Chapter 46: Chapter 46

She seemed to be getting attention from everyone, only a few were badmouthing her but she wasn't affected at all. She looked perfectly fine, being the center of attention she didn't care about anything else. Greta walked in majestically toward the reception where Henrietta was with Dolly. Greta didn't bother to utter a word, she took a seat next to her manager.

“Are you sure they're back together?” They kept murmuring to each other, secretly looking at Henrietta.

“I don't think so.”

“Then, the rumors are not true?”

“Mr Sullivan hasn't divorced his wife. Henrietta is the one trying to separate the couples using his son.”

“Huh? That's awful. She's selfish.” One of the ladies surly winked at her.

“Everyone knows that. I personally know Henrietta will go any length if she needs something. It's her personality. She's a parasite that can't survive on its own.” Maggie scowled.

“I think we should leave, Henri.” Dolly suggested since everyone was becoming annoying.

Henrietta shrugged apathetically. “Not yet.” She disagreed.

“It has been a while I feel like this. It feels so great. Look, everyone is talking about me, not Greta.”

She buried her face in her palms, regretting ever accompanying her. Dolly thought she had something important to do, her meeting with Mr Wilson was futile, Instead of leaving straightaway Henrietta wanted to wait. After she heard that Greta's photoshoot would be over in thirty minutes she decided to wait until it was over. She rose, then walked over to where Greta was sitting.

Greta briskly looked at her with furrowed brows. “Do you want something?” She asked politely. Her voice was as calm as her face.

“Not really. I need you to talk to Mr Wilson, I want to be part of your photoshoot. I heard you haven't picked your subordinate.”

“I'm so sorry. I have someone else in mind. If you may, excuse me. Let's go.” She rose, gesturing to her manager to let them leave.

With that, everyone couldn't repress their laughter. Henrietta looked around, a bit embarrassed. Dolly's head fell with disappointment, she stood and went away.

“I think she's getting used to rejection.” Maggie mocked her, causing everyone to burst into delighted laughter.

Henrietta glared at her . She didn't bother to shoot back, she picked her purse on the chair and went away. She was able to catch up with Dolly in the car park. “Have you lost your mind, Henrietta?” Dolly snapped at her.

She grunted softly, getting tired of her complaints. “You don't yell at me! I paid you and I can fire you if I want to. I never lost my mind.”

“Did you come here to humiliate yourself? I don't think I know you anymore. You've changed, Henri.”

Her face scrunched up. “Changed?” She pronounced the word with irritation in her voice. “That's ludicrous. I didn't change.”

“I'm sorry, but I have to do this. I'm quitting.” Dolly extended the key to her.

Henrietta thought she was joking about it until she handed over her credit card to her. “Are you serious?”

“I'm dead serious. It seems like you've made up your mind but I can't keep up with your behavior anymore. You're desperate. You lied to your attorney. You lied about loving your son... you're not deserve to be called a mother because you don't deserve it. I hope Richard finds a way to end everything once and for all. I'm so glad he didn't give up Miguel because you can't take care of him. I wondered if you ever loved your son.” She vented out.

Henrietta listened to her in a relaxed manner. “Don't ever come to my house and don't ever call me. Thank you for your service. Goodbye, dolly.” She walked over to the car, getting in, fastened her seatbelt and drove away.

Dolly whimpered with disappointment. She eventually put an end to their eleven years friendship and Henrietta didn't care about it at all. That was who she was, she only cared for herself, she was self-centered and nothing else was important to her. Her goals were the most important things to her, until she achieved it she had no intention of stopping.

She drove herself to the mansion, as she alighted from the car she scanned the garage, looking for her cars. She noticed the cars Charlene used to drive to school were parked at the garage, she concluded in her mind that Charlene must have returned. With that she headed inside. She stayed in the living room for a while, hoping to bump into her on her way. Charlene hadn't come downstairs ever since she returned in the morning.

“Excuse me.” Henrietta called a maid that was about to walk past her.

The maid stopped walking to answer her. “Yes?”

“Has Richard returned from work? ” She nodded. “How about Charlene?”

“I haven't seen her today.” She answered, and walked away.

Actually, the only person she desired to see was Richard not Charlene. With a look of disappointment she ascended the stairs ponderously. She halted in front of Miguel's door, she whirled on the track and looked at the opposite door. She had to refrain herself from opening the door.

Richard stepped out of the room, to his surprise Henrietta was standing before the door. “Why are you scurrying around like a loathsome parasite? Are you lost?” His eyes darkened with suspicion.

Henrietta stepped back startlingly. She scanned his whole body from the toes to the head. She saw he was putting on casual clothes. Judging by his clothes, he must have returned home early, no doubt. Henrietta was excited and angry at the same time. She contracted her lips into a frown. “What?!” She gasped surprisingly.

He skipped closer. “I should be the one asking you that. You're standing on my way. Step back!” He rasped imperatively.

She stepped back with reluctance.

Before walking away he spared her a dreadful gaze. Henrietta didn't react to it, she shrugged off.

Henrietta parted her lips to say something, she uttered feebly. “Suit yourself.”

When Richard figured she had nothing to say to her, he went his way. Henrietta smirked. She turned over to the door, she opened the door and stepped inside. Miguel wasn't in the room, she concluded that the babysitter must have taken him out of the room.

She seemed to be bored, she glimpsed around searching for something to keep her accompanied but there was nothing that enticed her. She contemplated for a while until an idea popped up in her head. She grinned cheerfully. She slid into her scuffs and rushed out of the room. As she reached downstairs, she roamed her eyes around, searching for Richard. She went to the dining room to look for him but he wasn't anywhere around. She decided to check him outside, on her way while approaching the door, Richard entered after getting a document from the car. Unexpectedly, she bumped into him. Henrietta lost her balance and toppled back. Instead of grabbing her and supporting her from falling Richard completely overlooked, leaving her to hit her but on the floor.

”Ouch!” She cried out in high pitch, grabbing her ankle, then looked up to his stern face. Her eyes welled up with tears.

With no remorse. “Are you blind?” He scolded fiercely, not making any attempt to assist since he felt no slight pity for her.

“Did you despise me that much?” She asked out of the blue.

He furrowed his brows, perplexed. “I told you to stop scurrying around like a loathsome parasite.” He rolled his eyes. He made to walk away, as he had taken a few steps away and she heard her groaning in pain.

“Ouch! It hurts.” She winced in pain.

He hesitated. He pivoted his head without making a turn. She held her ankle, massaging it tenderly while groaning. He stared at her briefly before walking away.

***

Charlene changed into something simple. A tan crop top and a blue bum short. She noticed he wasn't in the bedroom, she concluded he had left the room. She ambled toward the couch, sitting down. She brought her notebooks out from her backpack, she placed her iPad beside her on the couch and dropped a pen on the textbook. She picked a textbook up and began to study. She kept flipping to the next page, browsing some difficulties on her iPad.

Some minutes later. Despite she sensed his presence in the room she didn't bother to look up. She hadn't talked to him after their dispute, he had tried countless times but she was obviously avoiding him. He came over to the couch and sat opposite her.

“Charlene...” He called her name calmly, hoping that she wouldn't avoid him again.

She gazed at him narrowly. She twitched her lips, packing up her things and returned them into the backpack. She picked her iPad and attempted to leave. However, he grabbed her by the wrist. “What?” She glared at him.

He puffed up, sighing out his exasperation. “Are you avoiding me?”

She blinked rapidly. When her eyes locked with his, she didn't trust her own emotions. In any case she didn't want him to come near her until he explained to her why Henrietta had to live with them. “I'm not avoiding you. Let me go.” She said sternly.

“It's obvious you are. You're becoming more sensitive these days.” He observed.

”I distinctly remember telling you I need to prepare for my examination, right? I need to study, so let go of my hand.”

He refused to do what she wanted. “What an excuse. I'm sorry.” He apologized.

She looked at him at once. She narrowed her eyes and lifted a brow at the same time. “For what?”

“For scolding you. I'm sorry I startled you the other day, I wasn't in a good mood.”

“You always find excuses to justify your reckless act. It's fine.” She extended a hand and freed herself.

“I didn't intend to tell you this... She'll be leaving soon.”

“Why?”

“I need to clear a few things and once it's over, she will be gone for good. She seems impossible to get rid of so I have to think of another way.”

“I still don't get what you're insinuating. Anyways, it's fine. Do it in your way. There's a lot you're hiding. Every time I think I'm starting to understand you I feel lost again.”

“Just for two week. Please, Charlene.” He appealed to her with sincerity in his voice, and his eyes conspicuously filled with hope.

She sat back and put the iPad on her lap. Sooner or later she would ask him to promise her that it was worth trusting his words. “Two weeks? That long. Do you want to tell me everything?”

He shook his head. “I'll tell you everything later."

“And if I accede to what you say you won't tell me. I'm not stupid but it's fine. As long as it's safe to have her around, I have no problem with that. I know you're doing this for Miguel so I'll accept it.”

“So, are we good now?”

“Maybe.”

He narrowed his eyes, unable to decipher what she meant. “Maybe?”

“I won't tell you yes because I'm not completely happy. Let's just say I have no choice.” She looked down at her hands, playing with her fingers. “I'm being honest right now.” She raised her head to catch a glimpse of his countenance.

“Thank you.” He stared intently into her eyes and she also did the same.

She figured it was getting intense, before it got out of her she had to escape the awkward moment. “I need to study. I don't think I can do that while you're staring at me like that.”

He giggled. “That's enough for today. You've been studying since you returned. You should take a break.” He took the iPad from her and placed it near the backpack, he stepped closer. She looked at him. “You should rest. You have all time to study.” He made her lay her head on his lap. She curled up and laid properly. She shut her eyes.

“You know I can't study everything at once. I'm not very intelligent.”

“Taking a break now won't make you fail. I'll wake you once two hours is over, you should use the whole time to relax...” He kept on talking to her without realizing she was fast asleep. When he asked a question and didn't get any response in return, he looked closely to see her sleeping peacefully. He trailed a finger on her forehead, down to her nose until it reached her red plump lips. He kissed her hair and brushed it back. He scanned around for the documents he was holding earlier, he extended his hand, he picked the one on top and began to glance through it.