16 Introductions

After Gabriel entered his office, he took off his shirt that was badly stained with coffee and tossed it at Janet. Janet caught the shirt and began to fold it

"Master Wayne, Mr Mark wasn't in his office when I checked" Janet informed "And neither was Miss Maria"

"I'm still shocked Mark brought her here. He always threatened me whenever I tried to meet her" Gabriel said

"So you did want to meet her?" Janet asked

"Yes. I've heard her description, heard her voice before and heard about her as a whole but meeting her today, I'm shocked she's a nanny. She must be planning something" Gabriel said as Janet passed him a robe and he put it on "Women like her, who are confident in their appearance, would either become a model or an actress" he added as he walked into his cubical "I'm gonna take a bath and head to Mark's duplex. He'd never go back to his mansion around this time. Handle things here when I'm gone"

"Yes sir"

*******

One thirty

Mill Neck

Maria and Helen's Duplex

Mark's car pulled up in front of the building and Maria got down from it with her handbag

"Thank you" Maria said

"Are you sure you're fine?" Mark asked and she nodded

"I'll just take a bath, change and go spend time with the kids...Vivian just texted that she'll be leaving soon" Maria said "You also have work to do. Your boss will get mad"

"Fine. Take care" Mark said and Maria moved away from the car as it zoomed off

She left were she was standing, and headed inside the house. After she got in and shut the door, she entered the living room, dumped her bag on the chair, before taking off her heels and entering the kitchen. She took out the leftover spaghetti and warmed it up before setting a plate at the dining table, sitting down and eating.

When she was done, she left the plate, stood up and went to her room. She took off her her dress and her pink underwear came to view along with a couple of coffee stains she knew wasn't coming out. She tossed the underwear aside and wrapped herself in a towel before taking out a black lace lingerie and entering the bathroom.

Outside

A Bugatti La Voiture Noire pulled up in front of the duplex and Gabriel got down from the car. He wore a fitted violet banded collar shirt, navy blue dress pants and black brogue shoes.

He placed his car keys in his pocket and pulled out a spare key for the building. He first choose to leave a voice message for Mark since Mark barely ever answered his calls. When he was done, he entered inside of the building.

However, Mark who was about twenty minutes from Mill Neck, was currently listening to the voice message

[Mark, I'm currently standing in front of your duplex and honestly speaking, I'm impatient and looking for answers. So, I'm headed inside now] after the voice message ended, Mark made an unprecedented stop while driving which caused his car to drift.

He made a quick gear shift before stepping on the accelerator and making a U-turn at the next turn. He drove with a dangerous speed back towards Mill Neck.

'With that guy's attitude, he and Maria will surely fight' Mark thought

******

Meanwhile

Gabriel had just entered the house and was looking around. The place was completely silent but he didn't let himself be deceived. He knew Mark well enough to know he was a cunning fox. As he walked into the living room, he saw a handbag on the chair and heels leading to the kitchen.

'Those shoes aren't Vivian's' Gabriel thought as he passed by the shoes and entered the kitchen 'Vivian doesn't wear heels unless she needs them for an assignment. She's been wearing slippers even more now, since she gave birth recently. The only person that could...' his thoughts trailed off as he remembered that Maria had spoken to Mark before leaving. He then remembered when Jerry called Maria, Mark's mistress and shook his head

'There's no way' Gabriel pushed the thought away while rubbing the back of his neck 'Mark would never cheat. He has children for goodness sake' his eyes landed on the plate at the dining table and he frowned as he rushed up the stairs and began to check all five bedrooms of the house.

The first three he checked weren't even in use and as soon as he entered the second bedroom which was opposite the master, he was in shock. The sheets were all over the place and the room was scattered with fashion designs. Unknown to him, this was now Helen's room. He shut the door after searching the room.

As soon as he turned around, he noticed the master bedroom was wide open and walked inside. Although the sheets were arranged, the female underwear and dress didn't go unnoticed by him. He ignored it and sat on the bed waiting for whoever was in the bathroom to come out.

Five minutes later

The door to the bathroom opened and Maria walked out in only the black lace lingerie. Gabriel took his eyes off the floor and her sea blue eyes met his once again.

Water was still dripping down her hair and running along the curves of her body. Gabriel's eyes began to move away from hers and take in every part of her hourglass figure. Maria's chest heaved up and down as she brought her hands to hug her body.

"What are you doing here?" Maria asked and Gabriel snapped out of his trance

"I should be asking you that question" Gabriel said as he got up from the bed and approached her. In a matter of seconds he was once again towering over her

"I live here" Maria said and he frowned

"Lies" he said before grabbing her two hands and placing them above her head

"Let go, you're hurting me" Maria said

"I wonder why someone with your type of looks would become a nanny" Gabriel said "With your looks, you could do whatever you want. So, why are you doing this?"

"My left hand was dislocated on Friday...." Maria said while holding back tears "....You're hurting me"

Gabriel looked at her hands and noticed how red they were before letting go of her. Maria kept her hands to her chest and moved away from him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Maria asked "Are you some beast?"

"I asked you a question" Gabriel said

"I have no idea what you're talking about" Maria said as she let the tears flow "Is this how to ask women questions? By hurting and hitting them just because you believe you have enough rights to do so?"

"I..."

"Hey you..." Gabriel heard someone shout from behind him and as he turned, he saw Helen holding a frying pan and glaring at him "...step away from my friend" she said

"And you are?" Gabriel asked

"Helen. I live here" Helen said while walking towards them "Now, step aside" she said and Gabriel sighed before going back to sitting on the bed

Maria's legs gave out and she ended up sitting on the floor. Helen tossed away the frying pan, squat down and gave Maria a hug

"Are you alright?" Helen asked

"Can I, have some clothes?" Maria asked and it was at that point when Mark arrived and saw the current scene

"What the hell happened?" Mark asked and Helen broke off the hug before walking towards Maria's wardrobe and pulling out some clothes

"How about asking that bastard sitting on the bed. What the hell happened here?" Helen said as she tossed the clothes to Maria. Maria took them, glanced at Gabriel and headed back into the bathroom.

Gabriel got up from the bed and approached Mark before walking passed him

"Gabriel, stop right there" Mark said

"We'll talk downstairs" Gabriel said and he continued down the stairs and sat in the living room waiting for Mark

"Helen, can you and Maria meet us downstairs later?" Mark asked politely and Helen scoffed

"I'll try" Helen said "But I'm not sure about Maria"

"I'm really sorry about the behavior of that idiot friend of mine" Mark said before shutting the door and heading downstairs

Helen sighed and looked towards the bathroom door as soon as it opened. Maria walked out wearing a white long sleeve crop top and goldenrod coloured high waist treggings.

"How do you feel now?" Helen asked

"Better" Maria replied "I felt so vulnerable because I had no clothes on. I also...don't like people observing my naked body"

"That scar's still there?"

"I've overworked my arms ever since it happened and remember...the stitches came undone once. That scar is there to stay" Maria said as she touched her left shoulder

******

At the same time

Downstairs

Mark sat next to Gabriel and crossed his arms

"What did you do to Maria?" Mark asked

"Is she your mistress?" Gabriel asked

"If she were, do you think Vivian would let her near our children? Do you think Vivian would even let her live?" Mark asked angrily "Don't let stupid people corrupt your brain with nonsense"

"I see" Gabriel let out "I was being paranoid"

"So, did you hit her?" Mark asked and Gabriel snapped his head towards him

"I'd never hit a woman" Gabriel said "I might yell at her, but hitting her would turn me into..." he stopped there

"Your father?" Mark completed "Hitting a woman would make you an exact replica of your father and cheating on my wife would make me like my father"

"I never knew..."

"That's just how most of the men in my family are. I'm thankful I didn't inherit those disgusting genes"

"Why did you bring her to the office without telling me?"

"She wanted to fill in for my assistant" Mark said "And help out her friend. I couldn't have you disgracing her in the office with your questions"

Suddenly, Maria came down the stairs with Helen and sat opposite the two men with a frown

"Let me introduce you three to each other, first" Mark said before gesturing to Helen "That beautiful lady, is Helen Ashley. She lives here with Maria and she's the new director of fashion at the company"

"What did you just say?" Gabriel asked "I never agreed to this"

"You didn't...but your directors did" Maria said "I asked while wandering about the company today"

"Yay. You're the best spy I could ask for" Helen said as she laid on Maria's laps like a kid

"Did you trick them?" Gabriel asked "There's no way..."

"I only asked around and gave them details of the challenge I was proposing. A challenge that only Helen was willing to take on for the fashion department" Maria said

"Mark?" Gabriel said through gritted teeth

"I've already gone through Maria's challenge" Mark said "When Helen comes to work on Wednesday, call a meeting with the directors and she'll inform them of the plan herself. There'll also be a new director of finance who stepped up after finding out there was going to be a new director of fashion"

"Unbelievable" Gabriel said but Mark ignored him and continued the introductions

"This other beautiful lady, is Maria McKinley" Mark said while gesturing to Maria "I already told you about her before but nothing beats meeting the real thing. She's my kids nanny or more like, the kids treat her and Helen as their aunties. Whenever Vivian and I aren't around, Maria becomes the lady of the house. The kids and everyone in the mansion are fine with it and she and Vivian seems to have become really good friends. That's why Maria and Helen live in this house"

"That...is actually the first thing you said that makes sense" Gabriel said "What I want to understand is how it even happened"

"Vivian and the kids...said the three of us look alike" Mark said "I don't see the resemblance. Do you?"

Gabriel tilted his head to the side and stared at the three of them

"You don't look alike" Gabriel said without giving it a thought

"Well, forget about that" Mark said as he waved it off "Ladies, meet Gabriel Wayne. He's my best friend and the twins godfather. We've been through the good and bad together. Well, now he's stuck with me"

"My first impression of him, is 'I don't like you'" Helen said while glaring at him

"Helen" Maria called out

"I'm gonna be honest. He's like an ice sculpture" Helen said as she sat up "Beautiful to the eyes but too damn cold. Have you taken a look at what you did to Maria's wrist?"

"Helen, that's enough" Maria said "I'm just fine. You don't need to worry about me" she said as she tugged on the sleeve of her left hand

"You know, I wonder how you can still be positive with men. Especially when our bodies are proof they can't be trusted" Helen said while staring at Maria

"Helen" Maria called out

"We're done talking" Helen said "Mark, although I don't trust men on a norms, I trust you" she added before looking at Gabriel "Next time Maria sheds another tear because of you, I'll put a bullet in your skull" she got up and put her hands in her pockets before stomping her way back upstairs

"This is what I get when I want everyone to get alone" Mark sighed

"I'm sorry about that" Maria said "She gets like that when she's angry"

"I'm actually supposed too be the one apologizing" Gabriel said "I shouldn't have treated you that way even if I was curious" he said "By the way, should I take what she said as a threat?" when Maria pursed her lips, he let out a sigh "I see"

"I thought Gabriel was your boss" Maria said while staring at Mark

'Did she just call me by my first name?' Gabriel thought as he glanced at Maria

"I'm my own boss" Mark said "Gabriel's my friend but he's also my cover. I'm a Special Investigations Agent or SIA for short. We're like Interpol and CIA's baby except, unheard of by civilians. We have personal information on everyone in the five out of seven continents in the world, that are gathered by world class investigators and solved by our team of officers, from the Secret Police Force. Both organizations were created and headed by the Page family or better yet, me and my cousin"

"What? Then..."

"Gabriel knows because his family runs both legal and illegal businesses. His father was also on the our wanted list and honestly speaking, so was Vivian" Mark explained "Vivian is a Russian spy or agent better yet. However, when we started a family, her name was taken off the wanted list but she still operates...under me. Gabriel is currently helping my organization so his family's name is also off the wanted list"

"I see. Then, everyone at the mansion..." Maria said but her voice trailed off

"They're all agents" Mark confirmed her suspicions "They're the ones whose families have sworn to serve the Page family. As a man from the main family, they listen to me completely. But due to how dangerous this job is, Vivian started training the twins as soon as they turned five"

"It's an abnormal age to be taught such a thing but a normal reason" Maria said "I won't say anything"

"I really hope you and Gabriel can get along since it seems like Helen's out of it" Mark said with a smile

"I can try" Gabriel said coldly as he stood up and left "I've gotten what I wanted and I'm leaving. I've got work to do"

"Safe travels" Maria said and he paused at the door before opening it and leaving

"What an odd woman" Gabriel thought as he got into his car, started it and drove away