Chapter 18

Althea woke up with a yawn, her vision seemed to be blurry. As always the maid was at the side of the bed. She lifts her body from the bed and whispers a silent prayer. She smiles at the maid as she finishes the short prayer. The maid added an amen at the end of the prayer. The maid smiled at her with a bow.

"Good morning ma'am," the maid said with a bow.

"Morning. How are you doing?" the maid said with her head bowed. Althea shook her head with a sigh. Even though she doesn't love it, she was respected and loved by the maids and guards of the mansion. She is too young but they didn't mind it. Maybe it was because her husband Xavier is very strict and hard.

"Fine, ma'am. How was your night?" the maid asked. She heaved out a sigh.

"I'm fine, Tiana," she said, and the maid flashed a smile at her.

"Okay, that's nice," the maid said as Althea climbed down from the king-sized comfy bed.

"Why are you here? Don't keep me waiting, "Althea said as she took off the robe rope tied around her waist.

The maid gulped down into nothing as she noticed Althea's cold attitude. She wasn't surprised because she doesn't act like that toward her. She knows something might be bothering Althea. Althea on the other hand was angry with herself that she couldn't sleep properly because she was thinking about Xavier. She couldn't help but keep seeing his handsome image popping in her head. She hates it because he doesn't show concern for her.

She looked at her back as the maid tapped her shoulder. She didn't know that the maid had been trying to get her attention until she tapped her shoulder. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't notice it. She snapped her head at the maid.

"Is anything wrong, my lady?" the maid asked with concern, and Althea forced out a smile even though it was obvious that she was forcing herself.

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Just stressed out a bit," Althea said with a bright smile, and the maid stared at her with a sceptical look.

" You haven't answered my question. So why are you here?"Althea asked with her hand under her breast, her pink bikini bra which fitted her perfectly was visible. The maid lowered her head to the floor with her gaze on the floor. The maid didn't say anything with her gaze on the floor.

"Why are you silent? You aren't saying anything. Just speak up and stop wasting my time," Althea said, and the maid nodded her head slowly. She stared at the maid with her eyes, oozing anger. She was still angry with herself.

"Hmm. The master brother Mateo wants to have breakfast with you if you don't mind," the maid said, and Althea stared at them in an instant.

"What!"Althea exclaimed even though it was out of happiness. The maid stared at her with a confused look.

"You don't want to have breakfast with him. I'm going to tell him if you are not interested," the maid said with a bow.

"No, no I mean I'm interested. Just tell him that I would meet in the next few minutes," Althea said with a smile, and the maid nodded her head affirmatively. She was really happy that she would have to meet Mateo again. She couldn't help but think Mateo is cool and good.

He is funny and nice, though he was the real replica figure of Xavier. He is exactly the opposite of his brother. He is nice and caring, not like his brother Xavier who doesn't notice her. Mateo isn't like his brother Xavier who is only with his cold and stoic attitude, not only toward her but everyone around her.

"You can take your leave. I would meet up with him in the dining room very soon, in the next few minutes 'she said and pulled off her night wine robe. The maid heaved out a sigh of relief. The maid nodded her head affirmatively and walked out of her room.

Althea smiles and rushes into the bathroom. She had a quick and warm bath which refreshed her body. She walked out of the bathroom with a white towel wrapped around her waist. She lost it and dried her body. She applied a body lotion cream before putting on a nice top and black long jeans which matched her black tanned hair. She put on white sneakers. She applied short make-up to her face, and she smiled at her reflection in the mirror.

She walked out of the room. She strode the stairs, taking her steps carefully. She walked into the dining room and smiled at Mateo who stood up from his seat. He hugged her so passionately that she wondered what was wrong with us but she didn't take it seriously, because she thought it was a friendly hug.

Mateo on the other hand was glad that she accepted to have breakfast with him. It meant a lot to him even though Althea doesn't seem to understand it. Though he met her shortly, he couldn't help but grow fond of her. Her bright smile lit up his heart. He couldn't control himself so he had to pull her into a hug.

"I'm glad that you accepted to have breakfast with me," he said and flashed a smile at him that melted his heart. They both sat on a chair.

"It's my pleasure," she said as they picked up the cutleries and started eating. They had a few chats, while eating, which was a lot of fun with Mateo. He was calm and cool, not as cold and stoic as his brother Xavier was. They dropped their cutleries as they finished eating.

"Althea. I'm going out to do some shopping in the mall. Do you mind going with me?" he asked, and she held her chin contemplating if she should go with him. She decided to go with him since she would have more chances to explore New York City.

"Yes, I'm interested," she said, and he smiled at her broadly.

"Can we start going?" he asked with his arm crossed under his broad chest. She shook her head as she remembered that she hadn't taken her phone. She had wanted to leave it alone in her room but her other side wouldn't let her. What if Xavier calls? She thought. Why does she care? She thought again.

Not giving it another thought, she stood up from the chair and cleaned her mouth with a napkin.

"Let me go and pick up my phone," she said and quickly ascended the stairs leading to her room. She picked up her phone on the bed in her room and rushed down the stairs. Althea and Mateo both walked out of the house and entered a black Lexus RX car. They both sat in the driver's seat with their car belts crossed. Mateo ignited the engine of the car and drove out of the mansion.


They walked into the shopping mall and they both shopped for different clothes and outfits in the mall. The people in the mall thought they were young couples because of their closeness in the mall. They walked out of the mall after paying for what they had bought in the mall. They dropped it into Booth's car Booth and drove out of the shopping mall compound.

Mateo makes sure to include her in everything he's doing and even takes her out to explore New York City and show her new places hehe is having the time of her life as she spends it with Mateo. She enjoys herself with Mateo. She had a lot of fun so that she doesn't feel bored and lonely again.

The day goes by and Mateo's love for Althea grows as they spend time with each other. He becomes accustomed to her reading habits. He knows almost everything about her except the circumstances surrounding how she got married to his stepbrother. He doesn't know why she got married to him since she is young and his brother wasn't interested in anything about ladies, only his business that was his priority.


Andrew Costello visits them during the week to see his son. Mateo and Althea welcome Xavier's father.

"Welcome dad," Mateo said as he hugged his muscular body-built father. Mr Andrew smiled at his son. He hugged Althea, and she collected his luggage into the house.

"You look more handsome son," Mr Andrew said, and his son smiled.

"You aren't looking bad either," Mateo said, and they both laughed.
~~~
At night, father and son. Mr Andrew and Mateo could be seen on a beautiful and well-structured patio. They were having a father-to-son conversation. The conversation was good and smooth until Mateo brought up the topic of his stepbrother married to a young girl. Mateo brought up the topic because of curiosity. Mr Andrew tells him everything in detail. Mateo couldn't help but feel livid.

"But dad that isn't good enough to force a girl to marry Xavier against her will. That's unfair. Xavier isn't worth here he is a bitch" Mateo stated angrily.

"Hey. Don't ever talk to your brother in that manner again, "Mr Andrew said angrily. Mateo got angry and walked out on his father. He doesn't know why he is angry. He doesn't know if he is angry because they forced her to marry his brother or because he has feelings for her.
~~~

During dinner. Althea dishes out the food and they all eat in silence. It was only the sound of the cutleries that could be heard. Althea notices the silence between father and son and wonders what happened behind her back.

After dinner, she sat with Mateo and he told her what had happened behind her.