23. WRH XII: And never to return.

Miriam made her way slowly upfront to join Maxwell. Her head was low all this while as she went, peeking from time to time at the people around. Some were happily cheering, some were clapping, some were just smiling. Others, a few of them, especially ladies, some who were Maxwell's age, had straight faces, and some were glaring daggers at her. And some were rolling their eyes at her with annoyance.

She remembered back in school, how she was treated by the rich heirs and heiresses. She couldn't help but feel bad for herself. She felt intimidated. She felt like running back. What if she slipped and fell? What if she made a mistake? 'Urgh...Maxwell! You should have told me earlier. I would have at least prepared myself for something like this.' She said inwardly as she put on a beautiful smile and lifted her head when she was just some few feet away from where Maxwell was. She needed to face this, as she had no option now.

"Thank you." Maxwell whispered to her with a broad smile when she finally closed in on him. Maxwell held her by the hand and pulled her to himself on his right side, where his dad was standing. Miriam smiled back and turned to look at Robert, who was also smiling down at her. Miriam bowed politely and turned away.

They soon cut the cake and pictures were taken as well. Maxwell fed Miriam with a piece of the cake, and she fed him back.

Meanwhile, at the side too, Edith's blood was boiling with rage. She couldn't believe what was happening. How could Maxwell let a commoner join them on the high table like this was some kind of a charity ball? And what made her angrier was the fact that she didn't see the girl doing anything to get closer to her son! It was Maxwell who seemed to be pulling her to himself all the time! Just what did he see in this commoner?

Edith made sure to invite some of her associates in business to come along with their daughters. She wanted to start introducing them to each other. Hopefully, in the near future, they could matchmake any one of them. And here he was, all over this common daughter of a cook! She felt like tearing her limb by limb before there was none of her left. Gosh! She felt so suffocated right now. She felt like leaving the scene for fresh air. She couldn't watch as his son looked so happy with such a person.

Edith excused herself and left for some wine from the bar. The guy who was there took a glass and a bottle of wine. Just when he was about to pour it for Edith, she snatched the bottle from him, an attempt that nearly caused the bottle to slip and fall. The guy reflexively yelped a little and attempted catching the bottle before it fell, but Edith held unto it tightly while glaring at the guy.

'How was this my fault? Why is the lady boss glaring at me like that?' He thought as he straightened himself with a straight face and assumed his post.

Edith poured herself some wine and gulped in one go. The guy at the bar flinched as he watched, as if he was the one who took it. He could sense some tension. He could sense anger. But who offended this tigress? And that too at a jolly ocassion like this? Tsk tsk tsk! This person must be courting death. He could only pray silently for the welfare of whoever angered the lady boss.

"Well hello, Edith."

A coquestish voice was heard from behind. Edith stilled and rolled her eyes to the left, where the voice seemed to be coming from, and closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath to regain her temperament. She resumed sipping the wine she had just poured into the glass and ignored the call, like she didn't hear it in the first place.

A slender figure was seen taking the stool next to her, with a bright smile on her face.

"I didn't know your son had grown into such a fine gentleman." The lady said and turned to the worker who had turned into a bartender for the event, ordering in an impolite tone, "Do I have to ask for a drink before I'm served?"

'Yeah, right. Another condescending bitch. Birds of the same feathers indeed flock together.' He snorted inwardly as he quickly fetched another glass and poured her some wine.

"Hi, Carmen. It's been a while." Edith now turned to the woman with a forced smile. She was not really in the mood to talk, but it seemed she had to try. Turning to her side, she said, "Hello Sierra, how are you doing?" She greeted Carmen's daughter.

"Very well, mom. Thanks for asking."

The bartender asked the young girl, about the same age as Maxwell, and she offered to take some juice, which was quickly served.

"How have you been, Edith?" Carmen asked as she swirled her wine around with the glass fixed between her thumb and index finger.

"As you can see, I am doing very well." She replied curtly. "And you? How is the wine business going?"

"Its been pretty good lately. I went to Italy recently to check on the vineyard that produces the grapes for the wine production. And I must say, it is going very smoothly."

The wine company was actually one of Edith's family business. And it was contracted to Carmen's family for ten years. And it was to be renewed if they were able to make higher profits. They gladly accepted the offer, Carmen's family, because, one, they were indebted to the Montgomery family, which was Edith's family, and two, that company was one of the best wine producers in the whole world. So they gladly accepted to work in the wine company, without any payment, for five years, in order to settle their debt. Two years after the agreement, Carmen's family worked their asses off and was able to make over five hundred percent profit, which was able to clear their debt. But as greedy as the Montgomery family was, they didn't want to accept that they've worked enough to settle their bill. They then signed a contract that they should work till the five years was up with twenty percent as their profit, and then continue for another five years with forty percent. The contract was bound to be renewed and their income percentage increased if they worked a little harder. If that was even possible. They had to agree because they had no proper work to do and the little they were making was actually very beneficial.

Edith nodded. "That sounds great." Came her short reply. She knew why this lady was here. And she knew she was just buying enough time so that she wouldn't think of it as the main reason why she had come there.

"Sierra, why don't you join your other friends? I want to have a word with Edith." Carmen said sweetly to her daughter. The girl nodded and bowed slightly to Edith before making her way to the crowd.

Edith snorted inwardly and looked away.

"Yeah, Edith. I was saying, Maxwell has grown into a really fine gentleman lately. What have you been feeding him with?" Carmen started with some kind of a joke, but it made Edith even more pissed. But she needed to respond and act polite, so she replied.

"He's always fine. Not just lately."

"Yeah, right." Carmen stated. She needed to get to the point before Edith got bored. "So...who is this girl around him? I've never seen her anywhere before. And I don't think she belongs to any of our friends. I can't recognise her anywhere."

Edith stilled for some time to align her thoughts. She needed to say something, but she couldn't come up with anything. And any of who's friends? Who said she was her friend?

"She's the daughter of Gerry. The cook in this mansion." There was no need to lie. And besides, she couldn't come up with anything.

"Oh, I see. That explains it." Carmen was nodding like an agama lizard. "She looks so simple, and her outfit isn't from any known brand."

Edith could only sigh inwardly but didn't say anything. She was getting pissed by the minute.

"So..." Carmen continued, how is this matchmaking thing coming on? Looks like your son doesn't want to leave the girl's side any time soon. And we planned on introducing them to each other today."

"I know." Edith simply replied. "I still remember. Just wait for a little while. We'll let them meet." She assured Carmen. All this while, Carmen noticed Edith had not spared her a glance. Not even a single one. So she asked.

"Is everything alright with you? You seem pretty occupied. And that is the sixth glass you're about to have."

Edith felt like she had gotten to her limit of bottling her emotions. She needed someone to vent on and it looked like Carmen wanted to be the one to help her out. She turned to fully face Carmen and started.

"You see, that girl just came to this mansion today, and my son started disobeying my every order. Can you believe they've been together most of the day? I had to come up with the best idea to get her off his side. I had to tell him his costume was ready, when it was actually not. In fact, he already had the costume weeks before his birthday." Edith ranted on. She was breathing heavily now.

"Hey, hey, calm down." Carmen coaxed and soothed her by rubbing her arm softly. "Will she be staying here from now?"

"Who?" Edith asked with a disgusting look. Not like she didn't understand the question, but the mere thought of that girl staying in the mansion irked her to death.

Carmen who thought she didn't get her question, pressed on, "I mean, this girl...Will she always be around?"

"Hell no!" Edith barked, a little louder. Thankfully, there was music playing in the grand hall and the people around were quite occupied with food and drinks so they didn't hear or see her reaction.

"Its okay, calm down. Then you shouldn't be this bothered. I mean this may probably be the last time she will be here, right? So why fret over it?" Carmen said in a calm voice.

Edith was quiet for some time. What Carmen was saying actually made sense. That girl would be leaving soon.

And never to return.