Later that evening as Kathy arranged the clothes she had gotten from Ella in her wardrobe, she couldn't help but marvel at Ella's nature. Ella seemed like a pretty decent person despite the way she appeared outwardly.
After showing her all the clothes and asking her to pick as much as she wanted, they had had lunch together and then seen a Nollywood movie together, even though they had spent more time finding faults than actually watching the movie. She had found out that they had a lot in common and they both shared similar opinions and beliefs.
"So you've been working at the company for how long?" Ella had asked when Amanda excused them and went to the other bedroom to watch Disney movies, after complaining she didn't like Nollywood movies.
"Almost three years now." Kathleen had said as she allowed herself relax on the chair and lay down completely.
"Really? You've been in Lagos that long?" Ella had asked, unable to believe that she had been in Lagos for long yet was still acting like she was new to Lagos.
"Yeah. I came to Lagos immediately after my National youth service corps (NYSC), why do you seem so surprised?"
"It's just that you're still doing like Johnny just come(Newbie) no offense." Ella had explained, making Kathleen giggle.
"It happens. You won't believe it took me a long time to know your father had been replaced by your brother at the office. That's to tell you how occupied I am. I've only been to the cinema once, since I came to Lagos." Kathleen had explained.
"No way! Just once? In three years? I have to correct that immediately." Ella had exclaimed looking at Kathleen with round eyes like had committed a big offense.
"Not everybody is rich like you people. Some of us have to hustle hard to make ends meet. I told you I have younger ones to take care of. So it's been basically work, church and more work. All I need at this point in my life is God and money." Kathleen had said with a sigh.
"I suppose you have a man already?" Ella had asked when she noticed that Kathleen wasn't talking about a man.
There was no way she could tell Ella that she was single. Not after lying to Pete that she was in a relationship. Even though she trusted Ella to keep whatever she told her to herself, she couldn't help being careful.
"Yeah. It's a long distance relationship though." 'With God' she had silently added in her mind. It wasn't a lie after all. If God was the husband of the widow, then he could just as well be the boyfriend of the boyfriendless.
"Oh! Really? What is he like?" Ella had asked, feeling slightly disappointed. She had been hoping she could matchmake Kathleen with her brother, Pete.
"Yeah. He's a really great guy. Everyone that knows him say he's good." Kathleen had said, and stuck her tongue in her cheek at the hilarity of what she was doing.
Ella shrugged it off. It didn't matter to her whether or not Kathleen had a boyfriend, after he wasn't married to her yet. If he liked her so much what was keeping him from marrying her? Ella had wondered with a scoff.
"How about I take you out to the cinema one of these days? Wait a moment, what was I thinking, my father's birthday is coming up soon, how about you come with me as my plus one?" Ella had offered.
Kathleen laughed awkwardly, "You can't mean that. I'm sure you have lots of friends you can go with, besides I might be too busy taking care of Amanda, I might not be able to come." Kathleen had said with an embarassed smile.
"Don't you think Amanda will be at her grandfather's birthday party with the other kids? Come on, just say yes." Ella had pressed.
When is the party?" Kathleen had asked with a sigh.
"In a month's time. But before then we'll be hanging out together sha." Ella had added.
"I'm not saying yes, I'll just think about it. I'm not even sure your brother would like to see me at a family function." Kathleen had said with a frown.
"You're my guest, not his. Besides you have a right to go anywhere you want, you're not his slave." Ella had pointed out with a frown.
"Tell that to your brother who thinks I owe him my life because I work for him. Your brother is just trying to frustrate me with so many rules. The moment I get another good paying job, I'll leave both his house and the company for him." Kathleen had hissed.
"Is it that serious? Where did you school, and what did you study in school anyway?"
"Delta State University. I studied Accounting. Enough about me please, it's not like I'm here for a job interview or something. Or you want to offer me a job?" She had asked with a teasing smile.
"I don't mind hiring you to work for me anyway, but I'm sure Pete won't appreciate it." Ella had said with a small smile.
"You have your own company?" Kathleen had asked with interest.
"Sure. How else do you think I can afford my expensive lifestyle? My father? He does give us pocket money on a weekly basis sha, but I can't rely on that alone. I own my personal make-up line, and I have makeup artists who work for me. So based on connection, we only work for wives and daughters of politicians, as well as celebrities and rich people. We don't do makeup for average people, since they can't really pay much." Ella had explained.
"Wow! It's good to come from a rich family sha." Kathleen had said in amazement.
"You can say that again. Although these things come with their own downside though. Some families may not allow you do what you want in order to protect the family name." Ella had added.
"You think average or poor people have the luxury of doing what they like? All we think about is what will give us money. We will choose a career that will give us money over the one we are passionate about." Kathleen had said matter of factly.
"That's what you think, until you're from one of such families. Take my family for instance, once you get to eighteen, my father asks you to think of a business you would like to venture into and give him your business plan, and then he helps you start up if it makes sense." Ella had said confidentially.
"Wow!" Kathleen had exclaimed in awe.
"Yeah. But the only person who isn't given that luxury to follow his own dream is Pete, the first born son. He is passionate about being a chef, but our father has adamantly refused. Being the first son of the family he has to take over from our father. It's a family legacy."
"He really doesn't want the company?" Kathleen had asked, looking confused. She couldn't imagine why anyone would prefer being a chef and standing over pots and fire over sitting in a cool office.
"Yeah. He was a chef abroad, but had to return home when our father's heart threatened to fail. He said if Pete doesn't take the company, then none of us would get any inheritance. So you see the downside of it?" Ella had asked quietly, and giggled when she realized she had revealed too much family secret already. It was just that she trusted Kathleen to keep things to herself.
"I think I should take you guys back. I'll get Mandy." Ella had said as she stood up and went inside.