Chapter 7 Arrogant Man

• "Derrick, come here. I would like to have a word with you," Lady Loretta said as she called her only son back. She knew that Derrick was not pleased with her actions in pardoning Miranda; however, she liked Miranda a lot, and since Miranda had not wronged her personally or done anything wrong to the other maids, she couldn't simply terminate Miranda's employment at her home.
• More likely, Lady Loretta had more hidden objectives. She could not just disclose her plans yet, as she had taken Miranda away from the orphanage home personally and enrolled the young woman in school.
• There was a time when Lady Loretta had gone to the orphanage home for one of her leisurely, kind-hearted works. There she saw the beautiful young girl, who was not happy and was mostly staring at the door.
• Lady Loretta knew the young girl's wish was to leave the orphanage home and go outside to the world beyond and establish herself. She never disclosed to Miranda that she was the woman behind Miranda's freedom. She made the offer to the orphanage home to adopt Miranda, and they should offer Miranda the job that she had to work as a maid under her if she wanted to get her freedom.
• Lady Loretta already had seven daughters, and her first daughter was already 47 years plus and a grandmother, making her a great grandmother. So, what did she need a daughter for?
• Similarly, she liked Miranda a lot and wished Derrick would notice the beautiful girl, but Derrick doesn't care about any of the maids.
• Lady Loretta also saw the way Derrick stared at the maid with pure irritation. It raised an alarm in her heart that Derrick would never like Miranda, even though she set them up.
• She was wrong to think her son would like the maid when she knew that Derrick would have his own preference for the kind of woman he wanted.
• Lady Loretta sighed as she watched Derrick walk back to meet her. "What is it, mother?"
• "Derrick, come sit here. I want to have a word with you," Lady Loretta repeated, and Derrick sighed and took a seat on the pristine white couch beside his mother.
• "Mom, I just wanted to take a stroll outside to clear my mind," Derrick said as he finally sat down beside his mother.
• "Why is that? Are you thinking about what I told you the previous night or about the maid? You know that Miranda is my maid; I like her a lot, and I cannot just send her away when she has not wronged me."
• "I understand, mother, and I am not concerned about the maid. What would you like to discuss with me? Is it about the birthday party as of the previous night or about the fact that you want me to marry?" Derrick inquired, and his mother smiled at him and replied, "Both of them."
• "I want to discuss with you about settling down first, as ever since you returned from college and after taking over your father's company. You have not yet introduced any lady to me as your girlfriend, nor have you brought any woman home for me to see her and meet with her. Or do you not have a girlfriend at least?"
• "No, mother. I already told you that I do not need a woman," Derrick's face contorted with a frown.
• "Why? Well, you should, my son. I want you to marry on time, as your father already has so much wealth for you, so it shouldn't be until you are older that you should be thinking about marriage. Would you like me to marry a woman for you and bring her here?"
• "No, Mother. I do not need that. Actually, last night I was discussing this with Nicole. She wanted me to court with Alexa Godwin, my secretary, and Alexa isn't a bad person. She came from a well-respected family here, and she also has a good work ethic in the office."
• "Hmm, I am not familiar with Alexa Godwin, and I did not really know her. Maybe when next Alexa comes to visit us, you can show her to me, as you know, you would not be able to know Alexa's true character if you were both in the office. When next she visits, you should bring her for me to see the kind of person she is," Lady Loretta concluded, and Derrick agreed with her. "Okay, Mother."
• "Thank you for the birthday arrangements yesterday; I really appreciate them. Even if it wasn't something I wanted," Derrick had a frown on his face, and his mother smiled at him.
• "It's only compulsory that I celebrate your birthday with you. You know that you look so much like your father in his younger days, and if only he were here with us. He was a good man, and that's why he has so many business partners all over the world. I could remember when I met with your father then. I came from a lower-class family, he never minded that and felt in love with me at first sight. We met in the supermarket, though; he was running some errands for his mother while I was doing some shopping for my boss. I mistakenly bumped into him, and that was how we met."
• "Really, you are from a lower-class family, mother?" Derrick looked perplexed, and his mother smiled at him and said, "Yes, you thought I was born with a silver spoon like you. No, I was not. It was after I met with your father that he did not let me go back; he wanted to know much more about me, and he also elevated my family's status from our lower status to the level that my family is now."
• "Hm. That's very good of my father, but I cannot have anything to do with a lady from the lower class," Derrick spat, and that only shattered his mother's heart.
• "Why is that Derrick? You know you cannot judge anyone based on their background. All that matters is to find a good woman who will love you and treat you right. You know, your father used to think that the women from the lower-class homes were more refined, more homely, honest, and also genuine."
• "No, mother. I see them as gold diggers, liars, and dirty people. I cannot associate with anyone of low status, whether women or men. They are dirty and irritating, and I find them repulsive."
• "What? Do I irritate you, my son?" Lady Loretta looked bewildered at her son's statement. She would not blame him, knowing that he had never tasted hardship. He was brilliant and always got everything he wanted correctly.
• "No, mother. Except for you, you do not irritate me, but I do not think that I will ever want to associate with anyone or have anything to do with a woman from a poor background. I cannot like lazy, poor women. I would rather have a lady from a higher-class home that matches my status and academic intellect, or do you want me to have dull kids in the future? I do not like those poor people, and that's the truth. They do not interest me."
• Lady Loretta sighed, and Derrick held her left hand warmly and assured her, "Do not worry, Mom. I will marry, since that's what you want. I will try to get along with Alexa and bring her over for you to meet with her. Is that okay with you?"
• Looking at her only son's dark, handsome face, his well-featured face, full brows, and midnight blue eyes, Lady Loretta's heart broke after hearing Derrick's statement regarding the poor people. She knew that her hope of having Miranda as her daughter-in-law had failed. Miranda was pretty and hardworking, but her academic performance was bad, and Miranda had no plan to further her education either.
• Well, Lady Loretta caused it, as she wanted Miranda at home with her. She feared, 'What if another man out there spots Miranda and falls in love with her? Miranda looked beautiful with her nice shape, blonde hair, pointed nose, and brown, sparkling eyes. The gentleman would take Miranda away from me, and I did not want that.'
• "Mother, are you listening to all that I have just said? I apologize for my words regarding the poor, but the truth remains: I don't like them. I just find them lazy people," Derrick concluded.
• "No, they are not lazy, Derrick. Don't say that. It's life for you. All fingers are not equal, but they work together to assist us in doing our daily activities and achieving our goals. You shouldn't look down on anyone simply because you are privileged. It broke my heart to see that you think of lower-class families this way. How about kids without homes and parents? You were fortunate enough to have a home and family to call home, and you should not use your glory in life to rub it on other people's faces. They would not admire it, but rather think of how to destroy it and put you in such agony as them. Think of them as equals, and that's not looking down on anyone. I made a terrible mistake before, but in my next visit to the orphanage homes and in helping the poor people from the lower-class families, you would accompany me, not just give them gifts in your name."
• "No, Mom," Derrick said, having a scowl on his face as he rose from the couch. "I cannot visit the town if that's what you want."
• "Derrick, you will. Where are you off to?" Lady Loretta queried him as he turned to stroll out of the mansion.
• As he turned to leave the living room, Derrick met Miranda standing in front of them.
• She quickly looked away from him as she heard all he said. She usually listened to his conversation with his mother, and this was the first time she got to know that his mother was from a poor home, but not him. He was such an arrogant man.