Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Muddled, Kathleen stared intently at Charlene who was contemplating a perfect excuse to give everyone around the table. She ran her right hand on her left hand, she sluggishly moved it to her lap and grinned anxiously.

“I took it off this morning while I was taking my bath, I totally forgot to wear it after I was done.” She framed a lie and pouted her lips cutely.

“Oh,” Luciana scoffed softly. “You know Charlene, it's your ring and you ought to wear it always.”

Charlene nodded her head docilely. She picked the cutlery and began to eat, she listened to their conversation but she never uttered a word even if a question was directed to her. She nodded to every question and shook her head if it was the perfect response to give.

Finally everyone left, Charlene bid her parents goodnight before returning inside alone. She left Richard behind and went to their room. She strode toward where her backpack was, she unzipped it and dipped her hand inside, searching for her ring. Unfortunately she couldn't find the ring in the backpack. She put all the things in the backpack on the bed and searched thoroughly. Her heart throbbed anxiously as if it was going to explode in her chest.

“The ring!” She gasped, her eyes widened horrifically.

She heard his footsteps approaching, instantly she knew Richard was already in the room with her. She wiped off the balls of sweat on her forehead as she began to return all her stuff into the backpack. She glanced behind to see him heading toward the bathroom. She sighed and picked her phone on the bed, she tried to call Charles but unluckily she couldn't reach him. She scoffed with exasperation as she dropped the phone on the bed violently. She returned the backpack to its right spot then walked back to the bed, she sat down impatiently while shaking her legs.

Once again she took her phone and called him but Charles didn't pick up. She scrolled down her call log until she found Javier on the dialed list, she hesitated her thumb with reluctance. “Am I supposed to ask him if he perchances to find my ring?” She grumbled quietly before putting her phone on her lap.

Thirty minutes later Richard strolled out of the bathroom in a white bathrobe. Charlene never seemed to sense his presence in the room even when he sidled over to the nightstand and picked the bracelet on it. She was completely lost in thought, she had been pondering how she lost the ring.

Richard strolled to the closet, he changed into pajamas before stepping out of the closet. Charlene was lost in thought, Richard climbed up the king size bed and laid down quietly, he covered his body with the duvet and turned off all the lights except the spotlight above the bedhead and the two table lamps on the nightstand.

It was his phone that jolted her out of her deep thoughts. She looked over promptly, she parted her lips to speak that was when she noticed Richard was actually ignoring the call. Charlene was able to peeked at his phone, she saw the call ID which was Henrietta. Richard watched the phone ringing, he never lifted a hand or made any attempt. Charlene remained calm, she looked at his back as he was facing the other side, she wondered what might be going on in his mind but there was no way she could find out.

She wanted to call his name but her voice failed her, she wanted to touch him but she refrained herself before she could as she didn't want him to leave the room like he did in the evening. She rose and headed into the bathroom.

“OH GOODNESS.” She yawned lazily while opening her eyes slowly. She looked up at the ceilings then rolled to her right side only to find him gone. She furrowed her brow, she sat up and scanned the room with her eyes. It became a reality that he wasn't in the room, Charlene looked at the radio clock on the nightstand. “Shit!” She gasped, drawing the duvet away from her body, she leaped to her feet.

“Did I oversleep?” She said, heading into the bathroom. She didn't all the necessary stuff before stepping out, she trudged inside the closet. Dressed up. Stepped out. She carried a handbag and hung it over her shoulder, she took her phone and exited the room. She didn't bother to check Miguel as she made her way toward the elevator. She stepped out when it slid open.

“Good morning, ma'am.” Annie greeted while playing with Miguel.

“Good morning.” Charlene answered abruptly. She headed toward the door but a maid spoke up.

“Ma'am your breakfast.”

Charlene didn't bother to answer, she trudged out hurriedly. She handled her phone awkwardly, it nearly slipped her hand but she was able to catch it before it could hit the floor. When she checked her watch it was quarter to nine, she thought Charles would have left after calling her and she didn't pick up. To her surprise, his red sports car was parked in front of the mansion.

“Do you ever learn to answer your phone? Check your watch, Charlene. For goodness sake I've been out here for over thirty minutes.”

She blinked her eyes multiple times, looking at him pitifully. “I'm sorry, Charles. I overslept and Richard didn't wake me up.”

“Just get in the car.” He commanded inimically. Both of them hopped in the car, she didn't bother to fasten the seatbelt since she was worrying about something and she couldn't wait to tell him. “Didn't you say you'll set an alarm?” He reminded her as he focused his gaze on the road.

“I forgot. Mum and dad came over yesterday but you didn't come with them.” She said calmly.

“I was busy.”

“She informed me. Moreover you were supposed to remind me of the alarm last night. I called out countless times but you didn't pick.” Her voice began raising with exasperation.

“I just told you I was busy.”

“And you couldn't even text me after missing my call.” She snapped surly.

He glanced over, he huffed annoyingly and returned his gaze to the road. “Why are you getting sulky over it? Is anything wrong?”

“Everything is wrong. I think I lost my ring.” She purred perturbedly.

“What ring?” He queried curiously.

“My wedding ring. I believe I kept it in my backpack yesterday but when I checked I couldn't find it. Did you perhaps find it or did I drop it in the car.” She said she looked behind her legs and searched thoroughly where she was sitting.

“No. I didn't see the ring. I told you yesterday you should have taken off the ring, it is something you should always wear. I can't guarantee that it is in the car. Maybe you should recall when you open your backpack. When, where and with whom.” He halted the car in the parking lot and both of them alighted.

“I can't think, Charles. I have to find the ring.”

“So you have to recall yesterday's event, that's the only thing that can help you find the missing ring. Have you told your Richard?” Charlene shook her head negatively. “Did he notice you ain't wearing the ring?” She nodded and shook her head at the same time.

“I lied about the ring, that's why I must find the ring today. Oh! What if the ring is with Javier?” She said, panicking.

“You gotta tell him the truth.”

They walked alongside, heading to the lecture hall. She looked at his face without looking at where she was going. “About what?”

“About everything you're hiding. He loves you and he knows you love Richard so much.”

“I won't tell him anything. He's my best friend and I don't want to hurt his feelings.” She retorted.

“Hurt his feelings? Charlene, you don't know what you're saying.”

“Maybe you should explain thoughtfully so I can understand what you're trying to say.” She snorted sharply.

“Charlene, if you really want your ring back you have to tell him about you and Richard. What if he knows already but he's just waiting to hear it from you. I don't know what you're going to tell him but I think he deserves to know the truth.”

Charlene muted for a few seconds. She thought of what he said, there was no way she would ask Javier if he found her missing ring without telling him about the ring. After all, if anyone saw the ring, apparently the person had to know that it was a wedding ring, not a random ring.

“You're late again, Charlene.” Javier appeared from behind after whispering to her ear. She was startled and stopped walking.

“Javier,”

“What's up, Charles?” Javier and Charles exchanged greetings before going in different directions. Javier and Charlene walked together, heading to the same lecture theatre.

“What's wrong, Charlene?” Javier asked knowingly.

She halted in front of the door, she turned around and looked at his face. “There's something I need to tell you.”

“Now or after the lecture?” He suggested as he lifted a brow.

“Now, if you don't mind.”

“Okay.”

She led the way to a quiet place near the theatre hall. She stopped walking and turned around to look at him. “Javier,”

“Um,” He looked squarely into his eyes, he smiled lightly as he focused his gaze steadily.

“I-I-I'm married.” She stuttered mildly.

“Married?”

“Richard and I are married. I guess you didn't watch the news or read the magazine. It was an arranged marriage between us and actually we got married during the week. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I know there's no excuse that will justify my selfish behavior but I'm truly sorry.”

Puzzled, he stared at her intently trying to figure out if she was trying to make a joke out of him like she always did. “Richard Sullivan?” She nodded. “Wait Charlene, are you talking about the CEO?”

She nodded. She looked around and saw a few students staring at them. Charlene noticed some of them were holding magazines, she believed at least one could be their magazine. “Just a second.” She strode toward a lady. “Can I borrow this from you?” She smiled at the lady who was admiring her in the magazine.

“Sure.” She nodded instantaneously and handed over the magazine to Charlene.

She collected the magazine from her and walked back to where he was standing. She extended the magazine toward him and gestured to him to look at it. Javier looked at the frontpage.

Richard was holding her by the waist while she was still in her wedding dress. Javier looked up at her eyes disappointedly. “This doesn't make sense to me. He's married.”

“They divorced.”

“He's older than you.”

“He's only twenty eight.”

“Charlene, he has a child.” He said in a brittle voice. Instantly tears hovered the corner of his eyes while looking at her emotionally.

“But I love him.”

“Charlene,” His voice cracked when he hollered. He had refrained himself from gripping her because he didn't want to hurt her.

She paced back anxiously. She swallowed her saliva. “I'm sorry.”

He ran his fingers through his hair, he groaned silently. The only woman he ever loved dearly was Charlene, unfortunately she was already someone else's woman, the thought alone shattered his heart. “Why didn't you tell me? I know you love him so much but why didn't you inform me that you're getting married.”

“I was afraid.”

“Afraid that I'm going to hurt you or force you to love me? Charlene, why?” He used a thumb to wipe a tear that escaped his eye. “Okay, why are you telling me this right now?”

She looked down at her feet, she entwined her fingers and gnawed on her lip. “I lost my wedding ring yesterday, I was hoping you would find it.”

“I didn't find anything. Did you take it off because of me?”

She nodded. “I didn't know what to tell you.” She purred innocently.

“Did you remember where you kept it?”

“Inside my backpack but I couldn't find it there.”

Javier gasped as he remembered something. He blinked rapidly. “You must have accidentally dropped it when you took out your bandana at the coffee shop but I don't think we can find it there now. It's too late.”

Charlene's eyes widened. “We have to go there. I have to find the ring or...” She was on the verge of tears.

Javier surrendered. He returned the magazine to the lady then both of them headed to the coffeehouse. Just as he told her, it was too late. They couldn't find the missing ring, Charlene insisted on checking the trashcan but he stopped her. They were about to leave the coffeehouse when her shoulder bumped into a body. She looked up and found Fiona standing in front of her.

“Oh, Charlene.” She called her name anxiously.

Charlene intended to ignore her but Javier spoke up.

“Please, did you find a ring after we left yesterday?” She was stunned, she blinked rapidly. Javier found her suspicious. “I guess you have the ring. I'm pretty sure you know it's her wedding ring.”

“But I'm not with the ring right now.” Fiona eventually said.

“And who's with my ring?” Charlene interjected.

“Tina took the ring and I think she already sold it.”

“What!”