Chapter 4

The next morning came anyway, even though I didn't want to wake up.

I kept rolling from one side of the bed to another. It was obvious I was suffering from a hangover.

I opened my eyes slowly, and everything seemed blurry.

Then I heard a knock on my door. I had to answer it.

It was Anthony.

Or my boss, rather.

“Good morning, sir,” I said, yawning with my hands covering my mouth.

“Get ready. You need to go to the mall and get some things.”

I stared at his beautiful face for a few seconds. Not like it was intentional.

“What did you say? God, no. My head is spinning right now.”

“Don't tell me you're having a hangover right now. You knew you had zero tolerance for alcohol, and yet you drank at the club,” he replied.

I didn't know what else to say. I had to do my job and not get him upset.

“I'll give you an hour. Take pills or whatever you want to do. I'll give Anna my card while you check the house and get the necessary things, including the ones on the list I'll give her.”

He turned and left.

Ugh. But at least he had the decency to give me time to recover.

I got ready later. I wore a crop tank top with grey joggers sitting on my hips and a hoodie tied around my waist.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

“I'm a fashion girly.”

I smiled, put on my lip gloss, and headed downstairs to meet Anna, who was already waiting for me in the living room.

“Let's go, Anna.”

She stood up for us to leave, and then we heard a voice from behind.

“Make sure to put on the hoodie when you step out,” Anthony said.

I didn't reply.

“Why does my brother care so much when it comes to you?” Anna asked.

“Damn, girl. I don't know. That's his nature, right?”

“Yeah, but it's different when it comes to you. I think he likes you.”

“Anna, please, just get in the car.”

“Um, who was that lady in the house last night when we returned?” I asked.

“Oh, that's Essa. My brother's fiancée.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“Your brother has a fiancée?”

“Yeah, he does. But trust me, they have the most unromantic relationship I've ever seen. I don't even think they're in love.”

I didn't ask any more questions. I decided to mind my business.

We got to the mall pretty quickly. We checked almost every section of the mall.

Anthony's list was a bit complicated. We had to be very careful to get exactly the brand and quality of whatever he needed.

We spent a lot of time there because Anna decided it was the best time to do her shopping too, taking us around the mall.

“I'm launching my gallery soon,” Anna told me.

She's a lover and creator of artworks. All the ones hanging in the house are her masterpieces.

“That's nice. At least you're about to do something reasonable for once in your life.”

We both laughed.

“Well, that's not the amazing part. The amazing part is that I'm throwing a party, and it's going to be hot. I don't know the date yet, but I'm just letting you know.”

“I knew it.”

Someone interrupted our conversation.

“Excuse me, ladies.”

“Oh, hi, Jason.”

Ah, Anna knows everyone in the neighborhood.

I didn't say anything. I'm not the one to start being friendly with strangers, and I even remembered seeing this one at the club.

“Hi, Emma.”

Whoa. He knows my name.

I turned to him.

“Hi.”

“My name is Jason, a music producer. I own a studio, and I stay around an estate close to yours.”

Whoa. What an introduction filled with pride.

“Nice to meet you, Jason.”

Anna had taken a few steps away, leaving just the both of us.

“I'm sorry about the other day at the club. My cousin tried to harass you.”

“Oh, so the narcissist is your cousin?”

“I'm sorry about what he did. He shouldn't have done that.”

“You don't have to apologize because he's not sorry. I wonder why you're apologizing. I mean, he's your cousin, and I guess you both have the same character.”

“Trust me, I'm nothing like him,” he replied.

“I know you're busy right now, and I should allow you to continue with what you're doing, but please, can I get your contact?”

I was already losing my patience, so I gave him my contact.

Anna saw when I gave it to him, and I didn't hear the end of it until we got home.

We were welcomed with an argument.

“You let a staff member live in your house with you, but it's not okay for me to move in with you?” Essa yelled.

“Can you stop yelling? She's here because I need her here,” Anthony replied.

“And you don't need me here, right? You let every other person stay with you except me.”

Anna and I exchanged a glance.

It was obvious this wasn't about who lived in the house and who didn't.

“And what about last night? You carried her in your arms to her room,” she continued.

“She was drunk, Essa. You know what? I can't do this right now.”

Anthony went upstairs.

Then Essa turned to me.

“I don't care what your role is in this house, but you can't stay here. You have to leave.”

I didn't say a word.

“Are you deaf? Pack your things and leave right now. You can come from home.”

“You're not the one who employed me, so you don't get to decide that or even order me around,” I replied.

“Do you know I can get you fired?”

“Give it a shot. Until then, I stay.”

She raised her hand, heading for a slap, but I caught it in the air.

“If you have a problem with your fiancé, fix it with him. Don't come to me. And don't you ever raise your hands at me. Don't even think about it.”

I had to let go of her hand before she could accuse me of assault.

She was so upset that she returned upstairs to Anthony.

I could take anything from anyone, but disrespect? Nah.

“I love that energy, girl.”

Anna and her trouble.

I sat down on the couch, and a beep from my phone got my attention.

It was a text message. I opened it, and it read:

“Dinner tomorrow?

Please don't say no. I just want to prove to you I'm nothing like my cousin.”

I didn't need a soothsayer to t

ell me it was Jason.

And then another one followed.

“Once you make up your mind, I'll send you the address and time.”

Now I had to contemplate whether I was going to go or not.