ENVY (FOURTEEN)

Author Pov

After Ivy left, the small room left only very thick tension between Jayde and Rachel. They both just kept silent to each other. Neither of them started to say anything and reduced the tension between them.

Rachel feels that Jayde and Ivy's relationship is growing closer day by day. Closer than the relationship between a boss and a driver. In fact the two of them were very intimate with each other. She had never been in Jayde's room and hugged Jayde the way Ivy did. She was really shocked to find the two of them hugging each other in this room.

Her mind slowly started making bad speculations about Jayde. She remembered about the dinner party a few days ago, Jayde and Ivy looked so good with each other. Like the two of them were a real couple. Honestly that night she wanted to ban Jayde from going to that dinner party with Ivy. Her heart was not willing to see her boyfriend took another woman to a party. But she was an ugly duckling by comparison to Ivy.

"Are we going to keep quiet like this?" Jayde finally said something to ease the tension between them.

"What do you expect me to say? I'm too speechless to say anything."

"Are you mad at me?"

"You think?"

"You really are ridiculous if you even think about being jealous." Jayde ran his fingers through his hair and sighed in frustration.

"I have every right to be jealous because I am your lover."

Rachel knew that Jayde loved her, but she didn't know whether Jayde's heart was still with her or not. Years of married life can even collapse in an instant. She shouldn't have been surprised if their relationship of just one year could suddenly crumble due to a third person's problem. Jayde's feelings for her could have eroded bit by bit from day to day because of Jayde's intensity to accompany Ivy every day. Her position as a lover might not last much longer, seeing how Jayde prioritizes Ivy over her. Rachel doubts that Jayde still has feelings for her.

"I told you there was nothing between Ivy and me. She's just sad because lately her father keeps pushing her to marry Axel. Ivy doesn't love Axel."

"That is none of your business. Let Ivy mind her own business. You should focus more on the relationship between us."

"I've tried everything I can, Rachel."

Jayde tried to hold Rachel's hand, but Rachel jerked his hand hard.

"Don't touch me. That won't make me forgive you."

"Then what shall I do? You're confusing me." Jayde ruffled his hair in frustration.

"I'd better go, I still have a lot of work to do."

"Rachel, wait."

Jayde felt guilty for Rachel and grabbed her by the wrist before Rachel had completely left his room. This time his mistake was fatal for letting Ivy hug him tightly when he already had Rachel as his girlfriend. All women will be angry if their lover hugs another woman and spends more time with another woman, even if that woman is his boss.

"This is my fault. I haven't really paid much attention to you in all these years."

So far, Jayde has prioritized Ivy over Rachel. Aside from Ivy being his boss, Jayde feels that Ivy is more deserving of his attention because of the problems she is facing. Several times Jayde heard Ivy ramble about her miserable life when Ivy was drunk. As a friend, he always wanted to make Ivy comfortable so she wouldn't keep blaming her father or blaming her fate for being born as the daughter of Abraham Milano who had lots of rules.

As for Rachel, Jayde has always seen Rachel as a tough, independent woman. At no time did Jayde feel he had to protect Rachel or empathize with her because Rachel's life so far had been pretty normal.

"Forgive me. I should not hurt you and appreciate you more as my lover."

"I am alright. Ivy needs you more," Rachel replied with bitterness in every word.

"I know that I am such a jerk. I ignored you and paid more attention to other women. Even though Ivy is my boss though."

"Never mind Jayde, this matter has no way out. You will always be with Ivy as long as you work as her driver. Unless you quit this job, you will truly be free from her."

Jayde was at a loss for words. He didn't expect that Rachel would snap at him with such harsh words. Rachel's eyes even began to turn red and teary. Rachel was obviously going to shed her tears in a moment, but Rachel held it as best she could and still looked strong in front of Jayde.

"Sorry if I'm being too childish, Jayde. But those are the facts."

"Rachel..."

"Okay, I'm fine. Don't pity me, you have the right to be close to anyone. Moreover, Miss Ivy is also very dependent on you, you don't need to think about me."

"Rachel Hoobes, it's not like that. Listen to me!"

Jayde, who was already fed up with Rachel's stubbornness, began to take firm steps by stopping the woman's steps and embracing Rachel's quivering body, which seemed limp in his arms. One by one Rachel's tears dripped down the sleeve of Jayde's shirt until the sound of her sobbing became more and more clear between them.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you."

"No, it's not your fault. I'm too childish. Forgive me. Please let me go, I have to get back to work."

Jayde is forced to let Rachel go and let her return to the main house to work. Now it wasn't just Ivy's problems that filled his mind. Problems about Rachel also filled his mind until he felt very dizzy. It is very difficult to be able to love two women at the same time. They are too complicated.

"The most complicated creature on earth is a woman," Jayde muttered irritably.

He didn't expect that his girlfriend would misunderstand his friendship with Ivy. On the other hand, he felt sorry for Ivy, he wanted to make Ivy excited about her life and not to mourn her life that was too restrained by her father. But on the other hand, he had to think about Rachel's feelings.

His girlfriend is hurt to see that his closeness to Ivy is too intense. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd spent time with Rachel on a date. Like that had happened months ago. Lately he's been busy teaching Ivy some Love Lessons and listening to all her whining about Axel Krueger.

"Humph, why does everything have to be this complicated?" muttered Jayde pathetically.

He still has no idea how to solve his problem with Rachel. Maybe he needs to surprise her and ask Rachel somewhere romantic so she can forgive him. But he needed to talk to Ivy about this first so he could get the day off to carry out his surprise plans.

At least he had to do something to earn Rachel an apology. There was no use if he came to Rachel at this time with the situation still messed up. If he comes at the wrong time, his relationship with Rachel will only get worse.