An ear-splitting silence filled the semi-dim lighted room, only Felix and Alexandria's calmed breathing resonated around.
They were inside Felix's bedroom, helping him to change clothes without making a direct eye contact. It's not even ten minutes since they heard a sudden announcement coming from his third wife, yet the two were already in an awkward situation. None of the words that Sabrina uttered earlier sink in their mind. Maybe, out of shocked or for whatever reason, Felix suddenly chose her to help him instead one of the two downstairs.
"You're really amazing." Alexandria stated, suddenly outing what's inside her mind that made both eyes widened whilst glancing in his direction. She saw him scowled as she looked down to avoid his intense gaze. "W-what I mean, congratulations? A-ah, well..."
"Stop saying anything. I know there's nothing good would come out in your mouth from here on." Felix said, sighing as he took off his long sleeve polo shirt, showing his well-built half naked body. "I heard everything's going well on the company, praises after praises. You did a good job as my substitute."
Alexandria chuckled, giving him a set of new casual clothes to change. "It's a job that is assigned to me. Of course I'll do my best to fulfill it. You don't need to praise me."
"I also heard you've been in contact with that freelance model for these past few weeks now. What are you doing? It's not even part of your job."
"What? Everything I'm doing right now is part of my job, as a head designer of your company, as a substitute for yours, and even as your wife, it's all part of my job."
Another silenced creeped out throughout the four corners of the room.
Out of nowhere, the atmosphere deliberately changed into a heavy one that even Alexandria felt it. Those cold, piercing gazes and menacing aura engulfing his entire body gave shivers down her spine.
"Do you think everything you did was just a job?"
"Is there anything besides it? You only seek for my help before because you don't know how to handle the situation, am I wrong?"
"Alex!"
"You're fine on your own now, right? I'll go ahead."
She didn't dare to look at him and stormed out of the room before he heard another word. But when she came out, she got startled upon seeing Sabrina with those widened eyes, standing beside the door and being restless.
She gave her a death glare, but the woman composed herself and confidently glared back as if she didn't do something.
"What are you doing here? Does eavesdropping become your habit nowadays?" Alexandria asked.
"Who told you I'm eavesdropping? I just came here because the two of you were taking a long time." Sabrina uttered, crossing both arms. "Besides, who knows what are you doing inside? I'm pregnant with our second child, you know?"
Alexandria chuckled before rolling her eyes and stepped closer to her that made the woman alarmed. "You're pregnant? So what?"
"H-huh? We're going to have our baby, a second baby in precise. So..."
"Does having a second child validate you as the rightful partner of my husband? For your information, there's no such thing in the law that forbids the other to sleep with their partner." She said, patting her head that stiffened Sabrina. "If I were you, looked after yourself than trying to guard something that isn't yours."
"Y-you..."
"If you're that eager to take him, just do so. I'm exhausted enough dealing with all of this. I don't have any spare of energy to waste on this so-called family affair."
She gave Sabrina one last glare before leaving her in a rage and went straight to the dining hall where she saw Amber, looking after her child whilst Mr. Harlan was busy with Sabrina's child. They just gave each other a quick glance before looking somewhere else.
Alexandria headed straight to the other end of the table, opposite of the seat where the head of the family usually sat. She's supposed to sit near her husband, but ever since his harem had created, she changed her spot and didn't interact with the others. Besides, in her position, she can oversee everything they're doing without trying to. It's as if she's watching a family drama live, especially when they started arguing to get Felix's attention.
As a lingering awkward silence filled the dining hall, they heard a set of footsteps coming in their direction. They all looked at the entrance and saw Felix and Sabrina walking side by side, talking to each other.
When they came inside and Sabrina saw the other two watching them, she abruptly cling to Felix's arms with those wide grins on face. They even saw him pulled a chair for her before sitting on his that changed their facial expressions to dim.
"I chose the food here and prepared all your favorites since it's been a while," Amber stated, snatching Felix's attention towards her.
"Thanks for doing it. Let's eat before it gets cold."
All of them began eating the foods prepared in front, but Alexandria just played with the pasta by using the fork whilst her gaze focused on those people in front of her— seemingly in deep thoughts.
She watched them had their usual conversation, giving Felix foods to impress him with those usual smile that's not even genuine.
"Oh, before I forgot, I should tell you this," Sabrina uttered.
"What is it? Did something happen?"
"I have a scheduled appointment for a checkup this Friday. Can you accompany me?"
"Sur—"
"Friday? Felix, didn't you promise Jeanne you'll come to her family day celebration? You can re-schedule the checkup but the family day... It's only once in a year experience for my daughter."
"Is it on Friday?"
"Yeah, don't tell me you're going to break your promise and in front of her?" Amber said, wrapping her arms around the child's shoulder. "Jeanne, you want your dad to come along with us, right?"
"Hmm. All my classmates said they're coming with their mom and dad. Can't you come with us, dad?" Jeanne said, giving her father a puppy eyes.
"Little princess..."
"There's another family day next year, but this journey of pregnancy with our child could only happen once." Sabrina said, putting down her utensils while glaring at Amber.
"Hey, the two of you. Not in front of the children. Calm down, okay?" Felix said, heaving a deep sighed.
"What a scene to upset my stomach. Aren't you done with your drama?" Alexandria squeezed in on their conversation that caught everyone's attention, mostly Felix. "Should I add to the spice? I have something to tell you too, though I probably know the outcome."
Felix put the utensils down and gaze straight into her eyes. "What are you trying to say here?"
"Let's see, you have a ton of schedule on Friday. Did you forget or did your secretary didn't inform you yet?"
"Stop dilly-dallying," said Felix.
"We have a meeting in the morning with the board of directors regarding the upcoming new sets of designs that will released later this year, you have a lunch meeting with Mr. Parker about the November Magazine release and there's even an opening of new branch out of town. You also need to attend a party that was organized by one of our business partners. It's a lot of work for just a day, moving here and there without rest."
Amidst of an ear-piercing quietude, they heard Sabrina chortled in the corner, covering her mouth to suppress her laughed yet it caught Alexandria's attention.
"What's funny?" She asked in a stern tone.
"You know, you can do all of it on your own. Besides, you've been substituting for Felix throughout his absence and nothing went wrong, right?"
"Maybe you forgot, I'm the creative director of the Sinclair Clothing Company and not the proxy CEO. I have tons and heavy responsibilities towards the company." She uttered, chuckling in disbelief. "Whatever, a woman who didn't even need to work, but deliberately wasting other people's money, won't understand anything."
"Alexandria, you're going overboard with those words." Felix stated with those authoritative tones, giving her a fierce gaze. "Can't you speak nicely? There're children here."
"Felix was right. By saying those words, you're inflicting such a rude attitude towards our child," Sabrina said, trying to cover her child's ear.
"Is saying the truth could interpreted as a rude now? Too bad I'm not aware of it."
"Alexandria, what's gotten into you? Are you throwing tantrums?" Felix asked without breaking their gaze. "You're not a child, so better act according to your age."
No words came out of Alexandria's mouth after hearing her husband's statement. She just stared direct to his eyes as the others kept being wary of the sudden heavy situation that filled the atmosphere.
"A tantrum?" She said, letting out a faint laugh. "Well, let me throw a real tantrum once in a while."
"Y-you..." Felix uttered.
"Mr. Harlan."
"Yes, Ms. Alex?"
"It's only been over a month since I came into this house, but did you forget? I don't like this kind of pasta. Oh, my chair's uncomfortable and I can see some dirt on the table. Do you think I can eat here? The soups are too bland, and I don't even like this mango juice either. There are a lot of bees buzzing everywhere that it tickled my ear. I hate noises during my meal, understand?" She said. "Most of all, I hate eating with those mistresses. It f*cking upsets my stomach."
A playful, wide grin formed into her lips as the other two women instantaneously glared in her direction, but she just laughed it off before standing.
"Well, I'd rather occupied myself with tons of works than troubled myself with this complicated family affair, so keep playing house with your mistresses, my dearest husband. Don't call me here again if it isn't about business." She said.
"Alexandria, we're not done eating yet. Where do you think you're going?" Felix asked.
"Didn't you hear me? I don't like everything that I'm seeing here. Will you get rid of those that I don't like for me?"
"Hey, what's with that attitude?" Amber asked, staring at her.
"Of course, you won't choose me. It's been like that. What can I even expect from you?" Alexandria said, clenching her fists and looked away. "Enjoy your lunch together. I'm out."
"Alexandria!" Felix called, but she continue to storm out of the dining hall without turning back.