Chapter 47


    Chapter 47: Cleaning Lady


    Time really flies by. Without even knowing it, we are only a few days away from the anniversary party.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The party will be held at akeside country house. Mom is in hysterics, getting herself all worked up


    about everything looming on the horizon. She moved to the country house two weeks ago to make sure


    everything goes perfect.


    And three days before the party, she called me nonstop asking for help. I have no choice but to take a


    few days off from school ande to her side.


    Eason volunteers to drive me there. He picks me up at school in a red convertible, which is absolutely


    conspicuous in the school parking lot. People are actually turning their heads to look when I open the


    door and hop inside.


    “How many luxury cars do you own?” I ask him when he exists the parking lot.


    His hands are on the wheels, eyes straight ahead, as a yful grin appears on his lips. “Do you really


    want to know? Or are you just being ironic?”


    “I was being ironic, but I am also curious now,” I giggle. “Let me guess…10?”


    “10?” heughs out loud, “That’s the top number you can guess?”


    I bite my bottom lip, feeling a little embarrassed. I’ve always known that he is rich but exactly how much


    money he possesses is beyond my imagination.


    “Stop making fun of me!” | groan, “Just tell me.”


    “Fine,” he smiles and taps his index finger rhythmically on the wheel. “So in Boston I have 5 cars, but I


    usually only drive M8 and Maserati. And in New York, I think there are 3-4? I’ve lost count. Let me


    think… there are a couple more in L.A. I order a new Lamborghinist year and they just shipped to my


    house in L.A. a few days ago. We can fly down there and give it a test run one day. And that’s how


    many I have in the U.S.-”


    “OK, OK!” | interrupt him before he goes too far. “That’s enough. I got the idea…God, why do you need


    so many cars? You only drive a few normally. It’s such a waste.”


    “A waste? To be honest, only people with no money worry about practicability. I have more money than


    I can ever splurge in a lifetime, so I simply buy what I like.”


    Ipse into silence. He’s right. We have different mindsets and I’ll never be able to understand his life.


    “Hey,” he takes a look at me. “You are not mad at me, aren’t you?”


    “No. It’s just-” | pause before saying, “We are so different, you know? Do you really think there will be a


    future ahead of us?”


    He takes his hand off the wheel and reaches over, taking my palm. “I know what you are worrying


    about. But let’s just focus on the present. The rest wille into y when the timees.”


    I smile back at him, trying my best to shake off those dark feelings at the back of my mind.


    When we get off the freeway, he opens the top and lets the summer wind breeze in. The weather is so


    good. We even catch a glimpse of the stunning sunset. On the way, he stops the car once to get me a


    mint chocte chips ice-cream. It tastes so great and my mood couldn’t be better.


    When we arrive at the country house, it has already passed 7. The car drives through the big iron gate


    and into the Englishndscape garden, which is so huge and clearly under careful maintenance.


    We finally stop at the front door, behind the fountain. A maides to greet us and takes our luggage


    when mom appears behind the doors and rushes downstairs.


    “God! You are finally here!” she waves her hands in frustration. “You should’ve arrived this afternoon. I


    have so many works for you.”


    “Umm..I let her drag me into the hall and ask. “You have like a million maids and servants here. What


    do you need me for?”


    “I need you to be in charge, OK?” Mom grabs my shoulders and forces me to face her. “The


    construction in the backyard is still not finished. Maybe you can oversee that? Wait, you haven’t seen


    the drawing yet. No, you can’t do that. Let me think, let me think…go meet those florists! You can help


    them with all the décor.”


    “Mom, calm down.” Her eyes are all bloodshot, so I know that she hasn’t rested properly. “Everything


    will be fine. You have everything under control. Why are you so worried?”


    Mom takes a tremendous breath. “Yes, yes. You are right. I need to calm down. Nat, why don’t you


    come with me and meet with the-”


    Before she can finish, a couple appears around the corner. I am surprised to find that it’s Mr. Ramirez


    and Eason’s mom, Caroline Griswold.


    She has her arm wrapped around Mr. Ramirez and is whispering something into his ear. They appear


    very intimate-so intimate that they look more like a couple than him and my mom.


    Mom’s face grows cold as soon as she sees them. And I immediately realize where her hysteriaes


    from.


    “Alicia,” Mr. Ramirez smiles at my mom. “Caroline was just telling me that the backyard looks


    wonderful.”


    “Thank you,” mom says dryly. “I was just asking Natalia to help.”


    Caroline Griswold raises her sharp eyebrows at me. She is absolutely stunning today, but her smile


    seems very condescending and arrogant, “Are you looking for something to do Natalia? In that case,


    maybe you can help the cleaningdy. It sure takes a lot of time to get my room ready.”