Chains & Butterflies

Matthew 1

Matthew
"Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid." -Hedy Lamarr

I watched her walk away from us, mumbling something incoherent. She seemed to do that a lot. Mrs. Reed, and Cecilia were currently looking at the bathing suits she had bought for Evelyn. They did looked rather beautiful on her, hugging her curves just right, but it was something I wasn't going to share with anyone else. Nope, definitely not something to share.
"To think, I buy these things for her, just so she doesn't wear them." Mrs. Reed sighed shaking her head.
Cecilia took them from her Mother and studied them. "Did you actually buy something for me or should I take these instead." She commented rather harshly.
Mrs. Reed glanced down the hall. "Take them honey, they'll look good on you anyways."
"I'll try them on. Matthew, can you tell me if it looks okay or not?" She asked sweetly. I nodded my head, not really caring a bit. Cecilia entered the same bathroom Evelyn had occupied moments earlier. I waited outside with my soon to be mother-in-law.
She quickly glanced at me and a small smiled formed on her lips. "Matthew, dear, how are you?"
"I'm doing good Mrs. Reed, how about you?" I said smiling down at her. She was rather short like Evelyn. It appeared she also passed down many other of her feature to her daughter as I observed her for the first time.
"Please darling calling me Sarahi." She said sweetly again. I was about to correct myself when her face expression changed suddenly. "How are thing going with you and my daughter?"
It has only been two days since this engagement started, two eventfully days, but nothing to tell her about. "Everything going smoothly. Might I say, you have raised a beautiful well mannered daughter. A women that I'm glad to be getting married to."
She snorted. "Really, then she must be showing you only one side to her. I know my daughter Matthew and I am aware that she is uncanny and witty. She has not let her guard down with you as I have seen my other daughters do. Let me tell you something, she is a smart one. Intelligent. Evelyn will do anything and everything to get out things she doesn't find worth her time. She doesn't care about what others think of her. She is lazy and rebellious when it comes to matters regarding our family's reputation. I don't know how much you're aware of her or what you have heard, but she's different than most young women her age. Evelyn does her own thing, and even thought she is all this and more. She is still a young woman, who needs to still find herself."
She turned to look at me fully. With no one but ourselves, her eye turned cold. The piercing stare only added to the frigid environment that was seething forth from her. I shifted underneath her gaze as she showed me a side of her I was unwilling to acknowledge and hoping to avoid. "I don't know if you're aware of our situation Mr. McClaire and I have not intentions of telling you if you don't. What I do know, is you have your own intentions when it comes to my daughter and the company's; but do be warned that if you ever break her heart I will personally see to it that you never see the light of day. She is one of my four most precious gems, and I will do nothing but hunt down and skin anyone alive that dares to harm one of my children. Do not forget she's still a woman and all women need to be cherished and loved. She may have a hard time expressing something but when she does make sure to listen very closely Matthew, because her words may surprise you."
Right note to self. Don't get mother-in-law angry...Ever.
The door knob turned and Mrs. Reed coughed composing herself. Cecilia walked out with the same bathing suit Evelyn had tried on earlier. Her light tan skin made her stand out in that bikini. She had a nice figure it was a bit smaller that Evelyn but still attractive enough to get anyone's attention. My eyes traveled upwards to see her black curls start around the top of her shoulder. The tops part of that bikini fits her nicely too. When my eyes landed on hers she smirked at me and twirled. "What do you think? You like?"
"You look lovely." I told her truthfully, when she walked up and giggled. She placed hands around my arm and hugged it tightly, making sure to press herself against me. To close. Not wanting to get any closer than I need to be, I pulled away so enough personal space was between us. There were to be no doubts about my engagement to Evelyn. So with that, I decided now would be the best time to leave.
I turned to Mrs. Reed and smiled. "If you'll excuse me Sarahi, I need to do some paper work."
She nodded her head, which was enough of an excuse to leave the hallways. I left without saying goodbye to Cecilia and headed to my room. It was located down stairs, the last room down the hall. I was rather happy with the living arrangement, due to it being far away from everyone else. My privacy was of utmost importance to me. The only reason I even left was to get my laptop from the kitchen where I had left it.
A small laugh escaped my lips as I remembered the morning encounter I had with Evelyn. She is more than I expected her to be. She's attractive, very attractive. A small plus to our engagement. I knew how bizarre she could be, Roxana's banquet reminded me so. I'm also aware of her witty personality and that sharp tongue she displayed in the car. To think she doesn't even remember the day we met. Nor the fact that I had been to the house countless of times before. It is fine by me; it's one more secret I have from her.
I looked over to my desk to see my laptop sitting there. Assuming one of the maids brought it to my room I reached over and grabbed it. The light which cast itself outside the french doors before me, prompt my awarness of the porch. My sense got the better of me, and I was dictated by them to head outside. There in the corner of the garden was a clear white table, hidden behind a blooming rose bush, accompanied by a single chair. It will do. I took my glasses which sat beside my bed and walked toward the table to begin my work.
Two productive hours where spend, when my phone rang. I pushed my glasses up my nose and blinked at the screen for a few seconds. My finger only hesitated slightly on the answering buttom, knowing full well I couldn't ignore this particular call.
Instantly the familiar resounding clicks of keyboards echoed into my ear, "Have you finished the reports?"
"I'm working on them right now." I told him looking at the screen.
"May I remind you they are due tomorrow?"
I smirked into the phone. "I'm well aware of it, which is way I will be sending them to you in exactly three hours from now."
There was a slight paused "I expect them to be properly done."
"I'll make sure they are checked before I send them to you."
He sounded irritated, "Don't mess it up. I need them as soon as possible, these are crucially to what I need if we want that contact."
"I won't."
My father was a man of many things, but patience was not one of them. It was something I learned as at a young age. His ability of negotiating and persuasion were recognized thoughtout the world. His words alone could crumple companies which for years he would let thrive only to be dispose when they no longer merited his taste.
Many contracts had been placed on my fathers doorstep, those even reaching into international waters. He never settled on just only one or even the first. His marks were made, changes he required in order to see the best possible outcome, that's why he always had an alternative. One of my life's mission was to make sure I stayed on his formidable side. I wanted this company more then I had ever wanted anything in the world and I would do anything he asked of me, for it.
"How is the engagement?"
"It's going well. I'm earning the trust of the family easily." I told him, proud of myself.
I could hear an approved grunt, "And the young women?"
"Will take some time but nothing to be worried about," I said thinking about our last encounter. Though it will take more time than I had planned on.
"Don't screw this up for me Matthew. If everything goes well you will be inheriting the company soon enough."
I continued to type away on my own computer, "I will not disappoint you father."
"You better not."
There was a click and a dead line afterwards. Goodbye to you too Father. This was normal for me I didn't expect much from him and I didn't expect him to ask about me, or how was I doing personally. He'd only check up on me if he needed something to be done. I looked at the screen again and quickly changed the last error I found.
I closed my eyes and rubbed them together with my thumb. My glasses were raised slightly higher as it moved up and down. It was then I heard a familiar laughter, one that rang through my ears harshly. A laughter that anyone living in this house knew who it belonged to. I looked up in time to see Evelyn pushing a young blonde maid lightly on the shoulder. The young maid cracked a smile and pushed her back.
"Hey that hurt," she yelled at the blond maid, who rolled her eyes. I found it odd that she wasn't upset about the maid touching her. We had a rule at my house where they couldn't even come three feet close to you unless asked. It was also common knowledge not to become close with the maids or butlers around the house due to privacy issues.
"Please miss, don't be such a wussy." The young maid scoffed.
"Am not Emily!" She shoved the maid rather roughly, causing her to fall.
"Miss! Oh you're gonna to get it now." She stood up quickly. Evelyn's eyes widened as she took a few steps back waving her hands, one of which was holding a book. "Ahhh I'm so scared," she responded sarcastically.
Emily narrowed her eyes at Evelyn and looked away. Evelyn let her guard down and rolled her eyes. "Emily-I was just-ahh-Ahhhh-Rape!" she screamed. Emily had jumped on her and they were now fighting on the ground. They were wrestling until the maid was on top of her. It was then she shouted loudly. "Victory never tasted so sweet."
Evelyn cracked a smiled and that harsh loud laughter rang into my ears again. Her maid then laughed along with her and finally got up she offered her hand to Evelyn who took it laughing, now lightly. She quickly fixed herself and looked up at the maid, who shook her head. "I must be going now Miss, dinner will be in a few hours. I'll come back and look for you." She said now bowing slightly to her. "I presume you'll be under the tree again?"
"Yes, I will. Well see you later Em's, have fun cooking." The maid left and Evelyn turned around heading in my direction.
She stopped suddenly and glanced at my direction. Scrutinized under her gaze I raised an eyebrow as she looked away quickly and walked pass me. There she headed down a small hill where she sat down by the tree to retire. My eyes fixated themselves on her, unaware of her stiff manner as I continued to stare taking in her form.
She had changed her clothes from the last time I saw her. She was wearing white washed jeans and a red flowered pattern shirt which had three layers of ruffles. Strap to her waist was a small brown belt that hugged her just right. Her black curls where hanging loosely from her shoulders and a small white rose was attached to the side of her hair. I took a closer look at the book she was reading and became interested.
Frankenstein by Percy Shelley
My eyes flickered up at her once more, only to find her glaring. She was starting intensely and I couldn't keep my eyes off of her like I had a few hours ago. I smirked, knowing I had made a right choice.
I bet shes wondering why I choose her when I could have easily picked her sister. I knew about her sister's feeling for me, but I wasn't interested. Women who easily swoon over me, were rather boring. It wasn't that she wasn't a beautiful women but she's not to person I wanted. The one I wanted was sitting underneath a tree, sending menacing glares my way. She could hold her ground. Had wit that I needed, and a cunning nature which kept me on my toes. She was perfect for me, even if there was nothing more to our relationship then business.
She was the one that interested me.
I broke eye contact with her and looked back at my screen. I clicked on my father's name and then clicked the send button. A small ding rang from my computer notifying me that It submitted the e-mail to my father with the attachments Rensio Enterprise. I got up and closed my laptop ready to head inside, taking one last peek down the hill, I laughed lightly.
She was gone.
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