Chapter 111
Judy’s POV
I took another sip of my wine, feeling it relax my mind and body. I kept glancing at my phone periodically, thinking there would be a missed call or a new message. But there wasn’t. I hated the jab of disappointment I would feel in my chest every time I saw that there was no message. I shouldn’t be feeling this way. Gavin was with his family… it’s not like he was losing interest in me or anything. Besides, even if he was, it shouldn’t matter that much. We are only having some fun… scratching each other’s itches and putting on a show to get some people off our backs.
Yet, my chest tightened every time I glanced at my phone. I took a deep breath and put my phone on the table, unable to look at it any further. I glanced at Nan’s lightly sipped wine and frowned when I glanced over my shoulder at the entryway to the kitchen.
I wondered where she was. I knew she was going to find out what Chester was cooking, but she had been gone for some time now. I figured I should go check on her. I hoped she didn’t get lost on the way to the kitchen. I took another sip of the wine before placing it on the table and standing to my feet. I brushed off my pants, straightening them with the palms of my hands before I started towards the kitchen.
The door of the kitchen was propped open slightly and I could see the back of Nan’s figure standing in the entryway. I smiled as I made my way towards her, but slowly started to subside when I saw how tense she was. Her entire body was like a stiff board.
Frowning, I walked towards her.
“Nan, are you okay?” I asked. I paused when I reached her, and I could see over her shoulder that she was staring at Chester and Harper.
Harper was seated on the kitchen counter, her legs wrapped around Chester’s waist and her arms around his neck. Chester’s arms were loosely draped around Harper's thin waist, and she was pressing herself firmly against his body. Her tongue was practically down his throat; it was strange because he seemed a bit detached from the kiss, but she was going in hard. I wasn’t surprised to see them like this; if I were to be honest, it wasn’t the first time I had walked in on them. Though, it was the first time that it’s ever happened out in the open before… it wasn’t like them to lose control like this in the kitchen.
Harper was very professional and kept her personal life a secret. They were alone right now so I’m assuming Chester sent the rest of his staff away, however anyone could still walk right in on them… including Nan who was frozen in her spot.
She was probably not expecting to see the chef wrapped up in the arms of the maid. I bit my lower lip, trying to keep myself from laughing out loud as I placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to draw her attention back to me.
Her body tensed even more if that was possible. I didn’t bother looking at her face as I turned my attention to Harper and Chester, both oblivious to the fact that we were standing at the entryway.
That is until I cleared my throat loudly, making them both jump apart as if they had been burned. Harper nearly fell off the counter at the quick motion and Chester's face was burning red when he turned to look at me.
But then the red in his cheeks immediately went away and his face turned a ghostly shade of white when he looked at Nan. His eyes grew wide, and I could see the horror in them. Nan took a step back, her body trembling slightly. My frown deepened even more as I looked at my best friend; I realized she was pale as well.
I looked at Chester who was completely frozen in his place, neither of them saying a single word.
“Nan?” I asked her, tugging at her arm and trying to get her attention. “A…are you okay?”
“Chester?” Harper asked, trying to touch him with her foot, but he stepped further away from her as if he couldn’t stand her touch.
Nan let out a shaky breath and then she finally tore her eyes away from Chester to look at me. My brows furrowed when I saw the tears in her pretty blue eyes; my chest tightened. She looked gutted…something was wrong with my best friend, and I needed to know what it was.
“Nan…” I whispered. “What is it?”
“I’m so sorry…” she said hoarsely as she pulled her eyes away from me to look at the ground. “But I can’t stay here…”
“Wait what?” I asked, my brows raising. “Why not? What’s wrong? Please, talk to me…”
She shook her head; she was trying hard to keep the tears from spilling out of her eyes.
“I have to go…” she whispered.
Before I could say another word, she was running past me and towards the front door.
“Nan!” I called after her, but it was no use, the front door was slamming shut and Nan was running out of the mansion. I stood, confused.
I looked back at Chester who released a shaky breath of his own; he blinked a few times as if he had now just realized where he was. He looked at me and then at Harper who was staring at him questionably. She raised her brows and folded her arms across her chest as she slid off the counter.
“What was that all about?” She asked him.
He didn’t answer her, but instead, he looked at me.
“Who was that?” He asked me, taking me by surprise.
“What?” I asked him. “Why?”
“Just answer the question,” he said again, more firmly and making me take a step back. His eyes had gone wild, and my heart was beating fast against my ribcage. Something was wrong and I was determined to figure out what the hell it was.
“My best friend,” I answered, narrowing my eyes at him. “Nan Rugby.”
His expression softened for a moment.
“Nan…” he whispered as if he was tasting the name on his tongue, and from the look on his face, I would say he liked how it tasted. It made me even more curious; I had never seen her act like this before and it was strange behavior for Chester as well.
I looked over my shoulder at the closed doorway, ideas circulating through my mind.
“Did you know her or something?” Harper asked, a twinge of jealousy in her tone as her face grew impossibly red with pent-up frustration.
He looked at her and I could see the apology on his lips, but he didn’t speak it out loud.
Instead, he turned away from her and started to walk past me and out the front door as well. He didn’t run like Nan did, but he walked with determination. I couldn’t help it… I had to follow him. I needed to know exactly what was going on and why it had to do with my best friend. I chased after him and we ended up outside on the front patio. Chester was glancing around at the front yard with a timid frown on his face.
I could practically hear his heart beating rapidly in his chest. I was also surprised that Nan was able to leave so quickly. She must have gotten into her car and peeled away, leaving no trace of her presence. Chester leaned against the railing of the porch and sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly.
The front door swung open and then slammed shut; I didn’t need to turn to see who it was that had followed us outside. I looked over my shoulder at a very pissed of Harper who was glaring at Chester as if he had just slapped her. She had her arms wrapped around her body and her lips were pressed in a thin line.
“What the fuck, Chester. Who was that woman?” She asked, her brows furrowed as she glared at him. “How could you chase after her and leave me alone like that?”
“I’m sorry, Harper,” he murmured. “But it was a mistake to make out with you like that in the kitchen. It shouldn’t have happened. You were right when you said we shouldn’t be having a relationship while we work together.”
His words took me by surprise; Chester wasn’t usually the logical one. He was a flirt and never cared about such a thing before. It seemed to have taken Harper by surprise too because her mouth fell open.
“W…what are you saying, Chester?” She asked, I could hear the hurt in her voice as she fought to keep her emotions in check.
He sighed and ran his fingers through his blond shaggy hair before he turned ot face her. His eyes were so serious, and it made Harper's eyes grow wide as she took a step away from him.
“I’m saying that we can’t see each other anymore,” he told her firmly. “I’m sorry… but whatever this is…” he said, motioning between the two of them. “It’s over.”
