THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 16: IMPULSIVE IDEA

Chapter 16: IMPULSIVE IDEA

The total silence was like a bone in her throat, choking her, resisting airflow. She could neither turn her head to the side, or raise it up. It stayed buried on her lap, as she counted the minutes before this tortuous journey ended.

When the car pulled into a gate, she released the breath she’s been holding, and wiggled her already stiff toes.

It came to a stop, and she slowly undid her seatbelt.

"Thank you for the ri—" she way saying, when she realized she was all alone in the car

’How had he just—?" She shook her head, and opened the door. To her relief, it opened.

As she stepped down, she saw him opening the back seat of the car. She moved her mouth to thank him again, but he shut the car door, and walked past her.

He was so passive aggressive, it scared her. He wouldn’t say what was wrong, or what she could do to earn his forgiveness.

Fighting off the tears, too tired to cry, she made her way into the house. She took the stairs, one at a time, her body aching all over.

"Am I going to break down?" She wondered in her heart.

Over ten years of working job to job just to survive, physical, and emotional abuse by her aunt, and her daughters, yet all it took was marriage to a brooding stranger to make her question her sanity.

She didn’t know she had arrived at her door, until she raised her head, and almost bumped into it.

"Well-done Miss Clumsy," she muttered, and opened the door. Finally in the sanctuary of the big room, which sheer size still startled her, she peeled off her dress in the middle of the room, and stepped out of it.

She bent to pick it up, and as she straightened, her eyes caught her reflection. She walked over to the mirror, standing in just the short mesh bodysuit she had worn to compliment the dress.

Marilyn found out she didn’t have underwear a little too late, and had to compromise.

For a while, she actually stared at herself. Not through the lens of what anyone had ever told her about her body, or through what she believed was true. She let go of all the biases, and stared at herself.

Her hair, too wild to stay pinned to her head, had actually composed itself today.

The freckles on her face she hated so much, since the day she became aware of them. Rather pointed nose, and a lip like Angelina Jolie’s. Eyes, the arch of a cat, greener than envy.

"A very strange combination," she whispered, stroking the curve of her face.

"Has anyone ever told you how gorgeous you are?" The stranger had asked earlier on.

Strangers had. Never from family, but strangers did all the time. It never made her feel complimented. On the contrary, it made her feel ashamed. Like they were mocking her.

How could she be pretty, when her own family who knew her more than anyone, said she wasn’t. No, she just couldn’t believe them.

Now Reign was it? Ace’s girlfriend, or ex, whatever complicated relationship they had aside, was gorgeous.

She was not averagely tall like her, but supermodel tall, with really long tanned legs.

She had gorgeous blonde hair, straightened to perfection. Nothing like her own frizzy, curly hair.

Standing side by side with Ace, she probably fit him more. He knew it too, that’s why despite the bickering, he seemed more comfortable in her presence, than in hers.

The thought clawed her throat, and just when she thought she was too tired to cry, a tear rolled down her face.

She quickly wiped it off when in that instant, a knock sounded on the door. She whipped her head over her shoulders, "Who’s there?" She called.

"It’s me ma’am," she heard a familiar voice say.

Confused, and fidgety, she dashed into the bathroom, spending at least a minute struggling to pull off the mesh which had clung to her body.

"What are you doing, Fay?" She questioned herself as she pulled forcefully, and it ripped off her body.

She sighed regretfully, but in the mix of that emotion was also relief.

Holding the crumpled pieces in one hand, she splashed some water on her tear stained eyes, and put on her robe, before walking back to the room.

She flung the pieces of the mesh into her closet, while picking up the rumpled dress, and laying it on the bed.

"Sorry for keeping you outside," she said as she opened the door.

Chef Alice smiled. "It’s nothing. I guess you’re tired from your night out," she responded, walking into the room with a covered tray in her hands.

"Tired is an understatement. I am exhausted," She said, plopping on the bed, whilst wiggling her toe.

Alice caught the movement, and her smile widened. The madam had such a childlike cuteness about her. It was such a joy to view.

"What’s that?" she asked, sniffing the air.

She also appreciated food. Another thing she thoroughly enjoyed watching.

"The Mr had something special prepared for you," she said, giving her a knowing smile.

"What? For me?" She had to ask, just in case Alice might have misheard.

There was no way Ace was even thinking about her with anything other than resentment. Not after the way the night ended between them.

"What’d you mean? You’re his wife right? Of course he’s always going to have something prepared for you." She chuckled dismissively.

Fay readjusted on the bed. She had to strike a balance between appearing shocked, and keeping up the facade of this marriage. To everyone else, they were wildly in love with each other. She never really realized the difficulty of being an actress, until very recently.

"Wow! What does he have for me tonight then?" She asked, playing along.

"It’s something from the restaurant you two visited. He only ordered me to make a side dip. I’m known for my dips, you know?" She blew a kiss into the air.

Fay is suddenly transported back to the restaurant. In the middle of the terrace, Ace lip on hers, her hand around his neck. The kiss of a lifetime, right in front of the gorgeous Reign.

She smiled, and Alice thought it was because of her words, as she proceeded to set the tray on the small table.

"You’re absolutely going to love it!" She clapped, straightening her body.

The sound pulled Fay back to the present. She couldn’t believe her ears. All that time she thought she disgusted him too much to look at her, he had been downstairs, buying her food. He had waited outside for her, whilst she freely conversed with another man.

He defended her, their marriage against his business buddies, and ex-girlfriend. Even defended her against his own family. Granted there might have been an ulterior motive there, but nonetheless, he had stood by her.

All she had done in return was mope, and wallow in self-pity.

"Did you take some to him too?" She found herself asking, as an impulsive idea crossed her head.

"No ma. He said everything was for you. I wondered about it, cus it’s a lot of food," she said.

"Could you do me a favor, please?" She pleaded with her hands joined together in a prayer gesture.

"Sure ma’am. Anything you want."

"I want to take a quick shower. When I return, could you bring the tray with me to Ace’s room?"

A big smile instantly formed on the chef’s face. "Go have your bath. I’ll come back after you’re done," she said, and quickly turned around, and walked away.

Frightened by the decision she was about to take, she hurried into the bathroom, and turned on the shower. She already knew it would go disastrously wrong, but her conscience would never be satiated until she did even an inch of what he’d done for her tonight.

Done with showering, she ran out of the bathroom, and stopped by her closet. Picking out a big shirt, she went back to the bathroom and grabbed the only pair of panties she had been washing, and wearing, ever since she arrived at the house.

"We really need to do something about this situation," she muttered to herself, as she put it on, and put on the big shirt next.

There was really nothing more decent than the shirt that stopped just a little past her thighs. She felt highly uncomfortable, but swallowed the feeling. It wasn’t about her right now, but about him.

Just as she let her hair completely down, Alice knocked, and stepped in.

"Wow! Your hair is gorgeous!" She blurted out.

"Thank you, but we don’t have time for compliments. Let’s go," she said, skipping past her to the door.

She stepped out, but stopped to allow Alice to go ahead with the tray. She couldn’t recall if she knew the way to his room or not.

Alice continued down the hallway, and she followed silently behind her. Her palm felt clammy, and she was pretty certain if she looked into a mirror, she’d see a pool of sweat on her forehead. Nevertheless, she forged through, until they arrived at the last door down the hall.

Alice knocked.

"Who’s there?" He called in that thick voice of his, sending shivers down Fay’s spine.

"It’s chef Alice, Sir."

Fay’s heart started to thump, as utter silence followed her announcement. She held her breath, and counted. Alice sent her a reassuring smile, but she couldn’t bring herself to return it.

After what seemed like forever, they both heard shuffling feet. Her heart leaped to her mouth, as his steps drew closer.

Her legs had almost given way underneath her from how nervous she felt, when he finally opened the door.

His eyes rested on her first, and as it did, it lifted curiously.