LAMBERT'S POV
I could understand why Jessica was acting up, and I understood that she was being a little protective of me, but seriously, she was being excessively onslaught on the girl. I thought we had discussed this the previous night while wrapped around each other's arms, and she agreed to play nice, at least pending the arrival of my heir, but clearly, she had no intention of keeping her word.
However, I suspected that I probably had contributed to her weird behavior after she had caught me staring hard at Miranda when she entered the office without knocking. I was stunned by the way she looked. Anyone seeing Miranda, especially with how beautiful she looked in that dress, would think the same thing. Her beautiful hair framed her face. It highlighted the color of her eyes and her beautiful skin. I lingered for a brief moment as my thoughts flipped around the things I could do with her after we were married.
Perhaps, Jessica had noticed despite my attempt to hide it away. So, when the heat of the moment was getting too much, I realized I needed to exit the party lest my presence ruins things further.
Then, Miranda chose to act defiant by asking me why Jessica had to play her chief bridesmaid.
Seriously, how would I tell her that was not my arrangement but the demand of my long-time girlfriend? I was about to make a decision between walking away and answering her when it happened.
Smack!!!
The resounding slap caught my ears as I whirled around to find Miranda holding one of her cheeks. Jessica had slapped her hard, and I even caught sight of a thin line that healed immediately as it was not deep, probably from her fingernails.
"You do not get to talk to him directly ever. Not when I am present to answer his questions, you whore!!!" Jessica yelled at her.
"Seriously? What was that for?" I demanded angrily.
"She had no business speaking with you." She said to me,
"I'm going to marry her. She would be my wife." I reminded her.
"For as long as she would need to make you an heir," Jessica stated.
"Yes. And even then, she would be married to me and need to communicate with her husband on several occasions, don't you think?" I demanded.
Jessica rose suddenly as she gasped. That certainly had not come out as I had hoped, but the damage had been done already, and there was not much I could do about it.
"So that is what you have been trying to do." She said to me,
"Come on, let's not do this," I said to her, already regretting my words.
"No. You don't need to ask because we're not doing this either way. I shall leave you two to it and retire." She said as she dumped the catalog on the couch and walked past me.
I tried to hold her hand and stop her, but she motioned for me not to dare touch her as she opened the door and slammed it hard.
I stood there near the door, facing Miranda, who was stunned by all she had just witnessed. I felt sorry for her and what she was about to be put through.
"I'm sorry about that. She'll come around." I said to her,
"Who is she, please?" She asked me quietly.
I ignored the question for reasons best known to me as I approached where she was seated.
"Does it hurt?" I asked instead.
She could tell that I was in no way going to provide her with the answer she sought and decided not to pursue the subject. I was internally grateful to her for being the smart one right now as I knew that, had it been with Jessica, there was no way she would drop the subject she was up against.
"Please, sir..." She began.
"It's Lambert. We shall be married soon, and I do not find sir endearing. Preferably my name or something more enticing." I corrected her.
She swallowed.
"Is there a way you could allow me to work off my stepfather's debt to you?" She asked directly as she smoothly avoided calling me by either my name or anything endearing.
Her question provoked me right away, and I glared at her.
"You want your freedom?" I asked her.
"I was just wondering. You already mentioned a second option, but I noticed you have a great amount of staff. I was wondering if I could work as a maid instead." She asked me.
"And you think I lack staff, or perhaps I am stupid for wanting to make you pay the way I chose?" I asked her angrily.
"Of course not, sir.... sorry... Lambert." She said to me,
"Your stepfather stole a lot from me," I said.
"Thought you said he burrowed?" She asked me.
"Burrowed at the beginning, yes. But when a man exceeds his deadline and starts avoiding all aims at contacting him to refute the payment, what does that make it?" I asked her.
"Delay in payment." She said,
"Wrong. It's theft. Do you think you can work it off as a maid? That would take you at least fifty years." I said to her,
"Fifty years?" She muttered, surprised clearly.
"At least. So it would be best if you were grateful I chose an easier path for you to pay. This way, you would have your freedom in two or three years." I said to her,
Her eyes fell as they were clouded with sadness now.
"Yes. I now get it." She said almost inaudibly.
"Good. Also, I suggest you play nice to Jessica and do everything she asks. And like it or not, she is on your bridal train as your chief bridesmaid." I stated.
"Yes, sir." She said,
"It's Lambert." I corrected it.
"Yes, Lambert." She repeated.
"Now, stay here while I go and fetch her," I said as I left immediately.
Actually, I could no longer stand her scent as it tortured me. She was doing things to me. Something no one else would ever have done to me, and I needed to get away from her. I had no idea why, but I knew I was on fire around her. Perhaps, it was the expectation that she would be my wife soon.
It was time to find Jessica, and I knew exactly where to find her.
I had just walked into my bedroom and saw how she was taking her things down from the wardrobe and throwing them into the open suitcase on the bed.
"What do you think you are doing?" I asked her.
"Leaving you." She said, breathing fast.
"Why would you do that?" I asked her.
"You would soon bring in your dear wife, and this whore who stuck by you all these years had better disappear." She said, making stern and annoyed gestures with her hands.
"Seriously, is that what you think?" I asked her.
"What do you know that I think? I should have known all these years!!!' she yelled as she tried to zip up the suitcase. She was so angry that she kept flopping.