Bitter & Sweet
The Part 54
Chloe stood in front of the mirror, making sure that the clothes she was wearing to work today already looked neat.
While putting on thin makeup, Chloe recalled what happened last night.
Chloe was convinced that Matthew must be very tired, because Matthew was still having bad dreams and disturbing his rest.
Fortunately, last night Matthew was not as bad as the night before, and yesterday afternoon.
Chloe who hugged him tightly, and endlessly whispered words to calm him down, seemed to be quite useful, until Matthew could still fall back asleep until morning.
However, question after question that does not have the slightest clue to find the answer, increasingly popping up in Chloe's head.
Like the question of what triggers Matthew, so he can have nightmares every time he falls asleep. Because before, Matthew was never like that.
Recalling her conversation with Maddison, and trying to relate her to Matthew's circumstances, Chloe becomes worried in case she's the trigger for Matthew's nightmares.
And that's why, so Maddison can sound like she's upset, talking to Chloe yesterday afternoon.
Nevermind!
Chloe had to rush to see Matthew in the main house now, and she couldn't waste any longer in the pavilion, just to daydream.
When Chloe stepped into the main house, in front of Matthew's yard, a luxury car was parked there.
Looking at the code attached to the license plate of the vehicle, Chloe knew that it was an official car for the board of McLean grup—, the parent company of McLean property.
However, as Chloe knows, there are no plans or notices for guests to visit Matthew's house. Especially in the current hours, when Matthew and Chloe have to get ready to go to the office.
Curious, Chloe sped up her pace, and entered Matthew's house, then peeked in the living room.
But no one was there.
It's getting weird, because I don't know who means who's visiting Matthew's house right now.
As Chloe was about to reach Matthew's room, in the chair near Matthew's door, Nathan and a stranger were sitting there with her.
Chloe flinched and wide-eyed, when she realized who was Matthew's guest.
The stranger who looked old, and holding a stick in his hand, must have been Jackson McLean, Grandpa of Matthew.
"Good morning, sir!" hello Chloe, after she's been standing near Nathan and Jackson.
"Good morning, Chloe!" Nathan returned Chloe's greeting, standing up from his seat, then pointed with his palm open towards Jackson. "Mister Jackson McLean, Grandpa of Matthew."
"Good morning, Mister Jackson McLean! ... My name is Chloe Fern" said Chloe, introducing her.
Meanwhile, Jackson, with his sharp eyes, looked at Chloe from the tip of her hair to her feet, before she returned Chloe's greeting.
"Good morning!"
"How was your trip, sir?" ask Chloe, have a nice chat.
Jackson was silent, seemingly unwilling to look at Chloe, and the stifled look on her already wrinkled skin reminded Chloe of Matthew.
Nathan who looked as if he was just forcing himself to smile, then said,
"No problem is meaningful ... We've been here since midnight last night."
"Is he Matthew's personal assistant?" Judging from Jackson's question, it seems he was asking Nathan about Chloe.
"Yes, Sir ... She was Miss Fern whom I had hired to accompany Matthew," Nathan replied, looking cautious.
From the way and style of speech, between Nathan and Jackson is not the same as family members in general, because Nathan actually looks reluctant like he is talking to his superiors only.
"What are you doing standing there?" asked Jackson, who suddenly looked at Chloe fixedly.
According to Chloe, not only stiff and cold, Jackson's eyes also have bright green irises, very similar to Matthew.
As it were, Jackson was an aged version of Matthew.
"Are you not in a job?" jackson asked again, with a resolute voice jerking, and at once also broke Chloe's daydream.
"I'm sorry, Sir ... Excuse me!" Chloe rushed into Matthew's room.
In the room, Chloe finds Maddison helping Matthew get dressed, so Chloe hastily greets him.
"Good morning, Madam!"
Maddison turned around.
Putting on a face like she was feeling sad, Maddison looked at Chloe for a moment, before she finally returned Chloe's greeting.
"Good morning, Chloe!"
Maddison then shifts away from Matthew, as if he wanted to give Chloe a chance to take care of Matthew.
Without needing to linger and comment anything, Chloe immediately walked up to Matthew, and saw what she could do to help Matthew there.
As Chloe put a tie around her neck, Matthew then said,
"Explain to my mommy! ... If our schedule today is very busy, and only later tonight then I have time to gather family."
"Mommy can hear you." said Maddison, as if she felt she didn't need any more explanation from Chloe. "But Grandpa is not necessarily willing to waste his time."
"Grandpa is busy with his work, so am I. There's no way Grandpa wouldn't want to understand that!" matthew, ketus. "Mommy doesn't need to make Grandpa an excuse ... I'm fine."
However, Chloe must pretend as if she does not know, what is going on there, and stay focused on her work serving Matthew.
"You're ready" Chloe told Matthew, waiting for either Matthew or Maddison.
"Chelle! ... Come here for a minute!" maddison said, taking Chloe on a walk with him, heading to one corner of the room, away from Matthew.
"Wait a minute, sir!" Chloe said.
"Don't linger! ... We'll be late for the office!" matthew, firmly.
Chloe nodded in agreement, then left Matthew, and hurriedly caught up with Maddison.
After Chloe stood nearby, Maddison then said,
"Matthew looks tired ... Was he still having nightmares last night?"
"Hm ... Yes, Madame!" chloe replied, be careful.
"Look...." Maddison seemed to want to say something, but felt hesitant, so he did not continue his words and just remained silent for a while.
"Chelle! ... Don't waste time!" matthew said, half screaming.
Chloe, confused between having to wait for what Maddison said, or listening to Matthew's direction, finally can only speak to Maddison.
"I'm sorry, Madam ... I have to go now."
"Chloe...! I know that my requests lately have been excessive enough. But for the sake of me worrying about my son's situation, please think carefully, before you do anything."
Maddison's words were hanging, and there was no way where he was going. But the time is tight, making Chloe can not ask what Maddison mean.
"Excuse me, Madam!" Chloe then went back to Matthew who seemed impatient waiting for her.
Chloe immediately grabbed Matthew, walked out of his room, and took the time to pause in front of Jackson and Nathan, because Matthew was talking to them.
"I have to work, Grandpa! ... Later, we can have dinner together" Matthew said.
Jackson did not immediately respond to Matthew's words, and instead remained silent for a while.
As if probing, with his brows furrowing deeply, and putting on an annoyed look, Jackson looked at Matthew and Chloe in turn.
"You must have known what your mistake was."
Jackson's words were out of nowhere and meant, but Nathan suddenly said,
"Yes, Sir! ... I'm sorry."
"We have to go now, Grandpa!" mathew said hurriedly, as if he didn't care, or just acted foolishly with what he saw and heard.
Jackson nodded in agreement, and Matthew then began walking away from it, along with Chloe.
Meanwhile, ever since they got out of the house, then entered Matthew's car that was ready to drive them to the office, Chloe could hardly stop thinking about all the weirdness she saw, she said, and he's listening at Matthew's.
Thus, Chloe became a lot of daydreaming on her trip with Matthew to the office.
"... where?" Matthew's question is not heard entirely by Chloe, who is immersed in her own thoughts.
"Ugh? ... Forgive me ... What are you saying, Sir?" chloe said, confused and feeling a little anxious, just in case Matthew would scold him, because he was not concentrating.
However, Chloe's conjecture at the time was not proven, as Matthew did not scold her, and only stared fixedly at Chloe for a while.
Matthew then took Chloe's hand, then clasped it tightly.
"Tell me honestly! ... What the hell are you thinking? Did my mommy say anything to you?" ask Matthew, slowly.
"Mommy did say something to me. But honestly, I don't understand what she's saying" Chloe said, bluntly.
And to satisfy her curiosity, carefully, Chloe then ventured to say,
"I'm sorry, Sir ... It's not that I intend to interfere in the affairs in your family. But I feel curious, because the atmosphere in your house was very upset....
... Sir! ... Did I make a mistake? ... Please just say it, Sir! ... So that I can improve myself, and properly apologize to you and your family."
Matthew felt increasingly tightened his grip on Chloe's hand, then said,
"You don't have to apologize ... I am the one who should apologize to you. Because I think I accidentally got you in my trouble."
"But I promise to finish it. I'm still thinking about how, that's why I don't want to rush a family meeting."
After he finished his words, Matthew turned his face away and looked out the window beside him.
However, the statement from Matthew, it only makes Chloe become more confused and do not know the direction.
Because Chloe's guess, that Grandpa Matthew and her parents were disappointed in her, seems to be true.
Chloe found it hard to hide her curiosity, so she then said,
"I'm sorry, Sir ... But, can you tell me, what is your problem? And how did I get involved?"
Matthew looked back at Chloe, and with his glare, Matthew stared fixedly at Chloe, locking his mouth tightly.
Until a while passes, until they arrive at the office, Matthew is still silent and seems to find it difficult to explain it to Chloe.
"I'm sorry ... I don't know where to start. But I'll make sure you don't have any trouble because of my problems. So, you don't have to think too much about it" Matthew said.