Sweat dripped down his eyebrows, forcing his eyes to close for a second while he wiped his forehead dry with a clean, dry cloth. The sun was definitely making its presence known as it shone brightly while he worked on repairing the floorboard of the back porch.
It had been three days since he arrived in this place. His back ached from sleeping on the hard floor, his muscles screamed from hard labor, and his lungs protested from exhaustion. Yet, he had taken the challenge like a man. Never complaining, just ensuring that the job was done.
"Why are you doing this?" A deep, gravelly voice of a young man echoed behind him as he grabbed several slabs of wood and carried them back into the back of the house, where he had been working all morning. "Aren't you a big star?" The boy questioned in amazement.
How could he blame the boy? Most of the famous stars he knew would never be caught dead holding a hammer and slaving like a pig underneath the summer heat. To top that, nobody would volunteer to do charity work without the press coverage.
So, why was he doing exactly that? Nolan had a simple answer.
"I promise Emily that I will help around the house." That was not a lie, but it was not precisely the entire story. Nevertheless, he was not about to share that with the kid. "Once I promise something, I try my best to honor it. Besides, a man should not be afraid of hard work and getting his hands dirty," Nolan added, recalling what his father used to tell him.
Although that was true, he omitted to say that by honoring that promise, he also expected something in return. Therefore, failure was never an option for him. He had to fulfill their bet if he wanted her to agree to his proposal.
"Go grab me that tape measure," Nolan asked Allen, who had been assisting him with his task. He needed to measure the size of the plank to use in replacing the broken piece on the landing strip. It had to be the exact dimension so it would fit perfectly in the open slot.
Although he was not a handyman, he still knew a thing or two about fixing things. He remembered his father forcing him to work on the movie set when he turned fifteen, running assorted errands for the crew.
Whether it was to buy coffee, fetch things around the set, read lines with the cast, or even hammer a few nails for the props, he carried his orders with no objections. It was part of his training as the future heir of his father's company.
At an early age, Nolan learned that no role was too big or too small. Each task was equally important as the others.
"Now, you just need to make sure that you don't hurt yourself." Nolan showed Allen how to use the electric circular saw to cut the wood precisely. "Would you like to do the next one?" Teaching Allen a new skill that the young man could utilize later on.
"Cool," Allen responded excitedly. It was clear that the young man sought a role model to look up to, having no other male adults in the house and growing up without a father figure.
As Nolan watched the young boy work carefully with the saw, it suddenly reminded him of all the times that he had spent with his father and mother when he was growing up. Honestly, it had not been all fun and games. But interestingly, it had been the best moments of his life.
"That's great, Allen!" Nolan praised the kid for doing an excellent job. He believed that every job well done deserved recognition. This time, it was his mother who taught him that.
Many thought that he was just a rich, spoiled heir of the Maxwell family, but he was more than that. Not everything was handed to him on a silver platter as everyone expected. He might have been born with a silver spoon, but his parents raised him as if he had nothing.
The Maxwell family came from old money, but he still had to prove his worth like his father and everyone else, through hardship, blood, and sweat. On the other hand, he had earned his spot in the limelight, like his mother, through perseverance and determination, rather than by virtue of his birthright or connections.
For his parents, anything that came easily in life could also disappear in an instant, while hard-earned money and respect could last a lifetime.
"I think we're almost finished here," Allen announced once he banged the last nail on the last plank, replacing all the old, moldy wood around the porch with freshly cut ones.
Nolan inspected the boy's work and put his thumbs up for approval. "I don't think I could have done a better job." He believed the boy was a fast learner. If Allen could get the necessary support, Nolan believed the young boy could have a bright future ahead of him.
Sadly, most kids who grew up in the orphanage usually never got the chance. Many of them found themselves lost in the cracks within the system and were soon forgotten. Hopefully, Nolan could change that. But it would require more than mere words, but more action.
"Hey, guys, I brought snacks and refreshments." Mrs. Beth appeared by the back door, carrying a tray of food in her hands. "I'm sure you two must be hungry and thirsty." The middle-aged woman, in an adorable apron, planted the food on a nearby table and invited them to dig in.
Nolan could not help but feel disappointed. Truthfully, he expected Emily to show up with the snacks, just like the other times. But since last night, after falling asleep on the floor, he had not seen her yet. When he woke up that morning, her bed was already empty.
During breakfast with the kids, he overheard that she had gone to town with Mother Tessa. But he wondered if she was back. Admittedly, he could not stand not knowing where she was.
"Thanks, Mrs. Beth." Allen grabbed two pieces of the delicious chocolate cookies on the plate, while he only took the cold lemonade, needing to quench the dryness of his mouth from the intensifying heat.
"Mrs. Beth, have Emily return with Mother Tessa?" Nolan finally asked after finishing his drink in three gulps. It had been hours since she left that morning. He thought she should be back by now, but he still had to see a glimpse of her.
Besides wanting to see her, he had a few matters he wanted to discuss with her. At the moment, he had finished the three tasks she had assigned to him. The leaking pipes in the kitchen sink were fixed yesterday. Also, the busted lights in the living room were replaced last night. Now, the back porch was ready for inspection.
What ridiculous tasks would she come up with next to discourage him from pursuing this marriage arrangement? But no matter what it was, it would never change his mind.
Nolan wanted Emily as his wife. There was simply no other woman perfect for the role.
"Oh, young love." Mrs. Beth clearly misinterpreted his intention, giggling like she had just witnessed the sweetest thing. "It must be hard to be separated from her even for a minute." The lovely woman continued with her teasing tone.
"No, I didn't mean it like that." But he stopped explaining, knowing it would make little difference. Besides, they thought they were here on their honeymoon, explaining their situation would only ruin the illusion.
"Yeah, they just arrived a few minutes ago. I think she went straight to your room." Mrs Beth informed him with a mischievous wink. Needless to say, her eyes carried a deeper meaning that she left unspoken.
Quickly, he excused himself, leaving Mrs. Beth and the kid. He climbed two steps at a time, using the stairs in the kitchen to the second floor as a shortcut, stopping only when he reached the door of their private quarters.
Nolan was about to open the door when he heard her voice. It appeared she was in a deep conversation. As he strained his ears through the wooden door, he listened to her muffled exchange with whoever was on the other line. It was unclear, but he deciphered a few key words from the one-sided private phone call.
"She's leaving." He muttered under his breath, puzzled by the suddenness in her decision. As far as he knew, she intended to stay in this place for a week. Therefore, something must have happened back home that forced her to change her mind.
"Hospital? Money? Surgery?" Hearing those words and the urgency in her tone, Nolan barged into the room without knocking. "What's wrong, Emily?" He immediately asked, unfazed by her furious reaction to his eavesdropping. "Is there something I can do?" Offering to help upon seeing her distraught face.
Deep in his mind, he thought this was his opportunity to gain her trust. Again, he was no saint, but a man on a mission. If he could help her with her situation, it would leave her with no choice but to agree with him.
At this point, he had every intention of exploiting her vulnerability to gain an advantage, even if it meant a life and death situation.
"Let me get my jet ready. We can leave in an hour." Nolan said in his most authoritative voice, giving her no room to argue.