Chapter 25 CYRIL'S BIRTHDAY
1633words
It was Ann's idea to encourage me to learn more and don't lose my interest in French.
Ann's company is like a blessing, we both have started to get to know each other well. I think she also wanted someone to talk to.
"BONJOUR" I greet Ann as I kiss her cheek and then sit beside her, "BONJOUR." She greets me back with a radiant smile.
"Ann, I want to go to my parent's house." I ask Ann and she looks at me calmly, "Why, dear?"
"Uhmm… Actually, Cyril's birthday is around the corner so I wanted to surprise him by visiting home." I tell Ann hesitantly and after thinking for a moment, Ann finally allows me to leave the mansion, "Ok, dear, you should take Miss Celine with you and also tell Ron what you want for Cyril's birthday gift."
I smile widely as I thank her with gratitude, "Thanks, Ann."
"But you better be home before 9, ok," Ann tells me and I nod my head happily. "Yes, I will."
"Good, then," Ann says dismissively and after wiping her face, she leaves for work.
After breakfast, I ask Miss Celine for my old phone and then call Ron. Ron arrives at the mansion after an hour, I greet him politely and serve him tea, and he looks at me anxiously, this must be the first time someone is serving him tea, as his face says it all.
I laugh softly to ease his tense body, "It's okay, Ron. Drink tea with me, I need to talk about something."
"What is it, Miss?" Ron frowns and asks, still sitting on the pins.
"First of all, relax and sit properly," I command him in a serious tone and he immediately sits up properly. "Fine, what is it?" He asks, looking a little irritated.
"I need these pictures to print out," I tell him and his eyes pop out when he looks down at the pictures on my mobile screen, it was my wedding pictures.
"No…" He refuses immediately and I scowl unhappily, "Why?"
"Miss, I don't know what you are trying to do but Miss Swan and Sir Andrew won't be liking this at all." He says in a clipped voice and I frown badly. "Ron, I want just this one favor please, and besides your Andrew Sir isn't here at all so how would he know? I am going to my parent's house. If anything comes up I will make an excuse that I have printed it out there. No one will doubt you, trust me." After giving a long speech, I hold his hand and squeeze it in assurance.
Ron still looks hesitant but after a while, he nods his head, "Fine.." He pulls the phone away from my hand and quickly sends the pictures to his number and then hands me back my phone.
Whoosh…
He was pretty quick with the James Bond skills. I smirk and he didn't like me smirking, "Please stop grinning." He says exasperatedly and scared too but that only made me laugh harder. He looks so scared that he could pee in his pants at any moment like a child.
I didn't know that printing out the pictures would be such a big issue as having a world war… I laugh and laugh but Ron's face stays stern and anxious.
He quickly gulp the tea and was about to leave when I stop him the mid-way, remembering Cyril's gift. "Oh… BTW my brother's birthday is coming soon, can you arrange an eggless cake and a proper gift for him? Ann said to ask you for any help." I added intentionally and without even blinking once he immediately agreed.
Huh, the Boss rules over every person here.
"Which day?" He asks.
"26 of this month," I reply softly, and nodding his head, Ron leaves the mansion. I walk back and find Miss Celine, secretly I hand her back my phone and go back to my floor. My routine is always the same. I have breakfast, then I read some books, then my French class, after that I help Miss Celine in preparing dinner. I also spend some time on the terrace, I love the flower beds there. Sometimes I even walk in the backyard and kill my boredom by using my phone all the time.
I even talk with my mom sometimes, sometimes I would chat with Cyril but my father is still nowhere to show himself to me.
Sigh, I don't understand why everyone I love the most has become so distant from me.
****
26th of February, complete 12 days from my wedding and since my husband has gone missing.
I wake up with the phone ringing, yeah still can't wake up at 5 on my own.
RING… RING… RING…
"I am awake.." I tell Miss Celine hoarsely and I know she must be smirking now.
Just after a few minutes, Miss Celine is walking inside my room. "So, today's the day." She tells me and I nod with a bright smile on my face, "yes, it is."
I walk to the wardrobe with her and we start to hunt for a dress. Miss Celine picks a baby pink color dress that has embroidered flowers on it in cream white color, it has a Queen Anne neckline and the dress stops at my knees.
Miss Celine picks out nude color lingerie for me and even a sheer thigh-high stocking to wear under my dress. I look at her with a raised brow, "I am going to my parent's house."
She laughs at it and says meaningfully, "You never know who gives a surprise visit to your parent's house." Saying this she winks and rolling my eyes, I push her away from me. She helps me in wearing the dress and then closes the zipper at the back.
We are ready and good to go but then Miss Celine reminds me that I need to have breakfast with Miss Ann first and at 8 'o Ron will arrive with the gifts so after then we could leave which I groan unhappily.
She shouldn't get me ready so early… I pout unhappily but she just smiles at me. We both walk to the elevator together and then reach the ground floor.
I walk straight to the dining table, Ann hasn't arrived so I patiently wait for her. She walks after a while and stops as she looks at me, stunned.
"Wow… This dress looks amazing on you." She looks me up and down and compliments me, a blush creeps over my face and I thank her shyly.
"Thanks, Ann…"
"Has Miss Celine told you about Ron's arrival? You need to come back before 9, ok." Ann reminds me again and I nod my head obediently.
After Ann leaves, I start to wait for Ron desperately, Miss Celine gives me a teasing smile when she looks at my desperation. She doesn't know that I am desperate for not Cyril's gift but something else.
At exactly 8 o'clock, I hear the sound of honk and run towards the main door.
The same BMW stops at the front and Ron gets out of the car. He greets me politely but I whisper hurriedly to him, "Pictures? Are they done?"
Ron looks around carefully keeping his face neutral and then goes to the back of the car, he pulls out a bag and hands me, "Here."
I peek into the bag and start smiling happily, Ron has not just printed the pictures, in fact, he has framed them too. I smile too wildly and he cautiously takes back the bag from my hand before I can take it out and admire it properly.
"Not now… You can take them with you after we come back." He informs me which feels more like a command to me. I frown but hiding my dissatisfaction I nod my head, after all, I can't keep the pictures in the room now. What if someone finds them in my absence?
Miss Celine comes from behind making us both shrug with nervousness.
"Miss, you need to inform me before leaving the house." Miss Celine says unhappily and I look at her guilty, "I will be careful next time."
"You should be," She gives me a stern look and I shrug under her gaze. What is wrong with her? Does she change under the sunlight? I look down at her foot, maybe they are turned now but no it's the same.
"We are leaving." Miss Celine's voice makes me snap and I look up at her face, "Oh, yes… we are." I say and quickly sit inside the car, I am going out after 12 days but for me, it feels like 12 years.
The whole way I look outside of the window excitedly and keep imagining Cyril's reaction to my sudden surprise visit for his birthday. At last, the car stops, and I hop out of the car excitedly before Ron was even able to open the car door for me.
Miss Celine smiles warmly as she looks at my excitement. Ron hands the cake box to Miss Celine and then hands me the gift, "Happy birthday to your brother." He wishes politely and I smile as I invite him to join us.
"Ron, why don't you join us too?" As the words come out of my mouth, Ron's face falls and Miss Celine's stern face comes back.
What? Did I say something wrong?
