Christmas' Misery

Chapter twenty

[Lorie]

I stopped the car in front of the house as I finally got home. The backseat was contained by the grocery bags where the staff putted all the foods I bought. I only had cereals, vegetables, and meats inside my grocery bags that is good for one week for us both. We are not going to stay here long or should I will not stay here longer. After my part on his plan, I'm going back in Orlando and he will stay because Christmas is here.

“Done buying groceries?”

I almost jumped in shock as heard Carlos's voice behind me. “Don't you dare to do that! You will kill me in shock!” I yelled at him.

“What did you two–”

Ding dong! Ding dong!

“Auntie? Are you already home?” Christmas asked outside.

We suddenly both stop when my niece showed up outside. I looked at him and mouthed 'what will I do?' Carlos signalled me to open the door and walked through the staircase to hide himself.

“I'm already home wait a minute,” I answered and quickly placed the grocery bags in the floor before I open the door, “What are you doing here?” I asked without opening the door widely.

“Ahm, I-I just want to invite you at the dinner tonight. Duke insisted and you can bring whoever who you with,” she answered.

“Oh, dinner–”

“Tell her we are going.”

I was taken aback when Carlos is now standing at the back of the door. He whispered again what he said. “We are going.” I answered as I faced back at my niece.

“Great! The dinner will be at 8:00 later, Auntie.”

“Okay, see you later then.”

When Christmas gone in front of the doorway, I closed the door and faced Carlos who is now sitting in the couch. He was watching television while his feet is on the top of the coffee table in front him. I picked up the grocery bags and walk in front him, heading at the kitchen.

“We are really going, huh?” I asked Carlos as I got here in the kitchen, “And by means of we, you are really going at the dinner?”

“Why? Don't you want your niece to surprise seeing we are together, hmm?” he asked in sarcasm manners.

“This is wasn't included at the plan you had told me last night,” I replied here at the kitchen.

“Well, this is already in included at the plan now,” he said arrogantly.

“Tsk. This man is really getting on my nerves,” I murmured and instead of arguing I start placing the food I bought in the refrigerator.

“Go at your niece and help her in preparing the dinner tonight,” he ordered.

I glared at him, placing my hands in my waist. “She didn't ask my help recently when we are talking. So, why would I help her?!”

He faced me, arching his brow. “Does Christmas have to ask you if she needs help? It is your niece, Lorie. You are not a VIP to act like that. Stop complaining and go at their house.” He ordered and stare back on what he is watching.

“This isn't fair!” I yelled in so much annoyance. “I'm the older here and I am following orders who is younger than me! Why I am here anyway? I shouldn't be here!”

“What are you whining there?” Carlos asked glaring on me, “Yea, I'm younger than you but you took advantage our situation, right? Admit it, Lorie, you enjoyed the moment of our sex.” he smirked, “Besides, you wouldn't rell

I chuckled unbelievable and shook my head. In speechless and for being blank on words to say, I headed upstairs to change clothes. I shouldn't said that and now I'm ashamed because he was right. Damn him!

[Duke]

Ring! Ring!

"I think it is important, Duke. You better answer it," Christmas said as my phone ring for the second time.

"Okay,” I only replied and left her in the dining to answer the call. “Could you stop calling me!” I yelled quitely as I answered the call.

Cheena laughed in the other line. “Why would I? Am I disturbing you and your wife?” She asked sarcastically.

“We are having our breakfast so stop calling me,” I said grinding my teeth.

“Oh, so am I. I'm having a bla–”

“What is it you want?” I cut her off.

“I miss you Duke. Come to my hous–”

“I can't Cheena. We are going to have a dinner with her aunt tonight.”

“You can still go at your dinner with your loving wife,” she replied in a duh tone, “Just go here now so you can make it at your dinner.” she added.

“Fine,” I only replied and ended the line.

I stopped my car as I parked here in the ground of the condominium where Cheena is living. I am now heading at the elevator and I called her while waiting

“I am already here now in the elevator. Which floor are you and what number?” I started as she answered my call.

“Great! I'm on the 6th floor room 108,” she answered.

“Okay,” I only replied and ended the call. I pressed the button where I am heading and wait the elevator to take me there.

As I arrived on the floor, I start looking for her room and pressed the doorbell as I found her room number. The door opened and Cheena showed up wearing a white mini skirt and a yellow tube bra. She is wearing a high knee socks and cute pink slippers.

“Hi, Duke, come in.” She pulled me inside before I could reply.

“I'm not going to stay here long and you knew that,” I said as I take off her hand on me and turn my back.

“Yea, I already knew that,” she replied at my back.

“I'm going back at the house at 4 so what are we going to do he–” I was about to face her when she put her arms around me.

“I miss you,” she whispered at my back, “Do you want me, Duke? Tell me you want me. Tell me!”

I heaved a sigh and take off her arms around me. I faced her. “I can't continue this anymore, Cheena.”

“What are you talking about? Are you breaking up with me, huh?!”

I chuckled sarcastically. “There is nothing going on between us, Cheena, except that you are my secretary and I'm your boss. We just f****d and that is it. We never had any commitment.” I said right into her eyes. “Christmas isn't depress anymore and she is now satisfying me again.”

“You are unbelievable, Duke!” Cheena yelled and pushed me. “Don't do this to me. You wouldn't be here if you don't want to continue this anymore!”

“I came here to end this. So, we are done now. I'm going back in the house,” I said and passed her.

“I will not let you go like this,” she said at my back.

I didn't mind her and continue walking towards the doorway. I was about to open the door when a hard thing smashed on my head from the back. Before I could react, my sight already became black and I fell in the floor unconsciously.

[Christmas]

“Christmas!”

I was in the middle of cleaning the living room when I heard aunt Lorie calling me outside. My forehead start to knotted and I walk towards the door to face her.

“What is it, Auntie? Is there something you want?” I asked and open the door widely.

She chuckled. “I just came here to help you in preparing the dinner.”

“Oh? But you don't have to. You will be our visitor–” I was cut off when she suddenly stepped inside.

“Nah! Stop that visitor thing. I'm going to help you and that is period.”

I smiled. “Okay, Auntie, if it's that what you want.” I closed the door.

“So, are we going to start now? What are we going to cook?” she asked.

“It is too early to prepare.” I glanced at the clock and the time is 2:00 in the afternoon. “I'm just cleaning when you came.”

Aunt Lorie laughed. “Yea, right it's too early. Hahaha! Wait a minute I will going back at the house and bring the meat I bought recently.”

“No need, Auntie, we have here meat.”

“It's okay, Christmas, I insisted. I will come back,” she said and left me to get the meat.

I heaved a sigh and continue what I am doing before aunt Lorie came. It took me almost half of our before I finished cleaning the living room and the kitchen but aunt Lorie is not yet coming back.

“Hmm,” I hummed while my hands are on my waist, thinking what should I do next. If aunt Lorie insisted to help me on dinner, I will wait for her to come back. Maybe I will just text first Duke what time he will go home so that I am aware. I headed upstair and walked straight in our room without glimpsing at the room I passed off. I sat on the bed and start texting him.

'What time will you go home?' I asked on my message to him. I waited for his reply but it is already ten minutes passed but I didn't receive from him.

“Christmas!”

As I heard aunt Lorie calling me, I quickly putted my phone inside my pocket and head downstairs. I opened the door and I saw her holding a container where she placed the meat.

“I'm sorry if I'm just now,” she apologized, “I just had to deal something inside.”

“What did you deal with, Auntie? You sounded like you came in an argument. Are you?” I asked as I walked with her in the kitchen.

She heaved a sign and faced me. “Let's not talk about it. Can we?”

“Yes, Auntie, if it's what you want,” I only replied and smiled uneasy.

Aunt Lorie and I started making our dinner. We soaked the meat at the soy sauce so it will become juicy once we cook it on the grill later. Our food will be cook in all grilled and the vegetables as well. The dinner will be held in the backyard and I texted it to Duke so that he knows even his presence wasn't here. After settling everything in the backyard, Aunt Lorie came back at the house in front to get change of her clothes. We just done preparing everything for our dinner and I'm already wearing the Louis Vuitton dress that Duke wants me to wear tonight. Speaking of him, I ain't receive a reply since I sent my message recently. I am now here outside waiting for him to arrive but I don't have any idea if he is already on his way home.

“Waiting for your husband, hmm?”

I was suddenly stunned after hearing the familiar voice in my side. I slowly turned to see if my thought was right and seems I saw a ghost as I felt coldness. “Ca-carlos?” I uttered.

“Hello, Christmas, surprise to see me?” he smiled playfully, wearing a formal attire that really suits him.

“How did you got here?” I asked and I can't even move where I am standing.

“I just moved here yesterday,” he answered casually.

“You moved here?” I asked to confirm if I heard was right. Is this a coincidence or what?

“Yea,” he answered, “By the way you look beautiful in your dress.”

I grimaced. “You don't have to praise me.”

“Okay,” he only uttered and about to pass me when I blocked his way.

“Where do you think you are going?” I glared at him.

“We have a dinner, right?”

My eyes got widened on what he said. “What?! How did you know–”

“He is with me, Christmas.” Aunt Lorie suddenly showed up beside him. “Carlos is the one I am telling you that I am with.” She added.

I chuckled sarcastically. “No he isn't, Auntie. You are not with him.” I said almost whisper trying not to believe what did she said. “You don't know this guy.” I added.

“Yes, I do,” she replied, “We had been together since you left in Orlando.”

My eyes widened and I dropped my jaw on what I just heard. “What?!”

“You heard her, Christmas. Are you still going to let us in or not?” Carlos asked impatiently.

My hands turned into fist together of my lips shaking in annoyance. “Let's go inside.” I said as they left me no choice and turned my back to lead the way inside. This isn't right!

It's already 7:00 p.m. in my silver watch and Duke was not yet around. I texted him many times up till now but I didn't receive any response that is making me start to feel worried. We are now here in the living room and they are both sitting in the long couch in front of me. None of us is talking and the asshole is staring at me!

“Ahm, Christmas, are we just going to wait here?” aunt Lorie broke the silence.

“Duke is not yet here,” I answered, “Let's just wait for him. Maybe he is on his way right now.”

“What makes you sure he is going home?” Carlos asked coldly in his seat without taking his eyes on me.

I glared at him. “Don't you dare to talk. You are not allowed to say anything here.”

Aunt Lorie laughed. “Why are you like that to him, Christmas? He is a good guy–”

“You don't know what are you talking about, Auntie. You don't know who he really is,” I cut her off.

“Are you?” Carlos asked, grinning on me, “Do you have any idea who I am, Christmas?”

I didn't expected his question that's made me out of words to say. I remained fighting back his stares, still finding an answer on his question but I couldn't find one.

“Tss.” I rolled my eyes and stood up, heading outside to wait for Duke. Our atmosphere in the living room starting to become heavy.