Genre: Romance
Rating: NC 17
Disclaimer : Standard disclaimers apply. The characters belong to Shalz R.
Chapter 2: Revamp!
Tyler spent the rest of the day calling up various Interior Designing companies and fixing appointments with them. Mrs. Maxwell contacted the people she knew were good. Most appointments were fixed for the same day. The companies sent their representatives and Mrs. Maxwell and Tyler spent the day discussing things with them.
The meetings generally were along the same lines. Mrs. Maxwell and Tyler told the representatives that they wanted to redo the interiors, the representatives, saw the exhibition and keeping in mind that Ian was a hot movie star and so the house should be equally glamorous showing off his status, gave out snazzy ideas. Tyler made notes of the people and their ideas.
They short-listed the ones they liked and told Ian about the meetings. Ian had absolutely no interest in the people or their ideas. He plainly wanted it all re-done. That’s all.
Mrs. Maxwell tried to reason out with him.
“Ian, this is your house and you have to live here. You must take interest in how you want it to be.”
“Mom, I don’t know, and I don’t care. I just want it changed. That’s all. If I have to tell them what to do then what are they for!” saying so Ian had touched his forehead probably the tenth time. The bruise swelling and mark were gone but some pain was still there.
“Why do you keep touching your forehead? What is it?”
Ian had asked his dad not to tell her of the accident. The news of the wedding being off was too much for her; the news of accident would be unbearable. After all Dianne got her sensitivity from her Mom.
“Oh, nothing! Just… nothing really.”
“Come here, let me see!”
“There’s nothing to show, Mom. Mom let me go. Its nothing.” he said moving away from her.
She looked at Tyler and Adrian for an explanation.
Tyler started to speak, “Well, Mrs. Maxwell, its just…” he got a warning look from Ian, “nothing”. Adrian understood that look too and just shrugged his shoulders.
“Carlton, you tell me. What’s all this about? What happened to his forehead?”
“Mom, you must really get so worried… its ok, I told you.”
“Carlton!”
“Ma’am”, he started, and then stopped looking at Ian.
“Don’t worry about him. I’m asking you!”
“Ma’am, that day when Master Ian was returning home, he had a little accident, his forehead hit the steering wheel and he got a bruise. It is all right now.”
Ian looked nervously at his Mom. “Mom, I was just …”
“You thought it would be too much for me.” her eyes moistened at the thought of her caring son. “That woman!” she suddenly said through her clenched teeth. “Tell me how it happened, Ian”
“Mom, its ok.” and then noticed the exasperated look on her face, “Ok, alright. I left the office and was driving back. I didn’t take the chauffeur and was driving myself. I was lost in thoughts when I heard a scream and sort of woke up, there was a wall ahead and I applied the brakes. Due to the impact I hit my head on the wheel. That’s how I got the bruise. For a moment I thought I had run over somebody but when I got out I found all was ok. Since no one was hurt, I don’t know who screamed or how I applied the brakes, but if it weren’t for that lady I would have drove straight into the wall. There was such a crowd gathered around and I was in a hurry to get out of that place that I never did find out who it was who warned and saved me from … what would have been a fatal accident.” He smiled a bit, “Maybe that was my guardian angel!”
Mrs. Maxwell had tears floating in her eyes. “Bless her. She saved my life!” she said as she ruffled his hair. Ian hugged his Mom.
Tyler reminded that she had one more person to call up. She looked up her diary and contacted the person who had first set up his office in N. Y, but now had offices in most other states, including California where he now lived. She had previously employed his services for their house in N. Y, and was left feeling very satisfied with his work.
Tyler dialed the number of Mr. McKenzie.
“Good evening! McKenzie Creations.”
“Good evening. May I speak to Mr. McKenzie? Tell him Mrs. Maxwell wants to talk.”
The operator put the call across to the proprietor in a while.
“Hello, Mrs. Maxwell. How do you do?”
“Hello, Mr. McKenzie. I am fine. Thank you. I had to speak with you regarding the interiors assignment of my son Ian Maxwell’s house here in California. We want to redo the interiors of this house. I want you to send your best interior designer for an appointment tomorrow.”
“Absolutely, Mrs. Maxwell. I have just the person for you. Stephens the name; very talented, very hardworking and one of my best workers. I can entrust your house in those hands. I’m sure you will find our services as good as the last time.”
“Thank you, Mr. McKenzie. Then tomorrow at ten in the morning I will fix the appointment.”
“Very well, Mrs. Maxwell. Stephens will be there at 10 in the morning. Good night, Mrs. Maxwell. ”
With that the call was ended. Mrs. Maxwell had finally exhausted her list of interior designers. Ian saw that she was tired from the day’s meetings and remarked, “Mom, you are very tired, you should rest now. You have done enough for today and …”
The phone rang and Tyler took it and told him it was from the producer of his new venture and Ian went to take it.
Mrs. Maxwell sighed, “My work is yet not complete, dear.” she said quietly.
* * *
It was 9:00 a.m. Mrs. Maxwell was in Ian’s room coaxing him to meet the representative from McKenzie's office, while he was getting ready for his work.
“Mom, I told you, I don’t want anything specific. Just change this house. That’s it.”
“If you meet that person, it’s not going to harm anything. Even if all you have to say to is “I want it changed”, I want you to say this to Mr. Stephens yourself. It’s your house. You take the responsibility of your house. How long will your old Mum take care of you? At my age my children should be taking care of me, and look at me! I’m still getting even the clothes ready for you.” she complained.
“But, Mom…I’m in a hurry” he said trying to give an excuse.
“Ian all you have to do is meet a man, can you do just this much! It is not going to take much time. Look I have to return in a day or two. Your father is there and I have to take care of him also. So if you can assure me that you can take care of yourself then I can go home satisfied.”
Ian gave up. He knew how worried she had been for him. “OK. I’ll meet this Mr. Stephens of yours.”
* * *
It was going to be ten. The small party of four gathered in the family room, awaiting the arrival of Mr. Stephens from McKenzie Creations.
Carlton came in looking a bit amused, unusual for him, for he always maintained the ethics. He announced that the representative from McKenzie had arrived and was waiting in the hall. They all looked at each other and started out towards the hall.
In the hall was waiting for them the representative from McKenzie. Studying the awards on the table was a tall, slim, long-hair-tied in-a-neat-French-braid lady wearing a baby pink long straight skirt and top.
She turned around to face them and smiled, “Good morning, I am Ms. Stephens from McKenzie Creations.”
All looked amused as they greeted her.
* * *