Chapter 82 - Did Margaret Blow Up Her Chance?

Chapter - 82

"Believe me, nothing was going on up there," Alex gave one last try to justify himself.

"And we believe you. There is no need for you to keep explaining. Look at the panic on your face," Hazel won't let anyone else speak. She knew that Alex could ride his way through any one of them except for her and Ellaine. But Ellaine has been out of the game for some time now. So it has come on all her shoulders to take the charge.

Alex could clearly discern the sarcasm from Hazel's tone. He finally turned towards his final ray of hope, Karen. But when he looked at her, he could not see the usual warmth in those eyes. Still, he wanted to give it a shot.

"Chief, you believe me, don't you?" Alex asked. He hurriedly went up to her and went on his knees in front of her, trying to act all innocent, and those puppy eyes of his were ready to swell up.

"What?” Karen was clearly taken back by Alex’s actions, “I mean… Ye...Yeah, I think so..." Karen said with a bit of hesitation. Though she was uncomfortable, she was of the mind not to keep on dragging the issue. They were not in their office but someone else’s house, so it was paramount that they don’t screw up things.

"C'mon, Chief. You can't side with him all the time," Hazel said as she grabbed Karen by her arm and pulled her to herself, "It was all crystal clear in front of our eyes," Hazel said and looked towards the kitchen, checking if anyone was coming or not, "That bare white ass and his hands caressing it. Do you think all of that was a misunderstanding?"

"Yeah, it was all in the public domain. I am sure this guy must be harassing her," How can Ellaine restrain herself for long from pitching in.

On the other hand, Jennifer, like always, sat silently on the side and watched the drama unfold in front of her. She had no intention of taking any side. Maybe she was also enjoying it all.

"Can we just drop the matter now? You won't believe me whatever I say, right?" Finally, Alex gave up. It was not worth it anymore. The more he tried to explain, the less they believed him.

"Yeah, let's just leave the drop this here," Karen also took the chance to help him get out of the situation.

“But…” Hazel tried to argue.

“I said leave it here. No more discussion on this,” Karen finally declared in her usually bossy tone.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Meanwhile, in the kitchen,

Though Margaret decided to follow Martha to the kitchen in hopes of avoiding the strangers looking at her with those meaningful eyes, she had no idea how to face Martha.

Margaret stood there in one corner while Martha was busy preparing fresh fruit juice for the guests.

"Should I be asking what was going on in there?" Finally, Martha asked. Still not turning back to look at Margaret.

Margaret, on the other hand, flinched hearing Martha. Fidgeting with her fingers, she had no idea how to explain the situation to Martha. But one thing was sure, she had to take the blame on herself, after all, it was her idea from the beginning.

"It was not Alex's fault. I was teasing him, and in all that, we ended up the way we did. I won't say we were doing something bad and all, but compared to Alex, at least I am the instigator of those events," Mustering up her courage, Margaret told Martha.

Martha nodded and as she continued with her work. She said nothing more, and her silence was much more torturous than anything else. Margaret wanted her to say something, maybe rebuke her, but no... Martha didn't say a word.

After she was done peeling the mangoes, Martha put them in the mixer, along with milk, sugar and whatever else she had to put, and was ready to give it a swirl.

"I need to go out tonight," Martha once again opened her mouth to say. Her tone had no emotion. No anger, no joy, nothing, "I hoped that you could take care of Alex again while I was gone, but..." Martha looked straight into Margaret's eyes, "I am not sure anymore."

Margaret’s heart sank as she listened to Martha. She wanted to explain, but Martha switched on the juicer, and she could say nothing in the noise. Though discouraged, Margaret used this time to get her words together. She was not going to beat around the bush.

"Alex! Come here," but as soon as Martha switched off the juicer, she called out for Alex giving no chance to Margaret.

Margaret knew where this was going on. Martha was trying to send Margaret on a guilt trip and to some degree, it was working.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Mom is calling me. I will be right back," This was the perfect opportunity for him to sneak away from their questioning.

"We should also get going as well," Karen said to the ladies as she stood up.

"Yeah, I don't want to witness any more cuddling and spanking here," Ellaine said with a sullen face.

"Yeah, my husband won't even touch me nowadays, and here the newbie is romancing everyone. First, that young girl from the reception, then our Ellaine and now this gorgeous lady," Hazel teased, "By the way, what is her name?"

"Marga…" Alex impulsively replied but when he thought about the concerns of Margaret, he stopped, “Well, why do you care? Aren’t you going shove this matter under the rug any time?” Alex asked, annoyed by how Hazel was not letting the matter die out.

‘Marga…? Hmmm… The highly likely option here is Margaret. This silly boy is so gullible,’ Hazel nodded with a devilish grin on her face. She was about to call out for Margaret, but Jennifer interrupted.

"Enough now. Don't make a scene here," Jennifer finally opened her mouth.

Hazel made faces hearing Jennifer but held herself back from calling Margaret. Though caring all the time, Jennifer was the one with most authority and respect, only after Karen. Karen nodded at Jennifer, and all of them were about to make their way out when Martha walked into the living room.

"Alex, I call..ed..." Martha was here to call for Alex, but when she saw the ladies leaving, she turned her attention towards them, "Where are you all going?"

"Mrs Rutherford, we should leave now," Karen said.

"Why so early? I am sure you all must not have had the time to have lunch. Wait for a while. I will serve the food in a minute," Martha refused to let them leave.

"There is no need for you to do that, Mrs Rutherford. It will be inconvenient for you," Karen insisted on leaving, "We only came to see how Alex was doing. Not that we know he is okay. We should get back to work."

"But didn't you say we can go home after meeting Alex?" Hazel asked only to receive glares from Karen in return.

Hearing Hazel, Martha looked at all of them sternly. In a casual yet commanding tone, she said, "There is no problem for me. Now get back to the living room and wait for a while. None of you will leave without having food," Martha said, "And don't worry, I am not preparing food for you. I am going to heat what I made for Alex before leaving. I made enough for dinner as well."

Now that Martha had commanded, without listening to them, she gestured to Alex and turned back to her kitchen. Karen and the others were left with no choice but to get their asses back on the couches.

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