More Than A Maid

Bella’s POV

I returned to the Benson’s place the next morning. Last night, I couldn’t sleep well because I was worried about who the culprit might be. Sooner or later, my mom, Aunt Flora and the assistant cop will be at The Benson’s place to interrogate them too. This will cause alot Mrs Benson will definitely fire me because we are indirectly trying to accuse her and this will lower the chance of Peter and I ending up together. Infact, Mrs Benson wouldn’t want to have anything to do with my family anymore. My mom doesn’t mind anyways; Finding who killed Dad is what’s at the uppermost part of her mind regardless of whoever the killer turns out to be. I guess I’m only being concerned and scared that it shouldn’t turn out to be our loved one.

I sighed as I wanted into the house; I might Mr and Mrs Benson having a conversation in the living room but when I came in, they stopped. I greeted them perfunctorily, thanked Mrs Benson for giving me the permission to visit my mom but she didn’t say anything.

I bowed my head a little in respect as I returned to my room. Mr Benson is very cool and calm. They don’t look suspicious at all, or maybe they do, why did they stop talking just when I came in?

I sighed, then hit my head!

Jeez! What am I even thinking? Am I trying to say the person who killed my father is the parents of the guy I’m in love with? Hell no.

They can’t be the one, it can’t even be Monica’s parents.

None of them knows the daughter of whom I am.

Haven changed into something simple, I headed to kitchen to resumed my work as a maid. Mrs Benson wasn’t in the living room this time, it was only her husband.

“Bella!” I heard Peter’s voice.

Not again!

“I think I heard Bella’s voice, just now.” I heard him asked his parents.

“Yeah, she’s in the kitchen” His father replied him.

As expected, Peter rushed into the kitchen.

“Bella!” He smiled at me. I responded back with only a little smile then looked elsewhere.

I didn’t say anything to him, instead moved by his side to reach for the upper cabinet. I was trying to get a small cylindrical tin where an ingredient was being kept. Little did I know that the tin was far inside in the carbinat, so my hand couldn’t reach it.

Since Peter was still there, he came closer, behind me and helped me.

“Here” He gave the tin to me.

“Thank you” I mumbled, and wanted to resume what I was but he obstructed me.

“Move away please” I told him, at first, I looked into his eyes but the look was captivating, so I looked away.

“Didn’t you say we are just friends now?” He asked.

I sighed heavily: “We are” I replied.

“Then why are you avoiding me? Bella, this isn’t the first time you are doing so and whenever you don’t wanna talk to me, it means you are comfortable around me, it means you are mad at me” He paused, expecting an explaination from me but I didn’t say a word

“Bella do you know how worried I was when I didn’t see you yesterday, you didn’t even tell me that you were going home. Yet you want me to believe that everything is fine between us” He continued.

“Peter, your parents are around” I reminded him incase he has forgotten.

“I know” He said.

“Let me be” I freed myself and continued what I was about to do. Clean up the kitchen, then prepare the dinner.

“Instead of avoiding me just because we broke up, let’s communicate like casual friends” Peter suggested.

“I told you, we should be casual friends but you are the one who is obsessed with me”I told him, then faced him properly. “I’m obsessed with you too but look at me, I act like I do not. Infact, you think I do not” I told him and he smiled widely.

“I know you do. I just do not hate the silent treatment you usually give to me. It makes me feel like you do not love me as much as I do or maybe I’m just too clingy” He muttered coldly.

I looked at him for a while then replied. “You are too clingy” I remarked.

“I agree” He was smiling.

I rolled my eyes and looked away and continued wiping the sink.. I could see him through the corner of my eye, he was still here, gazing at me.

I stopped cleaning again and looked at me.

“And do you know why I usually act like I’m not obsessed?” I asked him.

“Uhmmn” He shook his head in negation. “But one thing I know is that you’ld surely make a great actress. I actually fell for all the fake attitude you showed me. Sincerely, I felt bad” Peter said.

I stared into his dazzling eyes then I smirked.

“You should say sorry at least” He teased, now it looked like we are still dating.

“Listen Peter, acting like I do not like you or I’m not obsessed with you is the best I can do to keep myself safe” I told him.

“I know right”

“Then you should do the same! But you are too obvious. Calling out my name every now and then.”

“I wanted my mom to know it’s you I like and not Monica” He answered.

“Peter, I don’t like your mom” I said. That was a slip of tongue, I didn’t know when I said that. “I’m sorry, I mean. She doesn’t like me. She’s not nice, she hasn’t been good to me and you know it. Then why are you trying to defend me?” I said, trying not to a raise my voice. “Pretending like I am nothing to you is the best for you and I, I’ve told you so! I didn’t want you to feel too bad that’s why I broke up with you and told you we should be just ordinary friend but you are not getting it at all!” I rushed all the words.

“I’m sorry” He apologised.

I sighed.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“I’ll pretend I don’t feel anything for you till my parents travels back” He finally accepted.

“Exactly” I said. “We aren’t obsessed with eachother okay? Infact I don’t know you, and you don’t know me!” I said but he chuckled.

I rolled my eyes.. “Now leave the kitchen. If you really want to keep me safe” I told him

“Oh Jeez, this is gonna take a long time as my parents are going back to their place of work next week. I’ll miss you even when you are still here” He said. This guy is over obsessed with me!

“Peter!” I scolded him.

“It’s difficult thought but I promise. I’m actually gonna stop being clingy, act like I don’t like you and whatever you want me to do” Peter said. “But… ” He paused, burrowing his eyes into mine. ” Can you give me a hug?” He asked.

I shut my eyes, let out a tired sigh.

“Just a hug. I know how you feel Peter. You are right, it’s indeed difficult” Yeah, I too; do not like what’s happening between us but it’s the best for me and him.

He spread his hands, I smiled at him then came closer to give him a hug. It was a tight one, I didn’t want to leave his arms, and he didn’t want me to leave too.

We won’t have the opportunity to be this way for a long period of time.

“Peter! Bella! What are you doing?” Mrs Benson caught us.

We seperated immediately and I began to trembled.

“I’m sorry ma’am” I apologised as I began to think of a lie to bail myself out. There was none! It was clear that she caught us red-handed. Hugging! But we were only hugging.

I moved to the back, away from Mrs Benson as I continued to trembled in fear. No doubt! I’m done for! She is gonna send me out of her place! which means no more income. Tears began to roll down my cheeks

I expected Peter to apologise to but he stood in front of me ( I was at his back ), as he confronted his mom, stopping her from venting her anger on me.

“I knew she is the reason why you don’t wanna be with Monica. You are in a relationship with an housemaid I employed? So unheard of!” Mrs Benson said.

“We are not in a relationship. I am at fault mommy, I was the one who hugged her first because I missed her. I’m the one you should be mad at her. Leave her be!” Peter said.

“I’m mad! At you both! Bella is a maid Peter, just listen to what you have just said!”

“Let them be” Mr Benson came over and said.

“What? Why?” His wife exclaimed “Do you even know what happened?”

“I don’t wanna know. ” Mr Benson responded then he cleared his voice. “Her mother is here” Mr Benson said.

“My… mother?” I stammered.

“One Mrs Daves is here, she said she has a daughter here, Bella” Mr Benson said. “She came here with a man, probably your father or uncle. He looks younger than her”

“That’s my mom!” I said.

“Oh Good! They came here at the right time, you’ld explain to her what you were doing her with my son” Mrs Benson said and matched out of the kitchen.

“Relax. My wife is only being crazy. Making it look like you guys were caught doing something extremely bad” Mr Benson said, smiling at us. Then he left for the living room.

Right now, I was more worried about why my mom was here? with a man? That assistant cop!

Geez! I didn’t know the investigation was gonna continue today.

They came here to interrogate Peter’s parents.

“It’s fine Bella. You see, Dad gat our back. Let’s go to the living room. Let’s go see your mom” Peter said, giving me his hand for me to hold but I turned them down.

I went to the living room quickly and he came after me.

Mom…

* * * *

To Be Continued