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“A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.”
Melinda Gates
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Jules

I'm about to pick the call but then remember I've got company. A company I wouldn't, under any circumstance, want listening in on my conversation. With my pride and dignity intact, I stand up and brush off an imaginary speck of dust from my fuchsia pink suit. "I believe I have important matters to attend to as of now." Then, unable to resist, I throw his words back at him. "But not to worry Mr. Roberts, we shall meet again."

Since cat has gotten his tongue, I leave him to ponder on just how much I know about his extracurricular activities with other men's wives.

Once surrounded by the privacy of my car, I take a deep breath and call Alice back.

"Hello, Mrs. Rowland," I say and pray agitation doesn't show in my voice.

Her answering 'Hello' sounds clipped and I silently curse Ralph for being the reason why a woman like Alice would be cross with me. "It's good you called back. Thought you didn't want to speak with me."

I am about to say something in self-defense but she speaks again before I could, "So, are you happy now?"

"I'm afraid I don't get you ma'am."

"What don't you get? The fact that it's now public knowledge that my friend's daughter is sleeping with my daughter's husband or.." Her voice has gotten louder now and I'm sure all those in her vicinity would hear whatever she's saying. "Oh.. Is it the fact that I didn't see you for the dog you are? Is that what you perhaps don't get.."

"Ma'am," I say calmly even though 'calm' is the last thing I feel. "With all due respect, don't you ever call me a dog again!" I tell her and hang up.

"God, this is way too much. Way too much." I moan as I place my palm on my forehead.

"It's okay, ma'am." I hear Vincent mumble.

"Thank you, Vincent."

"I will take you home," he states and I only manage a faint nod as I rest my head on the car door and wonder just what I did wrong for so much trouble to befall me in a single week.

****

I refuse to give the reporters who are still in front of my gate audience as Vincent drives through the gate, the guards preventing them from coming in.

But that doesn't prevent their numerous questions from resounding in my head..

Is it true you are involved in a relationship with Mr. Jace Sanchez?

Are you aware he's a married man?

How long have both of you been seeing each other?

And so many more.

I climb out as soon as Vincent stops the car. My lack of sufficient sleep in the last four stressful days takes a toll on me and I sway a little.

"Easy ma'am," Vincent says, worry evident in his tone. I give him a small smile as I pick up my clutch and head into the house.

I walk through the lobby of my home and despite my current state of mind, couldn't help comparing it to Ralph's. Where the mural of the ocean on the wall calms me down, The colour fight on Ralph's wall almost made me retrace my steps.

It's good to be home finally. I give one of the pure white ixoras that line up the wall an absent caress as I make my way through the narrow passage.

I turn the corner and my heart almost jumps out of my chest as I bump into someone.

"Whoa, Miss Jules. I am so very awfully sorry. Are you okay?"

I unclutch my heart and glance up at the unexpected company.

It is the raven-haired Adonis from Diana's wedding. I rack my brain to recall his name. However, before I could succeed in coming up with a name, he notices my struggle.

"I'm Terrence ma'am. Terrence Philip. Last week, you told me.."

"To come on Friday," I say, remembering I had decided to take him with me to see Donald, a friend of mine and the CEO of Don Entertainment. I was preoccupied and forgot to cancel the appointment. And today is Friday.

"Yes ma'am." I didn't realize I said the last part out loud. I look at him to tell him to come back when next I call him but there is so much hope in those blue eyes I couldn't find it in me to tell him to leave, just like that.

So, despite the stress I feel, I beckon for him to follow me.

"What would you like to drink?" I ask him as we get to the living area. However, he is so busy ogling the room it takes him a moment to answer.

"I.. um.. I would love whiskey. Thanks."

"Have your seat. When you're ready." I add as he is still engrossed in the room. "I will be right back." I exit the room with the thought of getting a glass of whiskey myself.

*****

"And then he said 'Alright then, you can drink it. But if you end up dying, don't blame me'."

"What?" I cackle. "That's wicked."

"I know right," Terrence concurs with a smile and takes another sip of probably his fifth glass of whiskey.

Wondering how we got here?

You are not the only one.

In all honesty, I don't know how we went from drinking a glass of whiskey to sitting down on the floor of my living room and then laughing like idiots while cracking stupid jokes.

The only reasonable justification for this madness is that..

We.are.both.drunk.

I take a large sip of the liquor and swish it in my mouth, closing my eyes for a moment to deeply savour the taste of the whiskey but jerk them open when I feel a hand on my head. I open my eyes to see Terrence caressing my hair.

"I've always wanted to do this ever since the first time I saw you," he whispers. I don't know if it's my imagination but he seems to be sitting closer to me than before. "Your hair's so black and shiny," he says with a dreamy look in his eyes.

I giggle and completely facing him, reach out to touch his hair. "So is yours."

"Do you want to kiss?"

I look at him as if he's suddenly grown horns. "You should get going," I say firmly (I hope) and stand up. But before I could take a step, the room swirls and I'm forced to sit down.

"So you don't want to kiss me?" he asks, his pink lips morphing into an adorable pout as he kneels before me, probably too drunk to stand up.

"Terrence," I whisper, looking down at him and find myself running the tip of my finger down his cheek.

"That's my name." He gives me a goofy grin and I laugh.

"I'm old enough to be your eldest sister, you know?" I inform him, my hand still on his face.

"But you're not my sister, Jules."

At the informal use of my name, I dig my fingers into his cheek and pinch him. Hard.

"Ouch! What was that.."

He isn't able to finish that statement as my tongue is already on it's way to his.

I am drunk and stressed. That's what I keep telling myself even as I hear the sound of the buttons on my pink suit dropping to the floor of my bedroom.

How we got there, I don't know. But one thing I know for sure is that I am going to regret this tomorrow.

I am deeply going to regret this.

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An early update!!!
Ain't I a good girl? Hahahaha

Okay guys, tell me something,  (and be completely honest) who saw this coming? (The Jules and Terrence deal, I mean. As for me, until I began writing it, I didn't, at least not in this chapter)

I am still puppysitting by the way. And it feels so nice and less stressful than babysitting (Don't kill me, it's the truth😀)

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Thanks cupcakes 😉 (My emojis are back! Yay!!)