Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Cleaning Lady Time really flies by. Without even knowing it, we are only a few days away from the anniversary party.

The party will be held at a lakeside country house. Mom is in hysterics, getting herself all worked up about everything looming on the horizon. She moved to the country house two weeks ago to make sure everything goes perfect.

And three days before the party, she called me nonstop asking for help. I have no choice but to take a few days off from school and come to her side.

Eason volunteers to drive me there. He picks me up at school in a red convertible, which is absolutely conspicuous in the school parking lot. People are actually turning their heads to look when I open the door and hop inside.

“How many luxury cars do you own?” I ask him when he exists the parking lot.

His hands are on the wheels, eyes straight ahead, as a playful grin appears on his lips. “Do you really want to know? Or are you just being ironic?”

“I was being ironic, but I am also curious now,” I giggle. “Let me guess…10?”

“10?” he laughs out loud, “That’s the top number you can guess?”

I bite my bottom lip, feeling a little embarrassed. I’ve always known that he is rich but exactly how much money he possesses is beyond my imagination.

“Stop making fun of me!” | groan, “Just tell me.”

“Fine,” he smiles and taps his index finger rhythmically on the wheel. “So in Boston I have 5 cars, but I usually only drive M8 and Maserati. And in New York, I think there are 3-4? I’ve lost count. Let me think… there are a couple more in L.A. I order a new Lamborghini last year and they just shipped to my house in L.A. a few days ago. We can fly down there and give it a test run one day. And that’s how many I have in the U.S.-”

“OK, OK!” | interrupt him before he goes too far. “That’s enough. I got the idea…God, why do you need so many cars? You only drive a few normally. It’s such a waste.”

“A waste? To be honest, only people with no money worry about practicability. I have more money than I can ever splurge in a lifetime, so I simply buy what I like.”

I lapse into silence. He’s right. We have different mindsets and I’ll never be able to understand his life.

“Hey,” he takes a look at me. “You are not mad at me, aren’t you?”

“No. It’s just-” | pause before saying, “We are so different, you know? Do you really think there will be a future ahead of us?”

He takes his hand off the wheel and reaches over, taking my palm. “I know what you are worrying about. But let’s just focus on the present. The rest will come into play when the time comes.”

I smile back at him, trying my best to shake off those dark feelings at the back of my mind.

When we get off the freeway, he opens the top and lets the summer wind breeze in. The weather is so good. We even catch a glimpse of the stunning sunset. On the way, he stops the car once to get me a mint chocolate chips ice-cream. It tastes so great and my mood couldn’t be better.

When we arrive at the country house, it has already passed 7. The car drives through the big iron gate and into the English landscape garden, which is so huge and clearly under careful maintenance.

We finally stop at the front door, behind the fountain. A maid comes to greet us and takes our luggage when mom appears behind the doors and rushes downstairs.

“God! You are finally here!” she waves her hands in frustration. “You should’ve arrived this afternoon. I have so many works for you.”

“Umm..I let her drag me into the hall and ask. “You have like a million maids and servants here. What do you need me for?”

“I need you to be in charge, OK?” Mom grabs my shoulders and forces me to face her. “The construction in the backyard is still not finished. Maybe you can oversee that? Wait, you haven’t seen the drawing yet. No, you can’t do that. Let me think, let me think…go meet those florists! You can help them with all the décor.”

“Mom, calm down.” Her eyes are all bloodshot, so I know that she hasn’t rested properly. “Everything will be fine. You have everything under control. Why are you so worried?”

Mom takes a tremendous breath. “Yes, yes. You are right. I need to calm down. Nat, why don’t you come with me and meet with the-”

Before she can finish, a couple appears around the corner. I am surprised to find that it’s Mr. Ramirez and Eason’s mom, Caroline Griswold.

She has her arm wrapped around Mr. Ramirez and is whispering something into his ear. They appear very intimate-so intimate that they look more like a couple than him and my mom.

Mom’s face grows cold as soon as she sees them. And I immediately realize where her hysteria comes from.

“Alicia,” Mr. Ramirez smiles at my mom. “Caroline was just telling me that the backyard looks wonderful.”

“Thank you,” mom says dryly. “I was just asking Natalia to help.”

Caroline Griswold raises her sharp eyebrows at me. She is absolutely stunning today, but her smile seems very condescending and arrogant, “Are you looking for something to do Natalia? In that case, maybe you can help the cleaning lady. It sure takes a lot of time to get my room ready.”