James sat transfixed on the table, with the letter in front of him. The sound of water spinning over the stove shook him to reality. he got up and removed the hot kettle.
He looked at the water spilled over the stove and sighed, then carried the prepared tray of tea to the dining table. the woman sitting at the table was drumming her nails on the table for the pure enjoyment of the sound they made. she raised her head the minute James walked in.
"Your tea Maam," he said as he put the tray down.
her lips curled into a half smile and she noticed the white envelope next to the cups. her eyes twinkled with wonder at what surprise awaited her.
despite her scheming, she wanted the relationship between her and Nickolas to work.
James had retreated to the kitchen when he heard the breaking of China on the wall. he rushed out and found Amelia in a fitting rage. the tray he put on the table not long ago, what remained of it, was on the floor in pieces.
" That bastard!" she was livid. James knew she read the letter. "He thinks he can throw me out just like that." making the sound with her fingers, she paced the floor. James kept a safe distance with his hands in front of him and his head bowed. but he could see her every movement from the corner of his eye.
This was not his fire to quench. he gave the occasional "Yes Maam."
he knew something of this nature would happen, the minute Nickolas gave him that letter.
After the shouting and screaming, Amelia was out of breath, she stared at James and pointed a finger at him,
"This is not over, tell your boss I said, this is not over, not by a long shot." she stormed out of the room, leaving James to pick up the pieces of China from the floor. She made a point to bang her bedroom door at the top of the stairs.
•
The next morning Amelia stood straight looking at herself in her full body-length mirror. Her body hurt from the tantrum she threw yesterday. She listened to the birds making music outside, even though they sounded like they were mocking her.
She planned her next move.
She was going to fight till the end for what was rightfully hers, she would show Nickolas that she was the right woman for him.
While she plotted her plan. The birds ceased their annoying sounds. She put on her red lipstick. 'Nickolas was his' she thought,
concentrating on the corners of her lips, she applied a second coat. She noticed that her eyes also needed a second coat of mascara. The only way the plan would work was if they thought her brainless.
Once she was satisfied with her reflection, she stood by the window and waited. she knew James would be leaving soon to get suppliers and run errands. He did the same day every day. after what seemed like forever,
she saw James walking towards his car, and at that moment she knew there was no better time than the present. She set her plan in motion.
****
After Nickolas saw pictures of his son, there was nothing else on his mind. grace and the baby filled his days. He wondered what he liked, but realized the stupidity of that question. He was too young to like things. Having never been near babies, Neill was going to be his first. That terrified him even more. He did not know the slightest thing about babies, what did they do the whole day except cry? he once heard his secretary talk about difficult babies, and wondered if Neill was difficult or easy. he was a thousand feet above the ground in his private jet.
he was flying out to Ireland. to see his son and bring him home. he let this play out for far too long. it was time he took matters into his own hands. if Grace didn't agree on see in him, he would make her see him.
Then there was Amelia. he wondered how that must have gone and how James was enduring on that front. Breaking things off with her with a letter was not one of his finest moves, but he wanted to get the message across before he came back to the house with grace and the baby. What Amelia got up to was the least of his problems. with Grace back, their relationship took a hard knock. Amelia did not approve of Grace the first day she saw her. and did not hide her feelings from Nickolas about it.
Nicholas knew she was going to throw a tantrum here and there, but that would be it or was he underestimating her? he did not want to dwell on that thought. he will deal with everything when he came back to Meyer's mansion.
He held out his empty glass and the hostess came to fill his glass up, the plane shook wildly, tossing her into the seat opposite him. His pilot warned him that flying in the current weather was not a good idea, but he insisted that they leave immediately before the predicted storm made it impossible for them to stay above ground. now he was questioning his judgment. after a minute or so, the plane stopped shaking and once they settled into smooth flying again, he looked at the girl in front of him and saw how beautiful her pink lips were, they were plump, giving her a subtle pout. she reminded him of Grace. He shut his eyes tightly at that image, and shook his head, to clear it. the whiskey was going to his pants. he downed his drink and stretched his long legs in front of him, laid back comfortably, and closed his eyes. it was best to sleep it off before the plane touched down. Once he closed his eyes, he was out like a light.