The drive to his house was quiet with the exception of a few calls he made. I sat with my hand in front of me while my brain did the research of how we were to greet when we got there. A bow or a courtesy. Either way, I felt I had to make an impression.
"You finally brought home a second wife. I told you, it's the best." Jesse's father yelled as we walked into the house.
They were seated at the dining table when we walked in, Jesse's hand snaked around my waist and his security followed up behind us. I suddenly felt more tense than I did before, and my palms were sweating.
I counted seven women on one side of the dining. Each one looked younger than the next person. Jesse's father sat in the middle, his glasses placed at the bridge of his nose.
"It's not what you think, Erhart." Jesse spoke calling his father by his first name. "Say hello, Amelia. She's my assistant."
"Good evening, Sir. Thank you for letting me stay." The women at the table looked more expensive than the house. With golden chains and diamond rings. The youngest of them looked to be in her thirties and was perched at the end of the dining table.
"He practically forced it down my throat." Mr. Erhart complained.
Jesse squeezed my hand "Be nice. We'd join you guys later, she has to rest." There were lots of hushed comments coming from the dining when we left. Jesse seemed to be used to it though as he paid no particular attention.
"Are they all...?" I tried to find the word.
Jesse chimed in "Mistresses. From all over the world. Some of them have dual citizenship." He chuckled.
"This used to be my room before I moved out. We'll be staying here." The room was huge with different with different paintings and portraits of Jesse and a woman who looked just like him.
He noticed me staring and said "my mum." He gave me a weak smile and dropped on the bed. He tapped it lightly and signalled for me to join him. I found my way to the bed and laid next to him with his hand under my head.
"I wanted to tell you...my brothers are coming back this evening." He said it so casually like it was not meant to freak me out.
I sat up "What do you mean? You said it'd be just us and your dad. Now his...women and his sons are coming."
"They won't be a problem. They are here because dad wanted them to meet you. He believes you're my woman." He looked so weak like he hadn't slept in days and when he spoke his voice failed him.
"You should rest up." I told him.
He yawned "I'm good. I've got work." With that he was up.
"I can't sleep alone. You need to be here with me." He looked back at me hesitant at first but within five minutes, he was already asleep with my breasts as his pillow.
When I woke up, it was sometime in the evening. Jesse was still sound asleep and his eye bags seemed to have reduced as well. I felt thirsty. The jug was empty and we didn't bring water with us from the hospital.
I was going to endure, but it was also a good opportunity to look around the house for something to eat. So, I detached myself from him and tiptoed to the door. Once on the hallway, I didn't know where to go from there. A few steps behind were the stairs and further down were other rooms, same as the front.
"It's like a maze." A voice spoke from behind. I turned to see an elegant lady. Her accent gave away, she was British. With her blond short hair and her sharp cut skirt.
She was the youngest lady at the table. "Good evening ma'am."
She moved her hands in the air "Laura. That's my name. And I also lost my way the first day I came." She covered her mouth and giggled.
I lack such basic manners which is why I could never dream of anything with Jesse. "Good evening Laura. It's a wonderful home you have."
Laura huffed "I wish. But then I'd rather be alive than be the owner, right?" It took me a while to understand what she meant and when I did, it hurt me. "Are you guys dating or engaged or perhaps married like his last, former wife, I mean."
"None. I'm just an assistant." I bowed after I finished every sentence.
Laura's eyes moved up and down my body "Who does this much for an assistant?"
I didn't know when I did it, but I chuckled at her statement. When I realized, she was staring at me like I had a problem upstairs.
"I can tell you something as someone who has been in this family for 20 years. They don't do long term things. They just want you for what you can offer at the moment." She paused as though trying to my attention "I don't know what you have but then, that's just what he wants."
"Jesse is not like that." I whispered.
"Then, why is he with you barely after one month? Have you ever asked why he got divorced?"
I interrupted "I haven't. Because it has nothing to do with me."
"It will. Sooner or later." She smiled "I have to go. Mr Erhart needs me." She planted a kiss on the back of my palm and then walked away swaying her hips as she walked.
I didn't want the water anymore. I only wanted to head back and lie next to Jesse and take in his scent.
"Miss Amelia? Mr Erhart has asked me to accompany you to his office." Like the day couldn't get worse.