ESTHER

Chapter ten

     My uncle looked at me sadly and shook his head.

     "Esther. Oh, my poor Esther. Its times like this that make me regret not sending you to etiquette school." He said, still shaking his head. I finished the chicken in my mouth and dropped the bone on my plate, then started to lick my fingers.

       "What are you trying to say, uncle?" I said, cleaning the remaining food particles on my hand with a tissue and then using the same tissue to wipe my mouth clean.

     "Just look at you. You are in this kind of setting. And you're representing Jack Rhodes. How can you eat this? What if someone sees you?"

     "Yeah, I know that. That is why I'm sitting in this area, away from prying eyes. " I said. "Besides, what are you doing here?" My uncle dragged out the seat opposite me to the table I was eating on.

     "Oh, I have business here. I came with my boss."

     "Funny, I also came with my boss," I said with a teasing tone.

     "I can see that." He replied drily. "Where is he by the way?" He looked around the hall, trying to see if he could see Jack Rhodes face.

     "Oh, he is down the hall. You won't be able to see him from here." I pushed my plate to the middle of the table absentmindedly. "Have you done anything since you came over here?" I suddenly asked him.

     "Oh yeah. So many things. I came with my boss for a reason, helped him to make business associates and also to make business deals, you know the usual." He said nonchalantly.

     "I wonder why I'm here," I whispered silently, facing down to study my fingers.

     "What do you mean?" My uncle sat up.

     "I mean, since we came here, I have done nothing. Nothing. I think the only thing I contributed was the gift he asked me to buy. And do you know that Amy mackerel is his aunt?" I whispered the last part, making sure no one apart from him could hear it. My uncle's eyes widened.

     "What?" He exclaimed, astonished.

     "You can imagine, right? And I as his assistant did not know, no damn knowledge about it. And do you know what's worse, he told me to wait for him, as he meets his business associates. Isn't he supposed to take me with him as his PA? Am I not supposed to be learning all these from him because I might need them when working with him? I'm frustrated, uncle." My uncle just sighed.

     "The only reason I'm happy that he left was so that I could finally rest my legs." I touched my uncle with my feet, which I had already removed from the irritating shoe. My uncle looked under the table and spotted the stilettos. He gasped.

     "You wore heels?" He exclaimed.

     "You can just imagine uncle." I shook my head, sadly. He patted my arm in mock consolation.

     "I feel your pain." I slapped his hand away and scowled at him.

     "Uncle!" I chided him.

     "Hey! What can I say I'm surprised. You wore heels willingly. I thought you'd rather die than put on heels."

     "What do you mean uncle? I wore it the day of my interview." I said, rolling my eyes.

     "Yeah, that was a competition, you had to win. This isn't." He said.

     "Yeah yeah. No need to remind me of that." My uncle stood up.

     "Well, I gotta use the restroom. Have been feeling pressed since I came here. I was going to ease my self, but then I saw you." He said.

     "Go on, go on. Don't make me be the reason your bladder explodes." I said sarcastically.

     "I will be right back." Then he dashed towards the ending of the hall.  I made my way out of the table to return my plate. It wasn't necessary but I felt like I had to do something. Jack Rhodes bringing me there was a huge mistake. I didn't know what he expected me to do and him leaving me alone was something that didn't sit well with me. He brought me here, might as well keep me company shouldn't he? 

     I made my way back to my table, but before I sat back down, I searched the crowd for the face of Jack Rhodes. After I had strained my head enough, I sat back down on my seat, depleted.

     Several minutes later, when I felt like I was going to sleep off right there at the table, I felt a tap at my back. Thinking it was my uncle, I didn't make an effort to raise my head. The tapping continued.

     "What uncle? Just leave me alone. I want to sleep away the boredom and annoyance I'm feeling for being at this party right now." I said, the frustration evident in my sleepy voice. The tapping stopped for a while but continued again.

     "What!?" I rose, frustrated. My frustration melted away into surprise, then shock, embarrassment and finally fear when I saw who it was that was tapping me.

     "M-Mr Rhodes?" I said as I stood up quickly, flustered. The man was a strange one. Like, who the hell taps their employee like that? Couldn't he have called my name or something?

     "Miss Esther, I didn't know that you don't have a liking towards this party."

     "My apologies sir, that isn't what I meant," I said, bowing my head down as a show of remorse.

     "What exactly did you mean?" He asked. I was about to explain further when I saw my uncle walking towards us. He had a troubled and conflicted look on his face. When he finally looked up, he saw me and a look of surprised registered on his face when he saw who was with me.

     Jack Rhodes noticed my distraction and followed my gaze to my uncle. Seeing the question in his eyes, I quickly stood out to introduce them both.

     "Uncle, you already know Jack Rhodes," I said to my uncle, facing my boss I introduced my uncle to him.

     "Sir, this is my uncle, James."

     "A pleasure to meet you, sir." He said, bringing forward his hand for a shake. My uncle took his hands and shook it firmly.

     "Likewise." He replied.

     "Do you have any relations with the celebrant?" Jack Rhodes asked my uncle.

     "No, not really. But my boss is one of her business associates. He couldn't make it so I came in his stead. Jack Rhodes nodded his head. We all remained quiet for a while.

     "If you would excuse me, sir, I would like it if Esther could escort me. Do you mind?" Jack Rhodes suddenly asked.

     "No, not at all." My uncle replied, flustered. No doubt thinking about why he was asking him instead of me.

     "Okay then. It was nice meeting you." Then facing me he nodded his head, gesturing me to go with him. I faced my uncle, who had a look of worry immediately Jack Rhodes left us.

     "We need to talk when we get back. Try not to sleep early if you come home before me." I nodded my head, suddenly worried about what he was going to tell me.

    Making my way to Jack Rhodes, I was surprised he waited for me till I was done talking with my uncle. We both walked out of the party in silence, mine filled with trepidation and by the look on his face, he was filled with comfort.

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THIS IS AN UNEDITED CHAPTER. WELL MOST OF THEM ARE. I'LL TRY AND EDIT THEM WHEN I HAVE THE TIME. FOR NOW, JUST ENJOY THIS CHAPTER AND THANKS FOR READING. LIKE, VOTE, SHARE AND COMMENT. THANK YOU!

NAOMI.