Chapter 2
James paused and hesitatingly turned, his face burnt with shame and embarrassment. He narrowed his eyes on Olivia.
Olivia purposely allowed him to stand there as she ate calmly without saying the reason for the call. James' patience grew thin, his heart clenched while watching her.
Evelyn couldn't endure it anymore so she snapped at Olivia, "You called him; why kept him waiting?" Her face was a bit of a frown.
Olivia looked at her mother and replied coldly, "He has nothing doing so standing there isn't anything crime. It's part of exercise." She mocked. Then she cleaned her mouth with a white tissue on the table.
Taking a sip of the chilled glass of water on the table, she then addresses James, "I'll be leaving for the office soon with my black car." She paused, observing James' reaction.
Seeing no fault, she added coldly, "I want you to get the white car washed because I'll make use of it tomorrow."
James stared at her in disbelief and his cheeks flushed with rage. How could she even say that to him?! That was humiliation in the highest order.
Evelyn was also equally shocked, staring at Olivia, her face filled with disbelief. She wanted to interject but she didn't, leaving James to stand up for himself. Defending him always was doing more harm than good to him.
Meanwhile, Leonard, Olivia's father, Grandma Aurora, and Amelia, Olivia's sister, chuckled mockingly with satisfaction. They loved seeing him get humiliated.
"Wash your car?" James repeated, raising his eyebrows, "What happened to the car wash and what's Caleb's work in this house?" He asked, mentioning Olivia's brother.
Caleb was the immediate sibling of Olivia who was older than Amelia. He was currently at the gym, which was his everyday morning routine.
Immediately he said that everyone shot him with deadly looks. He could see something darker in their eyes. And if look could kill, he would've been a dead person within seconds.
Evelyn was about to back James up but Olivia stopped her with her hand, "Leave yourself out of this, Mom." She then said to James, her words short and simple yet authoritative, "I'm housing, feeding, and clothing you here. Don't dare go against my words!" She blasted.
James was short of words. She was right, and he appreciated her kind gesture, but she seemed to forget that nothing had been his fault.
He had tried his best to get a job, but it was as if he wasn't doing anything since he had always been rejected several times.
James swallowed hard and only nodded his head and walked to the kitchen to have his own breakfast.
Just after he left, Olivia then let her boiled heart chill as she began to eat again. Truthfully, the meal was delicious, which no one would like to miss.
Soon, everyone was done eating, and Olivia grabbed her bag, hanging it on her shoulder. "Dad, Mom, Grandma…." She called, "I'll be leaving now." She announced with a faint smile.
Evelyn let out a deep sigh and took in a shallow breath, letting her eyes focus on Olivia. She returned her smile, stood up, and kissed her forehead, "Please, take care. Good things are only allowed to happen to you today."
"Amen…thanks, Mom," Olivia claimed, maintaining her smile.
Aurora also got up and caressed Olivia's hair, "I have nothing to say because Evelyn, your mother, just said it all even though she's just blindly supporting that leech."
Olivia only let out a deep sigh. Leonard then included, "Good luck, dear." He said and left. Grandma Aurora also joined him after watching Olivia make her way outside.
Just then, James walked downstairs, and seeing no one there, he hurried outside to catch up with Olivia.
Luckily, Olivia was about to enter the car when he quickly called out her name, "Olivia?" He made his way quickly to her.
Olivia hesitated from stepping into the car and she looked at him with irritation, flashing in her eyes, "What is it?" She asked and immediately added, "you want some bucks as usual?"
She already knew that he wanted something anytime he approached her that way.
James slowly and shamefully nodded his head, "Yes," his voice trembled. "I applied for a job online with my phone and got an email to come for the interview today but got no bucks on me for transportation. I just can't afford to get there late." He explained but Olivia was busy checking her wristwatch.
The time was ticking faster and she had no time to waste with this useless husband of hers.
James, however, ignored her annoying behavior and was about to continue, "It won't—" but Olivia shut him off angrily.
"Here you go. Take it!" She took a $10 note from her purse and threw it to James' face. It fell to the ground, causing James to feel embarrassed.
"That's it and make sure you pass the interview because I can't continue to be feeding a grown-up like you forever." She fired, clearly frustrated.
James looked at her before hesitating to answer, "Thank you and I promise to pass the interview." He smiled even though he was uncomfortable with Olivia's words and actions toward him. "But the money won't be enough." His voice cracked again.
"Then look for a way to complete it. I mustn't do everything for you! And if you can't complete it, then trek back home. You can't be useless and let your legs also be useless. Try to make them useful." She waved her hand, unconcerned. Then something crossed her mind, and she voiced it out instantly, "Make sure my car gets washed before you leave, understood?"
James nodded and replied, "Yes." Without looking at him again, Olivia stormed into her car and reversed from the parking lot while James continued to look at the car, slowly waving a farewell hand to her although the windows were closed.
Just as the car was about to drive out of the compound, James said, "Bye, Olivia." But his voice was barely above the humming of the car.
With the car out of sight, James sighed and shook his head, muttering to himself, "You aren't to be blamed, Olivia. I'm emotionally feeling your frustration." Tears almost dropped from his eyes but he manly held them back.
"It hasn't been easy but I promise to take good care of you when I eventually become big or even bigger." He added, emotionally before bending and picking up the money.
Then he walked inside and saw Evelyn, his mother-in-law, standing beside the doorway with a pale expression.
From the look on her face, James could definitely sense that something wasn't right with her, so he cleared his voice and asked politely, "Mother, you look bothered; what's the problem?"