6 If Only You Knew (Part 2)

"I'm so relieved" Mark sighed "Now we can move onto the next item" he stood up

"There's more?" Maria asked as Mark helped her up and pulled her along with him "I thought that after this, I'd head to the mansion"

"That'll happen later" Mark said as he picked up his coat at the door before putting it on and walking her out the door to his black and blue Rolls-Royce Sweptail.

"Get in" Mark said as he walked to the driver's seat and got into the car before starting it.

'Dear Lord...what have I gotten myself into' Maria thought as she sighed and got into the passenger seat before shutting the door. Mark started driving and as he got to the gate, it opened by itself and he drove out. Maria had to look back to see the gate closing itself

"It's an automated gate" Mark said "There are no servants so, some things are automated"

"Oh. Okay" Maria said as she nodded her head like a lost child

"We're here" Mark said as he came to a stop in front of a boutique. It was located in Oyster Bay, five minutes from Mill Neck. "Let's go" he said as he got turned off the car and got out.

Maria stared at the boutique for a while and sighed before getting out 'I completely forgot that Mark's an unpredictable man'. She shut the door and followed him inside.

******

As soon as they entered inside, all the staff greeted them while standing to the side.

The store was lined with several clothing brands. Bags, shoes, belts, jewelry, and a whole lot of other stuff her mind couldn't keep up with. Maria's eyes were looking around the boutique in awe. She already knew she couldn't afford any of the clothes....unless they were up for donation.

"Hook her up with whatever suits her best" Mark said with a smile as he sat majestically on the waiting area sofa. He reached into his coat and brought out a black bank card "I'll pay for everything...." he paused for a while before adding "If there's anything to drink, I'd really appreciate it"

Maria stared at Mark with an inscrutable expression as she was led by her hand, into the dressing area by some female workers. She really couldn't understand him no matter how hard she tried.

After Maria disappeared with the female workers, Mark brought out his phone from his pants pocket while a male worker served him some juice. His phone had been buzzing for a while and it was starting to annoy him a bit. However, as soon as he turned on his phone and unlocked it, he felt no reason to be angry as he could guess the other party had more reasons than him, to be furious.

On Mark's phone, the name 'Gabriel Wayne' sat next to the words 'thirty-six missed calls'. Once again, Mark's phone began to buzz and the caller ID stated, it was still Gabriel Wayne.

"I almost forgot about you" Mark mumbled as he stared at his phone, before putting it on aeroplane mode "I don't have the strength to handle your fury right now. Maybe....I should have asked for permission instead of leaving that note on your desk". He thought for a while before completely powering down his phone, and placing it back in his pocket.

'I have other important things to handle right now' Mark thought as he brought out another phone from his pocket and used his fingerprint to unlock it. The phone opened up and displayed several pictures. It was clear he was on his gallery.

His gallery was arranged in folders that had the names of different people. Moving down, he found a folder titled 'Page' and clicked on it. Moving down the pictures in the folder, there was one he clicked on.

The picture was divided in half by a thick black line and had two women with different temperaments on it. On one side, a woman with pure-diamond blond hair, sea blue eyes, pink bow-shaped lips and porcelain skin, smiled warmly and had a calm look in her eyes. While, on the other side, a woman with ruby fusion hair, hazel eyes, pink kissable heart-shaped lips and ivory skin, had a coy expression on her face with eyes that spoke volumes of danger behind her beauty.

The picture also had the name of the two women under it. The blonde had 'Maria McKinley' written under her picture while the other had 'Helen Ashley' written under hers.

Mark had a complicated expression as he stared at the picture with a heavy heart.

"I wonder....what type of life the two of you lived" Mark said "What type of hardships did the two of you go through...." his voice faded at the ending 'And have both of you been together all this time?' he turned off his phone and put it back in his pocket when he heard someone coming 'I've found Maria and I've confirmed it's the same person in the picture. But is the Helen that's with Maria, the same?' at that time, the phone in his pocket began to buzz

"I thought I turned it off" Mark murmured as he brought out another phone. It was different from the other two and was Mark's business phone. The screen had Gabriel's full name on it and at the top, it showed four missed calls. 'I wonder why you're calling me. It's not like there's something happening in that boring office, that you can't handle alone ' he thought as he placed his phone on aeroplane mode and put it back in his pocket before taking a swig of his juice

******

Meanwhile, At Wayne Corp,

Gabriel was seated on the presidential seat of the company. One could tell by the veins on his arms and him continuously tapping his fingers on his desk, that he was furious and only one step away from crushing the phone in his hand. He was clearly making a call to someone but that certain someone, had continuously sent him to voicemail.

Once again, his call was sent to voicemail and he tossed his phone on the table.

"The CFO didn't pickup, did he?" a man asked. He had reddish blonde hair cut in a side fringe, brown eyes hidden behind a pair of round glasses, and a robust statue which made him look a bit short. He wore a grey tailored suit and sat opposite Gabriel with the name tag 'Jerry Atkins' pined to his breast pocket.

Gabriel was annoyed when he heard this and picked up his phone to call Mark again. Just then, his personal assistant, Janet Cain, walked into the office with a folder to her chest.

"Master Wayne, I've got someone looking into it now" Janet reported before dropping the folder in her hand, on his desk "A large amount of money was transferred from the company to someone's account. And we are lacking in funds. The emergency bank account we own, has also been emptied" she stood straight to the side

Gabriel picked up the folder and dropped his phone. He compared the folder he had to the folder he received from Jerry Atkins. The reports were the exact same thing and all Gabriel could do was snicker and drop the two folders on his desk before picking up his phone and tapping on the same number.

Except, this time, he wasn't calling but leaving a voice message

"Mark, I have no idea what you're doing, but I need your help" Gabriel started "It's been several years since someone last tried to swindle me. And another unfortunate rat is trying their luck today. Once you're done with whatever it is you're doing, come back and help me solve this problem" he sighed before adding "This person really played their cards well. Once they're found out, make their lives a living nightmare" he ended the voice message at that and dropped his phone after sending it.

He calmly relaxed in his seat and a devilish smile spread across his face

"The two of you may leave" he said "This matter will be settled before the end of the day. Call back all out workers outside and make sure nobody leaves the company until I say so"

"Understood, Sir" Janet and Jerry said, before leaving Gabriel's office

******

Back at the boutique,

Mark had just finished his juice and had asked for some shortcake. He'd taken a glace at a couple of clothes and shoes Maria had tried on. Now, there were several bags with the boutique's logo, sitting with Mark in the waiting area.

He hadn't dared to check the bags despite his relationship with her. He was a man that valued others privacy but became nosey when he was too curious. In this case, he could already guess what was inside just by shaking the bag.

After finishing the shortcake, a male worker came out and cleared the table. Thinking that Gabriel had calmed down on the calling, Mark removed his phones from his pockets, turned on his personal phone and removed his business phone from aeroplane mode, before setting it on the table.

His personal phone finished booting after some time and he also removed it from aeroplane mode. As soon as he did that, another missed call from Gabriel, along with a voice message, displayed on his notification bar.

'Again?' Mark wondered before tapping on the voice message. After listening to its contents, he clutched his phone really hard before releasing his grip. He then picked up his other phone; the one that had mostly pictures, and called someone.

"Co..."

"Find out the person who's plotting against Gabriel inside the company and send the documents to me" Mark cut off the other person and hanging up, he placed the phone into his pocket before returning back to his personal phone and sending a message to Gabriel

[Call for a meeting with the directors around two. I'll be there before you know it]. Afterwards, he dropped his other phones into his pocket.

"Mr Page..." a female worker called out to him and when he looked up, he was dazed "...she's ready" the worker said while gesturing to Maria

Maria was dressed in a white lace shift dress, with blue hot pants underneath, and white Nike sneakers. Her hair was pulled back and braided into a low dutch bun. And the light gloss on her lips, completely tied her new look together and brought out her beauty and figure.

Mark nodded like it was nothing, "You have wonderful family genes" he said and Maria wanted to hide under a rock. Everybody in the boutique was looking at her like a rare species of human being. But she had to keep herself calm and composed.

"How much is everything?" Maria asked as she scanned the room and saw fifty bags with the boutique's logo, littered next to Mark

"Don't worry about that" Mark said as a male worker handed back his black bank card to him while three others moved the bags "I've already paid for them" he said casually as he put the bank card into his pocket and stood up straight. He turned to one of the workers "Send it to the address I gave you. My butler, Frank, will handle everything else" he said before taking Maria by the hand "Now, we can head to the mansion" he said as he led her out of the boutique

"Wait, Mark" Maria said as she stopped in front of the boutique and tugged her hand out of his, which surprised him

'She's surprisingly strong and the look in her eyes have changed' Mark thought as he also stopped and rested on his car. "Is something the matter?" he asked while trying to hide his confusion

"I'm just lost as to why you're doing this for me" Maria said rather calmly "My mind's really confused. I'm meant to be cautious but...I just...don't understand anymore"

Hearing this, Mark wanted to hold her hand or at least say something to her. However....

'I've got to keep it from you until I find Helen' he reminded himself before saying "I don't really spend money on people I don't trust. I'm leaving my kids in your hands" he opened the door to the passenger seat and smiled "And I've spent money on you. Doesn't that mean I trust you and whoever you relate with?" he added and she stared blankly at him as he walked to the other side of the car "You trusted me and now, I'm trusting you. Is there anything wrong with that?"

Maria silently got into the car and Mark did the same before they both shut the door and he started the car and drove off. It only took a few minutes before they were back in Mill Neck and in front of the Page mansion.

The car ride back, was incredibly silent. Even as Maria got out of the car and shut the door, no words were spoken between the two.

"My boss wants to bite off my ear with his constant calling" Mark said while breaking the silence "Vivian has already gone to work and will be back by five. So I'll be off....if anything comes up, just call me"

"Mark...." Maria started and when he looked at her, she smiled "...thanks for everything. I'm sorry I doubted you" she said before moving away from the car and walking through the black and gold gates of the Page mansion.

Mark stared at her until she was far away. He clenched the steering and rested his head on it. 'Oh heavens, this is total torture' he thought as he banged his head on the wheel before sitting up and driving away from the mansion.

******

Inside the Page mansion,

Maria gently opened the door and walked in. The house wasn't at all silent. She could hear the shouting of Dan and Cia, the crying of Kali and could see the servants running around the house; trying to get things under control.

"Miss Maria?" she heard someone call out to her. And when she looked to the side, she saw Maid Alina with some....food stuck to her and Kali crying hysterically. "What are you doing here?" she asked while rocking Kali back and forth

Maria walked over to Maid Alina and took Kali from her

"Mark said you needed some help" Maria explained as she lightly patted Kali on the back and Kali's cry turned into a sniffle "Where's Dan and Cia?" she asked

"Come with me" Maid Alina said while leading Maria to the living area

"What happened here?" Maria asked. There was water on the floor, food on the walls and servants that were trying to clean it all up.

"It's what usually happens here, when you're with the young master and young mistress" Maid Alina said "Master Mark and Madam Vivian want the children to develop people skills so they can be sent to school. So, they hired nannies to act as their guides and tutor them. No nannies means the staff has to tutor them...but, they dislike being tutored or guided by anyone who isn't their parents. And well....this is the result of what happens after"

"But they shouldn't be doing this around the baby" Maria said

"They've been only children for the passed seven years of their lives. They have no sense of responsibility, whatsoever" Maid Alina said as she finally opened the door to the living area

Dan and Cia were yelling at each other and food was splattered on their faces

Maria let out a loud whistle which made the two children stop in their tracks and looked at her

"Aunty Maria?" Dan and Cia exclaimed in surprise

"Can you two explain to me why you're doing all this?" Maria asked "You know what, forget it. I don't even want to know the reason" she said

"Apologize to everyone and go get cleaned up. When you're done, bring out your books and show me where your last nanny stopped in tutoring you" she ordered

"Um....are you our nanny now?" Dan asked as he stood in front of Maria with Cia by his side

"I am. But, I'll explain everything later" Maria said "Now go do what you're told"

"Okay" Cia said happily as she pulled Dan with her and ran upstairs

"Those two" Maria murmured while she sat and gently rocked Kali before placing her on a stroller