Their conversation got interrupted by the noise they heard outside. Barbara had returned and from all indications, Richard was quite surprised.He had thought that she would be back in a week time, since that seemed to be her current lifestyle.“Barbara, you are back!” Richard said sarcastically as he glared at Barbara, who was clearly furious.“Basically because a dumb friend of yours interrupted my morning with a call that suggests that I should come back to have a conversation with you. Definitely about something I know is not relevant to me”, Barbara said defiantly as she glared at Emily who was arranging the table and taking out the dishes.“Welcome ma’am”, Emily greeted, but went further with clearing the plates when she didn’t get a response from Barbara.“I see that the maid is taking good care of you. I mean, I’m beginning to regret why I recommended that to you”, Barbara said as she rolled her eyes at him and threw her bag on the couch.“Emily!” Barbara called, and she ran
“Ma’am, breakfast is served”, Emily was saying when she heard the chattering noise of something that caused her to stop right in her tracks.“Don’t you dare me, Richard!” Barbara said as she threw a vase to the floor, almost aiming Richard’s leg.The pieces of the glass flew across the room, with some finding way to Richard’s knee.“What the hell!” Richard grimaced in pain as he shot her a dead glare.“What was the reason for that, Barbara? What the hell is wrong with you?” He asked angrily as he clenched his fists while trying to withhold himself from hitting her.“That is to tell you how I need respect while we are in a conversation! Come forward and hit me if you wish!” Barbara said as she hissed aloud and sank into the couch.She was testing him and Richard knew it. It was a trap, and one which he wasn’t ready to fall for.“I’m done preparing breakfast, ma’am”, Emily said again, with her head lowered to the floor and her body trembling in fright.She was shocked to her bones, and
“Your sister is something difficult. Did you get her angry anytime?” Emily asked as she got done with cleaning up his injury.A sad smile spread across Richard’s lips and inasmuch as he liked the fact that Emily cared, he wasn’t ready to open up yet.“I get that, you would rather not talk to me and that’s fine. I mean, there are different things in our lives which we can’t share so easily”, Emily said, and walked back to drop the first aid kit at the store.She returned to find Richard lost in thoughts again. His eyes were focused to a particular direction and his fists were clenched in fury.“I would be at my quarters”, Emily said as she bowed in respect and made to leave.“Wait!” Richard called out, causing her to stop right in her tracks.“You promised to sing for me, right?” He asked Emily, who gulped down hard while pretending to remember.“Well, I think so”, she said as anxiety started creeping in.“Can you do it now?” Richard asked Emily who suddenly started coughing.He chuckl
Richard gulped down hard as he stared at Emily who had her eyes closed while singing melodiously. She had gone to the music realm, and with smiles on her face, she increased the tone of the song, swirling her body slightly to the rhythm.Richard smiled as his eyes suddenly felt misty and his soul heavy. He couldn’t decipher how he felt at the moment. It was a mixed feeling; a feeling of joy and excitement, as well as a feeling of utmost sorrow and worry.However, after a minute, he felt more of excitement and calmness and in a split of a second, he had forgotten the fight he had with Barbara.“This is great”, he muttered as he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, with his attention focused on Emily’s voice.Emily stopped singing and quietly opened her eyes, with a wide smile on her lips. She found Richard’s eyes closed, as though he were asleep.“Are you sleeping? I guess my voice sounds like a lullaby”, she said with a downcast look.Richard opened his misty eyes to find Emil
Richard walked into his company premises to meet Mike, who seemed to be waiting for him.“Good morning, sir”, Mike greeted, while Richard ignored him and walked straight into his office.A huge frown made its way to Mike’s face as he took in a deep breath while thinking of how to make him understand.“Firstly, I’m sorry”, Mike apologized the moment they got into Richard’s office.Richard sank into the chair and pulled out his laptop, still ignoring Mike and pretending as though he weren’t standing right at his front.“I only needed you to agree to attend the banquet”, Mike explained as he sighed tiredly and sat down.“And you thought that telling Barbara was the way out? As a matter of fact, that only made things worse because at this point, I’m not giving it a single thought”, Richard dropped, causing Mike to open his mouth in surprise.“Murray would be there. This is a chance to mingle and strike a business deal with him. I mean, it’s an opportunity that shows up once in a blue moon
“I would advise you to leave and avoid creating a scene”, Mike whispered into Barbara’s ears the moment he observed that she wasn’t willing to accept the fact that Richard was busy.“I said that I’m in dire need to talk to my husband”, She said as she gritted her teeth, still smiling and trying to pretend since she was being watched by other people around.“Your husband is busy! A good wife should understand that”, Mike argued further, still talking in a hushed voice. “I’m not a good wife. I’m sure he must have told you that. Now move away!” She said and pushed Mike aside, causing him to almost lose his balance.With a fake smile on her face, she walked into Richard’s office.“Hey husband! Can’t a wife come in to see her husband anymore?” She asked with a smile, which she changed to a frown the moment she locked the door behind her.“Why are you here, Barbara?” Richard asked, not lifting his head from the laptop.“I need your help”, she said as she folded her hands to her chest while
“Oh my God! Look who we have here”, A lady shrieked in excitement the moment she caught a glimpse of Barbara and Richard, holding hands together and walking towards the exit of the building.Murmuring erupted while Richard sighted different people who took pictures of them. He was clearly exhausted, but as usual, he needed to show his smile and give the public the assurance that he was a happy man.“Let’s go”, Barbara said, while he suddenly stopped walking.“I thought the shoot was going to be somewhere around here”, Richard said as he shot her a dead glare, still smiling pretentiously.“Don’t be a fool!” Barbara whispered“This is not a photo studio. I only told you that my crew are here and ready for the shoot. I never mentioned that we were having it here”, she said and wrapped her hands around his, after which she laughed slightly as though he had just said something funny.“Now behave yourself and let’s go. Don’t create a scene, or it would be bad for you and your company”, Bar
Richard got into the dressing room and remained still, almost at the verge of tears.He chuckled when he recalled how he had once told his late mother how no human on earth would ever make him cry.“You have no idea, things can happen in a split of a second”, his mother had said to him.“I’m so strong, mum. And my heart, it’s so rigid”, he had said, after which they both laughed aloud.He wasn’t strong after all because his heart had turned soft, and a human made him cry consistently.“Baby! We are waiting!” He heard Barbara’s voice and immediately, he hissed aloud.He couldn’t recall the last time she called him a sweet name. It baffled him to see that she had called him that because of how much she wanted to maintain her image in the eyes of the public.He remained mute and after a while, walked out of the dressing room, clad in a black tuxedo.“You look great, my love”, Barbara commented and winked at him to give a response.“I’m glad you know my taste”, he replied calmly, with the