CHAPTER NINE

I looked at myself in the mirror in my room. Properly dressed for my birthday party, admiring myself. I looked at the time  on my wrist watch, it was half past eight. I heard jazz music playing two rooms away from the masters bedroom, where I was. Obviously this genre of music were for people with class.  I tried to embrace the idea that I clocked 25 years already. " How's my love doing?" Olivia say to me, startling me as she walks into the room. "You look so handsome…there are a lot of important guest, waiting for you in the hall. " Olivia say to me again. I faked a smile, staring into her eyes. " Well, you can leave I'm coming. " I say to her. Still faking a smile. I hated the fact that she was moving closer to me and her body was pressing against mine. Flashes of her cheating scandals came to my head and then I suddenly pushed her away." Why are you pushing me away?" Olivia ask me. " I don't want to get my clothes rumpled. You know it's designers and I just newly bought it." I replied to Olivia's question. 

"A little kiss on the lip won't rumple your clothes." She say to me. Giving me an innocent stare. Like she was indeed innocent. I want to know how much she truly loves me and not my money alone." Do you really love me.. Olivia?" I ask her, staring deeply into her eyes. "I love you with my whole heart..baby " Olivia assures me. " So do you have anything you want to tell me.. maybe a secret you have been keeping from me?" I say to Olivia, to know if she will tell me the truth or lie. I immediately saw the guilt and uneasiness in her face as she tries to utter a word. "And what secret might that be?" Olivia ask me. Her conscience began to judge her. " Did anybody tell you anything?" Olivia ask me again to be sure her cheating escapade was not leaked by anyone. " You look uneasy..are you okay Olivia?" I say to her. Staring directly into her eyes. "Well.. I am. I love you with my heart and don't know what will make you think I'm cheating on you." Olivia say to me, sweat beads breaking out from her forehead. 

"But I never said anything about cheating, so why did you bring it up?" I say to Olivia, catching her red-handed. "Oh! Spare me that! I know that is what you mean by secrets." Olivia say to me as she snapped at me about to  walk out on me, when I grabbed her by her wrist and forcefully dragging her back towards me to answer my question. "You cheat! You think I don't know? You cheated on me at the hotel and even had the guts to fly that god forsaken pig to my house to make love to you?" I say to her, now very furious. I have never laid my hands to beat up any woman and I will not start now. I thought to myself. I just wanted her to get scared of me and say the truth. And why she is cheating on me even though I have been faithful to her. " Why did you do it?" I ask Olivia, who was now scared of me. I can see the fear in her eyes.  Olivia stayed mute and didn't say a word to me. She could perceive the anger in my voice. "I'm sorry..Ethan." Olivia say to me. "Why did you cheat on me with the hotel manager?" I ask Olivia again, needing her response. " I gave you everything you asked me for, Even though it was a contract marriage. I made you feel special by allowing you command my staffs, whenever you like and yet you still had the guts to cheat on me with a man who i help boost his business?" I say to Olivia, still holding her wrist angrily. "Ethan! You are me…please stop." Olivia say to me, begging me to forgive her and release her. Some part of me was actually happy that I had this conversation with her when no one was around to proof to her that she is a slut! That dosen't deserve to be my wife. " You are a prostitute! Genevieve and I never did anything as you claimed, before sacking her.  I don't want to have anything to do with you as from today.…No one has to know about our conversation. We will both pretend like this never happened and you must continue to play the role as my wife. I don't want anything to ruin my birthday party." I say to Olivia. Letting go of her wrist. I was about heading out of the room to attend my birthday party. "Thank you! Ethan." Olivia say to me, still rubbing her wrist. " I didn't do it for you , I did it because I don't like having scandals associated with me. And one more thing, don't come close to me ever again. You will never have any intimate relationship with me again. You are free to still stay for the money, if you want. But don't dare come close to me." I say to Olivia, eventually walking out on her. 

  ****

"Happy birthday! My Gee… More billions into your bank account." A guest from my party says to me. Giving me a handshake and a little wrapped present. It was in a box shape with gold wrapping paper covering it.  I predict it may be an expensive wristwatch or perfume. " Happy birthday..Ethan! I wish you many more years in good health." Another lady say to me, handing me a shinny silver bag, before walking away. 

" Hey! Brother.. it's time to dance." Carly say to me, winking at me. " I don't know how to dance." I say to Carly, my baby sister. " C'mon! I will teach you." Carly say to me, grabbing the wine glass from my hand, as she signals to a chaperone at the party to take the glass away from her hand.