Anchor

Chapter two

While the old man sleeps, Kayla manages to put her mind to rest for the first time since she was in the ambulance. A doctor had come in a couple minutes prior to let them know that he was in the clear and was going to be just fine.

"Is he your blood relative? Your grandfather perhaps?" The doctor asked on his way out of his ward.

Kayla replied with a sharp no but she was pleased to be associated with such a man that looked as clean and classy as Mr Woods.

"I happened to see him on my way to work and I could tell that he was in some pain. After asking him a few questions, I suspected he was having a heart attack so I chose to call in the ambulance…"

After hearing what happened the doctor was surprised and heaped praises on her for her kindness and smartness on how to handle the situation. Not many people in the neighborhood would give a damn over a dying old stranger. In his own opinion, she was an angel in hell as those considered average neighbors, would rather watch the old man die than go through all the stress she had.

For someone like Kayla who didn't have much to her name and had a few insecurities, these kinds of compliments were the equivalent of buying her a designer necklace.

Her face remained laced with a smile and her cheeks blushed a crimson red. The thought of what the doctor said lingered in her mind. She hoped with all her heart, to one day be a doctor as well and was imagining how beautiful she would look in scrubs when she got a text from her low grade android phone.

It was her boss, Miss lane. She was already ten minutes late and on the wrong side of town.

Filled with Angst she hurriedly stood up from her chair and her thrift leather handbag fell to the ground, in the process waking up Mr Woods from his peaceful slumber.

"You have to leave, I see." He said in a drowsy voice resembling that of someone whose lungs ached with each and every single word.

"Kay? " He calls after her suddenly just as her hand brushes the door handle.

"Yes, Mr Woods?" Her brows crease in worry.

"I have a request, dear." His face is taken over by that sweet smile that made Kayla feel the absence of a loving father, even more.

" I want you to be my caretaker, Kay." He said, his eyes hopeful. His request took Kayla way off guard and she stared at him in confusion. Has is tempted to reject his offer outright till he calls out the salary he's willing to offer her

"Two thousand dollars per month..." The words echoed in her head as she began to ponder all the things she could do with that money with number one on that list being to pay her tuition.

Trying to hide her excitement, she tells him that she'll need time to think about it because she is unsure if she's ready for such a sudden change in her life and daily routine. In a show of good faith Mr Woods gives her his house address and tells her to let him know when she's made her decision.

********

"Ma'am this isn't what we agreed on. You're about a couple bucks short."

"I know. I know. I thought I had some extra change in my purse but I can't seem to find it."

The taxi driver let out a loud "f**k you" in his Latino accent then drove off.

It wasn't his fault for being upset. He and Kayla had agreed she'd pay sixteen bucks to get a drop off at the saint Mary clinic which is where she worked to get some extra cash but by the time she got out of the cab she realized all she had on her was actually eleven dollars.

Although an angry cab man was the least of Kayla's worries right now. She was an hour late and knew her boss was going to give her an ear full and she didn't disappoint. From the moment she walked in, Ms lane berated and criticized her without holding back, even after she explained to her what happened.

She worked a four hour shift at the clinic from 5 pm to 9 pm. Cleaning dirty toilets, scrubbing stained tiles and washing used bowls and medical equipment were all on her daily itinerary.

Kayla absolutely hated the job but had no choice but to work in order to pay the bills and take care of her dad.

As her shift got to a close she got a call from her dad asking her to get a bottle of booze for him on her way back. Miss Lane gave her the usual pay in cash before she was dismissed and she walked home that day still with a smile on her face as she remembered the compliments given to her by the Doctor that attended to Mr Woods.

As she got to the alley in which her apartment was located, rats welcomed her with the sounds of their little feet scurrying around each corner in hope of finding their dinner amongst the trash.

This is something Kayla had gotten used to and the noises would only stop when she began to climb the metal stairs to her apartment door. The Rusty metal creaked and wailed with each step, so loud that she couldn't get to the door without alerting her father.

"Where's my booze?????" Was the welcome home she received from him as she opened the front door.

Noticing he was in a drunk mess as usual, Kayla walked hurriedly to her bedroom, ignoring her father's repeated question and shutting the door behind her.

She leaned against it as her drunken father rained insults on her till he was satisfied. This was the final straw for Kayla. She couldn't keep up like this. From her boss to her dad to the little cash she had in her purse, she needed something new in her life.

She went to take a shower and as the cold droplets of water fell on her beautiful unclad body she decided that she was going to take Mr Woods up on his offer and go to his house first thing tomorrow morning.

The night went by in a flash and with a blink of an eye the sun rose and in its wake, revealed the beautiful New York City skyline filled with skyscrapers, beautiful amusement parks and at least one plane flying past every ten minutes.

For Kayla this was her best part of the day and the only thing she loved about her apartment. The room was small and had enough space for only a student bed and a little wardrobe that obstructed the door from opening to its fullest. The bathroom wasn't any better as the heaters in it weren't even functional.

But there was a window, a window at the left side of the room that not only gave way for fresh air but gave Kayla fresh hope. Every morning she would look through the window to see the beautiful birds chirping and the ducks swaddling in the lakes and all the New Yorkers looking for how to make a living and this was what gave her inspiration to keep on persevering.

After taking a bath, and brushing her teeth, she got dressed and set out to the hospital to tell Mr Woods that she would accept his offer.

By the time she gets to the hospital, she's shocked to find out that the old man has already been discharged and he was taken back home by a young man not too far from her age. With determination in her heart, she then decides to go to the address he gave her yesterday.

"Number 56, Raymond James Boulevard." She told the cab man as she got in_ of course after double checking if she brought enough cash with her on the way.

___________

"This is the place." The cab man said as he parked in front of Mr Woods mansion.

Kayla stepped out of the vehicle and was left in awe by what she was seeing in front of her. The gates automatically opened by themself as she tried to walk which was something she had never experienced before and with each step she couldn't help but pinch herself trying to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

The compound was fenced with ash iron bars covered with beautiful green grasses and to the left was the garage filled with all the cars and by the right side a swimming pool and a mini bar. The lawn was perfectly mowed and decorated with sunflowers and at the center of the compound stood the three million dollar mansion.

A beautiful white house that was held up by two white pillars on either side. The stairs leading up to its entrance were made of gold plated ceramic tiles to match with the roofing and the huge windows that were covered by what seemed to be silk tapestries.

As Kayla approaches the steps, a woman past her prime opens the imposing front door to welcome her. They exchange pleasantries and she realizes it's the young lady that helped Mr Woods yesterday. She introduces herself as Aunt Marie, the head of the house staff as she walks the shell-shocked Kayla into the living room.

"Who is that, Marie?" A Stern voice called out to Aunt Marie in an arrogant and condescending tone.

"It's the young lady that helped your grandfather yesterday, sir."

As she spoke a tall and muscular young man with a goatee emerged from the other side of the living room. He was fully dressed in a black suit, black shoes, and black shades to match. He left all his features to imagination and the only thing colorful about him was the golden watch on his left hand and the golden ring on his right pinky finger.

He walked towards Kayla and she begun to feel self conscious as his toxic masculine aura filled the room. He examined her from head to toe. She was wearing an undersized pair of sandals with faded black trousers and a white shirt whose collar had begun to slack.

With a fierce look in his eyes he locks eyes with Kayla and blurts out, "if you're looking for where to beg, there's a good street a couple blocks away. And you.."

now turning to Aunt Marie ``why is such an unkempt person in my god-damned house? And how in hell did she get past the gate? Get her out of my sight immediately."

Kayla's initial excitement had turned to rage and she was just about to blow when Aunt Marie interjected and explained that his grandfather was the one that gave her the permission to come and had offered her the job of being his personal caretaker.

"She's just been employed by the grandfather, sir" Her voice was eerily small and quiet, like she was afraid to speak out.

"Let me take her to see him upstairs so we don't disturb you sir." She said as she gestured to Kayla to follow her upstairs. Kayla was at first reluctant and glared daggers at the spoiled grandson who in turn, did same a couple of seconds before she eventually decided to follow aunt Marie.

Kayla was so filled with disdain for the young man that she completely forgot to admire the interior of the beautiful mansion which was even more beautiful than the exterior. The floors were tiled with white and cream ceramic tiles that were so spotless and bright that you could see glimpses of your reflection in them. Across the walls were hung framed pictures of a little boy with his mom and dad either side of him.

At the room's center hung majestically a twelve karat chandelier with a red gemstone in the middle, complimenting the red rug that laid beneath the cream sofas.

As Kayla and aunt Marie were walking up the stairs Mr Woods popped out of his room after hearing their steps. He gave Kayla a firm hug and thanked her again for yesterday then the two walked to his bedroom study to talk while his grandson glared at Aunt Marie as she retreated to the kitchen.

After a couple minutes of small talk, Kayla informed Mr Woods of her decision to accept the job and the two began to talk about how many hours per day she would be working when the old man's grandson walked into the room…

"I'd love you being around all day. What do you think?"

"I desire to speak to my grandfather in private." The CEO of woods enterprises, as she had learned, said in a bland tone.

As Kayla stood up to walk out of the room he began to bemoan and deplore his grandfather's choice.

Knowing fully well that Kayla was still in the room, He openly criticized his grandad for offering a job to "such an unkept and unprofessional young lady. A damn beggar" when he could afford any nurse in the whole city. In a feat of frustration he stormed out of the room knowing there was no way he could change a very patient Mr Woods mind. He was hell bent on keeping Kayla as his personal nurse. And by the way he kept quiet all through the angry remarks he made, she deduced that the grandfather was used to his tantrums.

After he left, Mr Woods apologized to Kayla on his grandson's behalf and explained to her that he was

"Let's say.. he's having a bad day."

Kayla let out a courteous "I understand" when truly, she didn't. If anything at all, she was pissed at his annoying remarks.

But deep inside of her she marveled at how the cute little boy in the picture downstairs, grew up to be the rude and bitter young man she had just encountered. She knew he was the same person there as he had the very same features__facial features. The only glaring difference was that his blue eyes were now dull with anger and rage. A great contrast with his childhood picture where he had smiled so brightly that his broken tooth was on full display. It almost brought a smile on her face, just staring at the pic but she quickly caught herself and frowned bitterly at the happy portrait before storming down the corridor.