Claudine's POV
I place the food on his table and turn my back. Elijah skips his breakfast, or maybe he didn't want to see me.
"You must eat. I don't care if you didn't want to eat with me, but you need to eat breakfast. That's an important meal for a day."
I walked away and grabbed the doorknob when the door opened. I stepped back and lost my balance. I was falling backwards.
I close my eyes and wait for my head to hit the floor, but it didn't hurt. I opened my eyes and saw Raymond on my top.
"I'm sorry, madam!" he says.
I turn my head and realize that he placed his huge palm on the back of my head. That is the reason why I wasn't hurt. I looked down and saw his palm on my tummy.
"I'm sorry!" he exclaimed and got up right away.
He gives me his hand, but he's looking away. His ears were both red. I grab his palm and get up. "No problem. We didn't know that we were both opening the door on each side."
I took a step when someone grabbed my wrist. I turn back and see my husband standing a few steps from me.
"What?" I coldly ask. He just stares at me, and it's making me worried.
"Don't worry. I'll never be a cheater and use your secretary against you," I simply remarked.
I saw how nervous Raymond is. I know my statement had scared him. "Boss, please, don't misunderstand us!" Raymond roars, bowing his head.
"Are you okay?" Elijah asks. My brow arches.
"Huh?! In what sense?" I questioned. He let go of my hand.
"Nothing," he says.
I was confused because of his question. I wonder if he's asking if I'm insane because of what I said or if he's asking if I'm fine because I fell. I turned around and was ready to leave when Jin-ah came. She grabs my palm.
"Let's go. We must buy clothes and pamper ourselves for the party tonight. I already called people, and they're here."
"Wait, what?! I don't need such a thing, Jin-ah!" I remarked.
She was dragging me, and instinctively, I grabbed my husband's palm. I look at him, begging. "Save me. I hate such things!"
He was confused but held my palm tightly. Jin-ah looks at her cousin. "Let go of her, Elijah," Jin-ah warns. I shake my head.
"I promise, I don't need such things. Those things are hell!" I exclaimed.
I look at Jin-ah, and when she loosens her grip on my palm, I retrieve my palm and hide behind Elijah's back.
"I don't need it! My nails are long, and they still have nail polish. I am scrubbing my body and exfoliating myself. I just had my waxes before I returned! I'm not hairy anywhere! Don't drag me into those hellish procedures!"
I nestled my face in his back while grabbing his clothes, signaling him to say something! Damn it! "She said she didn't want to, Jin-ah," he says. I peeked.
"She had to! I don't want your mistress to laugh and belittle her. She's the new queen of the Riego family. Claudine needs to be the most beautiful in that party. A goddess-type of beauty," she says. Jin-ah really tries her best to hook me up with him.
I got chills because of what she said. "There's no such thing as a goddess!" I exclaimed.
She sighed and gave me a warning gaze. It's like she's telling me that she'll tell the truth to Elijah. I walked forward and sighed. "You win."
I suffered for three hours. They scrubbed my body as if they'd peel off my skin. That was super painful! They also waxed all over my body and even did a Brazilian wax.
I became a doll that was tortured by its owner, and it makes me sick! After those freaking hours, it's done! I sighed and just stared at my face in the mirror.
"Hey! Chin up and smile. We made sure that you're beautiful, yet you give us that long face?" Jin-ah says. She's also ready for the party.
"Why do I have to look like this? That party is nothing but to socialize with clients and plastic people. I even wished to cut the party as soon as possible. Two hours is enough," I whispered.
She was about to flick my forehead but halted. I know she understands that my head was the most sensitive part of my body.
"Let's go? I think I saw his car leaving the mansion already. I'll drive us to the party," Jin-ah says. She saw the sadness that was written in my eyes. She hugs me.
"Everything will be alright, Claudine," she whispered.
I simply smile and force myself not to cry. Jin-ah and I left the mansion together. On the road, I decided to take a nap and ready myself for any problems that I'll face during the party.
After half an hour, we arrived at the hotel. I took off my seatbelt and got out of the car. I already put on my mask, which was Jin-ah's idea. I don't want to do so, but she forced me.
She parked in the underground of the hotel, and we're now entering the elevator. "Are you ready?" Jin-ah asks. I shake my head.
"No. I've been living in England all alone for the last two years. I never thought I must go back and do something for the Riego family. I've been ready to rot in that villa," I simply replied.
She held my hand and stood in front of me. "Please, reconsider. Do the operation in secret. We can have a month and hide somewhere. I can come up with a lie. I'm sure Elijah won't notice. He can do playhouse again with Samantha for the meantime," Jin-ah says.
I shake my head. "No. I made up my decision. You don't have to force me anymore, Jin-ah. It's okay. Let me just fix things in two months. By then, I need you to be by his side and guide him on how to pick the right girl to be the next queen of Riego," I whispered.
She sighed and tried to force herself to smile. The door opens, and we get out. We were standing in front of the door when we saw Elijah standing on the side.
"Get inside and tell the emcee to declare our arrival," he says, staring at his cousin.
We look at each other. She grabs my hand and gives it to him. "Don't you dare, cousin. If you do, you'll see my wrath for the first time," Jin-ah threatens.
She pushed the door and got inside first. I was taking my hand back, but he held it tighter. I was stunned because of what he did.
"How can you declare your arrival if you're wearing a mask, huh? Don't you think that's stupid?" he says.
He moves closer and leans his face nearer. Elijah grabs my mask and slowly takes it off. Our eyes were glued to each other. My heart was racing so fast, and my senses were betraying me.
I can smell his fresh breath, and it brings a shiver in my body. I want to touch him. I want to kiss him. I betrayed myself, which I hate most. I'm blindly in love.