Chapter 105: I Have A Wife

Chapter 105: I Have A Wife Abigail stirred the moment her alarm clock went off at eight. The sound cut through her sleep, pulling her into wakefulness. She blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the morning light spilling through the curtains. Her eyes felt heavy with exhaustion, and for a moment, she couldn’t remember why. Then, the memory of last night rushed back. Her breath hitched. A shiver ran down her spine as she rubbed her arms, trying to ward off the sudden chill creeping over her skin. The thought of Ryan being in her room, sitting on her bed, watching her sleep—it made her stomach turn. She felt sick. Dirty. Disgusted. Should she confront him? Should she demand to know what he wanted? What he was thinking coming to her room at that time of the night? No. The idea of hearing him try to explain himself made her skin crawl even more. If she confronted him, it might only encourage him. He might think she wanted to have a conversation with him, that she was opening a door for him to say whatever twisted thoughts were in his mind. No. She would act like nothing had happened. She would pretend she didn’t know a thing. That would keep him guessing. Keep him uncertain. Besides, she didn’t want to see him this morning. She couldn’t. She took a deep breath, pushing the thoughts aside. She didn’t want to start her morning with Ryan on her mind when she had other important people to think about. Josh and Jamal. Jamal. The thought of him made her lips curve and even her chest felt lighter. Her husband, she thought with a grin. Not that she was going to call him that to his face anyway. No. Not yet. Thinking about how he had made sure she was okay by staying on the phone with her until she went offline, a soft warmth spread through her, chasing away some of the lingering discomfort from last night. Determined to shake off the unease, she got out of bed and went to freshen up. She locked the door and then took off her mask and washed her face as she showered. After she was done, she put her mask back in place and wore a simple but nice house-wear: a soft, comfortable floral top and matching pants. She combed her hair quickly and then left her room. She made a stop in Josh’s room first and when she saw he was still sleeping, she headed to the kitchen. The moment she stepped inside, her heart skipped a beat when her eyes landed on Jamal. He was sitting at the kitchen island, a coffee mug in hand, looking completely at ease as he talked to the other domestic staff in the kitchen. He looked up as she entered, his brown eyes locking onto hers, filled with quiet concern. "Good morning, Ms Abigail," he greeted, his voice polite and gentle. Abigail forced a smile and gave him a polite nod. And then she responded to the greetings of the others the same way. She walked over to the coffee maker and poured herself a cup. The warmth of the mug in her hands helped steady her racing heart. She was acutely aware of Jamal’s subtle gaze on her. Taking the seat close to him, she typed on her phone, [Can I have oat for breakfast?] The chef read the text with a warm smile. "Sure, Abi. Anything for you. I heard you’ve met the new driver. Isn’t he a cute one? Finer than every other male staff I’ve met here," she said, causing the others to laugh while Jamal chuckled. Abigail sipped her coffee before typing. [Yeah.] The chef chuckled. "Even Abi agrees you’re cute, Pete." Jamal smiled at her but she quickly typed on her phone, [I didn’t mean that. I meant yeah I’ve met him.] "So, you’re saying he’s not cute?" The chef asked, and Jamal raised a brow as he looked at Abigail. Abigail sighed dramatically and glanced at him as she signed. [Are you trying to win the hearts of all the ladies in the house too?] she asked, knowing that no one else there could sign and Ryan wouldn’t come there since he never went beyond the dining area. Jamal smirked, his eyes twinkling but before he could respond, the chef tilted her head curiously as she watched them. "Do you understand sign language, Pete?" Jamal grinned. "I do." Without missing a beat, he turned to Abigail and signed, [I don’t mind winning all their hearts as long as only you can have mine]. Abigail’s lips twitched as she tried to suppress a smile. The chef’s brows pulled together as she looked between them. "What are you two saying? You’re not badmouthing me, are you?" Jamal turned back to her with an easy smile. "Of course, not. Ms Abigail was asking if I’ll be here all day and if I don’t have work to do." The chef laughed. "Oh! Give him a break, Abi. Besides, I’m enjoying his company as I’m sure everyone else is doing too," she said, looking at her assistants who were busy around the kitchen but she knew were listening to the conversations. She leaned against the counter. "So, before Abi came, I was asking if you have a wife or a girlfriend?" Jamal’s grin widened. "I have a wife." The other housekeepers, who had been busy with their chores, paused and turned to listen. "You do?" One of them asked, her tone tinged with disappointment. "Told you a sweet one like him couldn’t be single, didn’t I?" Her partner asked, amused. "My wife is the most beautiful woman in the universe," Jamal declared proudly. The housekeepers let out an excited "aww." Abigail pressed her lips together, fighting a smile. "How long have you been married?" one of the maids asked eagerly. Jamal chuckled. "We are not officially married yet. I don’t have enough money for that. But I’ve loved her since the first time I laid eyes on her. She’s the only girl I’ve ever dated. Shes my childhood sweetheart." More awws filled the kitchen. "She’s lucky to have a fine, loyal man like you," the chef said. Jamal shook his head. "No, I’m the lucky one to have her. She’s a rare gem," Jamal said, not once sparing Abigail a glance as he spoke. Abigail felt warmth spread across her face, and before she could help it, she blushed slightly. One of the maids noticed. "Why is your face so red, Abigail? Is the kitchen too hot?" She pretended to cough and nodded. Jamal turned to her, trying to hide his amusement when he saw how red her face was. She signed to him. [Tell them I suddenly don’t feel well.] Before they could ask more questions, she stood up while Jamal translated her message to them. "I’ll bring the oat to your room," the chef called after her as she left the kitchen, her heart still fluttering from Jamal’s words. But as she approached the stairs, she suddenly froze when she came face to face with Ryan. He was standing there. His smile was slow and deliberate, his gaze sweeping over her in a way that made her stomach twist. Had he always looked at her like this? Why was she only just noticing it now? Abigail’s throat went dry. Every nerve in her body screamed at her to run. Instead, she forced herself to look away, keeping her expression neutral. [Good morning.] she signed. Without waiting for a response, she hurried past him, her skin crawling at the memory of last night. She didn’t look back, but Ryan did. As he watched her go, he wondered if she was reacting that way and couldn’t meet his gaze because she knew he had been in her room at night? Most especially he wondered who had sent her a message at that time of the night. What was she up to?