Finally the day of their trip came. Tasha struggled, lugging a heavy suitcase behind her. She let out a sigh, her annoyance visible.
"Seriously Chris, you are a billionaire. Why can't you just hire a potter or something to help with the laugage. We should be having an entourage", she complained.
"I like to keep things simple", he replied.
Tasha's gaze shifted to Valerie. "You carry this to the car",Tasha ordered.
"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't realize l was your personal servant. Or personal slave?", Valerie objected, her palm on her waist. Tasha's face reddened as her mouth opened.
"Let me take care of that sweetheart", Chris interrupted, carrying the suitcase himself.
"Goodbye, Valerie. We will be back in a week", he said as he stood by the car. "And Valerie please, just please…take care of this house whilst l am away. Don't let strangers in and make sure all doors and windows are locked bef….".
"Seriously Mr Malvins, I'm twenty five l know l should lock all doors and windows before going to bed", Valerie pointed.
"If only you'd hire or install a security system, maybe we wouldn't have to worry about it", Tasha jeered.
Chris deliberately ignored Tasha. "While we are away, rest and enjoy yourself too, a little. Or a lot, whatever…just enjoy yourself", Chris suggested, his hand on Valerie's shoulder. She nodded.
"Okay then. Arrivederci!", Chris said and hopped into the car.
"Another thing before you got out?", Valerie asked.
"What, Valerie?", he asked.
"You fellas wouldn't mind me having a couple of parties here while you're away, would you? And Richey can visit too, right? Maybe a day or two?", Valerie asked. Chris' face lightened as he laughed, his hand raised in dismissal.
"You better make sure that everything runs smoothly while we are away", Tasha's gaze snapped back at Valerie, her expression cold. "Shouldn't the chauffer be opening the doors for us and driving us to our jet?", Tasha nagged once more. Chris' response was inaudible as he had already started driving. As he drove away, Chris caught a glimpse of Valerie through the rear-view mirror as she stood still. A twinge of desire gripped his heart, wishing Valerie was the one sitting beside him instead of Tasha.
Chris had grown fond of Valerie. He was in love with her, but he knew her playfulness towards him was innocent. He was scared that she would probably not reciprocate his feelings if he confessed love to her. Moreover, Tasha was pregnant and he had to marry her for the sake of their baby. Despite their agreement to an open relationship, Tasha's insecurity and possessiveness towards him seemed to increase, much to his distress.
He noted her resentment towards Valerie but tolerated her as he felt it was all because of her battle with pregnancy hormones. He couldn't help but admire Valerie's virtue as she had been patient and enormously tolerant. He had agreed to go on this trip, for the sake of Valerie, she would finally rest and take a breather from Tasha's spite. As he drove away, Valerie's reflection on the rear-view mirror slowly became smaller, and eventually a tiny speck and vanished from sight.
Valerie went back inside the mansion and finished her tasks for the day. Afterwards she pampered herself to Tasha's Tranquille bath foam in Chris' majestic free- standing oasis bath tub, sculpted from a gleaming block of white marble, right in his master bedroom.
Afterwards, she collapsed into her favourite couch, a bucket of popcorn in her hand. She felt so relaxed with her own company and she knew this was going to be the onset of the best week of her entire life. Being in a billionaire's mansion, with all the luxury in the world to eat on what ever she felt like eating, whenever she felt so. And he had told her to rest, and enjoy herself, so she intended to listen to his order.
The rest of the day was wasted on watching television and eating after eating. The next day, she spent most of her time trying on Tasha's clothes and taking pictures with her phone. As a thrill of mischief ran through her veins , she could not help but wonder if Chris did not have cameras around the house. But she concluded, " If he did, there would be a control room in this mansion, which there isn't".
The next few days were not as thrilling as she thought they would be. She had missed having company, particularly Chris, she had missed being the mouse to the cat, Chris. She found herself feeling bored and wondered how Chris had managed to live in solitude in his opulent mansion before she came.
When only a day was left for Chris and Tasha to return from their trip, she received a call from him, telling her they had extended their trip by another week. "Will you be fine, Valerie?", Chris asked.
"Yes, sure l will be fine", she whispered. "You just have a good time", she said just before she hung up. Chris had felt the sorrow in her tone. He understood too well the loneliness that echoed through the mansion's empty halls and how she would be afraid of the dark.
It was a week later that they came back. Valerie was finally relieved that she did not have to be in the mansion alone anymore. She prepared lunch for them and it had been a great meal. However, all the colours turned to grey when Chris unlocked his safe.
"What the…?!', he exclaimed, his voice trembling as he stared at the empty safe.