AMBROSE
~~~~~~~
" Mr Ambrose." Leonard greeted as I got out of my car, shutting the door behind me.
"Where is she?" I asked, handing my briefcase to him, I reduced the tightness of my tie as we headed for the mansion.
" She insisted waiting for you but unfortunately, could not keep up as she fell asleep not quite long." Leonard hesitated.
"Good."
Two men, tall and dark stood on each side of the door.
The moment they spotted me, they arched their head to my direction.
"Good evening, sir." I gave them a curt nod and walked inside the mansion to spot a sleeping figure on the coach.
"Sir she insisted on staying here till you comes, we could not force her." Leonard explained though I didn't ask him to and I could feel the fear emitting from him.
"Did you hand her something to eat?"
Leonard answered almost immediately, he was the cook of the house and he knows well not to keep my daughter in hunger.
"Where was she found this time?" I questioned Leonard again, heading for the coach.
"We located her at a little ice cream shop...."
"Did she cause any misunderstanding?" I needed to be sure she didn't cause any issue.
I lifted her head and sat on the couch, placing her head on my lap.
" None we heard of sir, she was with..."
"What happened to the woman you employed?" I flickered my eyes at him, I was obviously pissed.
" She complained Annabelle rejected her, poured inkings on her hair and called her a crocodile with vampire teeth."
My little girl.
" Have you seen a crocodile who possesses the tooth of a vampire?" I asked him again, piercing my gaze at him.
He was becoming uncomfortable.
"I believe that doesn't exist sir."
"Then that is a bullshit excuse. Have another start working tomorrow, I don't want my daughter alone."
" Yes sire. "
I kept silent for a little while, this woman was the fifth or sixth person that was employed for Annabelle, and one way or another she finds a way to piss them off. I predicted this already.
" very well then." I ended the topic and carried her from the couch as I headed for the stairs.
"Mr Ambrose!" Leonard called and I stopped moving. "Mrs. Williams... called."
I froze..
I wasn't expecting a call from that old Woman.
I don't need a call from her.
.
I cleared my throat, signifying Leonard of my thin patience.
"Oh she didn't say much sir, she just asked about your well being and that of the little one, and told me to inform you of Sunday dinner."
That woman.
" Send a text back to her, I won't be there. "
~~~~~~~~~
I placed her softly on the bed in her room.
She is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
She look so innocent while she slept.
My little mischievous miss.
When I got a call from Leonard about her missing again, I was angry and surprised at the same time because this was not the first time she has done this. How she could outsmart those guards I employed for her was still a mystery.
I felt so proud of her.
I caressed her dark brown hair and she stirred. My phone rang.
I stood immediately to answer the call when two little hands squeezed my big ones.
"Daddy."
"Yes baby." I sat back caressing her hair.
"Are you back?" She moved closer to me.
"Yes love." My gaze on the ringing phone
.
"Are you leaving again?" Her bright blue eyes sparkled as the struggled to fix them on mine.
The call stopped at this.
"No Sweet, I was about to take a call. Did you eat something?"
"hm hm. Mr. Grumpy cooked delicious spaghetti for me."
I smiled at the name she preferred calling Leonard.
"That nice to hear" I caressed her hair so she could fall asleep again.
"Daddy?"
"Yes love."
"Are you angry with me?" She brought her head down and I could sense her fear.
I was proud of her effort, but I wasn't happy with her actions.
"What you did was so silly and risky, I don't want you doing that again ok? I am not angry but am pissed because you made Daddy so worried." I caressed her cheek at this to show her how genuine my words were.
" Sorry Daddy, I won't leave Mr. Grumpy and the guards again."
That was it. I love it when she knows her incorrect and apologizes.
"It's alright... Daddy is not angry anymore. Get some sleep now." I placed a kiss on her forehead.
She responded happily and snuggled closer to me. "I made two new friends today Daddy!"
"That's nice." I responded softly, pulling the quilt up her neck to warm her up.
" The old Grandma was telling me a good story and the beautiful lady made me yummy ice cream." Her eyes reached out to mine again in surprise." I did not ask for her name!"
"Whose name?"
" The young Lady! Oh shoot! Shoot! Shoot!" She hit her palm on her forehead repeatedly as she spoke and it made her look cute.
"Enough baby, you'll hurt yourself." She dropped her hands at this, I knew what she was driving at but payed to attention.
Suddenly she lifted her blue eyes to mine, giving me a little pout . "Daddy, can I go visit her tomorrow again?"
I knew she was coming to this.
predictable young miss.
The lights in her room has a deep pink shade, I knew she couldn't see my face clearly and couldn't register my expression.
"Daddy?"
~~~~~~~
"You told me she was spending her day in the park, pray tell me, how did you find her in miller street?"
I was tapping on the table in my study room, my eyes glaring at Leonard and Steve, my head guard standing on the other side of the table.
"Mr Ambrose, the little child is smarter than you think..."
" Smarter than five grown up men?" I took a paper work and began working on it.
Leonard was an old man who has served my family for as long as I could remember, and I know him well to entrust my daughter to him but exposing her to such risks wasn't a thing I'd tolerate likely.
Annabelle was my pride. She was just four.
"Mr Ambrose, that young child I believe, is more smarter than most of us here. We shouldn't underestimate her. She was able to outsmart five grown men with just a little trick..."
"And pray tell me, what trick that might be?"
The both of them looked at each other.
What could Annabelle have done... This time?
Steve explained. " We stopped at a clothing store for adult as she order, she rambled on getting you a surprise gift for tonight and insisted on going alone as she doesn't want us spying on her choice of clothing for her daddy. We had to let her go because she threaten to complain to you that we were not treating her well."
" Indeed. And you lost her?"
" We waited for her to be back but after 5 hours and she wasn't out, we stormed the clothing store." His voice lowered at this. " Only to find her missing."
I didn't comment, but kept silent, as I eyed the two men standing before me.
Leonard coughed at this and stepped forward. "Mr. Ambrose this was all a misunderstanding, we promise to work better next time."
" Was this the same trick she used on you the last two times?"
" Mr. Ambrose..."
" Who was the young lady she met at the ice cream shop?" She begged to visit the lady again and kept going on till I forced her to sleep.
I wonder how she seemed so fond of someone she just met today.
" No one we know of sir."
Then let it be that way.
" Indeed."