•Leiara•
He stands tall, hair falling over his face as he leans against the door frame. His eyes stare steadily at me in silence.
I jerk up to a sit, clearly shocked.
What is he doing there?! And why is he staring so intently at me like I'm something to be studied?
Have these people no decency for privacy?! Why do they go as far as get the spare key just to invade my personal space like this?
First, it's that girl of his, and now, it's him.
Goodness!
For reasons that completely elude me, Colson remains staring at me in silence. Which kinda unsettles me.
Since he refuses to talk, I do instead.
"What are you doing there?" I ask, voice low and dry as I've just woken up.
My hair is a mess, disheveled and scattered. Even my whole appearance is. But I don't think that's enough to agitate him?
Scratch that! Everything about me agitates him.
He lowers his head further against the door frame, and replies.
"Since you were sleeping so much, I was afraid you'd forgotten about the function."
His voice is steady and light.
"Just like you forgot to come pick me up at the airport," he adds.
My brow twitches in surprise. Who said I forgot to go pick him up?
But.. even if I tell him the reason, he wouldn't believe me so let's let it be.
But what? Is he saying he's here to remind me about the function? He's kind enough to do that?
I don't say anything back. I simply stare back at him, gaze steady as his.
He studies me for a moment, before he straightens up.
"If you're awake, start getting ready. You women take almost an eternity just to be ready. And at the rate you do things, I fear we'll only get there after it has ended."
He turns and walks out.
As soon as he leaves, I exhale aloud.
God! I felt like I would crumble under his gaze there.
Haa!
As I get out of the bed, I reach out to slap the alarm silent. I put on my flops and rise to start getting ready.
I take my bath, spiff up my face the best I can since I'm a total noob at makeup. Not that I do much, just layer my face with serums, moisturizer and masks.
Right from time, I've always been someone who took work more seriously than myself. Unlike most teenage girls, I spent my whole time in the office and didn't get to really experience the girly life.
For my hair, I curl it, braid some parts and let it cascade down my shoulders.
Next, I walk to the wardrobe to get a dress but that's when I remember this isn't the master bedroom. And my clothes aren't here.
Having to see Willa's face will really ruin my mood but it can't be helped.
I leave my new room and go to the master bedroom where Colson and Willa now live. As I stand at the door, I hesitate to knock.
The upsetting emotions I feel at the office, I now feel them in my own house as well. It's really…. ironic.
I would've remained hesitating longer if it wasn't an important party. But imagining Helen's angry face in my mind immediately sets me straight.
Knock! Knock!
I tap gently on the door.
"Who is it?!" I hear Willa's voice. And the next second, the door flies open in my face.
Her bright face instantly plunges when she sees it's me.
I sight Colson standing beside the bed. And on the bed are several suits. They seem to be choosing out an outfit together.
"What do you want?" She asks with displeasure.
Her agitated voice seems suppressed. She's trying to maintain her image in front of Colson.
I don't waste anytime, and get straight to the point.
"I need a dress for the party."
She rolls her eyes.
"You could've just sent a maid, but no!.."
She ends her sentence there. But I can see she wants to continue, just that she doesn't want to come off overbearing in front of Colson.
She leaves the door ajar and storms back into the room. She flings open the wardrobe and starts roughly packing out my clothes.
"It's best you pack everything to your room, else you'll keep coming here with the same excuse of needing a dress, when in reality, you're just looking for a chance to see what we are up to."
She shoves some of the clothes she packs onto my arms and tops them with some of my shoes.
"Go with these. The maids will bring the rest."
My eyes dart briefly to Colson for a moment, and he's just there, quietly watching the scene.
Willa shuts the door to my face the next moment, causing me to flinch backward.
I go back to my room with my stuff and drop them on the bed. Like she said, it doesn't take long for the maids to come bearing the rest of my belongings.
"When I go out, please arrange everything neatly into the wardrobe," I tell the maids before they leave.
They bow politely and walk out.
I start going through the heap of clothes to find a suitable one. A long dress that will hide my wound, but one elegant enough to appear as the esteemed Hayes daughter in-law
After some moments, I find the perfect dress. A black dinner dress that totally covers my legs. It's a handless high neck with few diamond stones at the chest area. And the bottom is mermaid tail-like.
There's a butter yellow cinch at the waist.
I wear it from down up, then zip it up. It totally embraces my shape.
I go to the body size mirror to check myself out and my jaw almost drops.
I look beautiful. I've never looked this good for anything. The dress somehow contradicts how I'm told to always dress as the Hayes daughter in-law.
My shoulders and arms are totally exposed. My chest area swells forward, my waist is tiny and my hips seem to be very evident.
I would call this look sexy, if I dare.
Should I change? I wonder.
But then again, this is the first party I'm attending with Colson. And as his wife, I need to look my best. My first impression needs to be good, else Helen might really chop me raw this time.
Don't wanna go there looking like a middle aged woman.
My mind thinks back to when Willa calls me that and I get sting a little.
Seeing my reflection in the mirror, I somehow fear. The dress is bold. It covers my entire body though, except my arms and shoulders.
But I think this bold look will do me nice enough when I stand beside Colson. For once, I think I'm not dressed as a dull, middle aged woman.
For footwear, I go for a black Saint Laurent's heel with red at the bottom. To wear it, I take off the bandage.
It will hurt, but I can't help it. I make sure to apply some ointment before wearing it. And trust me, I clench my lips to endure the pain as I wear it.
Next, I wear some bracelets and a tiny gold wrist watch. Then I spray on a little fragrance before leaving the room.
I'm unsure whether Colson is ready, but I dare not go look. So I decide to head downstairs instead. I will wait for him if he isn't ready.
I check the time, and when I see it's 18:39, I don't panic. We can get there at 18:57 or even earlier.
I come out of my room and head toward the stairs. I haven't start walking down when I sight Willa and Colson already in the living room.
She's in front of Colson, adjusting his black suit with a red inner shirt.
I lift a foot to descend the first step and Colson's gaze raises toward me. The moment he sees me, I see his eyes spread open, cloud with stun.
I'm surprised, because what has him so astonished at the sight of me?