I envy...
They really look happy while laughing together in the romantic backyard gazebo. Tsk, why does Rachel Hoobes have to be so lucky. She has Jayde as her boyfriend who is very kind and romantic. Several times I saw Jayde buying little gifts for Rachel. And I had to be the one to choose the gifts when Jayde started to get confused about what gifts to give to his lover.
I've always wondered to myself, when will it be my turn to get gifts. And today God finally granted my wish. For the first time, I got a ring from Axel. A very beautiful diamond ring as a symbol of our relationship. Axel put the ring on my finger this afternoon after lunch. It turned out that an important business that Axel was doing before we met was buying a ring for me. Axel prepared the surprise after getting my dad's blessing to make me his future wife.
"Ms. Ivy, what are you doing here?"
"Oh, you're done with your lover?" I sneered at him skeptically.
I'm super jealous and I'm not going to pretend I'm not in front of this annoying guy. After all he's dating under my roof. Why did he have to show off his affection in front of a poor woman like me?
"I saw you and Rachel making out in the gazebo. How does it feel to have a lover?"
"Pleasant."
Jayde stood next to me and folded his arms across his chest. He looked up at the starless gray night sky. Yeah, the sky is as gray as my heart right now.
"It's great to be able to share affection with others."
Ahh.. why does he make me even more jealous? I'm not sure Axel can be as romantic as Jayde either. Even at the beginning of our relationship he treated me like he was doing a business deal. Even though he gave me a ring. But now I feel it's not enough to show that Axel loves me.
"What did you feel the first time before deciding to be Rachel's lover?"
"What? It's like you've never been on a date." Jayde answered while laughing out loud.
Suck! Doesn't he know for sure that I've never dated anyone. In fact, he's the only boy friend I have outside of my business relations at work.
"I've never dated anyone. You want to make fun of me, huh?"
I deliberately pushed his shoulder gently so that he slightly tilted to the left. But he managed to balance his body back with ease.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. How is your relationship with Axel? Aren't you going to marry him?"
"That's right, we're dating now. We're not necessarily going to get married." And I'm suddenly not sure about this matchmaking.
"Why do you say that?"
"Why do I feel uncomfortable hearing you say that? It's as if your every word contained a tone of ridicule."
"I think you're just being sensitive. Is this your period, Ms. Ivy?"
"It's none of your business when my period is. Stop calling me like that. Just Ivy! Do you understand?"
"So what? Didn't I always call you Ms. Ivy?"
"You're my friend, Jayde. So please, stop being so formal."
"All right, all right." Jayden chuckled lightly. "I was only teasing you."
"I'm tired. Don't tease me anymore."
I dropped my heavy head on his shoulder while enjoying the silence between us. A cool breeze blew around me and gently caressed me. My eyelids fluttered feeling the gentle caress of the wind on my face. I feel relaxed.
"I'm getting sleepy."
Moments like these keep me calm. Jayde has a very comfortable shoulder to lean on, and he is always a good listener. How lucky I am to have a very multifunctional driver like him. I can even take him as my partner to attend glamorous parties thrown by dad's business partners. I shouldn't have complained any more. God has been pretty good to me so far.
"You should take a break if you are tired."
"Well that's good advice. Better than you making fun of me about my pathetic love story."
Jayde took a deep breath near me. The sound of regular breathing sounded very melodious. I find myself more peaceful by his side.
"I'm fed up with all of this. I feel like I just want to stay silent without doing anything for a while. My mind is messed up, but dad always demands me to do this and that. What do you think I should do?"
"Ms… ah, sorry. Ivy, I think you may be underappreciating for all the things you have right now? Look, there are lots of women out there who want your position."
"Is that true? Then I'm willing to switch positions with them. Can't you see how daddy held me too tight all this time? He didn't give me the freedom to choose, and he always decided whatever he thought was good for me. As a human being, I actually have a lot of things I want. I want to take a pastry class in France. I think it's fun because I like to cook and experiment in the kitchen. But my dad was against my wish to become a pattisier, he preferred me to deal with various kinds of documents in the office. Luckily I'm not too bad at business. At least I won't make the company lose because I made a mistake."
"Be patient then."
"Be patient? Do you think it's easy? Easy to say, but not to do," I said annoyed.
In the end, I chose to remain silent and not reply to Jayde's words which were a bit annoying tonight. I better calm myself by staring at the gray night sky while leaning on his comfortable shoulder. Hopefully Rachel won't get jealous if I borrow her lover's shoulder for a while because right now I really need some peace to calm the anger in my heart.
-00-
"Ahem…excuse me Ms. Ivy, it's time for dinner."
"Oh, yes I'm going to the dining room after this. By the way I borrowed your lover's shoulder for a moment. You're not mad are you?"
I grimaced at Rachel who looked clumsy in front of me. Maybe she wouldn't accept it if I borrowed her lover's shoulder, but she couldn't refuse me because I was her lady. Hey, life is beautiful. Only at times like these do I feel grateful for all the luxuries and riches that God has bestowed upon me, because then I can intimidate others to my heart's content.
"Yes, it's okay."
I saw Rachel giving Jayde a sharp look. But I immediately told Jayde to look at my feet which suddenly itched, maybe an ant had just sunk its teeth into my beautiful smooth feet.
"Jayde…. ahhh, I have ant on my feet."
Jayde suddenly became panic to look at my feet. This strange man was trying to get rid of an ant that was actually walking on my leg while gently blowing on my leg.
"Does it still hurt Ms..."
I gave him a glare as he was about to call out with that stiff formal word again. I told him many times that I don't like that call between us, because Jayde is my friend.
"Ivy, are you okay? The ant is gone."
Jayde sighed heavily as he kept stroking my leg a few times before I nodded and made him remove his hand from my leg.
"Thanks very much."
"You surprised me. Now come on in, don't keep your dad waiting."
Without saying anything, I entered the house and left the lovers in the garden. Tsk, why do I feel annoyed at Rachel. I envy her because she gets sincere affection from Jayde. Ahh... what are they doing in my garden?
I turned and crept behind the pillar. I peeped at them who were having a serious conversation in the garden. Rachel's lips pursed in a pout.
"Jayde..."
I started to hear Rachel sulking and Jayde looking frantic next to her. Jayde stroked his lover's shoulder many times, trying to calm her anger. So that woman was mad at Jayde because I borrowed Jayde's shoulder? Tsk, two-faced girl. Hadn't Rachel allowed me to do it before?
After that I saw Jayde stroking the top of Rachel's head gently and kissing her cheek to calm her anger. Ahh... Jayde is really romantic. Rachel was lucky to have Jayde, and vice versa. They belong to each other and reinforce each other. If I really marry Axel, will I also look like them? I am not sure. So far I see Axel more like a business partner than a lover. But I don't know, I have to try it first before thinking about things that might not happen. I could be wrong. I haven't really gotten to know Axel so far, so it's only natural that I still see him as a business partner rather than a lover.
"What are you doing there Ivy?"
I gasped in surprise. I quickly turned around to find my dad standing five yards away and looking at me strangely. Dad must not know that his employees are having a date in his garden. Oh, I have to get daddy out of here.
"Nothing. I was just leaning against a pillar. I'm exhausted, dad."
I lied very smoothly. I saw that my dad was not at all suspicious of seeing my face, which was starting to show an exhausted expression. This should work because I was the lead in a school drama during middle school and high school. Occasionally the corner of my eye would glance to the side to see if Jayde and Rachel had left the garden or not. Don't let my dad see them on a date.
"What did you see in the dark back garden? Come on in, it's time for dinner."
"Gray sky without stars. It's very quiet here." I grinned softly.
"Time for dinner, Ivy."
"Okay. I will go to the dining table after this."
My dad turned away without saying anything else. After my dad had completely left, I quickly turned back to check on the two tacky couples. Fortunately Jayde and Rachel had escaped before dad realized they were there. In that case, good. This time they survived my dad's fierce wrath. I can't imagine what my dad would say to them if he found out they were dating. At worst they will be fired.
But I don't want to lose Jayde. Rachel is also a good maid. Yeah, even though I envied them, I never thought of kicking them out of here. They are my family since they work here. And sometimes I think if I wasn't born into a rich family and was just a maid. Then I'll find a handsome boyfriend where I work. Arrghh shit! Why do I suddenly want to be Rachel. I must have been too stressed out with all my problems to have weird thoughts.
"Ms. ivy..."
Ah.. this woman. Just now I was thinking about her in my head, and now she has shown her face before me.
"What is it?"
"Mr. Axel is looking for you in the living room. Mr. Abraham wants you to invite Mr. Axel for dinner."
Axel? Wow, this is an unexpected surprise. This is the first time Axel has come to my house other than for business. Maybe he was trying to be a good lover and convince me to marry him.
"Okay thank you. Oh yeah, tell Jayde that tomorrow morning I want him to drive me to work early. So please remind him to wake up early."
I didn't have to wait for Rachel to answer me. I rushed into the living room to greet Axel. Oh, he probably got the feeling that I was lonely and really jealous of Jayde and Rachel's romance. But wait, I should check how I look tonight before meeting him. Although I'm not very enthusiastic about dad's matchmaking, At least I have to act like a woman who is going to meet her boyfriend on a date.
"Ah, you just happened to be passing by." I grabbed Jayde's sleeve before he darted past me.
"What is it?" he snorted indignantly. He pulled up his wrinkled shirt and chuckled.
"Axel is looking for you. He's in the dining room now."
"I know. Eh, really? Rachel said he was in living room."
"He has moved. Dunno. I don't care."
"Hey, where are your manners?"
Jayde just shrugged nonchalantly and didn't want to correct the sarcasm in his words at all.
"How do I look? Is it appropriate to meet Axel? I don't want to look bad in front of Axel on our first date. Do you think I need to use makeup before meeting Axel?"
Jayde looked at my body from head to toe. The look in his eyes made the hairs on my neck prickle because it was like Jayde was stripping me naked. Good grief! After yesterday's party, my mind started to mess. My fault for asking Jayde to dance, so I can see Jayde's handsome lines clearly. And now my thoughts are starting to get irrational about Jayde.
"I don't think you need additional makeup, it will only make your face look like an old granny. You have dressed properly to meet your lover."
Jayde turned me around, smoothed the wrinkles on my blouse and patted my dusty shorts. While I stood very stiff in front of him like a statue. This is not true. My heart is pounding really hard right now. And damn it! Jayde suddenly leaned towards me, looking at me intensely while frowning deeply.
"Wh-what? Is there something wrong with my face?"
"Hmm... you would be prettier if your hair was loose."
My hair band slipped easily from my hair and into Jayde's hands. My brown curls fall gently over my shoulders. And Jayde tried to smooth it over with his long fingers. Gosh Jayde! He made me even more crazy.
"Well, you look better now."
"Give me the hair band."
I pretended to be angry and snatched my hair band from his hand. My body shivered again when my fingers touched Jayde's palm. God, what's wrong with me?
"You looked older. Now you look fresh and young."
"Don't insult me to your heart's content. You're still a driver, Jayde. Remember that!"
To hell with Jayde's face that turned somber. He must have been offended by my harsh words. I'm sorry Jayde. I really didn't mean it like that. I'm just afraid of suddenly having feelings I shouldn't have for you.