Chapter 4 SUDDEN DINNER

My lazy stroll down the long hallway in the direction of the kitchen is halted by the sight of my nightmare before me-Mrs. Mazur. Her arms are fallen straight down against the long floral dress that well accentuates her curvy figure. She is the perfect criterion of beauty and glamour, qualities that her daughter Ana inherited. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she was a supermodel at an early age.

It's not like she has aged anyway. Her skin is still glowing as if she were a sweet sixteen, with no traceable wrinkles. Money is sweet.

"Greetings, Madam?" I greet with my head bowed down like a real servant in the wrong. I am afraid to meet her eyes.

"The morning would have been good if I didn't have to deal with incompetent rats!" She snickers, making me plunge my head deeper into the air.

Rats! She sees me as a rat right now. What more when she finds out that her beloved son has been screwing me? Will she still see me as a rat?

"Where the heck have you been all morning?" She adds when I don't say anything.

What am I supposed to even say? I raise my head, looking anywhere but her face.

"Uumh, Madam, you see, I..." Heck! Where are even the simplest lies? I... I..."

"Will you stop wasting my time and give me a straight answer?" I almost leapt from her suppressed howl, jerking my face toward her irritated one.

"I was..."

"I asked her to do something for me, Mom!"

Savior! Sweet savior!

As his mother peeks at him past my neck, despite his inviting sweet scent, I don't dare turn to look at him.

"Son?" The madam calls, and his tall, gorgeous frame racks before me in a sec as he stands beside his mother. "What did you ask her to do that took her eternity?" She adds with unquelled curiosity.

"I needed to rearrange my room and have some of my clothes ironed. Actually, she isn't done yet. I just asked her to grab breakfast real quick and come back to finish the work." Ray responds.

What a sweet cover-up lie! Is this how it is always going to be? How about, "I needed a moment with her, mom, because she is my fiance", so that we can already cross this bridge?

"Then you could have told me that instead of wasting my time. Have your breakfast quickly and finish with my son's work fast so that you can join the rest. There is a lot to be done today. We are expecting very special guests at dinner, and I want everyone in absolute order!" She explains.

"Yes, Ma'am. I'll be quick. Excuse me." I take my leave, and despite feeling Ray's gaze on me, I won't spare him a glance.

Guests? What guests?

Well, it's not like it's a new thing. It's always a business dinner or a friend's dinner, but none of those come with such urgency. We are always given a few days to prepare. What's with the urgency today?

"It's going to be hectic today, I tell you. We better get moving before the madam finds us lurking around." I hear one of the girls say as I saunter to the kitchen while they finish up their breakfast.

"What's...the occasion?" I implore, and they all snap at me.

"Well, where the hell have you been?" Jane snaps at me.

This one has always been gross to me, ever since I came here. She never misses an opportunity to irritate my demons. If I was a weakling, she would have turned me into her punching bag a long time ago. Woe unto her, because I don't take any shit sitting down or with arms crossed.

"Julie? What's with this dinner?" I turn to my best friend in here, ignoring this impossible Jane, because I have had it with her this morning. I don't want a fight.

"We have just been informed that the Mauricios are coming over for dinner." Julie responds.

Mauricios? As in, the infamous Mauricios? Isn't that proud and arrogant bitch of theirs the same one who models with Ana Mazur? What's her name again? Tarah? Yeah, I think I got it right. Tarah Mauricio is her name. Her middle name should be Arrogance. I can't forget that one time she slapped a poor journalist on camera just because she asked her the same question twice. The way she parades her family's riches stinks! The way she carries herself with pride and superiority tops the endless list of reasons why she in general stinks! Ooh, she even said once in a particular interview that she doesn't wear her imported undies for more than a month. Can you imagine that?

Forget that little witch for now. The mere thought of her appearance alone is enough to choke. What's itching my core is what this emergency dinner is all about. It's the first time I've heard of a dinner with the Mauricios. What's new? I mean, even Ana herself doesn't get along with Mauricio's little witch.

My paranoia tells me that something strange must be going on. But then again, that is me and my paranoia. And again, who can understand the ways of the rich? They find even the tiniest bit to create enmity between their circles, and they also find even the most insignificant thing to create ties. And since I am way too far from understanding their ways and do not have a reason to meddle in their business, I better stick to my lane and do what brought me here.

Besides, I am still baffled by what Ray intends to do about this issue. Am I pressing him too much? Am I moving too fast? Am I demanding too much? No, right?

I guess this is the point where we say that love alone isn't enough. We must show our commitment and how much we are willing to do for the ones we love. And that is the only thing that I need Ray to do. That simple. I hope he understands and does the right thing soon because the situation is breaking my heart.

And there are still the baffling sentiments of the doctor's inkling. Gosh! What's wrong with this day? It's too early, and I am drowning in misery.

"Bestie!?"

"Hey! You don't have to squeal like I am deaf, for goodness sake!" I squeal back at Julie, covering my ears in protection in case she decides to open her mouth again.

Gosh!

"Oh, you aren't? How many times did I call you, huh?" She asks with a low tone.

I uncovered my ears, and now I feel like a confused idiot. I mean, when did everyone leave? It's just me and her all alone here. Was I that deeply engrossed?

"See? You didn't even realize they had all left. Why are you zoning out like this this early in the morning?" Julie asks with concern.

What is there not to make me zone out?

"Nothing!" I lie, and even my faint voice is bold enough to betray me.

"You would laugh at yourself if you could hear yourself, Irma. You look like... Wait, why do you seem pale?" She asks, scanning my face as if searching for something.

Pale! Underline that. We shall revisit this. But for now, I need to get rid of these doubts. I need to prove the doctor wrong. Or right. I know I can't wish for the impossible. We have been having sex for months now, and not once have we used protection. I can't expect a miracle right now either. Everything has consequences, and maybe this is the consequence of our carelessness. Whatever the case is, positive or negative, I need to at least know the truth. But if I were to wish...

"Hey! Zoning out again?" Julie snaps a finger to my face again, almost poking my nose. "What's with you?" She queries.

I look around, past the kitchen door, to make sure that nobody can catch wind of what we are talking about. This should not reach another era. Julie is the only one who knows about our affair with Ray, and I trust her fully.

"Listen, Julie. I need a favor." I whimper under my breath.

"Mmh. Don't tell me that you haven't had enough of the morning glory, Irma. You still need to sneak back to his room? Your two are becoming too horny and too

"Psshhh!" I shush her. Her mind, though! "It's not that." I state.

"Ooh. What is it? Don't tell me you still haven't learned the rules of kissing. I swear, I won't watch those damn videos with you again. You always leave me alone with my cravings while you rush to quench yours with your man. It's not fair, you know?"

Can this one just shut up?

"I need a pregnancy test kit!" I brat out.

She stops, glaring at me as if she didn't understand what I said, or better yet, like she didn't hear me at all. I get her dismay, though. She rooted for us, but she always warned me to be careful. But how was I supposed to be careful, huh? Buy condoms and make him wear them? Well, he could have bought them if he really wanted to use them, right? Take this sh*t they call the morning pill before, or is it the after pill? Hell no! I am too young to subject myself to those things.

"I am assuming I misheard you, Irma." She says this after a long moment of total silence. Her voice is low, as if pleading with me to retrieve my statement.

"You heard me, Julie. Well, the doctor thinks that I should take that test." I state.

"And you? Do you think it's necessary? Do you think you might...be pregnant?" She implores.

"I don't know, Julie. I haven't had my period for two months now, and today I fainted in Ray's room. I just want to know the truth." I explain and discharge a heavy sigh.

"Irma? I told you to be careful, didn't I? Have you thought what this means?"

"Julie!" I cut her off. I can't burden myself with questions that I won't find answers to right now. That won't even help anyone or ease my curiosity. "Not now, please. Just tell me if you will help me out." I state.

"Alright. When do you want to test?" She queries.

"Today! Right now if possible." I respond.

"I will get it for you when we go out to shop for groceries. It shouldn't be long from now, according to the Madam." She explains.

"Thank you." I say, and the only response I get is a head shake. I bet she is wishing and hoping that this is a joke. Ooh, I wish. Just how I wish...