Raymond finally came back home early one Friday. They hadn't had dinner or breakfast together since that day because of his hectic schedule.
So when he came back early, Ariel saw this as a golden opportunity to test a bit of her knowledge.
"Where's Ariel?" Raymond asked as he took a seat at the dining table.
"I already called her down. She might be..." White's words were rudely interrupted when Ariel barged into the place, wearing a black overall.
"Hello... Hubby." She greeted with a broad smirk, stunning Raymond, White and every other person that was present in the dining room. "I barely see you around these days and I was really starting to miss you."
Raymond was shocked beyond words. His thoughts were 'Did she hit her head?' But he did not voice them and just stared at her in his stunned state.
"You're looking so handsome today, as always. I'm glad you could finally join me for dinner." She said and waited for a maid to pull her chair out before taking a seat.
She looked like a rosey lady while looking at him.
"So, did your business go?" She asked but didn't wait for a response before she continued. "Don't answer that. I can tell that you did well. No one's a rival for you anyway."
"Miss Ariel, you..."
"Who gave you permission to speak and interrupt me when I'm talking?" Ariel cut White off, glaring murderously at him. "You should know your place." This shockingly shut him down and Ariel turned to Raymond, her expression turning rosey again. "Let's not let anyone disturb the little time we have, okay?"
A confused Raymond couldn't comprehend the situation.
"What are you...?"
"By the way," she deliberately cut him off. "...there's this set of new bags I saw on the internet. It's a one of a kind design and there are only three made worldwide. They are also super expensive but not so expensive that my hubby can't afford it." She fluttered her eyelashes. "Can you get me those three? I want to brag about it."
Raymond blinked twice. Now he got it clearly. He finally understood what was going on.
"Ah." He exclaimed, massaging his nose bridge. "Ariel?"
"Yes, hubby?"
"You can stop now." He said and Ariel's expression weakened. Then, she gave out a sigh and looked up at him, as if waiting for a compliment. "I guess it's true." He muttered.
Wondering what had gotten into Ariel all of a sudden, Raymond recognized her attitude. She was being nice to her lover, demanding, complimenting him even if there was nothing specific to compliment and being extremely rude to anyone who wasn't as rich as her lover.
She was acting.
"So, how'd I do?" Ariel suddenly asked and Raymond looked up.
He looked at her and sighed. It was too much.
"Is that a good sign or a bad one? I didn't do well?" She asked, trying to keep up her smile.
"Ariel, next time, before you do such a thing, please give me a heads-up." He said. "I almost thought you had lost your mind."
"Oh, was it that realistic?" She asked, surprised. "I was just acting according to how the characters act in the book."
"Very. I thought you suddenly had amnesia and had become someone else." Raymond confessed, his hand to his mouth. "It was too real."
"That's great." Ariel said. "I thought I was being too stiff and my hands wouldn't stop shaking." She said and his eyes went to her hands.
They were shaking so violently that he wondered how he wasn't able to notice them.
"You're a great actress." Raymond complimented. "A stranger would definitely think you were my actual lover and that you were an obnoxious person. There was no loophole."
"Ah, what a relief." She breathed out and nervously looked up at White. His straight face was scary. How did she manage to shut him down? "Um, we haven't really introduced ourselves yet but of course, you know who I am. What I did just now, shutting you down, I hope you don't hate me for it. Please," she clasped her hands together. "It was just an act so please do not hate me."
They were silent and it looked like White was not going to say anything about it.
'Ah, he's mad.' she pursed her lips.
"White doesn't know how to take a joke, Ariel." Raymond said and she nodded.
"I'm still feeling sorry though." She looked away. 'So his name is White.' she took a peek at him. 'His name is pretty. Will he forgive me if I compliment him?' She wondered. "Mr White, you're such a handsome guy with a nice name. You wouldn't hold a grudge against someone who compliments you, right?"
White, stunned at her compliment, looked away and Raymond tittered.
"He doesn't know how to take a compliment either." He said.
'I'll just take it that he's forgiven me, then.' She thought.
"I thought you said you were scared of me. I'm surprised you acted so well despite your fear." Raymond suddenly brought up and she cleared her throat.
"Let's just say, when we're this far apart, I don't have to feel too scared."
"Why is that?"
"You look like someone who'll strike a person down if you get mad and thus, staying this far and making you mad is okay. Even if you result in throwing a plate at me, I have enough time to dodge it before it hits me and run for my dear life." She smiled awkwardly. "But that's just what your appearance entails. You're not that bad."
'You have no idea.' White thought to himself. Ariel was only judging by the surface and didn't know Raymond's 'real' nature.
But he wasn't seeing his master revealing his true nature any time soon so there was nothing to worry about.
"I wouldn't hit you." Raymond said. "If I did, you'd break for sure."
"Haha, and that's why I wanted to avoid it as much as possible. I can't afford to break before I get my revenge, right?" She stared and Raymond nodded.
"So now that it's over, can I finally eat my food?" Raymond asked, causing Ariel to flinch. How inconsiderate of her.
"Of course, go ahead." She said and beckoned on the maids to finally dish out the food.
Everyone had been so stunned by her acting that their bodies refused to function. Luckily, it was just an act. If not, they didn't know how they'd have to deal with a lady who acted so much like a villainess on a daily basis.
"Next week," Raymond began. "... is the wedding." Ariel paused. "We're attending it together and... if you're able to act better than you did just now, trampling over them like ants and disregarding whatever ethics there might be... " He lifted his gaze, showing his fierce and cold eyes. "I'll give you a reward."
Ariel stared right into his eyes as her own eyes glowed with greed. She was greedy for revenge and wouldn't be satisfied with anything else.
"I'll have to anticipate what it'll be then." She said and continued eating her food.