Chapter 16 Friends?

Maya strode towards the door with a wide smile on her face as Henderson stepped in. Anger could be seen in Henderson's expression as he beheld Maya who was close to standing in front of him with her arms wide open ready to envelop him in a hug. "Don't you dare, " Henderson's fierce warning made her stop in her tracks and she took steps backwards? "What the fuck are you going here, Maya?" Henderson seethed with a huge scowl taking over his face. "Come on Henderson, this is no way to treat your guest, " Alia spoke up seeing the pout that was on Maya's face because of Henderson's reaction. Maya didn't expect Henderson to wrap his arms around her and give her a big hug nevertheless, she didn't expect him to treat her like a total stranger and even yell at her just because she tried to welcome him. Henderson let out a dark chuckle, "I should have known that this was your doing Alia. You've done enough and I hope that by the time I'm back, Maya is out of here." With that Henderson took off his suit jacket and threw it on the couch before ambling to the door, he opened it and after going out he shut it with a thud. "Alia, what do I do?" Maya flinched fiddling with her hands from the loud sound the door made. Maya knew Henderson to be a man that kept his words, he was never one to make empty threats. Alia gave Maya a reassuring smile and her palm rested on Maya's shoulder. "Don't worry about it, sweetie. You've got me on your side." Lena had gone outside the house to get some fresh air, she was returning into the house when she saw Henderson storm out of the house from the look on his face he appeared upset about something, she didn't even know that he had returned from work. Earlier today, when Henderson brought Trent and Itzel home from school he didn't come into the house because he needed to be back at the office urgently. Lena was worried when he didn't show up on time, Alia had called him several times but he didn't pick up her calls. They waited and it was past dinner time but still he didn't show up. Lena had no interest in having dinner at the dining area and she had no specific reasons but maybe it was because Henderson was yet to return also that she wasn't ready to deal with Maya's presence. The kids too felt the same way so the three of them just had dinner in Lena's room. "Sir, you are back." Lena suddenly appeared in front of Henderson making him stop. Before she decided to go talk to him there was a battle going on in her mind to either go meet him or walk into the house like she didn't see him but before she could think very much and weigh the best decision she found herself going to meet Henderson. Henderson's countenance brightened when he saw Lena. "I'm heading out. Come with me, " he blurted. "Me?" Lena's eyes bulged out as she pointed to herself she was taken aback by his request which was more like an order considering the way he said it. "If you don't mind, " Henderson added realising how commanding he sounded. Lena never thought that even in her dreams she was going to be sitting inside Henderson's car, she agreed to go with him without even asking him where he was going only now did the thought even cross her mind. Since he started driving neither of them said a word to each other. Lena could feel Henderson's gaze on her but whenever she looked at him his eyes were focused on the road. Maybe she was just imagining it, she brushed off the thoughts. Henderson slowly parked the car after they drove into a huge gate. He alighted the car and then walked open to Lena's side and pulled the door open for her. "Thank you, sir, " she mumbled as she stepped down. The place was magnificent, it looked somewhat like a garden and a park seemed like a combination of the two. She stood rooted in her spot as she took in her surroundings, the beautiful bright-coloured flowers and the top-notch decorations coupled with the fragrance that filled the place. A few people were present mostly in twos. Lena stopped watching the place in admiration when she saw a man dressed in an expensive tailored suit walk up to them. "Welcome Mr Henderson, welcome ma'am, " the man's gaze darted from Henderson to Lena and he bowed slightly. Lena observed in amusement, the man called Henderson by his name which could only mean that he was well known here. She couldn't stop herself from thinking about how many ladies he might have been here with. Lena and Henderson were now seated in a supreme VIP session of the building. The man who had come to them earlier led them here. To Lena's amusement, the view of the place was more elegant than she could ever had imagined it. Now that she thought about it, she was confused. Why would Henderson bring her here? It wasn't a normal thing for an employee to bring a worker or a mere Nanny like Alia loved to refer to her as to this kind of place, and that too just the two of them. "Do you like the place?" Henderson asked suddenly jolting her out of her thoughts. "It's beautiful, " she mumbled not knowing what to say somehow for her it was awkward having this conversation. "Yeah, it is peaceful too. I come here whenever I just want to have some peace and quiet time away from everything else." His eyes were fixed on Lena's face as if he was trying to read her expressions. Lena doubted his words though, she did think that maybe this was a place he and his flings usually came together to. Henderson looked away from Lena for a while before he returned his gaze to her, his sea-blue eyes met her hazel ones. "You know I've never been here with someone before, not even Itzel, " he spoke up as if he read her thoughts. Lena broke the eye contact peering away once again she had misjudged him. "You probably thought I bring all the ladies I have a fling with here right?" He chuckled and Lena gazed at him that instant. She doesn't counter it or agree to it but the look on her face confirmed it. He smiled before he continued to speak, "You remember the first time we met?" "Yes the one where you said even a blind man wouldn't be interested in me?" Lena stated at Henderson with raised brows. That day his words made her mad she was going to give him a piece of her mind but before she could he was out of sight. Henderson chewed on his lower lips together and a smirk marred his face, " I didn't know you took those words seriously. I was furious when you slapped me so I wanted to get back at you. I didn't mean any of those words and honestly, I wasn't trying to harass you or anything like that, I mistook you for someone." Lena crossed her hands over her chest pondering on his words. "You don't believe me?" He smiled leaning back in his chair. "Unlike what I said then, you are a very gorgeous lady. I didn't think that my words were going to hurt." Lena narrowed her eyes and tried to keep a straight face when she felt a blush start to crawl up her cheeks. She didn't know why she was reacting that way, she knew she was beautiful and she got a lot of compliments from people but Henderson speaking about it made her feel all good. "I'm not trying to flirt with you, Lena. If that is what you thinking. I don't want to get slapped again," Henderson raised his hands making Lena laugh. Her face smudged with a frown when she stopped laughing. "Get slapped? You see me as a violent person, don't you?" Henderson shook his head, "No, but I know better than to mess with you." "Are you sure you don't want anything to eat or drink anything " Henderson asked again. He asked her what she was going to have when they first sat down but she said nothing so he didn't bother to order anything for himself. "I really..." "Ice creams, I'll order some. Everyone likes ice creams?" He chipped in before she could say no. "What flavour?" He inquired. "You know I've never seen anyone who likes watermelon-flavoured ice cream." Henderson's brows creased as he watched Lena scoop a spoon of the ice cream in her mouth and then licked her lips. She seemed to be enjoying the ice cream so much. "I do. It's nice, I'm not that much of a chocolate flavour lover either." She shrugged pointing at the ice cream in his hand. She wasn't trying to get back at him for making faces at her choice of Ice cream but he thought she was. "I was only joking, " he defended. "I know, I never thought of you as an ice cream person even when you said everyone likes ice cream. I see you as more of a whiskey guy." Henderson arched his brows, "Really? Well, I have to love ice cream, Itzel does. It's her favourite." Lena nodded, "Trent too, he doesn't mind choosing ice creams over his meals." Henderson chortled, Lena on the other hand was lost seeing him laugh, the only time she saw him laugh this much was when had was having conversations with the kids. She took in his features, Henderson was a good-looking man his beautiful sea blue eyes, his fine-shaped nose, chiselled jawline and sharp jaw and the luscious pink lips which Itzel got from him. "Uhmm You.... Seemed upset about something when I saw you walk out of the house, " Lena stuttered trying to hide how embarrassed she felt when she noticed that Henderson had caught her staring at him. Henderson wondered why she suddenly acted that way, unknown to Lena he didn't think she was drooling over him rather he was lost in awe of her beauty, he didn't know why he failed to have noticed how rare a beauty she was all this while despite the fact that they have been living in the same house for months. She had a oval face, beautiful hazel eyes, pinkish, pouty plump lips and porcelain skin that complimented her. A sigh flew out of his lips as he thought about what happened before he left the house, he was beyond pissed when he saw Maya. She was the last person he expected to see in his house and he needed no one to tell him what Alia was up to. "I saw Maya, I never thought Alia would invite her over. I and Maya were childhood friends and when we were in high school she confessed her feelings that she was in love with me. I was sad because I couldn't reciprocate her feeling I only ever saw her as a friend but guess what she did. She visited me at home one day and spiked my drink took pictures of us in uncanny position and said she was going to show it to Itzel's mom." "Wait you met Itzel's mom in high school?" Lena smiled leaning forward, she was really interested in getting to know the whole story. He married his high school sweetheart, and then what changed that they had to get divorced. "Yes, she was friends with Maya. Somehow Itzel's mom got to know and I was scared that she was going to get mad but she didn't rather she somehow knew it was all Maya's doing. Ever since I wanted nothing to do with Maya. Alia knows about this I'm still surprised she invited Maya over." Lena felt sorry for Henderson, that was more than enough reason for him to get mad. If Alia was aware why then did she want her brother to marry Alia? She wanted to know more about Itzel's mom but she didn't yield to the temptation to ask him since she knew how uncomfortable he got whenever Itzel's mom was brought up. "I'm sorry about that, " Lena's lips pressed together. Henderson smiled, "It's fine. It was a long time ago, but I still can't stand her." "You are not as bad as I thought you as." A smile embraced Henderson's lips, "I'm glad." "Huh!" Lena sputtered lifting her head, she was thinking out loud. Henderson's smile widened reaching his eyes. "Since you don't think I'm that bad, why don't we become friends?" Before she could say a word his hand was already stretched out to her for a handshake. "So friends?" She saw a sparkle in his eyes when her eyes encountered his, his hands still extended to her.