Euclid watched the blue roadster parked in front of the alley where Maria’s house was located. For a busy and noisy area like this, the roadster seemed to be inappropriate. His suspicions grew stronger when the decent-looking man, who looks in his early thirties, got off the car and walked directly to Maria’s house direction.
He warned Fred immediately over the radio, and when the man knocked on Maria’s door, Euclid followed him and kept his eyes on the black leather bag in his hand.
“Maria, where’s Sara?” The man immediately asked when he got inside the house. He turned to Fred. “You have a guest…?”
Euclid watched Maria think of something to say that will cover them up for being here. “H-He’s my new employer…”
Fred offered his hand to the newly arrived man. “I’m Frederick,” he said and pointed at him to the doorway. “And, he’s Euclid. We’re Maria’s new bosses.”
Euclid walked inside and stood beside Maria. He looked at the man from head to toe. “Mind if you tell us who you are?”
“Maria and I knew each other—”
“That is not the answer to my question,” Euclid cut off. “I’m asking who you are.”
The man looked at Maria. They seemed to be talking at each other non-verbally, and Euclid doesn’t like it.
“I’m Connor Dela Torre,” he said and offered his hand. “I’m Sara’s doctor.”
“Wendy called him to come and check Sara because she got a high fever a while ago,” Maria said and pulled the doctor’s arm. “Sara’s in our room.”
When they went to the room, Euclid followed. He saw that the child looks fine now. “She looked okay now,” he commented. “And, calling a doctor to come over because of a simple fever isn’t necessary.”
“It’s my job to monitor Sara’s health. Even if it’s just a low fever, I still advised Maria to call me and have her daughter checked,” the man said as he prepared all the things that he’ll need to check the child.
Euclid knotted his forehead. Medicine is far from his field, but he can tell that all those medical materials that this doctor was preparing were unnecessary for just a simple fever. “Hey, Doc, are those syringes and medicine bottles needed? It’s just a fever—”
“Sir Euclid, would you mind if you’ll stay outside while I’m checking up my patient?” the doctor cut off. “And, no offense, sir, but I think it’s not normal for an employer to meddle with his employee’s personal life.”
Euclid clenched his jaw. “Is that so?”
“Sir Euclid…” Maria pulled him out of the room. “This is out of your business.”
Euclid’s brows furrowed. “Maria, that doctor is doing something inappropriate to your daughter—”
“He’s not,” she said and dragged him towards the couch. “Stay here—”
“You know, we can’t do that,” he said. “You are not allowed to go to places that we can’t see. Wherever you go, we’ll follow you.”
Maria bit her lower lip in frustration, but Euclid found it sexy. “Okay, then Fred will come with me. He’s nicer than you,” she said and walked back towards the room.
Euclid smirked. “We’re not yet done, Maria.”
Maria looked over her shoulder. “I’m done with you, Euclid.”
*
“I DON’T know what’s up with the two of you,” Fred said to Maria after Connor finished the thorough check-up of Sara. “One moment, you’re okay with each other, then after just a few moments, you’re up in a fight again.”
Maria sighed. “It’s nothing…”
“It isn’t nothing,” Fred said. “I know there is something going on between the two of you.”
“Maria, can I talk to you for a moment?” Connor asked her.
Maria nodded. She looked around the house, and when she saw that it was crowded because Euclid and Fred were sitting on the couch, she motioned to Connor that she’ll follow him outside.
“You can’t go out without me, Maria,” Euclid whispered behind her back.
The warmth of his breath against her skin makes her heart jump in surprise. Without warning, Maria turned to look at Euclid, making their lips almost touched.
Maria pushed him away, but Euclid held her tighter. “Why do you keep on pushing me away, Maria?”
She looked away from him. “Euclid, let me go—”
“Euclid? I thought you preferred to call me in my real name?”
“I told you. I am no longer the Maria that you know,” she said and tried to break free from him. “Let me go.”
“Euclid…” Fred tapped Euclid’s shoulders, but he didn’t budge.
“I need to talk to Connor—”
“Who is he?” Euclid asked between his teeth. His hand on her waist is gripped tighter that she can feel his fingers digging on her skin. “Who is he?”
“He’s Sara’s doctor—”
“Bullshit, Maria!” he hissed. “I’m tired of your lies—”
“Is there a problem?” Connor asked. “You’re harassing her.”
Euclid smirked. “It’s none of your business, Doc.”
Connor stepped inside the house again and gently pulled her away from him. “Let go, Sir.”
“Why would I?” Euclid asked and held her tighter.
“Euclid, please, let me go…” Maria whispered.
Euclid looked in her eyes, and Maria saw the pain in his eyes again. “Do you really want me to let you go?”
Connor pulled her again. And, this time, Euclid loosened his grip on her. “Don’t touch her again like that, Mister.”
Connor held her hand and ushered her outside, but Euclid grabbed her arm again. “Maria, I think you forgot to tell her the reason why we’re here.”
Maria swallowed hard. She glanced at Connor, who was already looking at her. What Maria saw in his eyes are concern and understanding.
“Right, Maria?” Euclid stepped forward. “Why don’t you tell your doctor the real reason why we don’t want you to be alone with other people except us?”
Maria pulled her hand free from Connor. She looked up at him. “C-Connor—”
“She doesn’t have to tell me,” he said instead, not taking his glare at Euclid. “I already knew who you are and why you’re here in Maria’s house.”
Maria gasped. She looked at Connor. “Y-you knew?”
Connor nodded. “And, I will help you, Maria.”
***