5

CHAPTER FIVE

 

The agreement has been made. The contract had been signed. The wedding was over. The young couple made their way to their matrimonial home after the reception. The drive to the house was peaceful and quiet, except for the noise created as Michael rapidly typed on his iPad. He didn't utter a word, and neither did she. The drive lasted for about thirty-three minutes—the longest thirty-three minutes that Ashley could ever imagine. The couple arrived at the mansion, and the golden gate was opened by the gatekeeper. As the driver drove in, she could see the mansion and how magnificent it looked, and then she stepped out of the car.

 

She made her way to the front door and was amazed at the sight before her. She noticed the intricate gold molding on the pillar fixed at the sides of the front door. The glittering color was the perfect accent against the beige building; it added an imperial flair to the neo-classical-style mansion.

 

"Welcome home, Ashley." Michael said, which made her smile while following him through the double doors, revealing a ground floor with a two-way staircase. The area was cream-colored with arched windows and gold crown molding. Three crystal chandeliers dangled from the high ceiling, emitting a warm glow over the artistic marble floor.

 

"This is beautiful." She gawked, utterly and shamelessly amazed.

 

"Thanks, it's a gift from my father."

 

She smiled at him while following him as he led her through a series of stairs and doors before stopping in front of a golden-colored door.

 

"This will be your room," he announced before opening the door. She entered, her steps slowing as she inspected the space, which was way larger than her room at her dad's.

 

"Hope it's okay?"

 

"Yes, it is. Thank you."

 

"Alright," He dropped her suitcases by the doorside and said, "I'll be in my room, just down the hall, the second door to your left." He explained, and she nodded.

 

She fell on her bed as soon as he left, tired, hungry, and feeling unaccomplished. The two suitcases, which could only carry some of her clothes, stood where they were kept, staring at her and begging her to unpack. She sighed as if understanding it and stood up. She lazily dragged the suitcase and placed it on her bed, opened it, and started arranging the clothes in the closet, which, to her surprise, was already filled with women's clothing.

 

As soon as she was through, her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she hadn't had a serious meal since today. She found her way out of her room and journeyed the way through the stairs, on the lookout for a particular male lurking around. When she was sure the coast was clear, she continued her journey to the kitchen, which she still couldn't find.

 

"Are you hungry?" A voice asked suddenly, shaking her out of her senses. She swirled her head in the direction of the voice, which turned out to be an old lady coming out of a room she assumed was the kitchen because she saw her with different dishes.

 

"Ehmm—Yes, ma... Please, who are you, ma'am?" Ashley inquired curiously.

 

"Oh, I'm sorry for being crude. I'm Jane, the housekeeper." She introduced herself as she placed the dishes on the magnificent dining table.

 

"Hello, Ma'am Jane."

 

"No, no, madam, don't call me ma'am, just Jane."

 

"Never!"

 

"Please, madam. I plead."

 

"I feel uncomfortable calling you just Jane, and besides, do not call me madam; I'm still too young a girl."

 

"But you're my madam. You're the young master's wife."

 

"Unfortunately, I am." She muttered, not expecting Jane to hear, but she did nonetheless.

 

"Then you're my madam. I'm sure you're extremely hungry; please come and eat; the food is ready."

 

"Oh, thanks, ma'am Jane."

 

"Please don't call me."

 

"Ma, I feel comfortable calling you this way; please allow me, and please, I'd appreciate it if you would just call me by my name. I'm Ashley, by the way."

 

"Okay, ma'am Ashl—oops, Ashley." Ashley chuckled at the woman's cuteness.

 

"Thank you, Jane."

 

Ashley could see that she would enjoy her stay in this house all because of her. Ashley ate the food, which consists of rice, chicken, and salad. She ate as if she had never eaten for days, when in reality it was only for hours.

 

"I can see you're eating." She heard his deep baritone voice as he made his way down the stairs toward the dining room, where she was seated. She had never had the opportunity to take a good look at him, but seeing him now made her gulp in amazement. Her husband was the epitome of beauty. He has tanned skin with dark brown orbs, unruly dark hair, a pointed nose that sat perfectly on his face, plump, sexy lips, and a chiseled jaw that made his face look so masculine yet so attractive. He looked at her intensely, as if also taking her in. Not until she saw those sexy lips of his moving again, as if expecting her response.

 

"Ehmm, yes, I am." She replied, forcing her eyes back to her food. Michael also sat down, staring at his little wife, and dug into the food, stealing short glances at her.

 

"I'll be going out today." He said. 

 

"Ohh!" She wanted to ask him where he would be going but stopped herself. It's not as if they were entitled to spend the night together, so why was she worried? He could do whatever he wanted to do, but she hoped he would at least change his clothes. The polo he wore clung to his muscular body, and that drew her eyes in again. He was not only handsome, but he was also muscular. God!

 

"So, I'll be back today. I just want to meet some of my friends." He said that, and she could just nod her head.

 

"Yes? Uh! Alright, no problem." She said since she doesn't have anything more to say. She can't stop him from leaving the house, or can she?

 

"So I heard you're still a university student." He said it, making small talk.

 

"Obviously." She replied, not intending to sound rude and hoping he did not notice. He raised an eyebrow and nodded; if he had noticed, he didn't show it.

 

"Alright. What school, if I may  ask?

 

"Everest University.".

 

"You say? Really?!" He asked, surprised, "That's also my school. How come?"

 

"I have no idea." She shrugged.

 

"So what department?" He asked her, already finding the conversation dreadful. If she was in his school, he just hoped she wasn't in his department. Even though he was married, he still plans to live his life as he has. He won't let married life make his sexual life full of cobwebs.

 

"Business administration. You?"

 

"Computer engineering department. Level five. Final year." He said.

 

"Ooh! That explains it." She muttered to herself.

 

"What?"

 

"Nothing."

 

"So what about you? What level?" He asked even though he could guess it.

 

"Level four. Final year also."

 

"That's great. Do you normally stay in school or commute from home?"

 

"I have a space in the school hostel."

 

"So what do you intend to do now that we are married—stay in school or commute from here?"

 

"That I don't know. I want to wait and see, and if it's convenient for me to commute from here, then that's not a problem."

 

"It shouldn't be a problem for you and me." He stood up and adjusted his polo. "I should get going now."

 

"Okay, but I hope you don't come back too late." She said.

 

"Yes, I've heard you, wifey." He teased, which made her blush. Soon he was gone, and she was through with her food.

 

She gathered the plates together so she could take them all to the kitchen when she heard a voice telling her to stop.

 

"Why?" she asked Jane.

 

"Because it's not your duty. I will carry it."

 

"But I want to do it."

 

"Please, let me do this; this is what I've been employed for."

 

"But..."

 

"Please, ma'am, don't make things so hard for me; allow me to do my job. Thanks for wanting to help."

 

"Alright, no problem, but I don't feel comfortable eating, and someone else is clearing the table for me; I wasn't brought up in that manner."

 

"Ma, don't worry; I'll train you. You must learn unless you want me to become useless here and lose my job."

 

"I dare not do that," Ashley said, and the two laughed.

 

"So when will Master come back?" Jane asked her young madam.

 

"I don't know; he didn't tell me when he would be back. Why?"

 

"So that I would know what I would prepare for him once he's back."

 

"Oh, I don't know. Just prepare whatever you want to prepare and put it in the microwave. Whenever he comes back, he will find his food; that's if he didn't eat where he went."

 

"Alright, ma'am Ashley." And she left. Ashley also made her way to her room, thinking of a young, handsome man and how her hands would be so honored to touch his muscular chest. Ugh! God!