The Love Affair(Good Wife Better Mistress)

Birthday

Lying on a big soft bed, Nicole sleeps well and deeply. She wakes only once in the middle of the night to sneeze. She was locked up in a dark, damp, and cold room. For three nights she woke to shiver to hear the wind and wolves howling.

When she wakes in the morning, the radiant sun shines on her face and body, warming her. She rolls over and finds a hairy blackhead inch from her face. She sits up in shock and then looks down at brownie.

"Brownie, why are you up here again?" she asks, pushing the dog off the bed.

In Alex's absence, the dog seems to follow her everywhere she goes. Last night, she suspected that Gabriela would try some sort of trick, so she went to the back parlor to get Brownie as insurance. After the two men tied her up and took photos, she went back to her room and went to bed. As she thinks, Brownie hops back on the bed and stretches out against Nicole.

Sarah , the servant assigned to care for Brownie, hurriedly runs into the room. "Mrs. Romano, is Brownie acting up again?" Sarah asks.

Sarah looks at the bed and sees Brownie sprawled across the sheets. The dog's left foot presses Nicole's belly, the sharp claws inches from her skin. Sarah doesn't know why Brownie likes Mrs. Romano so much. Sometimes she feels a little jealous because, after almost ten years of caring for the dog, Brownie still dislikes her. Previously, Brownie didn't let anyone besides Aleex get close.

Sarah looks at the dog and then at Nicole. She knows she's powerless to control the animal.

"Mrs. Romano, are you all right?" Sarah asks, "Brownie missed you and probably snuck up in the middle of the night to be with you."

"I'm fine," Nicole assures Sarah.

Nicole gently pushes Brownie's head aside and sits up. She regards the dog, now sitting at attention, tongue lolling out the side of his mouth.

"Brownie used to be more docile when he wore a collar, but he's gone totally wild without it."

"Where's the collar?" Nicole asks, hoping to get the dog back under control.

"Mr. Romano wanted her to be free and he forbade us from putting on," Sarah explains, "Eventually the collar disappeared."

"You cheeky little devil!" Nicole says, patting Brownie's head, "I'll make you a new one as a gift and you'll have to wear it every day."

He licks Nicole's face.

The Romano estate is filled with servants hustling and bustling in every direction as they prepare for the party. In the house, some prepare fruits and cookies, others decorate every room with flowers and balloons, and others ready the bar with wine and juice.

The large, open lawn in front of the house has already been decorated. Hundreds of pink balloons have been tied to the trees, and dining tables have been carefully set underneath. The tablecloths and flowers are all pink—Gabriela's favorite color. The entire scene looks romantic and girlish.

A servant holding heavy, silver trays, staggers towards the tables. A maid arranging the flowers pauses and buries her nose in them, quietly inhaling the beautiful scent.

In the house, a beautiful girl wearing a pink princess dress whirls around in front of the full-length mirror.

"Tie a pink bow to my hair," Gabriela commands.

Immediately a servant arranges her hair as she's asked.

"By the way, I want pink earrings, too," Gabriela says.

Another servant brings her a jewelry box filled with pink earrings.

"Pink eye shadow and blusher," Gabriela says.

A make-up artist rushes to her side and begins to apply the desired makeup.

"And a pink diamond ring," Gabriela says as she sees Peerless Love in the jewel box.

She slides the ring onto her finger without a moment of hesitation.

In the back parlor, Nicole reaches to her back to zip up a long, tight red dress. The color of the dress, her smoky makeup, and her haughty expression make her look as regal as a queen. She turns around and sees Sarah and Brownie standing behind her.

Sarah holds a small cake in her hands and the dog carries a pink bag in his mouth. A small candle is lit atop the cake, and the flame flickers in the wind. Sarah offers Nicole the little cake on a plate.

"Happy birthday, Mrs. Romano," Sarah says, "I'm sorry I only had time to prepare this little cake. When Mr. Romano comes back, I'll make a bigger one."

Nicole is touched by this simple gesture. Apart from sarah, no one in the Romano estate acknowledged her birthday or given her anything. Though the cake is small, it means the world to Nicole. She can't believe that Sarah remembered her birthday.

"Thank you," Nicole says, with emotion, "It's really thoughtful of you."

"Mrs. Romano, make a wish," Sarah says, "I know you're twenty-Seven years old, but I hope this year you'll be as carefree and beautiful as a teenage girl."

Nicole closes her eyes and makes a wish.

"I hope that everyone I love and everyone who loves me is happy and safe," Nicole thinks. 

She bows her head to blow out the candle. Excited, Brownie jumps up and drops the gift bag. Nicole and Sarah laugh at the excitable dog.

"Brownie is a really smart dog," Sarah says affectionately, "He saw me making the cake and must have guessed it was your birthday. I don't know where he found that gift bag, but I figured it was alright. I once saw Mr. Romano holding it."

Nicole squats down, rubbing Brownie's head.

"Brownie, I appreciate the gift, but this belongs to your master," Nicole says, "You're not allowed to move it without permission, understand?"

Brownie whimpers a little.

"Sarah, please put the gift bag back," Nicole asks.

Sarah nods her head and tries to grab the pink bag. As soon as her hand gets close, Brownie snarls and tries to bite her.

"Brownie! Listen to me," Nicole commands.

Nicole arranges her face into a stern, angry expression. Brownie looks grieved, but she continues to clumsily push the bag toward Nicole with his claws.

"I said it's impolite to take other people's things without permission!" Nicole chastises.

Brownie whimpers and pushes the bag with his snout.

"Mrs. Romano, just open it," Sarah suggests, "I'll put it back after you see it, but Brownie is quite upset."

Nicole hesitates—Sarah is right, the dog does look pathetically sad. Finally, she bends over and picks up the bag. She reaches inside and pulls out a small velvet box with a bow. A few words have been written on the lid of the box: "If you fall in love with me, I will be with you for life."

The words are handwritten and the handwriting is strong and distinct. Nicole immediately recognizes it as Alex's. Nicole examines the box and wonders what it is and who it's for.

Based on the color of the package and romantic message, it seems intended for a woman. She wonders which woman, feeling her breathing and heartbeat slow painfully as she considers the options.

Sarah looks even more nervous than Nicole. She saw Alexandro Romano carrying the gift bag carefully as if he was holding some rare treasure in his hands, but it's been a long time since she saw it. It seems odd that he hasn't given it to anyone yet.

"Mrs. Romano, open it up!" Sarah urges, "I imagine Mr. Romano intended to give it to you."

Nicole gently touches the pink bow on the box and wonders if she should open it or not. She is of two minds about opening it—both curious and terrified.