Chapter 7

Jess's POV.

We have waited 2 days and Eleanor hasn't come back home. It was so frustrating that I had to do everything.

" Jess!!!!"

" Leave me alone Mother! I can't do shit anymore" I screamed back. I can't allow these people to replace Eleanor with me. I lack the strength to do anything at the moment.

We didn't know how much we had relied on Eleanor until now. Even Van now shouts at me. I can't possibly keep the kitchen, the sitting room, cook, wash, and everything else all by myself. I wondered how Eleanor did it.

Stomped down to my room and dialed August's number. That bastard has been acting weird. He didn't pick my calls up. 

I angrily threw my phone on the bed, though I started getting worried as it bounced higher than I thought. I wasn't ready to get a new phone yet. 

Just about a few minutes to 9 am and I'm already so stressed. I went to August's house, I needed to escape this house and see what that fool was up to.

August's door was closed but I barged in anyway.

" Why weren't you picking up my calls?" I yelled as I entered.

" Geez Jess, give me a break. You know there's something we call knocking" August said as he stood up from wherever he was sitting. 

I didn't come here for a chat today. He can't turn his back on me now.

" My calls are important August".

" Jess, are you out of your mind? I lost Eleanor thanks to you and now she won't even pick up my calls" August hissed. I can't believe this skunk was still in love with Eleanor.

I laughed wryly. " Do you still feel something for Eleanor? Tell me, what is it that I don't have that she has? Huh tell me".

" You want to know? She's pretty, she is loveable and she had quite a good mother and that's what makes her all that she is" he shot back.

" What!"

" Yes, you heard me. Check your mother, when you realize, you can come back. And if you don't know, you're always a second choice! Get out! I don't ever want to see you again" August screamed at me.

I was speechless. I frowned. It's Eleanor! She has taken every joy I had from me. August dragged me out of his house.

" I hope Eleanor is just dead somewhere out there. Eaten by a lustful bear or tiger or anything!" I yelled as I walked down to take a cab. 

Each of my steps was sure to break the ground if I were some sort of superhero. I went straight home and decided. I have to bring Eleanor down. Dead or alive!

Eleanor's POV

Thirty minutes to 3 pm, the room was intensively busy as many maids got me ready for Harrison's meeting.

" I can dress, really"

" No Eleanor, it's our job. You have to look perfect" a maid said as she dressed me up. The gown was totally something I have never seen. It was exactly my size and I wondered how.

It was a red long armless diner gown. I bet even Rihanna hasn't seen this dress before, it's indescribable.

Other maids worked on my shoes, my bag, my hair, and my makeup. I wondered if this queen treatment was what I'd get every time Mr Harrison goes out.

It was sweet and the fragrance of elegance filled the room as everyone rounded up. I stared at the mirror and I couldn't believe it was I. Slowly touching my face in disbelief, I almost shed a tear.

" Uh Eleanor, you do not want to ruin the beauty we made you into with your tears now ma'am. You should be happy. Master had never brought a woman home".

Never? I wondered where the rumors of him having a fiance came from. The maids in the room were lost and astonished by the beautiful art I have become.

Putting the thought aside, I had better things to worry about. Like how I am going to face the family of the wealthy Mr. Harrison. How was I going to act as his wife?

I barely knew how to date. I picked up the rosy bag and left with the guard who came to see me off.

The guard opened the door for me and I entered, wondering what the place I was going to look like.

"Ummm, Jay, do you have any idea what the place looks like?" I asked my driver. Jay has been so good to me since the day I came.

" It's about two times this mansion and about four times the servants. You should be careful though. Give a good impression"

I looked out the window sadly. " My mom always said that to me, but I'll try."

" You sound sad, Mrs Tolstoy. Your mum-"

" Mrs. Tolstoy???? "

" Ohhh", Jay laughed. Hard. " You should get used to it now that you're married"

Right, I keep forgetting that I'm married. So his last name has to hang around my name all the time. " Right. What do you think they'll ask me? How should I gesture? How can I even look at them?".

" Calm Eleanor, from what we've seen, you're a confident lady. You'll find your way around it." Jay assured me and I smiled.

" Brace up. We've gotten to our destination. Remember, raise your chin high, eat well, and speak confidently". Jay said as we entered the gate.

We drove for about 10 minutes before we saw the Villa. It was more like a castle. Jay drove around the fountain and came to a halt.

He opened the door for me. I let out a brief sigh and headed out. Jay waved as he drove off.

I'm alone now. Remembering what mom used to say, "Always leave a good impression". I walked in.

The servants were bold and older than the ones in my house. Jay was right about something though, there were thousands of workers here. 

The servant led me down the hall as he opened several doors until he came to a stop at a final door. He bowed and left without saying a word.

Here's where my work starts. I opened the door and walked Inside, carefully taking my steps and swinging my waist slightly. A lady approached me and met me with a hug.

"Hey, you must be Eleanor. I've heard so much about you. Oh my God, I love your bag. Are you a model? Wow, Harry's got good taste. Mom's gonna love you" the lady ramped.

Her type of person was obvious. She has to be a social media person. The lady was agile and jovial as she led me to the inner part of the place I know nothing about.

"... don't be nervous, everyone is cool here" she concluded after reading what seemed like an epistle to me. I smiled at her to acknowledge everything she had been saying was understood.

Not until we got to the dining table and I met a set of laughing people who went mute the moment I got in.

" Hello guys, look who we have here," the lady said. I looked around, making sure my chin was up high. I was about to introduce myself but something told me to keep quiet.

A woman, dressed in a crochet long gown with a gold brunch hanging somewhere on her chest stood up with a smile. " Come here darling, you're welcome. This is your home" she said as she engaged me in an embrace.

She had gray hair, just like mine and she was beautiful, very beautiful. It all makes sense now why Mr. Harrison looked like that.

" Thank you," I said as I carefully sat down. All eyes were on me, I wished I could dig a hole and bury myself in it.

I kept a flashing grin, sitting with a family of wealth and beauty was hard to hold.

" I'm Nikki, you can call me Spice" the lady started as she sat with her family. There was a striking resemblance as they all said together facing me. " This is my sister Ariel and my Mom and my Dad…and well, your husband isn't here yet. So tell me, how did Harry marry you without me knowing, what's the secret" Nikki said with a wide smile. She was enjoying this.

I smiled and said," Good afternoon everybody, I am so honored and pleased to meet you. Actually, I've always asked Harrison to bring me here but he always gives me an excuse or another". I laughed internally, wondering how good I was at acting.

" Is that so?" Harrison's Mom asked.

" Absolutely, and knowing my husband", I gulped the wine that was in front of me and continued," he just didn't want to expose me too much".

" You sound pretty sure," a thick unfamiliar voice said from behind me. I stiffened up and went numb, didn't get myself till he ended his sentence, " darling". 

That was when I looked back and saw Harrison, resting his body and a foot on the wall. Damn, he looked so cute. 

" Were you trying to surprise me?" I said, facing the table.

" I can do that all day," he said and walked closer. Each step stole a beat of my heart.

" Enough of you lovebirds. Harry, have a seat. It's been about 5 years since we've had you in this house. Your wife must be something" his Mom said.

He looked at me as he sat beside me. " Something indeed".

Food was soon served as the whole family was enjoying each other's company. It looked like a very big happy family.

I watched the mother and children smile at each other. Once again, I miss my mom. Her food and everything. The way she combed my hair and always told me to leave a very good impression.

" Eleanor!" I heard the sharp biting sound of Harrison's voice which took me out of my thoughts.

" Yes, oh sorry. What were you saying again".

It was clear that they had been talking to me for a while while I was in my thoughts.

" Mom was asking about your family," Harry said.

Though I didn't expect that question to come so suddenly, I had no answer for it. I wasn't ready to hide who I was, neither was I ready to let them know.

"Ummm, family…" This was certainly a trap from Harrison. Or maybe Harrison doesn't even know who I am. I thought deeply and tried to figure out how I was going to tell them who I was without really telling them.

" I'm from a family of three, Mom died some years ago and Dad has been on a business trip," I said.

The room was quiet before Mom finally broke the silence.

" I'm so sorry dear, okay how about how you met Harrison" 

" Ooo, you'll enjoy this one. I was walking down the road, and I met this young man. He approached me and told me some stuff" I said. All eyes were beaming with excitement as I told the tale, well apart from Harrison who was slightly hitting my leg.

" This young man took me to the mansion and boom! I met Harrison Tolstoy. I thought it was a-"

" And that's how we met Mom. Mr. Harrison said and stuck some food in my mouth.

I looked at him with uncertainty. He gave me a killing look which sent a direct message "Shut up and eat"

Without warning, I turned my focus to my food.

" So why are we just learning of the marriage now" his dad finally said. Unlike other fathers, Harrison's father had a simple face which contributes to his gentle character.

" You wouldn't even have known at all if it weren't for Mom's pasturing and besides, as she said, I keep her away from the world," Harrison said blankly. Sadly, I can't read his mind or process what he said.

" Your wife.." his dad said and stood up. He paused for a minute and looked at me as he continued," is well mannered and pretty. You're just like me". His Dad left.

Their mom smiled at me and said," Welcome to the family". It felt as if they were my family. If only this wasn't a contract and everything happening wasn't just Mare acting.

Nikki took me around the house. We talked about ancient Greek mythology and dinosaurs. We also spoke about different celebrities as we walked around.

" And that was how Rihanna ended up with ASAP Rocky. They barely had sex" Nikki mumbled. As if she was there with them. Nikki should be about my age or a little bit older. Maybe that's why the connection was visible.

I looked around as Nikki spoke to me and my eyes caught a hold of Harrison. He was speaking with his mom and it seemed as if they were talking about me as his mom exchanged glances with me subsequently.

I studied their conversation and Mr Harrison didn't seem too excited as his mom was. After a few minutes of their chitchat, Harrison walked towards me, took my hand, and said, "Let's go". 

His voice was harsh and his eyebrows curved in a frown. I haven't seen him in such an image before. I stared deep into his eyes and wondered, what would this man look like when he was angry.

" What?", He said, which made me blink back to reality. I had been staring at him for so long that I forgot his hand held mine. The thought made me shy.

" Huh, nothing. Okay". I just started enjoying the company of Nikki and the gist was left hanging. I turned to Nikki and waved my hands saying goodbye but she wasn't okay with that.

" Harry! You haven't been to this house for a long time. You finally did and you brought a lady, now you want to leave so easily? I won't allow that", Nikki said folding her arms below her chest and tilting her hip to the side.

" Eleanor, let's go", Harry said.

" I say she should stay", Nikki declared.

I felt like I was in between a hurricane. The decision wasn't mine, I had to obey Mr Harrison. I turned to Nikki and smiled, "We have something to catch up. I'll come around soon". Harrison pulled me close which made my heart skip a beat. 

If only this man knew what he was doing to me. Even in his anger, he still manages to seize my breath. We walked out while I smiled at his mom and left.

I wasn't sure if I should ask what that was all about, well it wasn't my business. I sat still I'm the car as he drove off.

He dropped me in the mansion and left without saying a word. Who am I to question his silence?

I got inside and checked my phone. An unknown number sent me a message.

" You better be dead before I find you"

What the fuck!!!