CC hurriedly punched in the security code in her apartment as soon as she unlocked the front door. Lester and Niles were right behind her, carrying the carpet that Jocelyn gave her as a souvenir from Iran. She told them to proceed to the last hall and lay it out on the hallway that led to the recreation room. The maroon carpet with black and beige highlights gave an accent to the hall, brightening it up, especially since CC hardly had time to use her mini gym and jacuzzi in the penthouse.
When the carpet was laid out on the precise spot CC had in mind, CC called Jocelyn, raving about the carpet as she kicked her shoes off in living room, making herself more comfortable, laying down on the sofa as she chatted with Jocelyn. Niles immediately took her bedroom slippers from the coat closet by the door and brought them to CC before switching on the air-conditioner to make her comfortable.
Niles and Lester were standing in the living room, waiting for CC and for any further instructions when Niles noticed the dirty dishes from this morning's breakfast still lay unwashed on the dining table. He knew he couldn't count on CC to clear it away. She was probably waiting for the housekeeper to do it when she came in. He was glad to see CC ate every morsel of the breakfast he prepared for that morning. Walking to the dining table, he cleared the dishes to the kitchen and washed them on the dishwasher. Just as he finished, he heard CC called from the living room.
"Niles!" she yelled.
Getting back to the living room, he noticed she was still on the phone with Jocelyn.
"Can you unzip this dress for me. I want to change my clothes. Jocelyn is bringing over her fiancée tonight. I want to look presentable."
He couldn't understand for the life of him, how she could be 'not presentable' in her current outfit. She was always dazzling in black. He slid down the zipper slowly, taking his time so his fingers could glide down the smooth skin back of her.
She started walking to her bedroom but turned back to Niles.
"Oh, Niles, while I shower, can you make me that wonderful mixed berry shake you often make for me. That's all I'm having till dinner time."
"Yes, Ms. Babcock," he replied.
Lester followed Niles to the kitchen, watching him pick out the fruits in the fridge. Niles carefully washed the raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries. Meticulously preparing them, taking out the blender, he added yogurt and some cranberry juice to the fruits.
Niles looked up from what he was doing, catching Lester watching him closely, he said, "Spill it, Lester. I could read it in your eyes. You're dying to say something."
Lester cleared his throat. His body stiffened in uncertainty, but his eyes swirled with veracity.
"I… uhm.. it's just… it's just that …"
"What are you trying to say?" prodded Niles as he filled the blender with crushed ice.
"Niles… I could see… we're… we're…"
Niles looked up from what he was doing and seeing Lester stammer, and sweating, he smirked, lifting an eyebrow in amusement.
"We're on the same boat," he finished for him.
Feeling relieved, Lester nodded.
"Well, it's nice to have someone know…to have someone understand how I feel. I've never told anyone", said Niles.
"How did you know I'm in love with Ms. Jocelyn?" asked Lester.
Niles smiled.
"I've noticed for some time, whenever you pay us a visit. There was something in your eyes, and the way you do things for her. It's easy to detect since as you have put it, we are on the same boat-being in love with a woman completely out of our league."
As Niles poured the mixed berry shake into a tall glass, he continued, "How did you know about my feelings for Ms. Babcock? I have always been very careful to mask my feelings."
"I didn't know until I saw you together. Today, from the time we entered the limo. You sat with her at the back… I could see the longing in your eyes when you look at her, and just now, she didn't ask you to clean her place, didn't ask you for the slippers and the air-conditioner, but you lovingly did all that because you cared about her."
Niles sighed.
"So much for keeping it bottled up. I guess in the long run it's bound to come out."
"What do you plan to do Niles?" asked Lester earnestly.
Niles look at him aghast.
"Why nothing. I'll keep mum till the day I die. I can't just walk up to her and tell her how I feel. What good would that do? It's not as if she would love me in return if I told her."
Lester was quiet for a moment as he and Niles walked back to the living room.
Then with resolute conviction Lester told Niles.
"I'm going to tell Ms. Jocelyn how I feel."
"What?!" exclaimed Niles.
"What good would that do? If you love her, you will not do anything to ruin her future, her marriage."
"Niles! I'm not going to cause any trouble. I know I'm bound to lose her once she becomes the Duchess of Salisbury. I might as well just let her know how I loved her all these years."
"I wish I had your audacity," said Niles.
"You should tell Ms. Babcock before someone comes along and marries her, then it would be too late."
Suddenly Niles didn't have such a good feeling about this. A sense of dread pervaded him. Perhaps he knew, he was just like him. Suppressed intense feelings would not just gently trickle down the container when opened, it's going to explode. It almost happened to him last night… Had Ms. Babcock been sober and compliant…the night would have turned out differently.