Rose, my former girlfriend has finally replied to my texts. Though her message is disappointing, it gives me some hope. My relationship with rose was a calm one until she suspected me to be cheating with one of my workmates. I tried to explain to her that I could never do such a thing, but she was too paranoid to understand. She called it quits with me.
For a fortnight, I have been trying to reach out to her, at least to ask for forgiveness for whatever she thinks I did. At first, it was a mole of a quarrel but I can't even tell how it grew to the point of a break up. I tried on many occasions to go to her home, but she always put me off. Her elder sister suggested that I give her some time, but I couldn't bear it.
Rose has ignored all my calls and texts. I still had hope because she had not blocked my number and that she was reading all my texts. It hurts a lot that she does not reply, but at least my message is conveyed to her. Only that gives me hope that she might change her mind. Everyday I get past her home in hopes of getting at least a glimpse of her.
In the subsequent days, I formulate the best questions for Elsa Miles. Those that will make it easier for her to speak about her life in detail. I search into her life for the big events and those that people have always wanted to know about her. She had a marriage that broke up in less than two months., after that she has never been known to be in any other relationship.
After the failure of her marriage she left the country and rumours had it that she had cut off ties with her family. The allegations came to be true when one year later she officiated the Miss Asia campaigns with a changed surname. Different speculations has it that she had got married to a one rich Miles and he was the one funding her fashion and entertainment business in India. But in this, she came out and told the world that she had taken legal procedures to have her name changed and also confirmed that she was not having a harmonious relationship with her family.
There's a lot about Elsa Miles and many speculations and stories about her life. She's the only one who can fix the puzzle. I guess she decided to come out and tell her version of the story, the real truth about her. Then the biggest question lies in how she managed to acquire all the massive wealth that she has. When she left the country no one expected her to ever come back as on one interview she had mentioned that she had a dreadful experience back home. Why did she finally come back?
I write all these questions about her life and on Saturday as I go to her home, I carry them with me. To my surprise, the interior of Elsa Miles' residence is far different from what I expected. Behind the big black gate and strong walls, there is a beautiful garden. My first impression is that she's a nature lover. I will get to know about that later.
I had envisioned the rich woman's house to be a mansion, but it is just a two storeyed family house., big e enough for a small country.
It is unbelievable that the person who owns two largest estates companies in the country has such a small house as her home. Small as it is, judging from the outside, it is very beautiful. I get an impression that Elsa Miles might not be extravagant, anyways I have never heard of a party thrown up by her.
A woman, very hospitable, in her mid thirties welcomes me inside the house and I instantly love it when I get inside. Lynn tells me that she has been Elsa's housekeeper for almost a decade now and tells me how good her boss is. I admit that Lynn is very friendly and I already like her character. She reminds of Rose because of those hazel eyes. I throw the thought of Rose at the back of my mind. I still have a long day to waste it by thinking of how bitter my relationship went.
" By the way, Elsa has been taking a a hot bath upstairs. I hope you don't mind a cup of coffee as I inform her of your arrival," Lynn says.
" Tea will do better," I reply.
When she disappears to wherever she goes, I look around the sitting room. Everything here is purely expensive stone. The silver chandeliers hanging on the ceiling, the marble staircase with a bronze rail are exceptionally beautiful. This doesn't seem real but it is . The interior of Elsa Miles' simple house is too fantastic to explain. Lynn brings the tea and some tasty biscuits and serves for two people. She says Elsa is coming down.
" It is surprising that you call your boss by her name," I say, unable to hide my noticed curiosity about how she refers to Elsa by her first name.
" She requested that I call her Elsa . That's how good she is," Lynn replies and tells me that she has some tasks to accomplish.
That was some new revelation about Miss Miles. I had not expected that she would allow her workers and employees to call her by name, she seemed a title demanding boss, judging from her employees at the Miles House. Maybe Lynn is different, I will know about that also. As I crunch my second biscuit, Elsa Miles descends I the staircase .
She's dressed in a designer well fit velvet dress. Her hair is tied back looks as stunning as ever. She really matches the idea of the goddess of this house. She cheerfully greets and sits opposite me. Unexpected of her, she she thanks me for my punctuality and comments that she hates waiting on people.
She pours tea in her cup, appreciating the effect of the hot tea in the chilly weather. Without meaning to, I find myself pouring for myself another cup.
" I always like getting down to business immediately, if you wouldn't mind," she says, raising her left eyebrow.
For a fraction of a second, I can't comprehend her statement. Is it that I look all business like or she just has nothing out of business she can tolerate? What am I thinking of right now? My subconscious reminds me that I came to work and the irony of it is that I have a big pay waiting for my work.
" As expected of you Miss Miles," I reply, masking my thoughts as I get out my notebook.
" First of all," Miss Miles says," you will call me by my first name as long as we are working on this project."
" But..."
" There are no buts on this," she cuts me short.
" You're my boss and it is very unprofessional if I call you by your name," I reply, trying to show my well learned professional ethics.
" That's the only way this project will be successful and as you said am the boss here and so I give orders like this."
" What do you mean by the only way?" I ask
Miss Miles tells me that we need a friendly relationship for her project to come out perfectly and I need to help her out. She says this with unhidden confidence that makes me wonder where she's picking her words from. Before I can ask her, she reveals something that I never thought of. Who ever knew that Elsa Miles was once a writer for a paper? She's just full of mysteries, just like the Catholic rosary.
" I have never heard of that before," I confess.
" And that's why I employed you to help me write about my life story better. People don't really know who Elsa Miles is and have the false impression of me. I want to reveal who I really am."
" Miss Miles," I say and she cuts me again, though this time in a fierce tone.
" Elsa for you. I hate it when people do not follow my requests and worse, my orders," she says sharply.
" I don't think that's humane, you sound bossy," I reply with as much humility as I can muster at the moment." Not every one will follow your orders."
" Surprisingly, they always do. Especially those working for me and especially those that I ought to pay. Need I remind you that you are now one of my employees, Carloy? "
Elsa Miles speaks with much authority that I silently swear to follow her words with no fail. Right now, she looks like the Queen she's always depicted by the media. But soon, she finds her composure. She really brings the never judge a book by its cover to reality. She looks sweet and welcoming before you touch her raw fibre.
I ask her to forgive my insolence and tell her that I thought she liked her employees giving title to her. She says my job is quite different from the rest that's why she's making an exception for me.