(Part 3)

As we sat in the living room, Williams' eyes darted around the space, his fingers drumming against the couch cushion. I sensed a nervous energy emanating from him, a tension that he couldn't quite conceal.

"Summer, can I be honest with you?" he asked, his voice low and hesitant.

I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. "Of course, Williams. What's going on?"

He took a deep breath, his words spilling out in a rush. "I lied when I said everything was okay. The goods I'm importing... they've been seized by customs. I need money to clear it up."

My eyes narrowed, my mind racing with calculations. "How much do you need?"

Williams hesitated, his eyes avoiding mine. "2.4 million."

The amount was staggering, a sum that made my heart race with anxiety. I waited for what felt like an eternity, my thoughts whirling with doubts and fears.

Finally, I spoke, my voice measured and calm. "I'll check and get back to you by tomorrow, Williams."

Williams' face lit up with a relieved smile, his eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you, Summer. I knew I could count on you."

But as he leaned in to hug me, I felt a chill run down my spine. Something didn't feel right, something that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

Next day...

The morning sun cast its golden light upon the estate, illuminating the path to Max's humble abode. I made my way to his gatehouse, my heart heavy with uncertainty. Williams' request for 2.4 million lingered in my mind, a constant reminder of the dilemma I faced.

As I entered Max's cozy living room, his warm smile greeted me, a comforting sight amidst the turmoil. I took a deep breath, my words tumbling out in a rush.

"Max, Please I'm so sorry about what happened yesterday, I need your advice.

Williams needs 2.4 million to clear his seized goods, and I don't know if I should give it to him."

Max's expression turned thoughtful, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. But before he could respond, I hastened to add, "Please, Max, I beg of you, help me. I don't know what to do."

Max's gaze softened, his voice gentle. "Summer, you only came here because you need my advice. If not, you wouldn't have bothered. I'm only taking all this from you because of the promise I made to your father before their accident."

My face flushed with anger, my hand rising to slap him. "How dare you remind me of my father's death! You're just a gate boy, what do you know about my family's struggles?"

Max's eyes widened, his face stinging from the slap. "Forget it, I said. I understand."

I turned to leave, my heart seething with resentment. "Gate boy, indeed. I'll never forget your insolence."

The next day, I sent the money to Williams, my mind still reeling from the encounter with Max. Had I made a mistake by trusting Williams?

As the days turned into weeks, the silence between Max and me grew thicker than the estate's walls. Neither of us dared to break the silence, our pride and hurt feelings refusing to budge. Even the food I once lovingly prepared for Max ceased, a casualty of our unspoken war.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans. My body weakened, my temperature soared, and my mind clouded with a strange fatigue. I needed help, and fast. Williams, my supposed knight in shining armor, was nowhere to be found, his excuses as hollow as his promises.

As night descended, Max's concern for me finally outweighed his hurt pride. He's yet to see me come outside since morning so he approached my door with caution, his knock gentle. I lay in bed, too weak to respond, my eyes fixed on the ceiling.

Max's eyes widened as he entered, his face etched with worry. "Summer, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft and urgent.

I tried to speak, but my voice barely whispered. Max rushed to my side, his hands gentle as he felt my forehead. "You're burning up," he muttered, his eyes scanning the room for a solution.

Without another word, he disappeared into the night, returning with a bag of medicines and a warm smile. "I got you some drugs, Summer. You'll be okay."

As he helped me take the medication, his hands tender and caring, I felt a pang of regret. Why had I let our disagreement simmer for so long? Why had I pushed away the one person who truly cared for me?

Max's eyes met mine, a silent understanding passing between us. He knew I was sorry, and I knew he forgave me. As he fed me a warm meal, his eyes never leaving mine, I realized that our bond was stronger than any disagreement.

To be continued...


💛LOVING MY GATEMAN💛
(Part 4)

As the night wore on, Max's care and concern for me only intensified. He stayed by my side, monitoring my temperature and feeding me warm broth, his gentle touch and soothing words a balm to my frazzled nerves. I felt a deep sense of gratitude and guilt, knowing that I had pushed him away for so long, and yet, here he was, nursing me back to health with a devotion that humbled me.

But as the hours ticked by, my mind began to wander back to Williams, my thoughts consumed by a nagging unease. Where was he? Why hadn't he come to see me? The doubts crept in like a thief in the night, stealing my peace and replacing it with a growing anxiety that threatened to overwhelm me.

Max noticed my distress and tried to reassure me, his voice low and calming. "Don't worry, Summer. You'll be okay. I'm here for you. We'll get through this together."

And yet, despite his words of comfort, I knew that I needed to confront Williams, to demand answers and closure. A sense of determination grew within me, a resolve that hardened with each passing moment.

"Max," I whispered, my voice still weak but firm. "I need to see Williams. Take me to him."

Max's eyes narrowed, his face set in a determined expression. "I'll take you to him but not today Summer.
We'll face him together, and we'll get the answers you deserve."

The next morning, the sound of a car horn pierced the air, signaling Williams' arrival. Max, who was enjoying his breakfast, rushed to open the gate, his movements swift and efficient.

Williams drove in, his car gliding smoothly over the driveway, and came to a stop in front of the house. He emerged from the vehicle, his stride confident, and entered the house without a second glance at Max.

Max, however, continued eating his food, his expression unreadable. He seemed oblivious to the tension that had just walked into the house.

Williams, meanwhile, was determined to play it cool. He sauntered into the living room, a smirk plastered on his face, and attempted to make small talk. "Hey, Summer, how are you feeling today?"

But I was having none of it. My eyes narrowed, my voice icy. "Why didn't you come to see me yesterday, Williams? I was sick and needed your help."

Williams shrugged, his smile faltering for a moment. "I was busy with work, Summer. I didn't have time to come over."

I raised an eyebrow, my skepticism evident. "That's not true, Williams. You mean you couldn't come to see your sick girlfriend, hmm.

Williams' eyes darted around the room before settling on mine. "Well, I did come by...later...but your gateman told me you weren't around."

My eyes widened in disbelief. "What? You mean Max told you that?"

Williams nodded, his expression unconvincing. "Yes, that's what he said. I didn't know what to do, so I left."

My anger simmered, my patience wearing thin. I quickly stood up, my feet pounding the pavement, and confronted Max, who was still eating his breakfast. "Max, did you tell Williams I wasn't around when he came by yesterday?"

Max looked up, his eyes calm, his expression unrepentant. "No, I didn't. Williams never came by yesterday."

My hand shot out, my palm connecting with Max's face in a resounding slap. The food in his mouth went flying, and he winced in pain. "How could you lie to me, Max?"

Williams, who had been watching the scene unfold, burst out laughing. "Oh, man, Max. You're in trouble now."

I turned to Max, my eyes blazing with fury. "Why did you tell Williams I wasn't around? What's going on between you two?"

Just as I was about to hit him again, he held my hands, his eyes pleading. "Summer, I swear, I didn't tell Williams anything. He's just trying to cover his tracks."

I took a step closer, my voice low and menacing. "Stay clear of me, Max. I don't want to see your face around that main building again."

Max's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in anger. "Fine, Summer. If that's how you want it. But know this - I never lied to you. And if you're tired of me, all you have to do is say so. I'll leave, and you'll never see me again."

The air was thick with tension, the silence between us palpable. Williams, still chuckling to himself, seemed to be enjoying the show. But my anger was far from over.

As I stormed back into the house, Williams followed closely behind, his eyes pleading with me to listen to him. "Summer, please, you have to listen to me. Max is not what he seems. He's been lying to you, manipulating you. You need to get rid of him."

I crossed my arms, my eyes fixed on him. "I understand what you're saying, Williams, but I'm not going to sack Max. He's been loyal to my family for years, and my father trusted him with his life when he was alive."

Williams' face turned red with frustration. "But Summer, you don't understand. Max is a danger to you. He's been lying to you, hiding things from you."

I shook my head, my voice firm. "I appreciate your concern, Williams, but I can handle Max. I know what I'm doing."

Williams' eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Fine, Summer. But mark my words, Max will betray you. And when he does, don't say I didn't warn you."

I turned away from him, my heart pounding with anger. "I'll take that risk, Williams. Max has served my family well, and I won't betray that trust without good reason."

Williams' face twisted with anger, but he knew he was beaten. He turned and left the room, leaving me shaken and upset. I took a deep breath and went to find Max, who was still fixing the wound on his face.

"Max, I'm so sorry," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Max looked up, his eyes cold and unyielding. "It's not your fault, Summer," he said gruffly. "It's my fault. I'm the one who got myself involved in your case first, and walked out on me."

I took a step back, surprised by his response. "Max, please understand-"

But Max cut me off, his eyes flashing with anger. "No, Summer, you understand. He's been playing us both from the start. And I'm not going to stand for it anymore."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me feeling shocked and confused.

I realized that Max was hurt and angry, and that my apology wasn't enough to fix things. I wondered what I could do to make things right between us.

To be continued...

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Nice 👍👍
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Keep it coming
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