Zephyr 20:Possessions.

"Is Nadine teaching you well?" asked Earl as he smoothed his wife's hair and kissed it lightly.

Tamara snuggled closer to him and sighed contentedly. His warmth on her soft skin felt the most pleasant thing in the world. "Will you scold me if I tell you that we don't take our sessions seriously?"

He shook his head. "I can understand if you cannot adopt to my world."

She smiled. "What a relief! Being a real lady in the eyes of your friends is not my cup of coffee. I would rather spend my time being the mother of this manor and your wife."

Something flickered in his stoic face. He gazed at her, speechless.

She blushed faintly. "The world I want is the one inside the mansion with Nadine, Rosemary and you. My happiness may be overly simple, but it's the truth."

His heart silently believed her.

Earl looked blankly at the piles of papers before him that need his signature. He wasn't in the mood to work. All he could think of was in a few hours, he could go home already, feast on the lovingly prepared dinner by Tamara and their after-dinner conversation in the balcony as she sews scarves and he drinks tea. He would then carry her to bed and share passion in each other's arms the whole night.

The night ahead of him suddenly seemed like a reward for 8 hours of hard work in the office. Nothing could ever compare to the feeling of going home to your wife after stressing hours in the office.

It was like magic.

Her mere smile could make his weariness fade and make his mouth twitch.

Her "How was your day?" lines spoken in a soft concerned voice could erase all sorts of senseless noises he heard the whole day.

Her hug could make all his body aches disappear.

And her kiss could make him forget about everything else.

It was really magic. iT was Tamara.

"Sir?"

He blinked."H-Huh?"

His secretary frowned. "Sir, these papers need your signatures immediately."

He embarrasedly went back to work.



Tamara was out shopping in the mall for fabrics when she accidentally knocked someone off balance. Pieces of fabric were strewn everywhere.

"I-I'm sorry!" she cried, quickly helping the man up.

"It's ok-" he paused, eyes wide in disbelief. "T-Tamara?"

Her heart froze. "C-Christian!"



The two found their way to a nearby cozy coffee shop.

Christian stirred his drink. "Of all the people I could bump with, you are the last person I would expect it to be."

She shrugged. "What brought you here?"

"I was visiting my aunt. She is the owner of that fabric shop," he explained.

"So that's why I got discounts awhile ago!" she exclaimed.

He looked at her hand. "You're already married."

She stopped and looked at the wedding ring on her finger. "Yes, to Earl Harrison."

"The phlegmatic business tycoon?"

"You know him?"

He nodded. "Everyone in London knows him. He's very rich, but very elusive. He is one of the most eligible bachelors..today?" he finished, puzzled.

She sighed. "Yes. No one knows he's married already, least of all to his own housemaid. He doesn't even wear his ring."

"Is he a good husband?" he asked testily.

It took her quite a while before she was able to reply. "I..don't know."

"That scoundrel," muttered Christian.

Silence.

"He couldn't even announce to the world that he's married to you! He doesn't love you enough," he continued angrily.

"He never loves me enough because he doesn't love me at all. He sees me only as an object of his lust,a nd nothing more," she revealed sadly.

"This is outrageous!" he yelled, making the heads of the shop's customers turn their way. Seeing this, he quickly lowered his voice. "You are aware of that fact already yet you chose to stay mum?"

She shamefully hid her tears.

He exhaled sharply. "You weren't like this before, Tamara. You were always strong, and you don't want anyone to treat you like dirt. What happened?"

She looked at the eyes of the boy she loved since third grade. "I love him."

"Tamara!"

"I won't leave."

He sighed deeply. "Come on, go back to Japan. You deserve so much more than this."

"No."

"Tamara!"

"I appreciate your concern, but I won't go," she said firmly.

He sighed resignedly. "Alright."



The meeting was soon followed by more. Christian was determined to coax her to go home, but she was stubbron.

She won't go.



Earl went home one afternoon earlier than usual, carrying a box of family pizza for everyone to share. He walked into the living room expectantly.

"Hi!!" chorused Nadine and Rosemary.

"You're early today!" remarked his vivacious sister.

"Yes well..it's my birthday tomorrow so I decided to hold a bash for myself. Where's Tamara? I want to talk to her about the details of the dinner," said Earl. He was eager to see his wfe. He knew she would be happy seeing him home early.


Nadine looked at Rosemary, who shrugged helplessly. "S-She's out," the maid said nervously.

He detected something not right. "Where exactly is she?"

"She's out on a date with another guy..satisfied?" blurted Rosemary.

His blood boiled. He quickly went back to his car and started the engine again. He was going to find his wife, wherever she was now. If he had to check every place and corner of the town, he would.

Anyone who would try to steal Tamara from him would have to pass over his own dead body first.

continue