"I- I don't understand..." Roxy began to say. "You-"
"Where is the lady that was dancing just a while ago?" Bryan asked with annoyance. "Hmm? The one with the red hair and full hips? Where's she?"
Realization slowly dawned on Roxy and she grinded her teeth so hard that if her tongue had been in the middle, it would have snapped in two. She didn't respond to Bryan's question and just spun on her heel and stormed off. She grumbled as she walked and had a target on the waiter's back.
Had he wanted to humiliate her? When did she ask him for such a nonsense favor? Roxy planned in her mind to smack him across the face so he wouldn't dare repeat what he'd done that night again.
And come to think of the man, Roxy thought. He was seeing a better woman in front of him and he could not tell. Was he so blind? she wondered. Her forehead was full of sweat already as she was so tensed and angry. Roxy could not believe what had just happened to her and she vowed that Scarlet would pay for the insult that she'd received.
But the waiter was nowhere to be found. Roxy checked everywhere possible but couldn't find him. Then, she packed her bags and left for home. Tomorrow was another day and she planned to address the issue.
* * *
The next morning, Scarlet resumed work in Jean Garry's house. As she said goodbye to the nurse who took shifts with her, she saw Andrew coming down from his car in the driveway. Scarlet rolled her eyes and walked into the house.
Jean Garry who had been prepared and fed that morning sat in his wheelchair in front of the television listening to the happenings around the world. When he heard footsteps approaching him, he turned around and beamed with joy as his gaze landed on Scarlet. There was someone that she reminded him of but no matter how hard he tried, he could not recall who that person was. Something about the young woman drew him to her, and Jean badly wished that he was on his two feet -- she would have felt the weight of his attraction towards her.
"Scarlet," he said with a smile on his face, exposing his false teeth.
"Morning, sir," Scarlet retorted with a straight face. "How did your night go? Did you sleep well?" she managed to ask.
"Must I always remind you to give me a smile?" Jean Garry said to her as he stretched out his arm and motioned for her to come closer to him.
Scarlet wanted to throw something at him and the picture passed through her mind. Then she gave a fake smile before she said; "Let me prepare your medications for the morning. Have you had breakfast?"
"I had the cook wait for you to resume," Jean replied. "I want you to fry my eggs," he finished with a coy smirk on his wrinkled lips.
Scarlet used all her strength to stop herself from gagging. She nodded and walked away from where he was, heading straight for the kitchen.
She met Andrew on the way and didn't even acknowledge his presence with a look. It was as if she had passed a breeze.
Andrew felt insulted.
"Mr. Garry..." he said as he got closer to where his boss was, holding folders of several papers in his hands -- papers that required Jean's signature.
"Top of the morning to you, sir. I see you're in great spirits," Andrew stated.
"Yes... yes, I am..." Jean replied. "Scarlet brings happiness to this place. The whole house lights up when she comes around. I should-" he stopped halfway as if thinking of the next thing that he was going to say.
"I should think about offering her one of the rooms in the main house. That would be a good idea, and it would be good for me."
Andrew could not believe his ears. How could Jean think of this and call it a good idea? he wondered.
"If I may ask, sir... why would you consider that?" Andrew ask, trying as hard as he could to hide his disgust at the idea.
Jean shrugged. "It's a good enough reason that I like having her around," he stated matter-of-factly. "What brings you here this morning?"
Andrew, who wasn't satisfied with the response and wasn't pleased that Jean had changed the subject went back to the matter at hand; "Sir... we have to look into that girl. I'm beginning to see some shady-"
Jean lifted his hand and stopped Andrew. "What brings you here this morning?"
Andrew knew better than to get on Jean's nerves. So, he pushed his question and the line of thought he had to the side to handle the papers that he'd brought for Jean's signing. He would bring the issue to Jean Garry when he had evidence -- strong evidence against Scarlet. There was something about her and Andrew knew it in his guts.
As the business with the papers was going on, Scarlet walked in. "Sir..."
"I've told you to call me Jean, Scarlet," he said, sounding so endearing.
Andrew's eyes widened for a second then his brows furrowed. What was going on here? he wondered. He was so uncomfortable and wished that he could push Scarlet out of the house that very instant.
Scarlet cleared her throat a little as she thought about what Jean had just said. She didn't miss the various ex[pressions that had passed through Andrew's face and took the opportunity to make him fume all the more.
"Jean..." she said, purposely making the name roll off her tongue in an informal manner. "Breakfast is ready...and I made it just the way you like it," Scarlet finished with her best smile plastered on her face.
Jean could barely hold in his excitement as he turned to Andrew, "Bring the papers with you to the dining area, we would finish there," he ordered.