said.

He grunted, fishing his arm from under my head and sitting up on the bed.

"Where's this coming from?"

I sat up as well.

"It looked like a pretty good joke with the way both of you were cackling,"

He raised an eyebrow.

"You're acting off, what does it matter what we were talking about?"

I gritted my teeth, "Fine! What do I care?"

I threw off my paper thin blanket, shifting to the edge of the bed with my back facing him and my legs on the cold wooden floor.

"Ugh, what was I even expecting? Everybody chooses her...they always do. Why did I think you would be different?"

He came over crouching in front of me.

"I don't like when you talk like this...do you think I would be coming here every night...risking so much if I didn't want you?"

My chest tightened.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why is it a risk for you to be seen with me? Why are we always sneaking around to see each other?!"

"Maya,"he paused.

"...you're being too loud..." he said, taking his eyes to the door and my anger bubbled up.

"This is exactly what I'm talking about! Just leave before I scream at the top of my voice!"

His eyes widened, then he bit his bottom leg, grabbed his clothes that was scattered all over the floor, slipping them on quickly and leaving without looking back once.

I sighed, burying my face in my open palms.

That night, I didn't sleep a wink.

However, it wasn't long after our fight that I found myself under the sheets with him again.

I was still angry with the secrecy of our relationship.

But they say the patient dog eats the fattest bone...he said he wanted me so maybe he was just thinking of how he would break the news to Madeline.

This was what I thought until the truth finally exploded in my face.

I was cleaning up my father's office, and in the past couple of weeks more maids had submitted their resignation letters.

Of course I had to pick up after them.

Madeline walked in while I was cleaning.

"Isn't Dad here?" She said as I plucked out one of the books from the hospital shelf.

"Unless he managed to cramp himself into a corner, I honestly doubt it."

She laughed, and I stared at her.

We wore the exact face, yet why was she the only one glowing?

"Did you also come here to see him?"

I pointed at a mop bucket at the foot his mahogany desk and she sighed.

"Oh." She said, "... The headmaid

told me you had volunteered to take on some extra chores since all the maids are quitting."

Yeah sure, I *volunteered*.

"I really wish I could help, too bad I'm just so hopeless when it comes to chores."

My fingers tightened around the wooden handle of the duster.

"Didn't you say you were looking for Dad?"

"I was...but I thought that maybe I could keep you company an-"

"Don't worry, it'll only be a distraction, and I have other chores to take care of."

I grabbed the mop bucket then she suddenly swiped it from my hand.

"Then let me fetch you some water!"

"No, Madeline..." I shook my head. " You don't have to do that."

"I want to, don't worry I'll be back in a jiffy!"

She was out the door before I could let out another word.

"Ah, Madeline..." I crashed on an available chair.

She's always doing too much.

She always excelled in everything else, now she wouldn't even let me keep my worth even in this menial work?

And she can't even stop herself from hovering over a man that isn't hers!

I slammed my clenched fist on the desk just as the door cracked open. My head spun around,there was no way she had actually managed to do that so fast.

"Maya..."

His sweet scent caressed my senses before I even heard his voice.

"Barry."

He closed the door behind him, and in the blink of an eye he lifted me like a feather placing me on the desk after sweeping off everything that was on its surface.

"It's been a while...." His voice was horse as he worked on the buttons on my top.

"I thought I was going nuts..."

Eventually he grew frustrated, grabbed the fabric at both sides and sent buttons flying in different directions.

"Remember what you promised me last time?" He said with a hungry look in his eyes as he massaged my chest with one hand and expertly fiddled with his belt until he released the leather and his pants pooled at his feet.

"I...I do..." I said, my throat dry.

"But I've been thinking about it a..and well..."

The smile on his face evaporated.

"I can't do this without your consent, you already agreed so why are you backing off now?"

His eyebrows furrowed and he pulled his hand from my chest.

"Ugh, you're such a wet blanket!"

"Please understand...we can do it later, but I just don't feel comfortable no-"

"Enough! All you do is make excuses if it had been Madeline the-"

His face bleached.

"What did you just say?"

I reached out to grab the collar of his shirt, he just slapped my hand away.

"Get off my back, Maya!"

"I won't until you tell me what you mean!"

I jumped off the desk, grabbing him in moments, we were both on the floor.

"Have you lost your mind?!"

"You'll know if you don't tell me the truth!"

"Maya..Barry?"

We had been so distracted earlier we didn't notice when she walked back in swinging the mop bucket.

"What's going on?"