Five.......The Argument

It was now Monday and I was to resume work today. I was going to go and meet different types of people, the impatient ones, the calm ones, the always angry ones.

As an interior designer, I'm privileged to meet various types of people. Though I won't call it a privilege because these people could make you crazy.

I got up and got ready. After I was done in the bathroom, I came back, towel wrapped around my body and waist.

I looked at the bed and Ansel's side was rough, as usual. Then I thought of a question. Why was Ansel not there anytime I woke up and where was he?

I looked in the mirror. I didn't have a dress code for the office. I wore a black palazzo and a blue chiffon shirt. I had matched it with blue stilettos and my hair was up in a loose ponytail.

I did little makeup. Satisfied with myself I went downstairs. I greeted CJ and Nicola when I reached the kitchen. I sat down for breakfast and started eating.

I wanted to ask where Ansel would be, but I didn't. He would probably be in the study. Plus if I asked, I would have to tell them that I hadn't seen him since morning and they would....

"Is it ready?", I asked her when I was done. I had told her yesterday to prepare me something for lunch at the office, or when I would want to eat.

"Yes ma'am here it is.", she said giving me a food flask that had a handle and was covered.

The sight reminded me of when I was in preschool and I would always pester Caleb the day before to make me something very good for lunch.

He would sometimes get angry and say he won't make me anything. I would run and go and tell Dad, who would always tell me, "Don't you worry, you will eat something at lunch tomorrow." Then the next day Caleb won't talk to me, but I would always find my lunch box and something very nice would be in it.

I smiled at the memory.

"Is anything wrong ma'am.", CJ asked and I laughed lightly before Nicola joined in.

"Cecilia if anything is wrong would she be smiling?", Nicola asked though it sounded more like a statement. Her cheeks reddened as she lowered her head, and I was sure it was out of embarrassment.

"It's nothing CJ, I just remembered something.", I said and laughed. "Thank you anyways.", I said and she nodded.

"Well I'll be going now, bye.", I said.

"Okay see you tomorrow.", Nicola said and I waved and left.

When I got out, I saw Mekhi in a suit, he was always in one. I had never seen him dress casually.

"I'm ready.", I said approaching him and he opened the back door for me. When I got in he closed it and entered. He started the engine and drove off.

He already knew where my workplace was, his sister worked in the cafe, two building's away. That was where I normally had lunch if I hadn't prepared one for myself.

I knew everyone in that place, and I was sure I would have met her more than twice.

We arrived forty minutes later. I thanked Mekhi and told him I would call forty minutes before I was ready. He nodded and left. In the little time I had known him, I got to know that he was a man of little words.

I entered the building. It was a two-storey building. The ground floor was the reception area or waiting area. The first floor was the lunch room and where the workers had their offices there. They were open offices though.

The second floor was where clients were to meet with workers. Almost all pairs of workers had special clients. The ones that preferred only that pair to work for them.

There was an elevator, though I always thought it wasn't needed, but some people still used it. I always took the stairs. I never really liked to use elevators, and I only used them in really high buildings.

On my way I was greeted by almost everyone, who kept on congratulating me on my wedding, most of them were there.

I arrived at my desk and saw my partner, Paloma

"Hello.", I said.

"Finally, it's good to see you. It seemed like years. Martina even gave me another partner, he is an intern and God it was frustrating working with him.", she gushed.

"You are really excited to see me aren't you.", I said.

"Oh, you don't know how.", she said.

I was settling down when a young man in a green tee shirt and blue denim jeans came over. His hair was a dirty brown and was styled smoothly to the back. He was definitely new.

He wanted to say something to Paloma when he looked at me.

"Hi, I'm Parker.", he said stretching his hand. I stood up so I could shake it.

"Riley.", I said and his eyes darted to my hand.

"You engaged?", he asked.

Knowing he had seen the ring, "Married actually, weeks ago.", I said.

"Wow, we have a new bride.", he said. "You know my elder cousin, just got married.", he said.

"No one wants to know that Parker.", Paloma said, her eyes not leaving her laptop. He rolled his eyes at her and I wanted to laugh, it looked so comical.

"Anyways, what are the odds that you are his bride.", he said with a smile.

"Um, zero. If he were, you would have attended and I would have known.", he said.

"And what if I didn't."

"Well, you would have certainly been invited and again, I would have known.", I said mirroring his smile.

"I like you.", he said and I laughed. Someone tapped him on the head, it was Ben, another colleague of mine.

"You can't like her she's taken.", he said and I laughed as he left.

"Pain right.", he said and I laughed again.

He went to Paloma and placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to look at him.

"You've got your partner back. Seems like you won't be needing me anymore.", he said and I immediately knew he was the intern.

"First, I didn't need you, and second I'm very glad she's back.", she said.

"Oh Pal we both know you're lying.", he said and she scowled.

"Don't call me Pal.", she said.

I saw Martina heading towards us, and when she saw me her face lit up. According to her, I was one of her favourites.

"Riley!!", she exclaimed and I stood up to hug her. "I'm so glad you're back.", she said.

"Me too.", I said.

"Now don't go screwing your hubby yet, I can't afford to give you another leave, not even in nine months.", she said and I laughed.

"I assure you we won't be doing that.", I said. Not now, not ever.

"Anyways, I'm sure you've met Parker?", she asked and I nodded. "Good, so you will join the two of them, him and Paloma. They were working on a project, but haven't finished and it won't be right to leave you without a partner, you would need her.", she said.

"So I'm still working with Pal?", Parker asked.

"Yes.", Martina responded and Parker exclaimed a yes. He looked excited, but Paloma didn't, and I think Martina noticed that too.

"But you said when Riley comes back I'm gonna stop working with him.", Paloma whined.

"Yeah, but the work is starting to look nice, and Riley might not understand his expression if she's not working with him."

"So, congratulations, you guys are my first team of three. Parker use this opportunity very well, you're working with pros here, learn what you can.", she said.

"Oh I will, thank you.", he said and when Martina left, he turned to Olivia whose desk was right beside Paloma's.

"Olly.", he said.

"What.", she snapped but he was unfazed.

"Can we swap desks, I need to be very close to my partner.", he said.

"I'm sure you mean partners.", Paloma corrected

"Yeah. Yeah.", he said quickly and looked at Olivia with a puppy face.

"Fine, but you'll stop calling me Olly.", she said.

"Deal.", he nodded and half ran to get his things.

"He sure is one hell of a guy.", I said.

"Oh yeah, and he's terrible at giving nicknames.", Olivia added.

"I have noticed that.", I said.

"Good luck with him.", she said.

"Oh yeah, we'll need it.", Paloma said.

Olivia's things weren't much so she left quickly and Parker came. We got down to business. He was quite serious but would say a few jokes just to annoy Paloma.

The week passed by and now it was Saturday. To say I was pissed would be an understatement. I came home on Thursday and what did I see, Ansel, giving Theresa a cheque? She was at it again.

She had been visiting when I would be at work. She had even been to his office. I had told him on Thursday the reason why I hated her and then again kicked her out, not literally though.

I had now finished my breakfast. CJ had served me tea as she washed the dishes.

When she was done, she came to me and I could sense she wanted to say something.

"Something's bothering you. You can tell me, I'm your friend you know.", I said.

"Well ma'am the thing is, I don't want to tell you, 'cause it might cause troubles with you and the young master.", she said and I straightened my back.

"Well tell me you don't have to worry about anything.", I said.

"Well, that woman that you didn't want to come to your house.", she started.

"Theresa?"

"Yes, she uh..came here yesterday, with a young woman who looked like her.", she said.

"Daphne.", I muttered.

"And the young woman was..", she paused and looked around, before leaning closer. "Flirting with the young master.", she said and I gasped.

What was she planning to do, use her daughter to woo my husband. Anger consumed me. First, she was coming to ask my husband for money, now she was bringing her slutty daughter to woo him.

"Call me Oscar.", I said staring so hard at my tea and squeezing it. Luckily it was glass.

She left after nodding. I went to the living room. I was so angry I couldn't even sit down, I was pacing left to right.

The door opened and the two of them entered.

"Oscar.", I said.

"Yes ma'am."

"You know the woman who came here yesterday?", I asked.

"Yes...Madam Theresa."

"Yeah, whatever you call her. If she ever comes to visit don't let her in."

"Why ma'am?", he asked.

"Are you questioning me now.", I said and he shook his head vigorously. "If she ever comes tell her we're not around, if she says she wants to wait tell her she's not allowed to, and if she...."

"That won't be necessary.", I heard and I turned to see Ansel. "You can both excuse us.", he said.

"And why is that? You've started giving her money. It won't be long before she starts asking for millions."

"And what's wrong with that?", he asked and I clenched my fists out of anger.

"What's wrong is that she is a hypocrite and a gold digger...."

"Like you.", he said and I stepped closer to him, till we were very close.

"What'd you say?", I seethed.

"The truth about you. All the time you've been here, you've been mean and cruel, but whenever my mum or sisters are around you change and act like we are on good terms."

"You don't want to admit that you married me for my money.", he said.

"You know I did not, and that I did it for my family.", I shouted.

"For your family huh?", he said, his tone higher.

"Yes.", I shouted.

"Well why don't you just admit that you are just like Theresa, a mean bitch, a hypocrite who lies to my family, a slut, a gold digger who just wants my hard....my hard-earned money!!", he shouted and I flinched at his tone.

My eyes widened, but I recovered myself and with the pain in me, I slapped him hard. He looked back at me, holding his numb cheek.

"How dare you say such.", I said and poked his shoulder. "How dare you. You are the..the..", I couldn't finish and I pushed past him and ran upstairs. I locked the room and sat on my bed.

He had just insulted me. He called me a hypocrite. He said I was like Theresa.

A small tear fell down my cheek and I cleaned the trail. He had said such mean things, but it hurt so much. I lay on the bed and curled up.

I wanted to shout, to shout at him for saying what he said, but I felt there was some truth in what he said and I guess that's what hurt, the fact that he was right in some way.

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The Sparkling Authoress

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