"You should go see him…it'll show you still care despite the rift between you two."
Mrs Genova's words resurfaced in Jennifer's mind as she adjusted the strap of her handbag before entering the large, grand floor of Miles' apartment.
The polished, dull-cream and patterned tiles echoed the sound of her beige sandal heels as she approached the reception.
Behind the expansive marble concierge counter sat two female receptionists on high chairs, dressed casually in matching pink dresses.
One wore glasses, her braided hair styled in a tight updo, while the other had low-cut hair and heavy makeup.
Each had a computer before them.
They were dressed more casually than the last two receptionists Jennifer had seen the last time she visited, probably because it was Sunday.
Jennifer faced the receptionist in glasses, briefly appreciating the colourful little fishes in the built-in aquarium beneath the counter, their shimmering blue reflections cast across the polished floor.
Then she stopped just an inch before the counter.
"Good morning, ma'am," the receptionist greeted with a smile as she looked up.
"Morning," Jennifer replied, standing before the receptionist with her hands folded.
The receptionist reached for the black intercom phone sitting isolated on the grey marble desk next to a medium-sized antique figurine of an earth globe, half encircled by a golden ring.
The figurine sat isolated from the monitor directly facing the receptionist, with a transparent plastic bottle of hand sanitizer positioned just a little farther away.
"I'm here for Miles Genova," Jennifer said.
The receptionist nodded, her glossed nude lips still stretched into a polite smile as her attention shifted to the computer.
She scrolled through the screen with one hand while reaching for the intercom phone with the other.
Jennifer sighed as she waited.
Did she, deep down, still believe she had a chance with Miles?
Her affair with Jason had been discovered, and still, she hadn't cut ties with him.
He was better off a secret.
She never really envisioned a future with him.
He simply filled in the space of the deeper connection she could have had with Miles.
But Miles never really liked her anyway. She always felt his commitment was due to his mother's influence. Perhaps that was why she felt starved of his genuine attention and had to go to Jason instead.
"Good morning, Miles Genova's resident?" the receptionist's voice brought Jennifer back.
The receptionist had the telecom phone to her ear as she withdrew her hand from the computer and placed it beneath the phone before speaking to Jennifer in a low tone.
"Name, please?"
"Jennifer Hays," Jennifer replied.
The receptionist lowered her hand.
"Jennifer Hays, ma'am," she said.
Jennifer's ears stood—ma'am.
A woman was up there with Miles. Mrs Genova had mentioned she had informed Miles before her visit.
Was another woman already there before her?
The sound of the receptionist dropping the telecom phone came next.
"He's expecting you, ma'am," the receptionist said. "Do you need an escort?"
Jennifer straightened. "Never mind, I know my way," she said before turning toward the right end of the hall and walking to the silver aluminum elevator doors
**
"You should focus more on your health now, sir," Rhea said from where she sat on the smaller grey couch in Miles's living room, across from him on the longer couch in loungewear—a blue, short-sleeved cotton shirt with white buttons and matching trousers that extended to his mid-foot.
Opposite the television, he remained focused through transparent glasses on the laptop resting on a mini table positioned over his legs, which were stretched out to occupy the rest of the sofa space, one raised slightly over the other.
"It's just the flu, Rhea," Miles replied without bothering to look at her as he scrolled through the screen of his laptop with one hand, while the other rested at the elbow against the sofa backrest.
Rhea adjusted the dipped neckline of her pink tie-front V-neck tank top with both hands once again, making sure her cleavage was visible before lowering her hands to her crossed knees.
The shorter black crepe skirt she had chosen to wear to visit Miles this time revealed more of her legs than what she usually wore.
Maybe if he saw a bit more of her assets, he would realize Maria probably only looked better in clothes.
His aged nurse, who had earlier introduced herself as Mrs. Patty, strolled out of the kitchen with a mini tray holding a white mug of tea as she approached Miles.
"Are you sure you don't need a glass of juice, dear?" Patty asked Rhea as she placed the tray on the mini table before Miles and straightened.
Rhea smiled. "I'm fine," she said. "I'm just really grateful he had someone like you to look after him."
The sound of the mug being lifted gently from the wooden tray drew Patty's and Rhea's attention back to Miles
"I wish he'd say that often," Patty said as Miles simply scoffed before placing the mug to his lips.
"Mr Miles might not be vocal about his appreciation," Rhea said, "but I'm sure he is."
"That's an unhealthy way to like a man, honey," Patty said.
Miles nearly spilled his tea, quickly lowering it at the surprise of the statement as Patty turned from Rhea toward the kitchen.
Rhea swallowed as embarrassment warmed her cheeks.
"Pay attention to the door," Patty called out as she moved deeper toward the kitchen. "Your mother's guest will be here any minute."
Mother's guest?
Rhea wondered.
"I didn't see Maria along with the other staff during the courtesy visit," Miles asked, still scrolling through his screen.
The gentle glow of the laptop screen reflected off his medicated lenses.
Rhea internally rejoiced at his curiosity. Now she would sabotage properly any biased thoughts he was having about that social climber.
"I was surprised too, sir," she said. "I had announced your visit to everyone else, including her, and when it was time, she simply shunned the lot of us saying, 'Mr Daniel had asked to see her instead.' "
Her eyes briefly dropped to the slight strain of a subtle tightening in Miles' jaw.
Perfect.
"That is one of the reasons I still believe this project isn't worth all your time, sir," Rhea said with a shrug. "We could be giving everything to it too early."
Miles heaved a sigh.
"I didn't ask for an essay, Rhea," he said.
The doorbell rang, and Rhea rose to her feet.
"I'll get it," she said, smoothing the back of her skirt so Miles would have a better view as she walked toward the door.
The soft footsteps of the guest-home slippers she had on her feet flapped against the floor as Rhea moved toward the entrance.
Making sure she caused a subtle jiggle in her rear as she did.
She pulled open the door, and her eyes immediately widened upon seeing who it was.
Jennifer Hays.
Miles' ex-girlfriend.
Jennifer immediately scoffed and eyed her up and down.
Rhea held her head high immediately recovering from her surprise, glad that she had purchased the hair extensions she'd seen on Maria's friend, Jenny, from the office.
It had taken a lot from her savings, but from the slight impression it had made on Jennifer's face, it was totally worth it.
Jennifer crossed her arms over the duchess satin red dress she had on and balanced herself in a pose.
"I thought employee visits are usually for weekdays," Jennifer said.
Rhea sighed while keeping her chin up.
"Some of us have become more in years of corporate hard work and environment."
"Mmmhmm," Jennifer replied. "And still, your hair is the most expensive thing on you."
A knot tightened in Rhea's throat.
"Move aside," Jennifer said with a glare.
Rhea moved, lowering her head as Jennifer moved past her with a trail of expensive jasmine scent following her.
Rhea's grip on the door tightened.
With competition like this, how could she ever get Miles to notice her beyond being just a secretary?
Then she pushed the door gently back into the jamb lock from inside.
**
Maria eyed the light cream, woolen midi dress with a flared silhouette that she had picked from her wardrobe to wear to Miles' home in the mirror of her vanity table.
The dress featured a gathered V-neckline and short sleeves, its cinched waist flowing freely over the width of her hips before the fabric fell to brush the middle of her knees.
She turned sideways and blushed when her eyes caught the slight lift of the dress at the back, caused, of course by the fullness of her rear.
Perfect for teasing Miles. Perfect for him to stare.
Maria bit her lip as she faced the mirror fully and picked up her brown mini handbag, which matched her casual yet stylish brown slide slippers.
Still staring at her reflection, she slipped the bag over her shoulder and she studied her hair packed neatly at the back of her head, while the front had been smoothed with gel to keep every strand in place, complete with her carefully styled, slicked-back baby hairs.
She had only lined her upper lips with a darker lip shade before dabbing a baby-pink color onto the centre and finishing with a layer of clear gloss, the shades blending smoothly where they met at the edge.
It was either this or have her career quenched by Daniel.
Her phone began ringing, and she immediately turned, unzipped her bag, and retrieved it.
The moment she pulled it out, Jenny's name appeared across the screen.
She quickly swiped to answer with the phone against her ear.
"I'm driving out of the house right now," Jenny said. "Sorry, I should have left sooner, but there was a little traffic driving back from church and all."
Maria smiled. "It's okay. I'm already done preparing. I'll just wait till you're here."
"Before you are done counting to one million," Jenny teased.
Maria laughed softly.
"Oops, a hundred already…" she said with a chuckle.
"Don't you dare?" Jenny protested, laughter filling her voice as well. "Okay, I'm gonna focus on the road, and I'll be with you soon."
Maria stifled a laugh.
"Two hundred…"
"Oh my God," Jenny exclaimed before ending the call.
Maria snickered as she lowered the phone back into her bag.
She was still glad Jenny had agreed to take her to Miles' apartment.
Kevin would not let her drive her car due to Daniel's instructions, and since Jenny could not exactly pinpoint the location of Miles' house, taking a cab would have been an exhausting option.
Maria picked up the transparent bottle of her perfume and spritzed it behind her ears before heading towards the entrance door to leave her room.
As she stepped out and began ascending the stairs, her ears caught the sound of Crystal's voice alongside Grace's coming from the living room downstairs.
Crystal was here already, Maria thought.
She had earlier in the morning sent Crystal the estate permit code after Crystal said she had prepared some food and wanted to bring some over for Maria.
Maria genuinely appreciated the thoughtfulness, and perhaps Crystal's presence would bring some lightness to Grace as well.
Grace's attitude might be due to environmental change, and since Crystal was also from their town, it could help her feel more comfortable.
Maria hastened her footsteps as she descended the final tier of the staircase turning toward the sitting room, where Grace and Crystal's voices were coming from.
"Good evening, Crystal," Maria said as she emerged from the small hallway between the stairs and the living room.
Crystal smiled and sat up, waving at her from the sofa she had chosen beside Grace.
She was dressed in jean capri pants with slits at the side and a golden ribbed top with rope-like shoulder straps.
Grace's attention immediately dropped to her phone.
She was still dressed in her short black jean dungarees over a white round-necked polo with pink glittered letters decorating only the chest.
"Oh my, you look stunning, Maria," Crystal said, waving at her.
Maria twirled once and giggled as she approached them.
Crystal's eyes dropped to her slippers.
"Those look really expensive…" she said. "Is that refined leather wool?"
Maria glanced down at her feet as she stopped midway before the longest sofa.
"Oh, I'm not exactly sure." She raised her head with a smile. "It was a gift."
"Wow," Crystal said, lifting her gaze to Maria before immediately dropping it back to her shoulders. "You got the bag too!"
The outburst even managed to pull Grace's attention away from her phone at the moment, flickering her gaze briefly between Maria and Crystal.
"It's just a bag, Aunty Crystal," Grace said.
Crystal caught herself and looked back at Maria, who was beginning to look a little shy.
"I'm sorry, Maria," she said. "I'm just genuinely glad you were able to get such an awesome job. I'm even prouder of how much progress you've made there."
Maria felt a small pang of guilt and Grace lowered her head back to her phone.
"I really fancy all your hard work," Crystal continued with an innocent smile that Maria was beginning to suspect. "Grace?"
"Mmm," Grace replied without raising her head.
"You should be proud of having such an ambitious elder sister," Crystal added, amidst the growing awkwardness in the room.
"Mmmhmm," Grace murmured as she sighed and rested her head against her hand, her attention still fixed on her phone.
"It's fine, Crystal," Maria said, trying to ease the tension in the room.
"Honestly," Crystal continued, her eyes growing emotional. "If no one has ever commended you for being so daring and competent with your dreams, I will."
"Not to mention your boyfriend's position…" Crystal gasped excitedly as Grace subtly raised her head. "Or should I say, heir?"
This time, Grace actually looked back at Maria, and Maria couldn't help but physically roll her eyes.
Crystal was forever going to remain talkative.
"Mom never mentioned Daniel worked where you did?" Grace asked, confusion coloring her tone.
Maria had never seen the need to tell her either.
"Oops!" Crystal gasped again.
Maria subtly side-eyed her before looking back at Grace.
"That isn't important, Gracey," Maria said. "Have you had a taste of Crystal's cooking?"
Grace looked back at Crystal.
"Y-Yes." Then she lowered her gaze back to her phone, "It's really nice."
"Going somewhere?" Crystal asked, the same infuriating smile still stretched across her face.
"Yes," Maria said with a sigh. "I thought you were going to come in earlier."
"Oh, about that…" Crystal began. "I was supposed to, but I had to run extra errands. You know how Sundays are for us hard workers—like our only-free day to properly organize sometimes."
"Right…" Maria nodded, raising her right wrist to glance at her watch. "Well, I'm off to visit a friend who isn't feeling too well."
"Oh no," Crystal said, her eyes widening dramatically. "What's the diagnosis?"
Maria frowned, unable to hide her discomfort at Crystal's interrogation.
"I'm sorry," Crystal said again, catching herself as she quickly covered it with a smile. "I get too carried away sometimes. It's part of my job."
Maria softened.
To be fair, Crystal should really stop doing too much.
It was making her instincts shoot up warning signs, which Maria had chosen to blame on childhood memories.
Crystal couldn't possibly still be that way till now.
"We're as good as family, Stal," Maria said. "We can be ourselves around each other without including our jobs. That's why we're best compatible, because we experienced the same childhood and love from our townsfolk in our little town."
Maria offered a gentle smile.
"It's a strength that will encourage our journey here," she finished.
"And I don't doubt you for a second," Crystal said, shaking her head slowly.
The sound of Jennifer's car horn from outside quickly caught Maria's attention again, and her conscience throbbed once again.
How differently everyone else would see her if they learnt she was actually going to see her boyfriend's elder brother and also the CEO of the company that was currently sponsoring her bound-to-be successful project.
Suddenly, she felt reluctant.
Content with Daniel's manipulation, at least everyone now knew he was her boyfriend, even to the public.
"I'll be back before ten p.m," Maria said as she began walking toward the exit door.
She placed her hand on the doorknob and turned once again.
"Grace? Call me when Crystal leaves, okay?" Maria said.
"Mmmhmm," Grace answered without raising her head.
"Have a good evening, Crystal," Maria said with a smile that Crystal returned before she opened the door and stepped outside.