The Billionaire's Revenge

Chapter 6

As the taxi dropped her off at the front of the children foundation building, Pearl took a look at her surroundings like she had done the only other day she had come to the place. That was the first time and she had come with her cousin. She had been invited to the school principal's office where she met Mrs. Derrick, a slightly older lady, probably in her sixties, who had the aura of a person well versed in exemplary teaching skills.

They had discussed the possibilities of her being a part time teacher at the school and she had more than appreciatively welcomed Pearl with open arms. The school she explained was in a desperate need of an English teacher, as it had been a while since they had one. Mrs. Finley –the poetry teacher– who filled in for the position was just holding the fort until they were able to get a perfect fit for the job.

Mrs. Derrick had agreed to give Pearl a week of trial, in which she would be tested with the children to see if she was capable of handling the position. Pearl had been genuinely delighted to have been given the opportunity, it was something she had always wanted to do. Though she had never taught before, let alone kids. It was also something new and she was a bit anxious.

She knew exactly why she was there now as she stood on the pavement outside the main doors of the foundation for a couple of minutes, thinking about that exact reason, as she had already done yesterday and through a night of fitful sleep and long wakeful periods. It was truly a big step forward which she was determined to take but she wasn't sure how it would all turn out. She had prayed for the best though.

She moved toward the large door, lifted the heavy knocker away from the door, hesitated for only a moment, then let it fall. Perhaps she would be denied the job. What a huge disappointment that would be. Or perhaps she would be given the job. It was in times like these that she put it all on her faith and left things in God's hands.

Soon after Pear was ushered inside, she was shown around by Mrs. Finley, who explained some of her responsibilities. Pearl also found out that she was not supposed to start teaching until the next week as the children were going on holidays starting the next day.

"Could I meet the children today though?" Pearl asked.

"I would rather like to know them, even though briefly before I officially become their teacher." She added.

"Oh of course, pardon me. I was going to actually wait for them to finish off their art lesson which is ongoing right now, but If you insist I will make an official introduction right away." Mrs. Finley replied.

As they walked briskly past a row of classes which held the older children, Pearl noticed a voice which sounded strangely familiar. They arrived at the class, and as Mrs. Finley peered through the open window to look into the classroom, Pearl did the same.

What she saw alarmed her more than she expected. She had no way of guessing what would happen next as she stood as still as a tree, firmly planted where she was. With wide eyes and slightly open mouth Pearl gasped at the sight which she beheld. Her stomach felt as if it had fallen to the bottom of the floor. Her mind most of all was racing and thoughts came flying through.

The group of children which she was to teach, who ranged in age from eight to ten were completely engrossed in the painting of a still-life grouping which had been set up on the table. They were using oils on canvas, which was quite a difficult challenge for most of them. But they were concentrated and a little animated as children tend to be.

But what had shocked her was not the children who she now observed as they were now working almost silently. It was the art teacher who made her quite uneasy and almost breathless.

It was Derek Edensor.

She could have sworn that it was not him she was seeing standing there in the middle of the children, looking rather artist-like with his paint smeared white shirt and black pants, which made him look disheveled, so different from the way he had looked the day she had met him.

With his sleeves rolled up and his top button loosened, he exuded masculinity which made Pearl a little uncomfortable and annoyed. His appearance annoyed her and it was perhaps the very absence of the cover of gentility that made her so aware of his maleness. Because there was something raw about it. A gentleman was not supposed to make a lady aware of his masculinity.

But he had no way of knowing that she also would be there, in the school though, did he?

At the moment Mrs. Finely was about to put a hand on the door knob when Pearl came back to herself and asked her quickly not to, and then she realised that she had spoken a little harshly and so she composed herself and spoke more politely.

"We shouldn't disturb the children, Pearl said, they look rather engrossed by what they are doing, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if they had to be brought out of their fantasy world of painting just to welcome their new English teacher."

"Oh, I totally understand, '' Mrs. Finely replied. "It is quite amazing what Mr. Edensor has been able to achieve with these kids over the years, he is really a Godsend to us here at the foundation." She said with a beaming smile as Pearl gazed at her.

"He is also something to behold, and a handsome man at that. I have sat through one of his classes before and I can say for a fact that he is a genius with the kids. His work on the other hand is quite astonishing and I wonder if there are many artists these days with such a talent as his." She said,

"If I could I would commission him to paint me, he has a way of capturing the very essence of a person with paint. Mr. Edensor is really something", she said rather dreamily as Pearl noticed.

"Have you seen any of his paintings before, does he display them somewhere?" She asked. "Oh yes, we even have one in the school hall. He had donated to the school, one of his prized paintings, oh bless his soul." Mrs. Finely replied. "Let's go and I will show it to you right away." She said as she led the way down the hall.

In the hall, Mrs. Finely pointed out a painting of the Queen of England and stood herself gazing at the portrait while Pearl joined her. "Isn't it amazing?" She said brightening again. “I could not take my eyes off it the first time I saw it, I probably wanted to gaze at it forever.”

As Pearl gazed at the portrait she had to admit that the artist was truly a talent to be reckoned with. The queen was not the most beautiful woman and she had all the character that made up her face even at old age, it was supposed to be rather impossible to get all these things in the oil paint, but he had found a way and all of those things did appear in the portrait. Nothing has been disguised.

The creases on her face had not been reduced. Her hair has not been painted a darker or a glossier shade. And yet she looked. . . Rather lovely and alive and filled with joy. He had painted her from the inside out, Pearl thought, and she really is the kindest, most amiable of women.

Pearl had never heard that Mr. Edensor painted or was an artist. She had strictly thought of him as a businessman who owned hotels, an oil company and several real estate companies around the continent. She was now his lawyer and was supposed to know alot about him but it seemed that she knew only a little. She was getting perplexed. Just who was Derek Edensor? She thought. How come he is such a great and accomplished artist but still a successful businessman? She was beginning to be more intrigued by him.

Before Pearl left the foundation that afternoon, she took a stroll back to the classroom where she had seen Derek teaching. Getting there, she peeked into the window as she had done before and she watched him as he walked quietly about the room, observing their efforts while trying not to unnerve any of them or break their concentration.

It did not take much effort to break one little girl's concentration, however. Her hand went suddenly into the air, and Derek sighed inwardly.

“Becky's basket is smaller than her apple, Mr. Edensor,” she said without waiting for permission to speak—so why the raised hand? It was indeed true. Becky' basket had been painted with the meticulous care one might expend on a miniature. Her apple, on the other hand, was round and red and pink and green and shiny and exuberant—and huge.

Pearl smiled at the way the whole scene moved, she really did love children.

The apple actually looked more appealing and appetizing than the original, which stood on the table with the large basket and a cup and spoon and a book.

“And so it is,” Derek said, resting a hand on the little girl's shoulder. “When everyone has finished, we will ask Becky why that is. We will also ask Dorian why the objects in his painting are in a circle and not touching one another. And Justin will tell us why on his canvas the objects are seen from below, as though he were sitting at his easel on the bottom of the ground. If you have finished, Cathy, you may clean your brushes and palette and then put them away in the cupboard.” He did not add that she should arrange them neatly.

Pearl watched with amazement and bewilderment. How was it possible that the exact place that she was to begin teaching at was the same place where he taught? Was this another of his games? Was he following her and finding out things about her in order to woo her? As these thoughts went through her mind Pearl remember something Mrs. Finely had said as she left the school.

"… It is quite amazing what Mr. Edensor has been able to achieve with these kids over the years."

"Over the years", that meant that he did not just start teaching at the foundation but he had been with them for years. So it could not be a game then. He was actually a real art teacher here. This conclusion had Pearl lost in thought all the way back home. She was definitely more perplexed and interested in knowing more about Derek Edensor now.