Chapter Two
1362 Words
Five hours had passed, after being forced out of bed by my Miss Raymond, she had sworn on her life to make my marriage life a living hell.
I had just served them breakfast by 6am in the morning, expecting to rest for a minute, but she stormed into the kitchen yelling at me for being so weak.
She immediately remembered a chore I tried every moment to forget. Preparing lunch for my wife and her mystery guest.
I spent the remaining three hours making lunch. Every minute Miss Raymond would sneak into the kitchen hoping to catch me sleeping or distracted, but I was prepared for her that morning. When I was done cooking, my face was already covered in sweat and tired. I decided to lay my head on the wall for a little while but Jennifer stormed in.
“Take the food to the dining table, he will be here soon,” she said, dressed like one who was going on a date or who was bringing a man over to meet her mom.
She didn’t even care to ask me how she looked in that dress. After all, I didn't count.
“Who is he?” I asked, looking at her but noticed she was no longer staring at me. “You haven’t told me about this guest of yours.”
“He is my guest, not yours. Sam, stop poking your nose where it doesn’t belong, remember I have the keys to the door.”
My breath paused, she was threatening me in a house that was once mine. I wouldn’t have said that to her even though she punched me in the face.
“You look beautiful Jenni,” I said with a smile while walking closer to her.
“Thank you, Sam,” she replied. Without looking at me.
“Oh, you should wear the necklace I got you on our first date, the one you—“
“What? Oh! Can’t be serious, you don’t expect me to wear that thing on my neck to meet with Charles?”
“I thought you liked it, you told me yourself.”
“Yeah I did, until I found out it wasn’t real.”
“What?” I looked at her, stepping backwards.
“I wore it to an event a few months ago, then a strange lady told me that the necklace I was flaunting was a fake.”
“But it was a gift, Jenni.”
“A fake necklace can’t be a gift, you should have given me something better, not fake gold,” she snapped.
“Who cares, if it's fake or real.”
“I care Samuel, other ladies care, don’t expect me to wear that stupid gold just to play wife to you.”
“Is that what you think this is, a play?” I asked, my voice cracking, then I swallowed hard.
“Let's not do this Sam, just focus on getting the meal ready.”
She turned and left the kitchen.
I turned and hit my fist on the table laid before me. I turned back and looked at the door she went through. I knew Miss Raymond was planning something big, something dangerous, and I can’t tell if Jennifer knows about it.
The bell rang. My hand panicked, the meal wasn’t set up yet, I wore the gloves, carried the meal to the dining table, went back, took the chicken and the empty plates at once.
Miss Raymond ran to the door before I could set the meal up. I heard chatting and laughter coming outside. A man walked in wearing a suit and a hat looking all neat and expensive. He was holding an expensive wine in his right hand. I nodded with my head. This was the kind of man Miss Raymond dreamed of for her daughter.
I rushed to the living room to welcome the guest, letting him know I was the man of the house.
Before I could step out of the dining room, Miss Raymond called with that irritating sound of her voice, especially whenever she felt excited.
“Samuel, boy, take the drink from Mr Charles and keep it where it belongs,” he handed the wine to me. “And don’t crash it on the floor, or you get no dinner tonight.”
Both laughed. I stood there shocked, wondering what she meant by that. Was she in any way trying to treat me like a slave in front of the guest?
I took the drink from her, held it tight as if I wanted it to explode right in front of me.
“What are you still standing there for? Did you forget something?” she asked.
“Oh, I think I know what he wants,” Charles said. He put his hands into his pocket, took out a few coins and put them in my hand. “There you go, don’t spend it all at once.”
Both continue laughing, walking straight to the living room.
I felt humiliated in my own house by a stranger who gave me tips like I was some kind of slave boy.
I turned to leave. Jennifer walked in. She made her way straight to Charles, wrapped her hands around him and kissed him on the lips. She immediately released her hands from him when she noticed me, standing behind Charles.
“Sam, what are you doing here? You were meant to get the meal ready.”
“I have,” I said, still holding the bottle of wine and the cash in my hand.
“Is he your cook?” Charles asked, looking at Jenni.
“No, he...” the word lingered a little in her mouth. She stared at me. Her face, covered in sweat, almost ruined her makeup. She was definitely thinking of something to say, maybe something that would make me less suspicious of them.
“Let's get to the dining room. Lunch is served,” Miss Raymond said, interrupting the discussion. She knew that this wasn’t a good place to give him the reply he desired.
They walked to the dining room. I followed them hoping to see their reaction if I sat with them. At least Charles would feel uncomfortable and curious when he sees a house boy sitting in the dining room eating lunch with his boss.
Jennifer held him in his left hand, leading him to my favorite spot in the dining room. A spot I love seating, at least that was the only spot I felt like being the head of this family. Charles pulled out a chair for her, and she sat, then he sat on his.
I tried to sit on the chair beside Jenni, but she dragged me in the hand before I could make it to the seat.
She took me to the kitchen.
“What is wrong with you?” She asked, her voice sounding like a whisper.
“Nothing besides you are the one acting differently.”
“Sam stopped the act, you know what I am asking, what were you trying to do back there?”
“Where?”
“In the dining room,” she shouted. Then I looked back, trying to peer through the door. If her voice had been heard.
“Were you not expecting me to have lunch with the guest?” I asked.
“You,” she laughed. “I won’t allow that, I have a business meeting with Charles, and it is not a family dinner or something.”
“But your mother is there?” I said, pointing in the direction of the dining room.
“Look, Sam, why are you difficult? I told you we don’t need you there, is that so hard?”
“I don’t have anything to do, just allow me a seat, I promise not to make a sound.”
“Please don’t, just get yourself busy, wash some dishes or something, just do anything but don’t come to the dining room, I will call you when we need you.”
Those were her last words before she exited the door behind her.
- Writer
