Christmas' Misery

Chapter seventeen

[Lorie]

I am here now at the balcony of my unit, holding the cup of my coffee. The wind is swirling into me but I am wearing my robe that's why I didn't get freeze in cold. I am watching the view up here and every cars and people moving down are so tiny. My unit is on the 8th floor of this condominium that is why everything are small. There is no chance to survive if I fell here.

I shook my head. “What am I thinking?” I made a little sip at my coffee.

Ring! Ring!

I headed inside as I heard my phone ringing. My forehead knotted when I saw who is in my caller ID. It is my niece, Christmas. This is the first time she called me. We never have a conversation since the last we see each other in my old house. I never said sorry to her when I did not attend at her wedding but I know she understand it.

“Hello Auntie,” Christmas started as I answered the call.

“How are you Christmas? How is being a wife, huh?” I asked and sipped to my coffee.

“I'm fine Auntie and I'm doing my best to be a good wife to Duke,” she answered and I am wondering if they already had a child.

“That is good then.” I chuckled. “By the way if I did not attend at your wedding. I am just really busy that day.” I apologized but of course my reason is just a lie. “I hope you are not mad at me 'coz I feel bad about it.”

“It's okay Auntie. I'm not mad at all and I understand you.”

“Great! So, did you have already a child, hmm? Is it a boy or girl? What is her name?” I asked excitedly to hear they already had.

“My baby didn't make it Auntie,” she answered sounded in sorrow.

“What do you mean your baby didn't make it?” I asked in curiosity.

“I was five months pregnant when I lost my baby. I miscarried it.” In her voice she sounded like she doesn't want to talk about it that's why I didn't ask anymore.

“I'm sorry to your lost,” I only had said and our line suddenly filled with silence. I don't know what I should say knowing what happened to her baby.

Ding dong! Ding dong!

I cleared my throat that broke the silence. “Ahm, Christmas I have to go. My friends are already here to fetch me. Let's just talk in some other time.”

“Okay Auntie. I just really called to know if you are doing good there and I guess you are.”

“Yea, I'm doing good here. Take care there my niece. I'll see you soon if we find some time.” Before she could talk I already ended the call.

Ding dong! Ding dong!

“Coming!” I shouted and goes out in my room to check who is the jerk that keeps on pressing the doorbell of my unit. Can they just press it once!

My brow started to arch as I opened the door. Carlos is standing in front me together with a luggage that made feel curious about it. He was wearing a short matching with white black t-shirt and a converse. I can smell his manly perfume from here.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“Start packing your things we are going at Jacksonville at 8:00,” he answered and passed me as he came inside my unit.

I closed the door and faced him. “Did you say Jacksonville?” I asked to confirm if I heard was right.

“Yes that is what I said,” he replied coldly and sat in the couch, “Is there a problem, hmm?”

“W-why do I need to come with you? You can go there all by yourself!” I answered. How did he knew the Jacksonville thing?

“Because I will need you to get close to Christmas. I know he wouldn't come near me if I'm just alone that is why you will come with me,” he explained, “Are you just going to stand there, huh?” he asked, arching his brow.

I grimaced. “I thought you don't need me and now you are here in my unit!” I crossed my arms.

“You still going to play your part in my plan, Lorie. That's our agreement before you got everything you had right now,” he said, “But you are no longer my f**k buddy anymore.”

I chuckled sarcastically. “Whatever.” I only said and headed to my room to pack my things. After this plan he is going to, I'm not going to see his face anymore! He is a totally jerk!

[Christmas]

“So, how was your auntie there?” Duke asked while focusing on the drive way.

“I think she is fine,” I answered, “Are you sure that the laundry shop is owning by a different person?” I asked him again.

“Baby, you just asked me that recently and yes to your question.” He chuckled. “He told me that your aunt sold it to them.”

I nodded. “Why did she do that?” I asked and look at the glass window at my side.

“Maybe she needs money that is why your aunt sold the laundry shop,” Duke said and he has a point.

“I am just a little disappointed because she never told me about it.”

“Did your aunt didn't mention about the laundry shop when you called her?”

“Nah, she hanged up the line quickly,” I answered, “You know what? I think she is hiding something.” I faced him.

“Hmm. What would it be if she is hiding something?”

“I don't know. I don't have idea what would she hide from me.”

Duke held my hand and squeezed it. “You are just overthinking, Baby.”

I heaved a sigh. “I wish I really am.”

Duke and I are going to The Avenues shopping mall and he will come with me first before he goes to work. I told him we don't have to go there but he keeps on insisting that is why we are on our way. This thing, the shopping, isn't my thing but I have to do this so that Duke's mom will like me. I want her to like me the way she likes his ex-fiancee.

“Let's go first at the Starbucks before we proceed to shopping,” Duke said as he stopped the car here in the mall.

“We just ate at the house. You are hungry again?” I asked.

“I just want to have an Espresso with you, Baby,” he answered and goes out to open the door for me.

We are now heading at the Starbucks which is just the neighborhood of the mall. Duke and I ordered an Espresso Pana and we take out a two Mushroom and Emmenta Cheese on Boul Bread. We start eating our foods while walking together with the people here inside.

“Do we really have to buy my new things?” I asked while we are still walking.

“We already talked about it, right?”

“Yea, but maybe I should stay like this? Be myself? This wasn't my thing, Duke.” I pouted and sipped a little at my Espresso Pana.

“You see Lysias yourself, Baby. My mom likes her because she has a taste on clothing. Fashion matters to my mom so much that's why she maybe doesn't like you,” he explained.

I smiled bitterly as I felt my heart squeezed on what he said. “You were saying I do not have a taste on clothing? That I wasn't fashionable like your ex-fiancee?” I asked. “It sucks that I have to be like her for your mom.”

Duke suddenly stopped walking and so am I. He faced me, looking into my eyes but I averted my look somewhere. “Baby, look at me.” He ordered. “That is not what I meant. I like the way you are even the way you wear clothes. If you want really to be close to my mom maybe just have a little changes. That's all. You don't have to change the way you used to.”

I nodded and smiled to him. “Okay.” I only replied.

Duke and I entered every store here in the mall and bought everything he thinks that will fits me. He is the one choosing what clothes, shoes, bags and even jewelries that we are going to buy. I just let him because I don't have any idea or interested in this. All the things we bought are all in famous branded like Chanel, Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. I can't imagine that I'm going to wear now an expensive clothes just for the sake of my relationship at his mom.

“These are too much, Duke,” I said to him as we filled the backseat and trunk of the car. We are using now his sedan car and the only space we have inside is the front seat.

Duke chuckled. “It is not too much, Baby.”

“What?! It isn't yet too much for you? Look at the backseat and in the trunk, the shopping bags full it.”

“It is only the shopping bags, Baby. You will know that I am right as you take it out the things later.”

I grimaced. “Whatever.”

“Don't be in frown, Baby.” He held my hand. “This is for you and for my mom, okay?”

“I know.” I smiled a little bit to him. “Send me home now so you can go at your company. I know you have lots of work to do today.” I intertwined our hands.

“Let's stop at the Kres Chophouse first so we can have lunch together.” He kissed the back of my hand.

As what Duke said, we spent our lunch in Kres Chophouse. We both ordered the Yellowfin Tuna and Duo of Duck that we always ordered whenever we are eating in our favorite restaurant. Since I became his wife, his favorites is also became my favorites even the things he likes to do. I just want him to feel that we can have a same vibes but not the shopping thing.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

“Your phone is ringing,” I said as he did not yet answering it. Duke is sending me home now.

“Please answer it for me, Baby,” Duke said and didn't have a time to glimpsed on me. His eyes are focused in the road way that is why.

I took his phone in front us and it was his secretary who is calling. “Christmas speaking.” I started as I answered the call.

“Oh, Mrs. Grey it's you,” Cheena said seems she didn't expecting that I'm the one who will answer the phone of her boss.

“Yea, it's me.”

“Where is Du–Mr. Grey?” she asked.

“Beside me driving. Why?”

“Ahm, we need him now here in the company that's why I called. I thought he is already his way here.”

“He will later as he send me home,” I said and looked at the man besides me, “Is that what you called?”

“Yes Mrs. Grey that's it.” Before I could replied, Cheena already ended the call.

“What did she say?” he asked.

I placed back his phone in front us. “Your secretary told me they need you there. I think we should hurry. It seems like it's very important.”

“Don't worry they can wait. We don't have to be in a hurry, Baby,” he said, “By the way.”

“Hmm?”

“I might be going home late tonight because I have to stay in the company and monitor the works in the factory,” he explained, “Don't wait for me later and don't forget to drink your medicine, okay?”

“Do I still have to drink the medicine? I mean I'm not depress anymore. I am okay now maybe I can stop taking it?”

“Are you really okay now, hmm? Are you not hearing those voices in your head?” he asked, “Sometimes I'm seeing you are not in yourself, Baby. It is not what the okay looks like to me.”

I grimaced. “Fine.” I'd only said.

“Let the Doctor to say if you are going to stop drinking the medicine, okay? Don't be a stubborn. It is for you not for me.”

“Okay then so be it.”

Duke helped me first with my shopping bags as he sent me home He just left and now he is on his way at the company. It's already 2:00 in the afternoon and we already had lunch together at Kres Chophouse. All the shopping bags right in front me is all mine and Duke didn't buy anything for himself even a single thing. These shopping bags are all for me and I don't think if these will all suit me.

“Now, where I am going to insert you all in my closet?” I asked at myself because my closet is already full.