The next morning feels kind of exciting and am feeling more energetic than ever, am even running faster than my dad because I feel like we can't get done with this jog so we can go to the office.
"What's with the rush?" I smile and turn to look at my father as I jog with my back facing where we are heading.
"Don't you feel like this morning is shining brighter than ever?" He shrugs.
"I don't know because to a man who spent a night without his wife, I think dull would be the right word to express this morning." I chuckle at that and turn back to face where we are heading because apart from it being fair and making enough sense I also don't have what to say back.
If one night is making him feel this dull I guess he is in for a lot more worse.
"Please try to slow down for your old man." He says and I stop and bend my knees while resting my hands on each of them.
"Are you getting old? Or are you just messing around?" He reaches where I am and he doesn't stop to wait for me, he passes me one of his killers smirks before saying.
"What do you think." I stand up and he smiles at me before he increases his pace.
I shake my head. 'So much of getting old uh?'
I start racing him but we reach the house when am not able to still catch up with him.
I find him waiting for me on the porch and I poke him on his shoulder while passing by him.
"So much of having mercy on your old man." I walk into the house and I hear him chuckle behind me.
"Can't blame me if you fall for it." I turn to look at him and shake my head.
"You won't get me a second time." I walk to my room to take a shower and get ready to go to the embassy with my father.
Yesterday he almost caught me when my mother told him, I wasn't at home and they were leaving without me because I refused to go with them.
He called me and I pretended to not be at the embassy and to be roaming freely in the city.
Thinking of it as I shower brings goosebumps down my body because I would take being called irresponsible a hundred more times over my father finding out I did cleaning chores in the embassy.
It would break his heart and I wouldn't bear to see it.
I walk out of the shower and change into a short pale blue summer dress with white converses as I tighten a white bandanna on my neck.
I apply a red lip bulb and some mascara and with that, I pack a small cute yellow handmade bag.
I am heading for the door to walk out when I realize something.
I turn back and walk to my standing lengthened mirror and I pull my phone out and pose for a picture.
I smile at my dumbness because am not going to lie but this gesture of taking pictures of whatever started since we got here in Rwanda.
I walk out of the room and meet with my father in the living room, he looks at me but he doesn't say anything as he heads out.
I run to the kitchen grab myself an apple and a banana fruit and run back out to my father.
I don't want him to leave me.
He is waiting for me in the car with his chauffeur and when I get in the back seat with him, he turns to stare at what I have in my hands and shakes his head.
"Please tell me you will be having a proper breakfast?" I look at him and nod.
The chauffeur started the car without saying anything, I also felt tense the whole ride that I didn't even move or better yet eat what I brought. Am scared if I do he will change his mind and tell the driver to drive me back home.
The inability of my parents to see us as grownups leaves me hanging sometimes and fills me with unsettled feelings.
We reach the embassy, in high secrecy I let out a sigh of relief and rush to get out but my father holds my hand I jump in surprise mixed with fear.
"I don't get why you insist on working here but at least don't skip meals?" He says and I just look at him confusedly.
"I mean if you want to work am fine with it but what I am saying here is that don't forget to look over your health because your mother would kill me if she came back and found out that you have lost some weight, so please if not for you then do it for me?" I can feel myself calm down when he says that.
I pull my hand away slowly.
"Fine I will do it but for your information am highly and strongly offended that you aren't even looking out at me. You're just looking out for yourself." I scoff sarcastically being the spoiled girl that I've always been.
"Have a nice day but please if not for you then do it for me and skip meals," I say as am getting out of the car and he laughs.
"I love you, Lily Samantha." He says but I pretend to be offended by what he said earlier and keep going.
I reach a secured area where I know no one can see me and breathe out a relieved sigh.
'Did my dad just say that? Did he just allow me to work here in the embassy?"
Since he talked with Kai last night, I've been waiting for him to bring it up or tell me how I shouldn't take the job but hearing him say that it's fine with him if I want to work, is a whole other level of surprise for me.
I compose myself and walk to Kai's office but I alert midway and turn back and head to the cafeteria, I should get him something for really helping me out this much.
I walk to the cafeteria and order two different coffees, an iced mocha for me and a one-shot espresso for Kai.
I walk back to his office and we meet in the hallway, him coming from the left and me from the right.
He looks like one of the ancient Chinese kings walking in his palace, like the ones portrayed in the movies.
He hadn't seen me yet because his attention was laid on his phone but he looked so noble.
Not even like a prince because comparing him to one would not be fair to the king-like aura he is radiating.
He pulls his phone in his pockets and as he raises his head, his blue gaze instantly falls on my brown.
The attraction between them feels so intimate and strong but I shake my head and look at the coffee in my hands wondering what the hell am thinking about or worse feeling.
I walk closer to him but he reaches his office and with his long legs, he strode to his office.
I run back to him being careful to not spit the coffee on me.
I enter behind him and on this beautiful morning, am having a good day so far due to my father's influence, I don't want him to kill it for me.
I smile at him as I offer my greetings. "Good morning Mr Royal. Here is a coffee for you?" He is undressing his suit jacket and hanging it on a hanger as he turns to look at me.
"What is it?" 'Okay rude first of all.' I want to say that but I don't want to kill my good morning with bickering with my boss this earlier.
"It's a shot of espresso."
He nods and walks to take a seat in his office chair.
"Leave it I will have it." I smile as I rest it down on his desk.
"What do you want me to help you with?" He looks at me and folds his hands on the desk in front of him.
"Walk to your left and turn right, there is your office. I will call you when I want something from you." I keep my smile on my face.
'I mean who can kill this cute, vibrant, good, pure vibe am feeling.'
"Yes Mr Royal, have a good day then." I turn and walk out of his office.
I reach outside and breathe a relieved sigh. 'That was so suffocating.'
I walked to where he told me and like he said there was a small desk and chair with a laptop set where he told me.
I sit down and sip on my coffee.
I remember I packed an apple with a banana that I'd sneaked in my bag earlier when I wasn't able to eat them in the car with my dad.
I have a light breakfast of that and then sit there till I feel my butt get numb.
I play Candy Crush Saga on my phone, then switch to Spider on the computer and now I've played every song of my favorite artist that I have on my phone but I can't take it anymore.
I stand up and walk to Kai's office.
I knock on the door and when I get a come-in, I push the door open and head in.
I stop in my truck when I realize that he is not alone. I look at the people that are with him and feel like I don't know my place.
"Miss Adams?" I raise my eyes to Kai's and then back to two other people with him and then wave my hand in the air dismissively.
"I will come back later, please carry on with your business."
I don't wait for a reply, I turn and rush out of his office.
'Well, that was so embarrassing.'
I walk back to my cabin and sit back in my seat. I hear my stomach growl.
"Well, here we go."
I pick up my phone and dial Leila's number.
"Hello."
"Hey, it's Samantha."
"I know, what is it, girl?" I love how she always refers to me as a girl and not a little or young one.
"Are you busy? I was hoping we could grab some lunch together?"
"Okay give me five, what do you want to eat?" I shrug because it's not like I know the menu from this place.
"Anything."
"Let's meet at the cafeteria." I don't wait to be told twice.
"Okay," I say as we hang and get on my feet.
I walk a way that leads to the cafeteria and is glad when I realize that they are serving food, oh self-service.
I don't know who gets to eat the food served but whatever, 'they are not going to let the ambassador's daughter starve to death. As Kai said am the first daughter of this building.' So I think I deserve the best in this house.
I reach for a plate as Leila joins.
"You must be dying of hunger?" I turn to look at her and smile. "Is that obvious?" She looks beautiful and fashionable as always.
In her tight black jean pants that she rocked with a gold satin shirt, she tucked in at the front with white closed heels. She looks hot and it's not hard to tell that she knows her body well.
"Very, you look like a hungry wolf in search of prey." 'Damn me.'
I chuckle at her words not taking any offense from them. "Better feed this wolf then before it starts making humans fresh meat it's lunch." She laughs and I join her.
"Please allow me?" She asks for my plate and I give it to her as she puts it on one tray with hers and starts putting food on it.
"Is there anything you don't eat?" I look at and shake my head. "Not that I know of."
She hums and then smirks. "I think calling you a wolf was unfair to you then." I smile and feign offense as I put my right hand over my chest. "Oh, you just realized that now." She turns to look at me and bows down.
"Am sorry ma'am, please don't tell me on the ambassador?" I look at her and then chuckle before going all serious with her.
"Pray I forget." She chuckles and I smile.
She finishes making our plate and then we walk to a table as she serves each a plate.
I dig in instantly and so does she, we keep our conversation friendly and as we eat some people she knows pass a Bonne appetite to us every now, and then they pass by.
As am eating and laughing with Leila, I realize I feel different. It's a good kind of feeling because I feel grown up, I feel happy and free.
At the moment it doesn't matter whether am in Rwanda or America or the type of cooking we are eating.
What matters is the gorgeous black girl sitting in front of me, telling me her experience in life.
I hate to sound cliche or clingy but somehow my relationship with Chloe and Abby back in America never felt like the few minutes I got to hang out with Leila.
After lunch we go our separate ways and as am heading back to my cabin to sit and do nothing the whole afternoon which I don't mind now that am full by the way. I find Kai leaning on my desk staring at his shimmering black polished shoes with his arms closed on his chest.
I take my time to stare at the handsome man in front of me because man….. he sure is a sight for sore eyes.
He raises his head to look up to me when I unexpected it. I quickly avert my eyes away feeling embarrassed of being caught and when I try to sneak a glance at him, am met by his blue eyes still penetrating my soul.
I look away trying to seem like am unbothered by it, but only God knows.
I clear my throat and move my legs to my desk.
"Did you want something, Mr Royal?" I don't look at him. I just walk beside him and start arranging an arranged desk.
He clears his throat and moves from my desk to face me tucking his hands in his pocket.
"I needed to have lunch and now that I have a secretary, I thought it would have been only right if she had made a reservation or better yet went to fetch it for me but somehow my secretary is coming from filling her stomach only not caring about the hardworking boss as if the well being of her boss means nothing to her at all." I feel my hands tense because I feel like am caught red-handed.
I turn to face him and fold my hands lower at the front as I lower my head. "Am sorry but just a minute and I will go get it for you." I quickly reach for my purse on my chair and as I turn and do so, I feel my dress rise on my thigh, I catch a breath in my lungs instantly.
I take the bag and play it cool like I don't mind. 'I mean do I mind anyway? I could have been shy in front of a teen boy but Kai, Trenton Kai Royal is a man. A very attractive handsome one at that. Am sure his seen more than my lame thighs.'
Am passing him to go fetch lunch for him when he grabs my wrist causing me to stop.
"Where do you think you are going?" Am not given a chance to reply as he starts walking and I follow him as am being pulled by him.
He walks out goes where his car is parked and opens the door for me, I hesitate at first to go in but as I look at him I do it without a second consent.
He closes the door and walks around to his side, he gets in and drives away.
The drive is a short drive more like a five-minute drive.
I look where we are, I realize it's a hotel. I start to feel my guard rise up but before I voice anything am shut down instantly.
"Don't go overseas in your mind Samantha, we are here for lunch." 'Okay am embarrassed but I don't show it. I think I've embarrassed myself way more than I ever intended in front of this man and I think there is no need to add more.'
He walks out and so do I, I follow behind him running behind his big steps. He leads us to a restaurant and am not going to lie it looks so modern and expensive here. 'But then what does one expect from a man like Kai?'
He leads us to a table located at the window and I can't thank him enough for it.
The waiter comes behind us and requests for our order. Am about to take a look at the menu when Kai answers for both of us.
"The usual but water for her." My eyes are on him before I even know it.
"Yes sir." The waiter walks away and I find myself narrowing my eyes at him.
"Why do you get the usual and water for me?" He looks out at the window nonchalantly before answering. "Because you are a minor." I frown hating the word as soon as it leaves his lips. I don't think I've ever been insulted like I feel he just did to me.
"If that's the case, then am leaving and have your usual alone because I had my usual too already." I stand up getting ready to leave because am annoyed and angered but most of all I feel like tearing the man in front of me into a million pieces. 'A minor? He just called me a minor? What the hell is he doing then with a minor if he cares this much?'
"Samantha sit right back, I….I didn't mean to hurt you." Am taken aback by the words and how soft they sound. I purse my lips and take back the seat.
They say if someone realizes their mistakes then you also have to own up to your part and forgive.
"Am sitting because you apologized and yes for your information you did hurt me. A minor? Seriously?" He smiles at my words and I hate how I find his smile so attractive and so. captive to my eyes.
The waiter came with our order only to find us still undecided about our food as we'd been too busy bickering to have time to look at our menu.
The usual of Kai is a glass of red wine I don't know why I expected something way stronger than wine.
"Why are looking at my drink." I shrug and pretend to play it off as I get busy with my menu before coming up with a slice of chocolate cake.
The waiter takes Kai's order before he leaves us alone.
"Why were you looking at my drink?" He asks and I smile. "I never knew you were the type of not letting things go just like that." He looks at me and turns his head attention back outside the window without saying anything.
Our food comes and we get to enjoy a simple lunch, keeping the conversation light and I can tell that if Kai keeps up this attitude, it won't be long before I grow on him. Unlike Leila who makes it comfortable to be with. Kai makes it way more...…. I don't know welcoming.
He is full of attraction and being with him makes one feel attached to what they find.
We get to go back to work and this time he makes me do some chores and I go home at the usual time with my dad and days went on like that.
Before I know it now my life no longer looks like a teenager's daily life anymore.
If it is about being around the adults or the environment.
But working with Kai, and having enjoyable talks from now and then with Leila it's starting to open my eyes to a lot more I never knew.
Except as am living the best of my life, I don't forget that I can't give my parents the satisfaction that life in Rwanda is becoming better than that in America.
I know the experience here could have been way better if I had been given a chance in America.
So no I won't let a new lifestyle or new experience fool me.
No matter how bright and fun it may seem, I know I should know better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~