CHAPTER 19
George slowly fixed his tie, watching Rachel as she dropped a cup of lemon infused water on a table. Circling around, she walked over to him and straightened his shirt gently.
“You look a bit tired. Are you okay?” He placed his hand on her forehead “Your temperature is slightly high. How do you feel?”
“I feel normal, just exhausted” Rachel held his hand and fixed the cufflinks of his sleeves. She paused for a moment and looked up at George “You always have a meeting to attend. Can’t we spend some time together?”
“You want us to spend some time together?” George raised an eyebrow “For real?”
“Yes, that’s not a bad idea”
“Alright. The meetings will reduce soon as the new product gets launched. But first…” George smiled at her “… Make sure you have some rest. I’ll have to take you to our family doctor this weekend for a check-up. Okay?”
“Sure, that’s fine”
“I have to get going.” George grabbed his suit jacket and turned to leave.
Rachel caught his arm quickly and held him back. “Are you just going to leave like that?”
George stared at her, totally confused “Is there something I’m supposed to do?”
“Here…” She pointed a finger at her forehead and pouted “You’re supposed to kiss me here or on my cheeks before leaving. You shouldn’t just go out like that.”
George chuckled and leaned closer, placing a warm kiss on her forehead and cheeks. Edging closer to her ears, he whispered “I’ll reserve your lips for later when I have enough time, so I can taste it properly”
Rachel blushed, raising her hands to cover her face. She waved goodbye to George as he winked at her and left the room.
After an hour of trying to fall asleep and get some rest but failing to, she decided to take a walk inside the villa. Rachel strolled over to the general library, hoping she would find a good book. On her way there, she bumped into Judith who was coming out of another room. Rachel greeted her and quickly turned to go, but no, Judith couldn’t let her go in peace.
“We meet again…” Judith muttered coldly, glaring at her “… What are you doing here?”
“What sort of question is that?” Rachel asked firmly. She could see that Judith was trying to bully her, looking for a way to have some control over her. She would make sure Judith doesn’t get what she wants. “This Library belongs to this family”
“That clearly means you shouldn’t be here…” Judith sneered at her “It’s not like your marriage to George will last beyond one year, doesn’t that make you an outcast?”
Rachel laughed and tilted her head to the side. She moved her eyes, analysing Judith from head to toe. “If we think about logically, I’m part of this family more than you will ever be”
Judith glared at her “What did you say? How dare you talk to me like that?” She spat angrily
“You started it first. But that’s the truth anyway. I’m legally married to George which makes me part of this family.” Rachel’s gaze settled on Judith’s angry face “But unfortunately, you’re not married to Mr Morris Scott -”
“Where did you hear that from?” Judith yelled in rage, not caring if anyone heard
“Everyone talks about it in this villa. The maids, the chefs. The nannies. Everyone”
“And so?” Judith stated, moving closer to Rachel, ready to pounce on her.
“What do you mean by ‘and so’? You should have thought carefully before getting on my nerves.” Rachel glared at her in return, daring Judith to hit her and bear the consequences. “Based on what you said, if there’s someone who should have no access to the main library. That should be you, Mrs Judith”
Judith fisted her hands, staring daggers at Rachel. She hated her too. She hated anyone who tried to stand in her way of being the chairwoman of this company. If George got full rights of the company anytime soon, Rachel would become the new chairwoman of Imperial Hub Limited. Just like Patricia, Rachel was a threat to her hidden plan, and she was going to have to get rid of her at the end.
Fixing her angry eyes on Rachel, she muttered “So, you think you can talk to me anyhow just you’re married to your burnt sacrifice of a husband? I wonder how you look at his scarred face every night before sleeping. You must be having nightmares.”
“You are the only nightmare I have experienced in this villa so far” Rachel replied calmly, her irritation growing by the minute. What was wrong with this woman? Couldn’t she just ignore people and walk past them? “Now I understand why Mr Morris never married you. You are a very difficult person.”
“You imbecile!!” Judith charged towards her, lifting her hand to slap Rachel, who managed to dodge it just in time.
Rachel caught her hand before it landed on her face. She tightened her grip on Judith’s wrist and warned her “You’re very lucky. If you had hurt me in any way, I would make sure George deals with you. You know he dislikes you, he wouldn’t hesitate to put you in your place”
Judith pulled her hand free from Rachel’s grip, fuming in rage “Make sure you enjoy yourself for this moment where everything seems to be going your way. I can assure you it won’t last for a long time.”
“I know your deepest desires” Rachel answered through her teeth. Her head ached and she needed to rest. All because of this annoying woman, a simple visit to the main library had turned into a mini war zone.
“You envy Mrs Patricia, you want her position and title to be yours. You’ve probably been jealous of her years before she married Mr Morris. Honestly, It’s so silly of Mr Morris to even bring a woman like you to live in his house when he has a lovely and supportive wife like Mrs Patricia. On the other side, any man who sticks with an annoying woman is probably annoying too. Unless I’m proved wrong”
Judith stood there, staring at Rachel. She clenched her fists and her eyes were distant, like she was thinking about something. After a moment, she whispered “I should have finished what I started years ago, then you wouldn’t be here talking to me like this” And with that, she hurriedly walked away.
Rachel stood there, wide-eyed. What was she talking about? What did she start years ago that was linked to her? Was it related to her father? Or something else?
What was going on?
~~~~~*~~~~~
“Will you stop shouting so we can hear you properly?” Morris thundered at Judith who was yelling over and over about how Rachel treated her. James was present there as his mother had sent for him.
“Why won’t I shout? You should have been there to see how she talked to me.” Judith responded, pacing in front of her son and husband. “I was just passing by minding my business and she attacked me ju- ”
James chuckled, struggling to hold his laughter. Morris and Judith turned to look at him, wondering what was funny.
Judith frowned and peered at him “Is this funny to you?”
“You’re not saying the truth” James stated flatly, eyeing his mother “I don’t believe she was the first to get on your nerves.”
Judith gritted her teeth, moving closer to James, ready to smack his face. “Are you saying I go around causing trouble?”
“Don’t you?” James glared at her “Of course, the only thing you know how to do best is fight with people and slapping me when I don’t agree with you. You probably think I’m still twelve years old. If I hit you the way you hit me, you won’t survive it. I can assure you”
Judith halted in her steps. She narrowed her eyes, analysing her son who was staring at her boldly. He wasn’t like this in the past, he never talked back to her “I can see that you’re getting influenced by someone here. I’ll have to lock you up in your room if you annoy me further”
“Go on” James replied nonchalantly, totally irritated by the woman he called ‘mother’.
“That’s enough!” Morris stated firmly, before Judith could say anything. Turning to Judith, he persuaded her “Don’t you feel tired from shouting and screaming? Take a break.”
“Why would I take a break?…” Judith retorted angrily “Rachel called you a stupid man for getting involved with a woman like me. What did she mean by that? Huh?”
“What?” Morris turned sharply to fix his eyes on Judith. “Do you mean it?”
“Don’t believe what she’s saying” James sighed, resting his hand on his forehead “I doubt it is true”
“Oh, just shut up already” Judith barked at James. Turning back to Morris, she replied “I am serious. To think that she is the daughter of a drug trafficker and has the boldness to talk to us anyhow. You need to see Rachel and finally put her in her rightful place.”
“Indeed…” Morris muttered, the frown on his face deepening. “… it seems I’ll have to visit George’s new wife tomorrow. Let me hear what she has to say with my own ears. After that, I’ll decide how to handle her”
James stared in fright. George had to protect his wife if he really wanted her to live here safely. If not, his mother would frustrate Rachel until she packed her things and left this villa.
He hoped Rachel was ready for what was coming her way.