I turned expecting her to be gone since the call lasted for hours but she still say on that bench starring at the game of chess. I was a long distance away from her so I couldn't see what she was doing with the chess. I quickly wiped my eyes and any trace of tears on my face, before I started taking fast steps towards her.
"You're still seated here?" I asked still five steps away from her
"You haven't dismissed me" she said with her face bent like she was avoiding me from seeing her face, while she used her right hand to wipe her eyes but didn't bring it down as she kept scratching her eyes.
"Are you okay?" I asked
"Yes.."she stopped, clearing her throat.
"Got something in my eyes." She finally said
"The both?" I had to ask since she kept wiping her both eyes
"Mmhm" she murmured
"Let me take a look" I said as I sat down beside her lifting her face so I could see and help her take it out
"No need, it's fine." She immediately said trying to stop me from seeing her face but I'd already seen her reddened eyes and the leftover tears she missed to wipe.
"What's wrong Martha? Why are you crying?"' I asked letting go of her chin.
"Nothing, I'm fine."
"Nonsense. Just..talk to me" I beckoned
"I miss him." She finally let herself breakdown in front of me.
"Oh!" I felt her sadness and immediately placed her head on my shoulder
"I'm sorry I made you play the game. If I had known it would remind you of someone you lost I wouldn't have dared asked you to bring it in the first place. I'm sorry" I felt really guilty, but she shook her head on my shoulder
"No, it isn't. I'm sorry I shouldn't be crying on your shoulder, it is so unprofessional and unethical" she said as she tried taking her head off my shoulder but I held it down gently
I wonder how long she had been enduring her pain and holding back her tears, trying her possible best to be professional.
I can't imagine how much pain she must be feeling right now. She must feel like she's all alone.
"Shiiii let yourself feel again, I'm here for you." I consoled her and she reckoned to my wide arms of consolation as she let herself cry on my shoulder. Hearing her cry gave me a strong reason to be strong. I'm not the only one going through worst moments, compared to what she is going through mine is a bit of a scoop and I know there are people going through even way worse things than her's. So.. I won't practically call myself a Christian but I'm actually thankful to a creator out there for my good and my bad days.
"You're going to be fine, I promise." I reassured her as she was finally putting herself together gradually.
"Thank you." She said as she slowly raised her head from my shoulder and I let her because this time she was actually feeling better.
"I truly appreciate"
"It is my pleasure, Martha. You can freely talk to me about anything, anytime. I'm no boss of yours I'll listen, okay?" I asked looking straight in her eyes, so she would know how serious I am, I patiently waited for her response.
"Yes, Genesis" she replied making me to smile.
"Good"
"Can I be dismissed?" I was shocked by this question
"Of course, of course. You can leave whenever you want and walk up to me whenever you want. By the way, you are older than I am, you are the one that should be respected."
"Thank you" she stood up and left taking the game along with her. I watched her disappear out of my sight before I sighed, turning to face the flowers I waved my hair backwards realizing how messed up life can be.
"I bet Zachary won't be coming back today." I whispered to myself as I got up and entered the building in search of the maid that handed me the telephone so I could return it back to her.
"Excuse me, could you keep this" Since I was unfortunate not to find the lady that gave the telephone to me I decided to give it to whoever I see to return it
"Thank you" she replied taking the telephone from me then bowed and walked away
Thank you?
I chuckled since everyone here seem to amaze me with the amount of respect and servile I'm being given. I climbed the grand stairs and headed for my room.
Nap time
I led on the bed and let myself fall asleep.
The door of the..from the angle I hear it, it's the dressing room. The constant opening and closing of it woke me up from my nap.
Why does these maids derive joy from disturbing my sleep?
"Get out!" I yelled with my eyes still closed, not bothering to check which made it was
"Out of my own room?" The deep voice that replied me make me to gasps as I threw my eyes open
"Ummm" I was dumbfounded
"Is that how harsh you are?"
"That is how harsh you've made me be" I unconsciously reply forgetting the game I'm still playing with him
"Even to the maids?"
Look who's talking
"It's not like you treat them any better" I snapped, I couldn't hold myself back. He sighed as he continued whatever he was doing. I got up from the bed thinking of how to start up a peaceful conversation with him to erase whatever rude thing I just said now from his head. I cleared my throat,
"I thought you wouldn't be coming back today?"
"Expect to see me here more often from now henceforth" he replied to the indirectly annoying question I asked
Fuck!
I made it sound like I didn't want him around, which I don't.
How do I rectify this situation?
"That's good to hear" I said causing him to quickly turned giving me a question stare with his right brow up
"I mean, I'm not used to seeing you around often so it would be nice to experience that. Did you eat the breakfast?"
"Don't do that" he said ignoring my question
"Don't do what?" I asked pretending to be confused praying that he hasn't figured out my pretense
"Act clingy"
Phew..
That's a relief
"How is, me wanting my husband around clingy?" I asked making him to give me that 'Listen to yourself ' look
"Umm. Well, it isn't" I stood my ground obviously knowing that he is right.
"Whatever" he said as he sat on the reading chair with his laptop on the table.
"I didn't." He said focused on his laptop
"What?" I didn't know what he was responding to
"The breakfast. Told you I wouldn't have it and I didn't"
Do I give a fuck?
How I wanted to say this
By the way I didn't make it myself, so why should I care?
But..
"Uh.. it's fine. At least you made an effort of taking it."
I said that instead.
I replied pretending to be hurt by his answer. He didn't say any other thing to me, he just focused on his work. I picked up my phone to check the time.
5:35?
Why did he come back so early?
I sat back on the bed and turned my glance on the ancient looking vase that sat alongside with other artifacts on the large television stand opposite the bed.
I know about the artifacts but I haven't seen this vase here before, it's new.
"What is that?" I asked pointing at the vase as I walked towards it. He looks at me then traced the direction my finger was pointing at to the vase.
"Ancient masterpiece from my mother's side"
He has never talked about his family with me
"Interesting.. Please tell me more, how did it get here?" I asked as I paused in front of the vase staring profusely at it.
"According to Ma, the masterpiece was made by her great great great great great grandmother"
He calls his mother 'Ma'
And he is awfully specific for this explanation
Strange but quite interesting. I can see this conversation is going to be a pleasant one as I'm going to learn something new about him.
"It was a gift from her to her husband but before the gift was ready to be given, he was slain for an offense he wasn't guilty of"
"Oh.." I was seriously waiting for something sweet and romantic but this is sad.
"She had no child at that time but later on, she realized that she was pregnant. So she passed the gift on to her son, and her son to his son, and his son to.. you get it."
"If it was getting passed on to the male in your family, how come your mother got it?" I asked
"My grandfather only had one child, my mother."
"Then she passed it on to you?"
"Not really, she would have but.." It was like he wanted to say something but held himself back.
"..It got lost" he finished
"And you found it" I said, excited for reasons I can't explain
"Yes, I did. I searched for a long time with no results but finally I was informed this morning that it was going to be sold off today on an auction"
"It must have taken you a really long time to find it, and you must be happy to have found your family heirloom"
"I always get what I seek" he said with all seriousness and somehow I almost choked to my saliva as it felt like he was talking about me
Don't be bothered Genesis, if you flee from here he would never find you
You're no ancient vase.
"Mm" I cleared my throat
"How much did it cost you?"
"Fifty million dollars" At this point I actually choked to my saliva. I coughed then cleared my throat
"Um. Isn't that way too much for a vase.." he immediately cuts me off
"That's nothing compared to what it means to me"
"Okay" I turned to look at the vase again, trying to see if I would find a beauty worth fifty million dollars in it but I saw none so I tried to picking it up
"Don't!" His voice came loud echoing in the large room which startled me and I froze where I stood.
"Okay okay.." I said raising my hands up as I walked back to the bed.
"..No need to yell." I completed.
I sat back on the bed thinking of what to say to keep the conversation going
"How is she?"
"Who?" He asked turning to look at me
"Your Mother. I would love to meet her one day" his face went from blank to terribly blank.
"Go to bed Genesis" he said before he turned back to his laptop
Seems like he wouldn't tell me about his family
"I'm not sleepy"
"Lay down and close your eyes, you will. I will wake you up when It's time for dinner.
"No." I bluntly refused in sleeping again.
I'm really not sleepy at all and not ready to force myself to bed because of this…
"Do as you please but do not distract me again" he warned
"I can do that."
Though I wanted to know about the person I'm living with, but this is better than forcing myself to sleep like a child.
I sat on the bed staring at his back thinking of what to do with myself. If I had my job right now, I would have been calculating and settling scores of documents I didn't settle at the office.
When you get out of here, you will find a job at a place better than your old office, that just randomly discarded you without a warning because they were bribed to do so.
I reassured myself.
I just need to take some fresh air and clear my head. I got up and quietly walked to the door that leads to the verandah. I opened it, walking in I closed it behind me. I sat down on the wing chair as I waved my hair backward and sighed
He doesn't want to tell me about his family but at least he told me a story about something that concerns his family
That there..Is a massive improvement
Wait until Helena hears of this..
No, I won't tell her yet.
I will keep it to myself and tell her everything when I've embarked on my fleeing journey.
I believe my freedom is nigh.