Boarding School

chapter 4

Chapter 4

EJ 🖋️

I woke up with pounding head and aching back, everywhere was aching me. My head was throbbing, I felt so disoriented.

I lay back on the bed and felt the other side of it using my hand,. Yup, I guessed right someone was laying there, definitely Nickel.

After gathering my thoughts for a while, I switched on the bed lamp and saw a glass of water with some aspirin on the stool.

Popping open two tablets, I raised up the glass of water to my lips sipping some before adding the aspirin then swallowing it.

I saw a note where I picked up the water from.

'i don't know when you'll wake up but here's some drugs for you mum.

With love, Nickel'

Reading the note brought a smile to my face one so huge that I turned over and placed a kiss on her forehead.

I picked up my phone and saw that it was only past 5 before heading to the restroom.

And yes, my darling Nickel arranged my clothes for me as well as my toiletries and probably my makeup cause I didn't see the laugage where I kept it and my toiletries were arranged.

I took my bath and dressed up for work. It's Wednesday for crying out loud.

And yup, Nickel arranged my makeup as well. She's such a darling.

I stepped into the kitchen and met the maids preparing breakfast. I totally forgot Jane had maids.

I settle for coffee and some toast when I saw Jane come downstairs.

"Good morning lovely." Jane said in a cheerful tone.

"Good morning madame." I replied in my own cheerful tone making the both of us laugh. We could never be serious.

She settled down for breakfast after instructing the maids on lunch and dinner and how not to let Miguel have just apple for breakfast instead of an actual breakfast.

"Where are you going to?" Jane asked me when she saw me going into the kitchen with my plates.

"Obviously to keep my plates?" I reply sarcastically. Making her raise a brow at me.

"Well darling as long as you're not my boys, you're allowed to leave your plate right here on the dinning table. That's why I pay the maids." She said in a strict mom tone making the both of us laugh.

"I want to prepare eggs for Nickel. Only I know how to make her eggs." I said stepping into the kitchen.

"Make some for me please." She shouted after me making the both of us chuckle. Typical foodie Jane.

*

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*

Work today was hectic and I also had to meet up with barrister ann. Jane's lawyer to talk about my marriage which was where I was headed. Jane has a date with Sebastian so, I'm going alone.

"Good afternoon barrister"

"Good Afternoon Mrs Rodriguez. My client informed me that you'll be visiting today." She said in a professional tone.

I so much loved this woman, when Jane and I were younger, we used to love being close to her, imitating her and all but law school was hard so we opted out and ended up as Journalist each.

Thinking about that memory now kind of makes me feel sad I was so free and young. I didn't have to worry about kids or an abusive husband. Well, I guess that's life.

"Jane briefed me on what happened between you and Mr Rodriguez. But I want to hear about it from you."

That was how I told her about everything even that from 27 years ago.

***

27 years ago.

Betrothed wasn't a term we use anymore but it still happened in our wealthy society.

The Philips, the Meyers, the Rodriguez, and The Woods have been friends since the beginning of time, our parents were born friends and yes, they also had betrothed marriages.

I don't know if it was planned or pure faith but The Rodriguez and The Woods gave birth to boys a year before The Philips and The Meyers had daughters so here came a perfect opportunity for the merge to happen.

When I was a girl I used to hear grandma speak about how nice it was for the friends to finally become family.

My mother was close to Jane's mother, they even called theirselves sisters. Had both our brothers not been born four years before us, we would have been betrothed to them.

There's still a part of me that wishes I was born a year or two after Jordan was born. We might have been happier than Anthonio and I was.

I had always known that I would end up with Anthonio Rodriguez and Jane with Vicente Woods but we didn't want that.

The boys of both family were raised identically maybe because they were brothers who built different empires with Thier different middle names, we didn't know but both boys were raised to feel superior to women and I didn't want that.

I had just turned 17 when my parents told me my marriage with Anthonio would be held in Autumn next year.

Marrying Anthonio was something I dreaded most. I hated him to the guts. He was such a bully and that Vincete was always supporting him more like in cahoots with them.

I didn't want such a man, I wanted someone calm and sweet. Someone like Jordan and I knew he wanted me too.

Jordan was betrothed to Camilla Parker she was the Mayor's daughter back then. Even as a junior and she in highschool, I knew how bitchy she was mostly because she always picked on me in secret when Jordan and my Brother Jules weren't there.

We were in love. I loved Jordan and he did me too. We were planning on running away. We wanted out, free from b*****e.

After my mother broke the news to me, I was devastated. I went to my father to beg him. I knelt down and begged him to call of the marriage but as expected of mr Philip, he couldn't do that without his wife's permission.

It was a good day in the Philip's ancestral house. I wanted my seventeenth birthday in our garden. Jane and I had a bet on Who's party was gonna be a hit and thank God her birthday came first In May.

She threw this grand ball in their drawing room, it was so beautiful but too much elegance. I wanted something free, to connect with nature, so I choose a garden tea party.

My birthday was in November so I had quite the weather for an open door event.

The garden was decorated beautiful with lights and tables that held snacks. There was dancing, teas of different roots and origins, no adult above twenty one was allowed in the adults had a separate get together in the manor where they talked about books, politics, power, fame and whatever adults talked about.

My mother loved this. She hated kids. I didn't blame her for it. Jules was a handful.

Different from Jane's party that was so rule centered, mine was freedom.

I was walking through the hallway heading to the garden in my blue flowing v neck gown and a tiara at the top of my head. My gown was adorned in jewels that sparkled under light and my necklace had a blue Sapphire heart shaped diamond with white gold. My tiara was also made of blue jewel and pure silver.

My mother always made sure I outshined everyone. She loved the praise she gets and she wanted the Rodriguez to see I was no ordinary girl.

I felt a hand drag me and another covering my mouth to preventing me from letting out a scream.

I took in a deep breath and realized that it was the smell of earth and cinnamon I wanted to smell so bad.

"Jordan you're here." I said happily when he removed his hand from my mouth after he was sure I wouldn't scream.

"Of course I am. Who were you expecting to see?" He asked with a coky smile, making his electric blue eyes shine.

"A bandit?" I replied more like a question than a statement. In a voice dripping with sarcasm making him laugh.

"Sarcastic are we?" He asked chuckling making me and his chest vibrate cause I was close to his chest, pinned to the wall.

"Much." Came my response. I loved his laughing self so much I could pay for front row in the movie theater to watch it.

"Well, I wanted to give the princess her gift. He said bringing out a golden heart shaped chain.

Spinning me around, I he took the chain and wore it around my neck. My back pressed against his chest and I wasn't ashamed to say I loved the feeling of it.