The next day, the awkwardness between them was still thick. Queen chose to keep herself busy with housework and tried hard to avoided meeting Benjamin Duncan in person as much as possible.
She got up very early, washed all the dirty clothes, replaced all the curtains with clean ones, and mopped the floor. She also cooked food for breakfast and brewed coffee for Benjamin Duncan even when her husband is still in his room.
Benjamin who had just woken up immediately took a shower and went out of the room to read the newspaper and enjoy coffee in the morning. Usually, Emma, the maid in the house has already prepared newspapers and coffee on the table for him.
"Good morning, Sir." Greet Emma to her master. She is a very young and beautiful girl. Her curvaceous body likes to wear overalls that are above the knee length with an apron that adorns her appearance as well as a large bandana that always matches the dress she wears. His smile was always wide, welcoming Benjamin Duncan in the morning. She always polished her full lips with bold red lipstick, making the maid's appearance look sensual.
But Benjamin Duncan never saw her as a real woman. Ben always remembers how he found Emma three years ago. A skinny, hungry girl who is molested in a people's market near a plantation by a group of delinquent teenagers.
Until this moment, even though Emma turned into a clean and beautiful girl, also had a sensual appearance, Benjamin always thought of the poor emaciated and hungry girl in the market, every time he saw Emma. Making him a servant in the house-made Emma feel that she had the opportunity to conquer her master's heart. But not so for Benjamin, his heart is still attached to Irina.
"Morning Emma," Benjamin answered briefly. "This is my coffee?" Benjamin asked as he approached the coffee and opened a chair and sat down and enjoyed the aroma of the coffee from the still steaming cup.
"Yes sir," replied Emma.
Benjamin took a sip of the coffee from the rim of the cup and felt the pleasure of the coffee, different from the coffee that Emma used to brew for him. "You brewed this coffee?" asked Benjamin.
Emma looked awkward, she shook her head, "That woman brewed it." he said with a look of displeasure, glancing at Queen who was in the garden cutting the roses, seen through the wide-open side door of the house.
"She's my wife, her name is Queenerra. You can get used to calling her Mistress," said Benjamin.
Emma's eyes widened in shock. The young girl thought that the woman who had been at her master's house since yesterday afternoon was the new maid who would become her rival. Turns out his guess was wrong, worse than that, the foreign woman turned out to be Benjamin Duncan's wife.
"How could that be?" Emma asked quietly.
"You question my decision to choose a life partner?" Benjamin asked as he opened his newspaper.
"Sorry Mister." Emma immediately corrected her question, she immediately left the kitchen. "My apologies, Sir," said Emma quickly walking away from Benjamin.
Meanwhile, the man lowered slightly the position of the newspaper in his hand so that he could see what was behind the newspaper. The scene where the Queen was busy cutting the stalks of colorful roses. Her white skin was exposed to the sun and radiated such a beautiful color. His pear hair that was blown by the gentle wind until a few strands fluttered over his face made the sight of that morning so dear to be missed by Benjamin Duncan.
It wasn't long before Emma returned with someone behind her. "Mrs. Irina Duncan arrived," said Emma.
"Oh..." Benjamin looked surprised, but then he rose to his feet and opened a chair for Irina.
"Please, sit," he said. "What brings you here so early?" asked Benjamin.
Irina smiled slightly, "I just came to visit, maybe we can go to the office together, since my husband is abroad for his business he asked me to attend the meeting in the office this day." She said.
Benjamin smiled slightly, "How is Aunt Dominique doing?" asked Benjamin.
"Oh, she is well. I brought this from her." Irina said as she handed over a brown envelope and handed it to Benjamin. "She left it to me when she knew I was coming to the office today," Irina said.
"Thank you." Benjamin took the envelope and read its contents. Apparently, it was his late father's note that was about to mature.
Benjamin smiled slightly, "Would you like some coffee?" asked Benjamin.
"Of course," Irina nodded while smiled widely.
Benjamin got up from his seat and prepared to brew Irina coffee. Something he rarely did for anyone else, but for Irina, it seemed that she was special enough that Benjamin himself would brew coffee for him while Emma was around and could do the little work for his master.
Queen, who did not realize there was a guest, just walked in carrying a basket containing pieces of rose stems.
"Oh . . . " Queen lowered her head briefly. Irina furrowed her brows, this was the first time she had seen that woman at Benjamin Duncan's house.
Benjamin, who was initially busy brewing coffee, was suddenly surprised by the awkwardness between the two women.
"Irina . . . introduce this Queenerra." Benjamin said as he brought a cup of coffee for Irina.
"Hi." Irina who was smiling half-heartedly held out her hand. "I'm Irina." said the woman.
"She's my cousin's wife," Benjamin explained who Irina was and Benjamin's explanation seemed to displease Irina, but she only smiled bitterly for a moment.
"It's nice to meet you." Queen smiled. "Excuse me." She left the place with the flower basket in his hand and put it on the kitchen table then he left the place. Queen smiled bitterly to herself. Of course, Irina was a beautiful woman with a very attractive appearance and she seemed to be from a respectable aristocratic circle.
In Queenerra's heart, she realized that Benjamin Duncan certainly wouldn't be proud to call her his wife. After all, the man married her only out of compassion, not out of love.
Benjamin and his cousin had indeed decided to work together the past six months. Even though Benjamin Duncan runs the company, occasionally his cousin, or even Dominique, his aunt, comes to the office to check on the situation at the company. And because his cousin was abroad, this time Irina came as a family envoy to come to the office, considering Dominique's growing age and declining physical condition.
"I just saw that woman at your house," Irina said.
Benjamin smiled slightly, "She's just arrived." Benjamin replied briefly.
Irina gulped, "You'd better stop hiring young women, or you'll become the subject of gossip." Irina said, to be honest, there was a hint of jealousy in her heart. Neither Emma nor Queen, both young, beautiful, and ripe. It was as if the two of them were fruit that Benjamin Duncan was ready to pick at any moment.
Benjamin smiled, "You know what I'm like." He said as he took the file and handed it to Irina. "I never cared what people said," Benjamin said as he placed the folder on the table, his gaze and Irina's gaze fixed on each other. All the memories of the past burst out in seconds but Benjamin tried to avoid them as soon as he realized their situations now.
"You never change," Irina whispered, she looked at Benjamin through her curly eyelashes.
"That's the company's financial statements. Take it home and let aunty check it out. I'm not going to the office, I'm going to the plantation today." said Benjamin.
Irina bit her lower lip, "Maybe I can go with you to the plantation." She said quietly.
Benjamin seemed to consider it for a moment. "Are you sure?" he asked Irina. Plantations are certainly not placed where women with high heels like Irina want to visit.
"Of course." His smile widened as Benjamin finally agreed to his request. "We'll be back before evening," Benjamin said.
Irina smiled briefly, her gaze clearly probing at Benjamin Duncan who had suddenly become so soft. Benjamin immediately took his coat and took Irina out of the house. They intend to drive in Benjamin's car.
While Benjamin Duncan opened the door for Irina, Queen caught a glimpse of him while watering flowers in Benjamin's front garden. When her gazes met Benjamin's, Queen immediately looked away. She lowered his face and looked at the plant in front of him. Benjamin also immediately turned around his car and got into the car. He sat in the seat behind the wheel and immediately started the engine.
The car sped out of Benjamin's driveway and allowed Queen to let him go with her gaze. The young girl sighed deeply, dealing with Emma the housemaid Benjamin Duncan alone was troublesome, plus dealing with a respectable woman, Irina Duncan, the wife of Benjamin Duncan's cousin who seemed so familiar with Benjamin Duncan.