Denise comes out of the restaurant with Ransford walking beside her. They are both smiling and conversing with each other as Harold leans with his back on the car with his arms folded and his legs crossed. He sees his boss and quickly goes to open the door for her. She walks towards the car with Ransford.
"It was nice meeting you again, Ransford, I had a great time," she says.
"Me too, Denise. I hope to see you soon, to continue with our date," he winks and Denise laughs. He helps her sit in the car and closes the door as Harold sits at the front to start the car.
"I have your number now. So don't worry, I will call you and fix another date for us." Denise says, peeking her head out of the car window.
"Sure, Angel. I will be waiting for your call. Goodbye Denise." He waves his hand at her as her car moves away and she waves back.
When they are out of sight, Denise sits up straight and sighs loudly. She kept smiling and couldn't stop thinking about the man she had just met today.
"I take it that your date went really well?" Harold asks.
"Of course it went well. It was better than I thought. Ransford is just loving and caring. He has a business of his own. He is actually doing well for himself and I like that a lot."
"Well, all I can say is that I am happy for you. But please, be careful. Don't give too much information about you away before you are certain about what you want to have with the man. I do not want him to also end up hurting you like the rest from before," Harold warned.
"I know that. But, I feel like Ransford is different, you know. Like he won't hurt me. I don't know. I just trust him."
"But you just met the man today? How can you trust him already?"
"I know. I just do. I don't think there is anything weird with that," Denise shrugs.
"Just be careful. Please, ma'am."
"Okay, I hear you. Happy now?"
Harold smiled and nodded. "So, do I take you to the office today?"
"No, no. Just take me home. I already told Alice to handle things there for me today."
"Yes ma'am." Harold drives them home.
When they arrive at the mansion, the security man comes out of his security post to see who wanted to get in.
"Oh, hi Harold. How are you?" he asks when he sees Harold in the driver's seat.
"I am good. Can I get in? I am with the boss lady and she needs to get some rest."
The security quickly nods. "Yes sure." He goes inside and presses on the remote control and the big iron gates open. Harold shouts out a thank you and drives inside.
When they are finally at the mansion, Harold gets out and helps Denise out of the car. She smiles at Harold and walks inside. She meets her mother seated on the chair, talking on the phone with someone. She sits beside her and waits for her mother to finish with her call.
"How are you doing, my beautiful daughter?" her mother asks when she is done with the call.
"I am fine. Who were you talking to, mother?"
"Oh! I was talking to the party chairman of the ruling government. He told me the party wants me to stand as a member of parliament for our constituency in this year's election," her mother revealed.
"Really mother? That is good news. Father would have been so happy to hear this." Denise looked happy.
"Yes, I know. Your father was friends with most of the ministers of the cabinet because of the shipping line and they always used our services. Maybe that is the reason why they wanted me to stand unopposed. I am so happy and very worried at the same time."
"Why mother? Why are you worried?"
"If I ever get to accept this, then that means you will have to walk around with extra security. You know how sweet and dirty politics can be. I would not want you to be put in any danger, especially since everybody knows you are my only daughter."
Denise frowned at this. She was not expecting to hear this. When her mother first suggested getting a driver for her, she never liked the idea from the beginning. But, when the workload became too much for her and started having a toll on her health, she agreed and that took about six months. But, her mother telling her now that she was going to get her extra security did not sit down well with her.
"I don't think I will need men following me all around the place and humiliating my friends. I am fine having Harry by my side, mother. You don't need to get me extra security."
"It is for your own safety, darling. I have just a week to think about this and to be honest, I am very interested in running. That is why I want you to be protected because I will end up with many enemies. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Nothing will happen to me, mother. I will be fine. As I said, I am fine with Harry being by my side. I trust him with my life and he has not disappointed me. So don't worry about me, okay?"
Her mother sighed in defeat. "Alright, if you say so. Okay then, tell me. How did your date go?"
"It was actually good. Ransford is a fine gentleman. He always found a way to make me laugh and was really caring." Denise said.
"That is good to hear. I just hope he won't turn out like the rest of those gold-digging rascals." her mother said in disgust.
"No mother, I don't think so. He has his own business which is doing well so I doubt he is after my money."
"Whatever the case may be, please be careful. Don't let him in on your life too much till you are certain about him. I don't want you to get hurt again," her mother said.
"That's exactly what Harry said. I am going to be careful, I promise."
"Good. And I think you should listen to Harold more often. That guy maybe just your driver, yet he looks out for you a lot."
Denise smiles. "I know."