Celina’s POV
“Hi, how are you?” My friend Xia asked as I answered the phone. I was supposed to call her the other day but Jefferson made me forget about it.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry I didn’t call you yesterday as I got caught up with something.” I replied. Xia is my friend from the orphanage. We were best buddies and no one could separate us before, until she was adopted first.
“Then, when do you plan on going out?” she asked. After Daniel and Lalaine took me from the orphanage, I never saw him until we were both in college. We accidentally met each other and got back together like sisters.
I told her everything that happened to me except my school standing because I was worried that Daniel would be able to find out that I was smart because they didn’t want me to leave them under their care.
“I don’t know yet. Jefferson and I will be going to the mall later.” I told her.
“Your husband?” she asked.
“Yes,” I replied. I told her about how Jefferson and I got married and she was indirectly telling me to divorced him. But I didn’t want that because I didn’t want to become a divorcee. I was afraid that no one will ever accept me if that happened.
“I thought he was out of the country?” she asked.
“He just arrived yesterday. I didn’t know as well, it’s just he came to my office and we went home together.” I answered. I didn’t want to include the quickie thing because she doesn’t need to know about that. I didn’t even tell her about that night before he left. I was too embarrassed to tell her that because of the reason for our marriage.
“I see, then have a good time.” she replied. I wonder why she said that. She would usually tell me that nothings gonna happen between me and Jefferson with the kind of relationship we had.
“OK, I call you when I am free and I hope that you are too.” I said.
“Yes, and let’s have some fun.” she replied and we ended the call. I shook my head, smiling.
“What’s the smile for?” Jefferson asked. He just went out of the bathroom and I wondered why he was taking so long there. I just found out that between us, he was the vain one.
“Nothing,” I replied and went to the dresser but he stopped me in my arms. “What?”
“What’s the smile for?” he asked again.
“Am I not allowed to smile either?” I asked.
“Am I not allowed to know the reason for your smile?” he asked as well.
“I was smiling because of you, are you happy now?” I answered, mocking.
“I am going to be the happiest if you’re really smiling for me. But I don’t think that’s the truth.” he said and I rolled my eyes at him.
“Roll your eyes only when my face was in between your legs and not on me.” he whispered and gave my earlobe a light bite. I swear, I got turned on so I hissed at him. “I am going to get dressed first before I forget that we will be having our first date and take you in our bed, instead.” he teased and went to our walk-in closet.
I feel like I was under his spell whenever he do that. I wanted to be engulfed in his embrace and be touched. What am I even thinking? I must have been out of my mind. Then I saw him getting out of the walk-in closet in casual clothes.
He was still as handsome as he was when I first saw him and whether I agree or not, I was sure that many women will have their panties fall off when they see him. Will that include me as well? Arghh, I should stop myself from looking at him.
“You are beautiful as well,” he said,
“What?” I think I misheard him.
“You heard me right, you are beautiful yourself.”
“I already know that, so you don’t need to flatter me.” I told him trying to hide my embarrassment from getting caught checking him out. Then I saw him smirked again, is he really mocking me?
“As long as you know.” he replied and pulled me as always before kissing me. Sh** I started to get used to this. “Let’s go,” he said and had our fingers intertwined as we get out of our bedroom and walked out of our house and got into the car. He was gentleman enough to open the passenger door for me and went to the driver side after and started the car then started driving.
Anyone in my shoes will wonder why he had to ask me out on a date when we were never that close. Yes, we did consummate our marriage but it was nothing like any ordinary married couple as I called it.
The first one was when he was drunk. I didn’t stop him because he is my husband and I don’t see anything wrong with that. In addition to that I wanted him as well. The scent of his perfume that night that mixed with the scent of alcohol was very intoxicating. Then, the second one. How can I ever forget about that when it happened so fast and quick.
“What are you thinking, again?” he asked and I looked at him. Why did he have to notice everything with me?
“I am not thinking.”
“Then, why are you quiet?”
“What’s wrong with me, being quiet? Am I not allowed to be that way?”
“That’s Celina, the noisy woman who has a lot to say to anything.” he said and then laughed.
“Just drive, you id**!” I hissed but he just shook his head, smiling.
He brought me to the mall wherein most of it’s customers were all wealthy. “Don’t get out yet,” he said when I was about to open the door when he parked the car. He get out of the driver seat and then opened the door for me. “Let me do this for you every time we’re together.” he added and gosh, it feels so good. I didn’t say anything and let him do what he wanted.
Then he had our hands intertwined again after he locked the car and went to the elevator going to the mall entrance. I don’t usually go there even when he is away. I was always at home or at the office unless Xia asked me to go with her. But we avoid going to this kind of place because I didn’t want Jefferson to say that I was being capricious with my spending.
“My friend owned this mall and he wanted to have a talk with me.” he said and I stopped walking, he stopped as well and looked at me with a creased forehead. Did he bring me here for a meeting and not for a date? “I want to introduce you to him, too. And yes, we are here for our date. He will be leaving for abroad and I am going to be very busy with work starting tomorrow so I just want to conserve time.” he explained.
I turned my back and I felt him follow me, “Don’t get mad,” he said and took my hand again and led me to wherever his friend’s office was. We rode an elevator and stopped on the 6th floor. I guess that is where his friend’s office was.
“Good day, Mr. Scott.” The woman greeted me with a wide smile on her face and then looked at me which made her smile fade. Another woman who wanted him, I guess.
Jefferson ignored her and pulled me to an office. “Nilo,” he said and I saw a man who was his age sitting on an ottoman with a laptop on the center table. He smiled at Jefferson and then on me.
“You must be Celina.” he said and offered his hand for a shake but my hand was being held by Jefferson so I cannot take his hand. We both looked at Jefferson and he just raised his brow at us. Nilo shook his head smiling, “I will just say hi,” he said after realizing that Jefferson has no intention of letting go of my hand.
“You still didn’t fire that woman outside your office, don’t tell me you have—” Jefferson said, in a serious face.
“Wait,” Nilo stopped him. “It was dad who wanted her there and I cannot do anything about it. But I was waiting for her to make a single mistake with her work and she’s out.” Nilo said after.
“Just make sure not to get near her,” he warned.
“Is that how much trauma you’ve got from your ex?” Nilo said, smirking at him and looking at me after. Maybe trying to find out about my reaction. So she’s his ex. When did they have their relationship?
“Don’t think about that too much, she’s nothing to me now.” he said looking at me. I calm myself and said,
“As if I would care. I didn’t even care when you and the other woman were together in Kenom, why would I care about your ex who obviously came in before your beloved Wendy?” I couldn’t help but sound accusing.
“Where did that come from?” he asked, confused.
“Why not ask your mistress?”
“I don’t have one, whom will I ask?” he asked as well then looked at his friend who was watching them happily. “Nilo, do I have a mistress?” he asked.
“Why are you asking me? I was never with you there. Maybe she had something that made her believe that you had.” Nilo replied.
“Do you?” Jefferson asked.
“Do you think I am going to say something when nothing comes to my knowledge?”
“Their lies, whatever it is, those were all lies.” he said confidently and for a moment I wanted to believe that. He doesn’t have a reason to lie to me or deny it because we are not actually on good terms ever since. Shall I hope that it wasn’t really true?