Chapter 47
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'What's her job description?' I asked Halley.
'Oh, assisting with the house work and the making of Mr. Hollen's coffee every morning, or whenever he wants it,' Hannah answered; she was plucky as hell.
'I'm the only one who makes coffee for him in this house, so there must be some kind of misunderstanding here. But I'll clarify it with him when he gets in tonight.'
'Okay, Emma,' Hannah answered coldly with a smirk.
She turned back to Halley who seemed surprised by the sudden change.
I left the kitchen and let them go about their daily duties. I went outside to the patio for some fresh air, flipping through a magazine and sipping on a glass of orange juice.
I'd become bored since I was no longer a maid. I didn't work side-by-side with Halley anymore but I missed talking to her, gossiping and joking. But now she treated me like we were no longer friends but employer and employee, which was uncalled for. I was nothing like Sharon. I would never demand such formality between us. Halley was my friend, the only friend I had, and I was losing her because I was engaged to Ethan.
I left the patio and headed back inside. I took a bucket and a mop from the storeroom and headed to the living room with supplies in hand. I began to mop when Hannah approached.
'Emma, I already did the floors,' she said, folding her hands over her chest with satisfaction.
I cast my eyes around and did noticed that the floors were clean. I was too anxious to start mopping that I didn't even notice. I gave her a plastic smile and moved my cleaning supplies back to the storeroom in defeat. I went to the laundry room but the clothes had already been washed, dried, folded and placed in the basket. I took the basket upstairs since that was the only other thing left to do.
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Ethan arrived home from work around ten that night and he was not in a good mood. There was a look on his face that made me think I should run for the mountains and hide forever. He didn't even look at me or greet me, but I was determined to get through to him because it was tearing us apart.
'Babe, we need to talk,' I said softly.
He heaved a heavy sigh and sat at the edge of the bed with his back towards me. He removed his shoes, loosened his tie and took off his jacket.
'What is it Emma?' he finally spoke.
'You hired a new maid?'
'Yes,' he answered sharply. The sound of his voice made me tremble in fear.
'She'll be making your coffee now?'
'Yes.'
I nodded as I swallowed my defeat and replacement, but I wasn't pleased with any of it. She could be a maid, but not make his coffee. That was why he hired me for in the first place, that was how our love story began. Would he fall for her too?
'I'm the only one who makes your coffee in this house,' I said, silencing the fear in me as I stood up.
'Emma, I'm not in a mood for this, okay? I had a shitty day at the office already and I don't wanna argue with you now. Just leave it as it is.'
'As it is? What is this to you, Ethan? What have I ever done to you to deserve such a shut out like what you're doing?'
'Look, I hired a maid to make things easier for us. I don't want to talk about this anymore.'
He got up and headed to the shower. His jacket was still laying on the bed. I picked it up to throw it in the laundry basket when something fell out and fell onto the floor—red lace underwear.
Emma's POV
You've got to be kidding me. This can't be happening. Is he cheating on me? When did this start? I asked myself as I looked at the panties disgracefully.
I tapped my left foot impatiently as I waited for him to come out the shower. My arms were folded on my chest and there wasn't anymore niceness left in me.
'What's this?' I asked him as he came out of the shower wrapped in his towel with another one drying his hair.
He gazed down to the floor where the underwear lay. 'We're not having sex, Emma, so pick up your underwear,' he said and moved over to his closet.
My blood came to a boil and I threw a pillow after him. It bounced off of the back of his head and fell onto the floor, but a pillow couldn't inflict the pain I wanted to do to him.
'These aren't mine asshole! Who are you sleeping with?'
'That's not your business. Besides, I'm not in a mood for this, so don't push me.' He put on boxer shorts and a vest.
I was steaming because he was ignoring me again. 'Ethan, you're cheating on me and you have the audacity to bring her underwear home! What the fuck have I ever done to deserve this?'
'What I do, that's my damn business, not yours. Maybe if you'd have been minding your own business then we wouldn't be in this situation!'
'Are you high? How can you put this on me when it's you fucking around and fucking up this relationship? If you can't do this anymore then just tell me that! Don't go out cheating on me while I'm here like a fool!'
'Emma, I'm tired. I want to sleep, so shut up.'
'You're not sleeping unless I have answers. Who are you cheating on me with?'
