Something was wrong. Ethan hadn’t done anything to me yet. It was like he had forgotten that I threw him into the pool that afternoon.
It had been three days since I had done that. He had dug himself into work and we barely saw each other these days. Although I was happy to not see his rotten face, it still worried me. What if he had something huge planned?
I hated being caught off guard. I used to know that he was going to do something before but now he had gone silent. He doesn’t look at me anymore, much less glare at me. He doesn’t throw any snide remarks or do something pejorative.
I didn’t like this at all. If he was giving up, I would’ve liked to know. I didn’t want to watch my every step, look over my shoulder afraid he was going to pop out of nowhere and scare me off. It sucked to be on guard every time.
Mr. and Mrs. Jenson had to cut short their trip. Their anniversary was two days ago and we all wished them via Skype. They were due to return the following night as something came up and it needed Mr. Jenson’s attention and Ethan was busy with other things. Mrs. Jenson didn’t mind as she had her own business to look after.
“Where’s my favorite daughter?” Charlotte Jenson asked just as she returned home with her husband. “There she is.” She said, looking at me who was sat on the living room couch with Olivia, watching TV. She took me into her arms and I returned the hug. The Jenson family members were big huggers. And their hugs were too tight to the point where it left me slightly breathless.
“What have you girls been up to lately?” She asked, taking a seat on the couch beside me while Mr. Jenson gave me a less tight hug than his wife before caressing my cheek and and leaving in a hurry because he had a meeting in an hour.
“Nothing much really.”
“Hmm… oh, I wanted to tell you two that there are a slew of events this month. And we all will attend them. It’s really important to attend these events. Juliet and Olivia, I want you guys to be present on at least half of these events. Is that okay with you?” She asked.
Olivia and I looked at each other. “Will there be reporters and media?” Olivia asked.
“Of course. They’re all public events and the media will only be present outside. They won’t be allowed inside,” she replied. “Honey, you don’t mind coming out into the open, right?”
I looked at her and gave a hesitant smile. “Uh… I’m not exactly ready yet.”
She nodded in understanding. “Don’t worry. Like I said before, the reporters will only be present outside the venues. Only certain photographers and news reporters will be allowed to cover the events over their news channels. I’ll ensure that the spotlight wouldn’t be on you.”
“Oh, okay.”
She gave me a side grin before getting up. “So, I heard Rachael took you to show her creations.”
“Yeah, she did. They were really good. She’s so talented,” I said honestly.
“I know. But we’ll only get to see her work at the show. Which is about two or three weeks away. I can’t wait to see my darling daughter’s hard work. This was her dream since a long time and I’m just happy she’s getting what she deserves.”
I nodded, smiling brightly at her.
“We’ll all be leaving for Paris a few days before the actual show. Your dad has asked – no, more like ordered Ethan to fly with us to Paris too. That poor boy works himself to death. A trip to Paris with us will definitely do him some good.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, so I’ll leave you guys to do whatever you were doing before. I have to check on my clothing line. You know, ensure no one managed to make a disaster. Then I’m supposed to have lunch with Zara Matson. We’re planning on a fashion collaboration and I need to discuss the details with her. Maybe we’ll also include Rachael into this. Then I’ll have to meet Byron Rosenberg and decide if I want to be their brand ambassador for their sportswear collection. But I think Rachael is more apt for it. I’ll let him know that.” She said, standing up. “If you need anything, just ask Samara or call me or your dad and we’ll definitely arrange it for you.”
“Okay, bye.”
***
A few more days had passed and I was starting to relax. Maybe Ethan finally decided to grow up and stop his childish pranks.
Every afternoon I was busy in the kitchen with Keith who had become my good friend. He introduced me to his other friends who worked as cooks and servants. They were all nice and friendly and I had a good time with them, chatting and laughing and sharing each other’s stories. It made me realize that I had made more friends here than I had in college. Olivia and Mrs. Odin were really my only friends back there.
Charlotte was very surprised, shocked even when I told her my activities in the kitchen everyday. She didn’t believe me for a minute. Nonetheless, she became used to it after a few days and complimented my cooking too. Even Alistair wore identical expression as Charlotte when I told him.
Olivia warned me to not to do many things that were unlike of Juliet. I knew I was starting to go out of character. I was acting more like myself and if I wanted us to not get caught, I had to pretend to be Juliet, which was easier said than done.
It was nearly bedtime now and after three grueling hours in the kitchen, preparing dinner for everyone with Keith, I had retired to my room to get ready for bed.
I had seen Ethan at the dinner table and he, very unexpectedly praised me for my cooking while giving me a Cheshire cat grin which seemed no where near genuine. I had stared at him for a full minute, in shock before recovering and telling myself to not get swayed by his histrionics. I noticed the faint tone of mocking in his words. People like him never change.
After I checked the water in the bathtub to see if it was as warm I needed it to be, I turned the tap off.
“Miss Juliet,” I heard someone say and I whipped my head to the side to see Samara standing at the doorframe of the bathroom.
“Yes?”
“Mr. Jenson has asked for you.”
“Me? What for?” I asked. I never had talked to Alistair Jenson alone. I was little nervous. What if he questioned about things I didn’t know?
“He didn’t tell me why.”
“Okay, I’ll be right there. Where is he?”
“In his office.”
“Okay.”
Samara left and I pulled the bathtub curtain over before getting out of my room.
“Where is his office?” I muttered to myself. I couldn’t ask around because they might expect me to know where his office was.
It took me ten minutes to find his office. I checked every room to see if it was his office and finally after ten minutes I found him in one.
He was sat at his desk, working on his laptop. Several files were arranged neatly at the side and there were many books organized systematically on the built-in shelf on one of the walls. There was a comfortable couch on one end of the room and a mini bar which looked like it was stocked with the world’s best alcohol. There was a treadmill next to the couch.
Alistair didn’t notice me enter and I was as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Gathering up a little courage, I hesitantly spoke up. “Um, dad?”
He looked up at me and adjusted his glasses. “Yes honey, what is it?”
“Uh, you called for me?”
He frowned. “No, I didn’t. Is there something you need, princess?” I felt an unknown emotion boiling inside my heart at the term of endearment he used for me. There weren’t many times someone called me their princess. I couldn’t even remember if my own dad called me that. I was pretty sure he called me that a few times.
“Juliet, hey? Are you okay?” He asked and I snapped out of my daze, realizing that I had been staring without even blinking.
“Yes, I am. So you didn’t call for me?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Okay. I’ll be leaving then.”
He nodded. Before I could close the door, he called me.
“What?”
“Goodnight, my princess. Come here.”
I walked towards him and he hugged me, gave me a kiss on the cheek and forehead and smiled at me while ruffling my hair.
“Goodnight,” I said shakily.
I left his office with a huge grin on my face. He almost felt like a father to me tonight.
I went upstairs to my room, still smiling as I remembered the father-pseudo daughter moment we just had.
I pulled out a new set of pajamas and walked to the bathroom, surprised to see it ajar. I clearly remembered closing it. I shrugged it off. It was probably Samara who came to check on things here.
I hung the pajamas on the hook and proceeded towards the tub but stopped short and just stared. The bathtub curtain concealed the bathtub but there were suspicious red stains splattered on the curtain.
I frowned.? What? the? hell? was? that?
I padded across the clean tiled bathroom floor towards the bathtub. I could see more red through the translucent curtain.
I pulled the curtain away to reveal a gruesome sight. The bathtub which I had filled with water was blood red. The red was splattered across the curtains and there it was, written on the wall with red:
I? know? what? you? did? last? summer,? Julie