When Jason came down from showering, Nanny Jo informed him that Karen had gone to take a bath. Nanny Jo who was eager to have a talk with Jason dragged him to his study and sat him down. She demanded to know what had happened during the day to which Jason complied and narrated the day's events.
"Jason, I know you care about Karen, but you can see that she needs some fresh air from outside the mansion and a little adventure. Even I go out to play with the ladies at the care center, what of her? She's just a young lady at the prime of her life and all she knows is you and your home. What about making friends and chasing her dreams? You really can't keep her inside forever." Nanny Jo lectured.
"But Nanny, I just want to keep her safe. Being involved with me won't do anything good for her in the outside world. It might even put her in danger. I just want to keep her safe until she doesn't need me anymore. Until she can go live her own life."
"Jason, you really think after everything that has happened she can live without ever being connected to you?"
"I can make that happen. No one would ever know"
Nanny Jo stared at him incredulously. "What about her feelings? Would she be fine if you wiped away the history of being part of your family? Jason, I just know one thing and it's that you shouldn't force her to stay inside. What if she decides to run away?"
" She won't, she has Autophobia" Jason answered. A determined look on his face. Nanny Jo was bewildered. He was so calculative even with this innocent girl he obviously cared about. She didn't blame him though, she blamed the influence of his grandfather.
"Are you going to use her fears to control her? Jason, you shouldn't be so overbearing. You should never be so calculative with her. Don't you feel that what you did today was wrong? How can you dare to repeat it?"
Jason looked back at her confused.
Nanny Jo continued, "Look Jason, you should let her be happy. If she's miserable, I can guarantee that you'll be miserable too. Things can't stay the same. You can't stay the same. Think about it okay?" Nanny Jo concluded. Getting up to go look for Karen. Jason was left alone in his study.
----
When Jason came down for dinner, Karen and Nanny Jo were at the table waiting for him. He eyed Karen and saw that she was straight faced and without a smile.
" Dinner looks very good today, right Karen?" Jason asked in an effort to get her reaction.
Karen acted as though she had heard nothing and ignored him turning her head away.
Jason didn't press further but sat down to eat.
As they dined, Jason realised that Karen was only picking at her food and didn't have her usual appetite. Remembering that she had vomitted a lot earlier in the day and missed lunch while being unconscious, Jason was concerned.
" Why aren't you eating your food? Do you want me to feed you?" He received no answer. In fact, she acted as though he had said nothing.
Jason picked up some food on her plate and sent it to her mouth. She looked up at him with a frown on her face, dropped her cutlery and stomped out of the room.
Jason watched her back as she left looking offended. Karen had never refused him before. In fact, she'd always cajole him to feed her, but he had stopped doing that a while ago and would only pass her a morsel or two with reluctance. How dare she refuse him now. He was rather annoyed. Nanny Jo shook her head. ' This young master doesn't even recognise when a lady wants to be left alone'.
Jason finished eating and got up to go after her. As he expected, he didn't have to go far, he found her on the stairs. She definitely wouldn't have gone to their room alone. Seeing that, he sighed in defeat and let go of any anger.
He went and sat down beside her.
"Karen, you understand that I just want you to be safe right?"
Karen didn't react but inwardly she was touched.
He continued, " I just don't want you to suffer. The people out there can be very wicked. I know you know that."
Although Karen agreed with him but she was still unhappy.
"But what if I can handle it?"She retorted "I know it's not safe, but staying inside all the time is not a life. I can't even go to school anymore." She complained.
Jason intentionally ignored what she said about school and responded.
" Fine. It's true that you can't stay inside all the time, so do you want to go out with me tomorrow?"
"Go out? Like we did today?" Karen questioned with a snort.
"No, I'm leaving for a business trip tomorrow. Do you want to come with me?" He asked her
"Business trip?" She asked
"Yes. To Davao city."
"The Philippines?"
"Yes"
Karen was thrilled. She hadn't left the country since she was a little girl. And now she wasn't just going to go outside but traveling too. She was extra excited. A huge smile broke out on her face but she quickly straightened her face.
"You'll let me go wherever I want when we get there?" She had learnt her lesson and wouldn't trust his, words so easily.
"Yes, you can visit anywhere in Davao"
"Okay, then I'll go" she said with a diplomatic look on her face, as though she had negotiated for the chance to go rather than being permitted to go.
She got up and run up the stairs smiling all the way. When she was on top, she turned to look at Jason and asked, "what are you waiting for?"
Jason who stood where he had sat staring up at her nodded and followed her with a grin.
"Coming" he answered.