was at the company where I worked at the next morning.
The supervisor raised her brows at me in surprise.
I'd mostly been running late because of being caught up in Joe's mess and cleaning up after him then providing his needs at the same time so it was natural for her to be this shocked to see me walk in earlier than before.
The supervisor called me into her office.
"Racheal, would you be interested in joining our staffs working overseas?
There's an offer,and you're the best employee worthy of it." She asked carefully.
"Your skills are top - notch and there's no one here that rivals that. I didn't want to bring it up before as I was worried fo-"
"I will take that with a bunch of thanks, ma'am." I interrupted her.
Her eyes widened a little. She cleared her throat, "Is…something up at home,Racheal? You fought with your husband or something?
I noticed you threw a bouquet in the trash can last night also."
A light smile touched my lips and I shook my head.
Fight? Nah. Joe never engage in an argument with me.
Instead,he would give me a look an elder would give to a child mindlessly throwing tantrums.
My phone buzzed twice. When I checked it out,I saw it was Joe.
His voice rang out from the phone's speaker in a gentle but slightly displeased time.
"Swamped up with many duties today? I found the dining table empty."
He stopped,taking in a deep breath. "It was our anniversary yesterday,and I prepared something for you."
"Oh?"my brows perked up.
"What something?"i tried not to sound interested.
"A ring,a beautiful one to be precise. It was one of the lead items on sales yesterday."he replied and I heard sounds as if he was looking for something.
"How come it's not here tho? I kept it in my coat,but i can't find it."he remarked and I scoffed lowly.
I remember seeing a shiny ring wrapped around Nelly's slender finger in the picture last night.
I guess the gift he got for me needed a test to be run on it on his childhood sweetheart's finger.
"It's alright; I didn't get you anything after all."I brushed his words off.
"I really did got you a gift, Racheal. You aren't,by chance,angry right?"
"Why would I be?"I breathed out.
"I have to go now, there's a lot to do here."I added before ending the call.
Starting from that day,my relationship with Joe grew into a silent wave of ocean that could decide to swerve to any direction with no questions asked.
Few days later,I was invited for dinner by his mother; a rare event since she never for once saw me as the wife of her son,only Nelly was the golden girl worthy of being her daughter in-law.
I honored her invitation, nevertheless.
I arrived there at her house by taxi.
She could have stayed in the packhouse but she wanted a taste of life in the human world so she made Joe get her a penthouse there.
When I entered,she was directing Joe's friends go set the table.
As soon as my presence was registered,the room went into a state of silence,amidst which someone muttered, "Why call her here? She would drag Joe home with her,not allowing us have drinks."
I pretended not to have heard that and took my seat.
Joe soon arrived with Nelly by his side.
I saw that the ring was no longer on her finger.
Nelly dashed into the kitchen to chat with Joe's mother like she truly belonged there.
Joe pulled the chair beside me back and sat down.
He brought the ring out of his pocket and turned to me, "it's just like I'd guessed, Racheal. It was in the car this whole time."he smiled, twirling the ring in his hand gently as if it were such a precious object.
How could he not have any reluctancy to him?
Joe took my left hand, and slides the ring in one of my fingers without taking notes of my facial expression.
I stared down at the ring,a strong feeling of repugnant in me.
How long has he been lying to me with such ease?
From the kitchen,his mother's voice came out in a warm texture, "oh,Nelly,leave all these jobs for Racheal - it's only right she do it,not you who is only a visitor here tonight."
Nelly grabbed her and and shook it lovingly, "come on,aunty,I missed you." She purred.
"You did? Oh,Nelly.." Joe's mother drawled out as she threw a glance in my direction.
"I was begginning to think you'd forgotten all about Joe and I. Everyday,I longed for your company and it seems the earth was stuck in a place.
You're always welcome to visit often,my dear."she replied pulling Nelly closer.
She then looked at me and said out of pretended innocence, "Racheal, I don't think I have formally introduced you to Nelly,or have I?
Oh,my old brain. This is Nelly,my adopted daughter.
She and Joe has been tight friends ever since so their being so close is totally natural!
You don't have to worry about it and it's no use stalking your husband when he is out. After all,you trust your man, don't you?" There was a command tone underlying her words.
"That's right,Racheal. You're always trying to find out what I'm up to and it makes me uncomfortable.
We are all good people here and we won't drag Joe in an unsolvable mess." One of his friends and active shipper of the duo,Garry Gates chipped in with a smug face.
"Besides,we are all starting a business up and as part of our start up, it's only necessary we spend long hours out from meeting investors and all.
Nelly even passed out days ago from drinking too much with a client and landed herself in the hospital bed!
If both Joe and her truly have feelings for each other,they would be together now."
My brows furrowed up in confusion.
What business are they talking about?
What company?
Wasn't Joe stable and contented in his current job?
Realizing too late that he'd allowed his mouth run too much,Garry fell into a pit of quietness as he exchanged unsettling stares with the others.
