Chapter 6 Dinner and thorns
Charles POV
She led us to the dining room after we finished talking. The table was already set with plates of grilled chicken, a bowl of fluffy rice, roasted potatoes, and a fresh vegetable salad in the center. The smell of the food filled the room as we took our seats at the table.
Nikki sat beside me, acting all cool as though she wasn't the same person I had seen hitting the poor maid cruelly. There was something performative about the way she straightened her back and reached for her napkin, like she was playing a role she had rehearsed her whole life.
We ate the meal in silence and I tried to avoid eye contact with Nikki.
"That merger was absolutely brilliant, everyone said so!" Nikki said immediately we dropped our last spoon. "But it's a pity it failed. But one thing about falling is rising and you always rise," she said, trying to fix her eyes on mine.
"It's a pleasure that you're concerned about my business dealings. I have a few things that I am interested in here as well," I said, looking away.
"Linda! Bring the drinks," Jessica yelled. "Of course you're an absolute genius when it comes to packaging mergers," she said as she put back that pretentious smile that made my stomach turn.
I squeezed my eyes in disgust and turned away. The woman had the audacity to yell at a grieving girl in one breath and flatter a guest in the next, switching between cruelty and charm like flipping a coin. It was nauseating.
As I turned my head around, I caught Linda with shaky hands holding the tray that contained the juice. She was glancing at me and immediately we locked eyes, she removed hers. But I kept staring at her as she walked past me, ignoring the blabbering of Jessica and her daughter. There was something about the way she carried herself despite everything, head down but spine straight, that I couldn't stop watching.
Suddenly Nikki sneakily brought out her leg and Linda tripped and fell. The tray crashed. Juice spread across the floor. The room went still.
"Stupid! Useless! Clumsy girl!" Jessica stood with rage and slapped Linda.
Linda simply bent her head and I saw tears that she tried so hard to keep inside roll down her eyes. She didn't shout. She didn't fight back. She just absorbed it the way someone absorbs rain, like she had learned long ago that resisting only made it worse.
Jessica was about to slap her again when I stood up angrily and held her hand.
"Don't you dare touch her," I said furiously.
"You don't understand, she deserves it. This is the only way to keep her in check," Jessica said.
"Keep her in check? When it was your daughter that made her fall? If you touch her again, you will be dealing with me," I said and let go of her hand.
Immediately Nikki ran towards me sobbing. "Why are you defending her? I never made her trip, she fell on purpose to attract your attention," she said.
I simply ignored her and helped Linda to her feet.
"Are you okay?" I asked, still holding her shivering hands.
Still burying her head to the floor, she nodded, trying to wipe her tears. I lifted my hand, slowly brushing the curtain of hair from her face, my thumb catching the tears before they could fall. Her skin was warm. She flinched slightly at my touch, not from pain but from surprise, like kindness was something foreign to her in this house.
"Look at me," I said.
Then Nikki immediately came between us. "What's happening? She's just the maid, you don't have to be so personal," she said.
I looked at Nikki from top to toe and said nothing. Some responses weren't worth giving.
I wanted to tell them that Linda was my student but that might bring more trouble for the poor girl. I simply loosened my grip on Linda's hands and she hurried away, disappearing through the door like she couldn't leave fast enough.
"So Charles," Nikki said, leaning towards me, "about the wedding planning, what are your thoughts," she said, giggling with the buttons on my suit.
Jessica gave me a look that wanted answers.
I took a deep breath and went back to my seat.
"Charles—"
"I intend to marry your daughter as promised," I turned to Jessica. "I took her virginity and her chances of another match are ruined, besides that night was special to me," I said and looked up only to see Linda staring at me from behind the door with teary eyes. Something about the look on her face made my chest tighten in a way I couldn't explain.
"My thoughts exactly! Quicker is better in such cases," Jessica said.
"Yes! Three days is plenty of time," Nikki said.
"You want us to get married in three days?" I asked, shocked.
"Yes, it's even a lot of time," Jessica said.
Suddenly Harvey stood up. "Why the rush? You're going to get married anyway," he said and walked out.
I couldn't fathom whether he was pained or irritated by the whole situation. Knowing Harvey, probably both.
I felt so uncomfortable left in the midst of Nikki and her mother. After the discussions, I stood up to leave. Nikki offered to accompany me, which I turned down immediately.
I walked outside but I couldn't see Harvey.
"Harvey! Harvey!" I called but received no response, so I decided to walk down to the garden.
I sighted them from afar so I stood behind the shrubs and listened.
"I don't get why you're still working for these people that hate you," Harvey said.
"I don't have any choice. Where do you think I'll go?" Linda asked, looking so vulnerable.
"You can come work for me, I'll pay you twice their pay," Harvey said.
"Harvey, you know that's impossible. I've stayed here my whole life and my mum won't let it," she said.
"Linda, trust me. I really care about you and I can't stand them doing this to you," Harvey said, holding her hands.
I felt a pang of jealousy but I cautioned myself immediately. Harvey was my friend and assistant. Linda was my student. Neither of those things gave me any right to feel what I was feeling standing behind those shrubs.
"Linda, I didn't have the opportunity to tell you, but I—"
I couldn't let him finish. I didn't want to hear what he would say. So I intruded.
"Harvey, it's time. Let's go," I said, as though I hadn't been eavesdropping.
Linda bent her head immediately. "Harvey, I have to go," she said and hurried away.
I watched her disappear into the darkness of the garden path, and for reasons I refused to examine, I couldn't look away until she was completely gone.
Harvey stood up slowly and walked past me heading to the garage without uttering a word.
I felt a pang of guilt of interrupting a moment of his life but it was overshadowed by the jealousy that he spoke with her.
Nevertheless, I apologised.
"I'm sorry if I Interrupted anything.."
" You don't have to. I am but your assistant" He said respectfully
I nodded and we entered then car. The ride was silent for too long.
"You were listening," Harvey said finally. It wasn't a question.
"I don't know what you mean."
Harvey turned to look at me, his jaw tight. "There are things about that family you don't know, Charles. Things about Linda." He paused. "I was going to tell her tonight. But maybe you should hear it first."
"Tell me what, Harvey?"
He looked straight ahead and said nothing for a long moment.
"The Jenkins aren't who they appear to be. And neither is this engagement."
" That I know for a fact" I replied
"I see the way you looked at Linda.."
"And?"
"I just want to remind you that your aim is that merger and a husband to Nikki. Linda is far away from that plan."
" Why are you so concerned?"
"I'm afraid that she might be a pawn in this game"