An hour and half later , the food was ready. Valerie set the table for the two and called them. The two men ate quietly, until Richey broke the silence and said, "Chris you seem to be enjoying the food."
Chris suddenly choked and coughed, he took a few sips of water and cleared his throat.
"What?"
"I said you seem to be enjoying the food. Did you just say she is a bad cook? Because l would swear that this is one of the best meals l have had in a very long time."
Chris did not answer, the food was undeniably delicious, he felt embarrassed by how Valerie had made such a delicious meal after he had demeaned her as a bad cook. After they were done, Valerie came to clear up the table.
"Thank you very much and you are a great cook", Richey said as he smiled at her.
"Thank you, l am glad you appreciated my meal. Some people are just so hard to please" ,she answered as she looked at Chris with the corner of her eye. She could see how he was creasing his face, his eyes rolling from her to Richey and back to her again. Richey stood up.
"Thanks, I'll be off now," he said, extending his hand to Valerie. As they shook hands, their eyes locked, and Valerie's cheeks flushed.
"It was wonderful meeting you, Mr…?" Valerie asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her smile playful.
"Call me Richford," he replied, his eyes locked on Valerie, "Or just 'Richey'." He paused, his gaze lingering on hers. "I'll visit again soon. Maybe in two days?". His tone was low and inviting. Valerie's blush deepened as she nodded, a smile still plastered on her face. "I'm looking forward to it," she said, her voice melodious.
"In two days l will not be here, you will have to wait for my return", Chris interrupted as he took Richey's hand from Valerie's.
"Well, l can visit her in your absence, right?", Richey asked.
"I'm sure Mr Malvins would not mind, would you?", she asked. Chris felt annoyed to the core.
"Why Valerie…of course I wouldn't mind but l am pretty sure his lovely wife would mind", he said as he flashed a talking smile at Richey. Richey suddenly felt embarrassed. He was hoping Valerie would never find out he was married, but now the cat was out of the bag. Chris walked him out. Valerie did not really wish to see Richey again, she just wanted to annoy Chris and she had done exactly that. They went out and after a few moments Chris came back.
"What was that for?", he blurted as he came back.
"What was what?", she asked back, absently.
"So you flirt with my visitors now?", he asked. " My married visitors?",
"I wasn't flirting, alright? l was just talking to him, but have to admit the man is quite lovely, don't you think? He is handsome and he looks rich …the irresistible kind", she answered.
Anger and resentment ; caustic resentment slowly spread sourly throughout his body, but he did not show it.
"Handsome and irresistible my foot", he chuckled as jealous shone in his eyes.
"Are you jealous?", she asked wonderingly.
He gasped in surprise and made a 'pfft' sound. "Jealous? Of what? You and Richey. Do not flatter yourself young lady. Is there anything to be jealous of about you guys,anyway?l mean you're all fat and ugly and Richey is all big and dump and mean", he said stonily…holding his waist uncomfortably with both hands.
"lf l am all fat and ugly, l am now concerned that your eyes are starting to fail you Mr Malvins", she replied." Because the other day, you had to halt the traffic just to…"
He sighed, getting tired of the conversation . He suddenly felt too weak and his heartbeat increased palpably. "Well, you two deserve each other!", he said, his voice low as he went away, upstairs. He wanted to get away from her. His sudden change of tone surprised her too. Valerie watched as he pulled his feet up the stairs, slowly like a baby learning how to walk. Chris spent the rest of the day behind closed doors in his room until it was time for dinner that Valerie went upstairs to call him.
"Mr Malvins , your dinner is ready", she said with a loud voice hoping he would hear her through the door, but no answer came. She thought he had gone out, but she saw his cars parked outside. Perhaps he was lying somewhere in the mansion, so she searched everywhere with no sign of him, which meant he was probably in the mansion, she knocked again. Silence.
"I don't have time for this, just come downstairs your food is getting cold", she shouted restlessly. Still no answer. "I'm calling for the last time, you answer or l will break the door", she said. Deafening silence!
"You know what, just suit yourself", she shouted, raising her arms, then turned to go but something stopped her. A terrible realization scared her. What if Chris was there and something had happened to him? What if robbers had gotten in and slit his throat? Perhaps she could break the door and find out for herself, if Chris scolded her she would just take it, at least after knowing he was just ignoring het but he was fine. She gathered her strength and hit the door with her knee.
"Ouch!Stupid,cursed door!", she wailed as she felt her whole knee get numb with pain. She kicked the door harder, this time with her foot and the door squeaked, then again. The door opened and banged on wall with a huge noise as it hit the frame that was on the wall behind it and it broke.
Her heartbeat stopped as she saw Chris lying unconsciously on the floor. Her hands shook as her body shivered, walking towards him, hesitantly.
"Sir?", she called. He did not move. She called the ambulance. A small bottle that was lying on the floor caught her eye. She took it, her hands trembling. Glucophahe-metformin hydrochloride!?Metformin! The realization scared her.