Forty One

Mitch nodded, and the man walked away. So we began to eat.

"Didn't you call her and tell her we're here?" 

"No, because it's a surprise, but I'm sure her Uncle will call her."

The man entered the living room again. It also shook her head.

"I'm sorry, but I didn't call her because I ran out of load; however, if you're not in a hurry, just wait until tonight."


"Is she going to be late?" 

"I'm not sure either, because I was just here yesterday."
Mitch gave a nod.

The man took the dishes after we finished eating. It was five o'clock in the afternoon, but what we had been expecting had yet to arrive. But I was distracted by the noise coming from inside. I count nine women.

"Oh, we have a visitor," the black woman with shoulder-length hair explained.
Mitch took a look at them as well.

"Good afternoon, we're waiting for Elodie," Mitch explained.

"Hmmm, I think she's working overtime; aren't you in a hurry?"  the curly-haired woman asks Mitch.

"Of course," Mitch replied.

The woman we had been waiting for came in after a few hours. When I first saw her in person, I was awestruck. It is incorrect to say that I admire other women when I know the woman I love is right next to me. But I couldn't help myself because this woman was stunning. We looked each other in the eyes. I  saw an emotion in her eyes that I can't put into words.
She stopped in front of us.


"Oh my, Mitch, I was surprised to see you here!" she exclaimed.
Mitch rose to her feet and hugged the woman.

"I'm so glad to see you now. You're here. I've been waiting for you here a little longer," Mitch said.

"I'm sorry; I had a lot of work in the office and just got home," Elodie explained.

"Because that's why."

"Hmmm, who is he? Is this what you always say when I call?" the woman ask Mitch, who was staring at me intently.
I'm embarrassed by the looks she gives me. She seemed to be probing every nook and cranny of my being. I'm not assuming, but she gave me a different meaning.
"Nice to meet you," Elodie said.


I just nodded, my gaze fixed on Mitch. With this woman, I weakened my knee.
"Excuse me, Mitch, I'll just get dressed for a moment, and please make yourself at home," Elodie said.
"Of course, take your time."

I dashed into my room. I also texted Lucianna to bring me water.


I felt as if I couldn't catch my breath as I stared at that man. I had no idea why I felt strange when I saw him. I recognize that this is incorrect. This sensation is not apparent to me. Never! I couldn't stop myself. This is the first time I've felt an odd attraction to someone. And to my best friend's boyfriend. I'm not going to look at him any longer to avoid forgetting anything. I stripped down to my underwear and entered the bathtub. I intend to stay here longer because I'm perplexed by how I'm currently feeling. The door to my bedroom swung open.



"Miss, your water has arrived," Devora announced loudly.

"Just put it there, and please feed our guest as well as clean the guest room," I command.

"How about you, Miss? Aren't you going to eat?" 
"I'll be right behind you."

I lay down in the bathtub after Devora exited and closed my eyes. The water from the faucet continues to flow into the bathtub. I didn't realize I'd dozed off. I heard Uncle Conrad's voice. Because it was so hot, I was covered in water that flowed into the bathtub. A blanket wrapped around my entire body and yanked me out of the bathtub.

"What did you think you were doing? You're not a suicidal person; you would have drowned in the bathtub if I hadn't been here!" I heard Uncle Conrad preach to me.

"I'm sorry, Uncle, I fell asleep and forgot to turn off the water," I explained.

"I hope you just go to bed if you're tired; it's not the one who will harm you."
"OK, Uncle, I'll just get dressed."

"Hurry up, we're all going to eat," Uncle Conrad said.

I nodded and wrapped a blanket around myself.

We were invited to eat in the kitchen. So I just followed Mitch quietly. After she sat down, I followed. Everything is here, but Elodie hasn't yet arrived.

"What about Elodie? Won't she eat?" Mitch wondered.

Uncle Conrad explained, "She was just resting for a while because she was probably planning to commit suicide in the bathtub."

"What happened?" the brown-haired woman asked. Uncle Conrad stopped her as she was about to stand up.

"Relax, Laica, you're too agitated; she's fine; she just slept inside the bathtub," Uncle Conrad said.

"Where is she now? Why hasn't she come down yet?" inquired the short-haired lady.

Who exactly are they? Is it possible that these women are her sisters? I notice they are all concerned about her. I can tell Mitch is concerned as well. She was about to stand up to go to Elodie when the woman walked into the kitchen.

"What are you thinking? Do you have a problem? Is it just because of a man?"

She flashed me a shivering smile. When I saw her smile, it was as if I had entered another dimension. This is excessive. I know this is complete adoration. If it is just a simple crush, it will fade away as well.

"Don't worry, Mitch; I'm not going to kill myself just because of the guy," Elodie said, looking at me.
I averted my gaze and never looked back.
"By the way," Mitch said, "I'd like to ask you about the picture of you that I saw on social media."

I noticed Elodie clench her fist.

"Speaking of the man, he was attempting to do something bad to her. It's a good thing I came. I'm truly the knight in shining armor of yours  Elodie," Uncle Conrad explained.

"I appreciate it."

"It's best if that man didn't show up again if he is I'm going to skin him alive," Mitch said.


"Not really," Elodie replied.
As he began to eat. She was so graceful even when she was eating. This woman comes from a very well family.
And she had a visitor. A man sat in a chair. But my eyes widened when I noticed the next person sitting next to him. It was Duke.

"Mitch and Zander, are they already here?" 

"What do you think? Are we just a shadow? What are you doing here, Duke? We're calling you, but you can't be reached," Mitch asked.

"I'm sorry, I left the city first to see him; we're cousins," Duke explained.

"Really? You have a cousin they know?" Elodie asked her gaze fixed on us.

"Yes, he was Zander's co-teacher there in their place," Mitch replied.
"Wow, a handsome teacher," Elodie commented. When she says we're handsome, my heart skips a beat.

"Miss, you're the one she's looking for." Duke's cousin asked.
"Me? But why?" Elodie asked, causing me to frown.
What does Duke need from Elodie?
"What do you need from Elodie, Duke? Insist that you are her relative?" Mitch asked, causing Duke to frown.
Elodie laughed causing me to look at her.
"Are you related? It's my pleasure to know you then,".


Duke smirked.

"Really? Do you accept me without question?" 

"Yeah, I won't be surprised because I'm used to my relatives showing up at any time, just like Uncle Conrad. I've been living alone for almost three years now, but I'm thankful for the nine of them; they've been my family for a long time."

"It's difficult to be alone. Most people say I have a lot of money and wealth, but I'm not happy. Because my parents are no longer alive. "So whoever comes, I will accept them wholeheartedly as long as they have no hidden agenda with me," Elodie explained.
"Thank you," Duke said.

"I appreciate you taking the time to come from your home to meet me," he says.
"So far, we've also had a school vacation, so we've had a vacation," Duke explained.

"All you're saying is you're avoiding because you're heartbroken," Mitch explained.

"Stop it, Mitch, you're talking too much."

"Are men who are successful and attractive still hurt?" Elodie asked.

"Of course, I'm not a robot to avoid getting hurt," Duke smiled.
"Conceited, you acknowledge that you are  handsome?"
"Of course, hearing I was handsome from a woman known all over the world was a privilege; it was so touching." Duke's drama.

The girls went into their rooms after an hour of talking and eating. Mitch and I were joined by the woman who introduced Lucianna to the visitor.

"I've already cleaned everything here so you can sleep comfortably, and if you need anything, just knock on our door," he says.
"Thank you, but this is too much for you to accommodate us," Mitch said.
"You're welcome, I didn't know you were here," he said.

I sat down on the bed after Lucianna had gone. The sensation of my back being pressed against the thick and soft bed. I was just tired from our entire trip earlier.

"Get dressed first, Love," Mitch said as he pulled a dress from the closet.

"Are these clothes for the guest?" 

"Yes, and I know it's new because of the smell," Mitch replied.

"Does the style change when you're wealthy?" I wondered.

"Yeah, they're very different from us."

I stood up and went into the bathroom, carrying a change of clothes with me. I wore it out once more. When I approached Mitch, she was already dressed.

"Go to sleep, Mitch," I said.

"How are you doing? Can't you sleep?" she inquired.

"Not yet, but would you mind letting me out for a little while?"

"Of course," she says.

Mitch sat down and wrapped a blanket around herself. I'm now in the mansion's backyard, near the swimming pool. I drink beer by myself.

Devora and Duke have passed away. Uncle Conrad advised me to leave first and travel to the city. The girls then came into the room. Mitch and her boyfriend Zander have already checked into the hotel. It wasn't until I realized Mitch was happy with her boyfriend that I felt the void. I have it all, but I've never had a boyfriend. I was thinking when I noticed a man's shadow approaching where I was standing. I designed and built a light fixture for the mansion's backyard.