บท 57: Perfect couple

She could feel that Brad was not over her yet. Not even after a year of no communication, he still pined for her. She tried her best to be a good wife, even provided him with a son, but she felt her efforts were all in vain. He was still in love with her.

Brad, on the other hand, had always known that Johanna was in love with him. That was the reason he was hesitant to agree at first to the arrange marriage. He was afraid that when the time comes for the divorce, she would be devastated.

Divorce after five years had always been part of the agreement. No love. No kids. It was supposed to be purely political and business. That was the deal.

They were suddenly lost in their memories, remembering back when they were kids. How Johanna first met Brad. A kid that was forced to be her friend. A friend that she learned to love secretly.

Brad used her family to make something of his life, in return, he served them with hard work and loyalty. Even making sure that he treated her with respect and love. He always thought of her as his bestfriend and loved her like a sister.

"Who are you?" She noticed him coming out of the backdoor of the house with a glass of water in his hand. "What are you doing here?"

She just came from the garden to get some flowers for her father when she chanced upon seeing him. She was sure that she had not seen him before. From the dirty clothes he was wearing, she was sure that he was no guest of the family.

She was confused, at the same time wary, that an intruder was inside their house. Although a kid just a bit bigger than her unlikely qualified as a burglar in her opinion, still she was apprehensive with his presence.

"Hi. I'm Bradley De Luca. You must be Johanna. Your Papa told me about you." He introduced himself, bringing his hand closer to her.

Then, remembering it was wet because of the cold glass he was holding, he quickly wiped it on his pants before extending it back to her.

She ignored it as she arched her right brow, feeling disgusted with his actions. She stepped back, keeping a safe distance from him.

"I'm not touching your dirty hands. I asked you what you're doing in our house?" She was irritated that he ignored her question, placing her two hands on the side of her waist, demanding an answer.

When she ignored his hand, Brad chose not to answer her too. He walked towards the bench that was situated under an old oak tree, sat down, and drank the cold water in his hand. He had no time for a spoiled brat like her.

After cleaning the basement, he was quite thirsty and exhausted. He had no strength and time to waste on her. He would rather seat and relax until he was called again for another chore.

She quickly followed him and stood in front of him. "Who do you think you are? Acting as if you own this place. You don't even live here." She demanded impatiently, tapping her feet on the ground.

"If you want me to talk to you, you should learn some manners. Don't act so high and mighty." He told her before taking a sip again of his water and ignoring the flaring nostrils of the girl in front of him.

"I'll call security and have you thrown out." She shouted before stumping his feet and walking away from him back to the house.

A few minutes later, Martha, a chubby middle-aged maid came for him. "Senior Greg wishes to see you in the library immediately. What did you say to Johanna? She is asking Senior Greg to throw you out of the property." She reprimanded disapprovingly like she was his mother.

He did not mind her nagging. Martha, if he was not mistaken was just looking after him. Since he arrived this morning, she had been welcoming and accommodating to all his needs.

"I just told her to grow some manners." He reasoned to Martha who looked at him as if he was insane.

"Nobody talks to Johanna in that manner and gets away with it," Martha told him. "You should apologize to her immediately."

"Then, they don't have to throw me out. I'll leave on my own if I have to say sorry to an ill-mannered girl like her." Brad adamantly said to Martha.

He never agreed to stay here just to be trampled on by rich self-righteous people like her.

When he arrived at the library, he faced the old man and the little girl without fear. He did not do anything wrong as far as he was concerned.

"You called for me, Sir," He asked as he stood in front of them, looking the old man straight in the eyes, his gaze was unwavering.

"Yes, I did." Senior Greg replied. He turned to his daughter and said. "Johanna here would like to apologize for her rude behavior earlier."

The looked on the kids' faces was pure shocked. They were both not expecting that.

Johanna was quite sure that her father was sending him back wherever he came from.

Brad was sure that he was going home.

"Pardon, Sir," He was the first to respond. Standing tall in his tiny frame, wanting to be certain that he heard him right.

"That's not fair," Johanna whined in response too, pouting like a spoiled child that she had always been when she did not get what she wanted.

"You heard what I said. Apologize first to Brad." Senior Greg used his authoritative voice that could send chills to any person he directed his ire. That made her stopped, knowing that she could not use her tantrums on him.

"I'm sorry." Johanna knew she had no choice. She was not winning this particular fight, but it did not mean that she was surrendering the fight.

"Now, I want the two of you to become friends." Senior Greg changed his expression back to a friendly demeanor.

"I'm…" Johanna was about to refuse, but she stopped seeing the frown on her Papa's face.

"Brad will be staying with us from now on. He will also be attending the same school as yours." Her father told Johanna, making sure that she understood the meaning of his words. There was no arguing with his decision.

"But…" She halted her words again and decided to change her mind. "Ok. Fine. If that is what you want." She smiled at her father, seating quietly at his side.

Brad remained silent, just watching the interaction between the two. A bit fascinated with the way the old man controlled his daughter.

"Brad, I hope you won't mind looking after my princess once in a while, would you?" Senior Greg asked him with all seriousness.

"Of course not, Sir. I will look after her as if she was my sister." Brad answered him. Upon saying those words, he knew that he just made a promise that he had to keep. His grandfather once told him before he died that a man's word was sacred. It should always be honored.

"That's good to hear, but stop calling me Sir. Just call me Senior or Papa. You're now part of this family from now on." The senior said to him with pride in his eyes. He was sure he made the right choice when he agreed to Anita's request.

Brad's grandmother, Anita used to work for him as a maid. When Anita retired, he asked her what she wanted as a reward for the faithful and long years she served him and his family.

Brad's grandmother only asked for one thing, to make sure that his grandson, Brad, would go to a good school and finished with a degree.

Greg immediately agreed, knowing what the boy could do. Brad was intelligent, good-looking, kind, and matured for his age. He had his way with people, a certain charm that made him easy to the eye. A quality he was looking for. Someone who had a great future.

Brad would certainly fit perfectly with his plans, the senior thought to himself.

A few minutes later, Brad snapped out of his reminiscing. It was the past, now he had to face the future. A future he was not sure if he was still looking forward to, now that his freedom was far from his reach.

"We should go back inside. They might be wondering where we are." He whispered to Johanna's ears as he put a space between them.

"Yes, just give me a minute." She said as she composed herself. Shaking off the memories away.

They went back to the ballroom in each other's arms. Pretending that they were the perfect couple in front of the crowd.