34

"As long," he thought, referring to what she had said.
"A short," was the nice phrase to use. In just a week, he was going to get rid of her and in three months time, he would have her out of his life for good.
"Where is the cloth?" He asked her.
Agnes walked to the drawer besides the bed and pulled it out. She lifted up a neatly ironed suit and waved it to his direction. Then she walked to him. "Here," she said, stretching out her hand.
Ethan thanked her and collected it, then he walked into the closet to change. It did not take up to five minutes for him to get dressed. By the time he was out, Agnes was already dressed.
The gown she wore flowed down to her toe, nearly sweeping the floor.
It was a sleeveless, weightless gown, which dazzled in the brightness of the day.
He stood there admiring her beauty, like always. "Ohh my, I have never seen anyone as beautiful as you are," the words fell out of his lips.
"You look so beautiful and elegant," he added.
She thanked him but didn't fail to also praise his looks. They continued to throw sweet words at each other.
He smiled, "as long as you are beside me, I will continue to shower you with sweet words."
"Stop with your flattery Than, we are getting late for your dad's party. We have not even had breakfast yet," she reminded him.
"Forgive my manners princess," he said.
They both laughed, walking towards the door.
He opened the door, as his stepped out and then he followed behind her.
When they both reached the dining, they were amazed that everything was set but none of the maids were there.
"Where are all the maids and servants?"
"I sent them home," she replied.
"But why?"
"I felt like giving them time to spend with their families," she answered.
"Then who prepared breakfast?" He asked in curiosity.
"I did," she replied.
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
(The Moore's company awaiting Mr Smith)
The reception hall in the Moore's company, had been decorated with flowers, balloons, bottles of different types of drinks__ rum, pure heavens, schnapps, mint julep and Brandy.
It had been decorated, ready to receive the celebrant of the day. As for Mr. Moore, he was at home, being tarted up by a hired cosmetologist, not minding his age or gender.
All he knew was that this was his fiftieth birthday and he was bent on looking so young and fresh. In order not to give the masses an impression that he aged as he added in age. Proper arrangements concerning the birthday party, were made. Refreshments like drinks and snacks, were in abundance.
Ethan knew the money he had wasn't his own, and not by his strength, they were all by his father, so he resolved not to do anything by halves.
He tried and made sure that nothing put a kibosh on his dad's birthday party.
He was ready to ride high, come hell or high water.
At the reception hall, everyone was seated and waiting for the great business man, whose company had never known ruin.
A lot of business tycoons had arrived. Ethan's wife, Agnes, was performing her duties by welcoming each of the guests, indeed she was doing a very good job.
The waiters and waitresses were moving around in order to get their jobs done. They served refreshments.
Ethan was not too familiar with business deals done with the Moore's company partners.
All undeserved thanks to his uncle, who was partially talking about business deals to the different partners of the Moore company.
Ethan looked around, he was certain that other than his than, someone else was missing. He was proved correct, when he darted his eyes around the hall but didn't see his rejected cousin, Marcus.
He did not have an iota of morale to ask his uncle for Marcus. He could always find him on his own. Definitely, Marcus could have been somewhere, mustering some mischief.
As scheduled and planned, Marcus was supposed to be in the Moore's company before the breaking of dawn.
He must be scheming as usual, Ethan thought within himself. He walked towards his wife, who had just finished talking to the host for the party.
"Agnes!" He called out, cryptically.
She turned, with eagerness jumping in.
"What is it Than?", She asked obliviously.
"You have not seen him yet, right?" He asked her.
"Seen who?" She asked. There was an incomprehensive look on her face.
"My cousin," he said reluctantly. "He is supposed to be here, but he isn't." He added.
She opened her mouth and said, "he called me on the phone...."
Ethan could not understand why her reply fed him with jealousy, he became so annoyed that he did not care to hear the remains of what she wanted to say.
He wondered in his mind what sort of relationship they both shared, that Marcus has the guts to call her.
Indeed, there was this spirit of ownership, growing within his mind and heart. Well he believed that Whitney was just a pawn, so why did it feel as if Agnes was his?
"Are you listening to me, Than?" She asked when she noticed he had been silent and staring so blankly at an empty spot.
She had been talking to him for quite some time now and it was she repeatedly asked him why he was looking for his cousin, that it dawned on her that even though her husband was physically with her, his mind had travelled far away. Ethan was physically present but his mind was totally absent.
"I am sorry, I was just thinking about something," he said to her.
"What were you thinking about?" She asked, looking a bit worried for her husband.
"It is nothing to worry about," he answered.
"Tell me what you were thinking of Than," she insisted.
This was something Ethan really hated most about her. She was just too unnecessary inquisitive. Well, he was glad, at least he had something to hold on to. She was going to disappear from his life very soon and this hope made him flash his teeth at her.
"Than I am asking you a question and you are smiling," she said to him, folding her hands to her chest and looking very annoyed.
"Calm down wifey, just smile for me. I promise I will tell you what I was thinking about," he teased her.
She still had a frown on her face. The expression on her face, demanded for an answer from her husband.
"You had better put a smile on your face or you might just scare away the guest with your rumpled forehead," he mocked her, nearly laughing out loud at his own joke.
His joke made Agnes, more angry.
"You know what, once I meet your father, who happens to be my father - in - law, I will tell him all that you have done to me," she threatened.
Well, she did not even have the slightest idea of just how scared her threat made him feel.
Ethan did not say anything to her, instead he just stared at her with horror in his eyes.
"Hey husband I was just joking, why do you look so scared," she said to him, immediately she noticed the happy expression on her husband's face change into a bitter one.
"I was just thinking about Marcus, I was only wondering what reason made him not to show up for this celebration. I am sorry if you felt bad about it. I will be very grateful if you repeated all that you were saying to me earlier, while I was lost in my thoughts," he gently said to her. His words were only an act.
Probably, he was scared about what she said earlier. He could not let all of his labor go in vain. He could not let her jeopardize all of his plans. So he was rather going to act good to her and submissive to her requests.
She was a bit surprised at her husband's sudden change of behavior but she did not think much on it. She already knew how impossible her husband could be. A minute he was happy and the next minute he was angry, vice versa.
"I was just saying that Marcus had called me on the phone earlier on and he said he would not be able to make it..."
"Was that all you said?" Ethan asked, feeling a bit angry.
"No, that is not all. Allow me to finish, there is no need for rush."
"Alright, continue," he said to her, remembering her threat.