The Tycoon's Collateral

continued...

Mrs. Derick Jones, with the help of Brianna, made three different meals in anticipation of their guests. She had planned to give them a nice treat and bid farewell to Brianna, whom she was very sure would be leaving the Jones home soon, with her and her children left to enjoy the dividends of the home.

That morning, she had made chicken sauce with enough veggies, just like Mr. Jones would like it, the small chops of spring roll and samosa were nicely baked and placed in the most appetizing way. On an immaculate white tray is a pot of rice with veggies. The Jones are always at their best in terms of entertaining guests, and that day wasn’t an exemption.

“This is my daughter. Mr Jones beckoned on Brianna. She reminds me of her mother, my late wife. I hold her so dearly, and it hurts my soul to let her out of my sight; this situation is beyond my control” he lowered his head in pain, clouds of tears forming in his eyes.

‘Let's not make this day a funeral day. it is nothing like it, or is it?’ a voice snapped in from the kitchen towards the dining it was that of Mrs. Jones; I have taken time to make us a very nice meal, let us cut the condolence speeches and eat with ease. She concluded with her eyes on Brianna, who returned her smile with a cold grin on her beautiful face.

She walked back to the kitchen to get the tray of food, her thoughts flashing back to the words of her father ‘Was he going to give her off just like that? Did Lord Benson specifically demand her as the collateral or did her stepmother manipulate him into doing that just as she always does? As she wondered in her thought, she felt a touch on her shoulder, she quickly dropped the plate in her hands, causing it to scatter all over the floor. Aahha! She exclaimed, turning to see who had tapped her. It was Hansel, the nephew of lord Benson, he had entered the kitchen to get a glass of water, ‘ahem, do you need anything? Brianna asked,’ I came to help myself with a glass of water, your mum said I could get in here. Hansel replied, did you hurt yourself? Sorry I called out, and you seemed absent-minded. I thought touching you would have been the best move. Pardon me if I startled you.

It’s fine, I will just pick up the glasses from the floor, it’s no big deal. Go on and get your water. I am fine sir, Brianna replied defensively. She made to pick up the broken glasses and… ahuuuu she got her middle finger cut by the piece of glass ‘BRIANNA!! Hansel exclaimed, aiming toward her with great concern, did you get cut? He took her tiny palms to his, causing a feverish sensation on her nerves. For what seemed like minutes they stood staring at each other with much pleasure.’ I’ll get the glasses, you take care of the injured finger, right? Aahm right Brianna nodded, and thank you, Hansel. “It was promised to be a long day, but wait, what was that feeling, it felt like nothing I had experienced before, those looks, his eyes, was I blushing? Why do my cheeks hurt? ahhhha no Brianna, you must think straight.”

She rushed out of the kitchen with the food tray after she had cleaned her hands and used a bandage to stop the blood from flowing.

At the dining hall, Brianna sat opposite Hansel, making every effort to avoid his gaze. It was a long feast though the meal was nice and entertaining. The meal was eaten in silence except for the noise that came out constantly from the clashing cutleries and the almost annoying sound from lord Bensons' chewing habit, which made Brianna wonder if that was how he got to chew everything and anything.

The meal was over, and both of the men were exchanging gratitude, while Brianna went to clear up the table, but was stopped by her stepmother who was already losing patients and wanted her gone in an instant.

‘I will do the dishes dear, you go up there and pack your things, as lord Benson won’t be kept waiting for so long, right honey?’ she concluded, seeking Derrick's validation. Go on, you won't need to forget anything vital, it’s a long journey from here, and we need to start now, Lord Benson cut in.

I…wi…will have to go up to my room and pack up, right Daddy? She turned to look at her father, who avoided her gaze and only responded with a nod of the head," I’ll be back lord Benson," she said, as she left the sitting room to her room with teary eyes.

In Brianna’s room, a wall frame of herself and her mum hung beautifully on the wall, occupying a strategic point in her room. She picked up the frame, ran her hands through it, and muttered to herself “You know Mum, I will be leaving the house today. Dad has been a good and responsible father, so concerned about my well-being. He has been there for me all through except today, tears beaming down her cheeks. I promised you never to let Dad suffer shame or mockery, and today I am fulfilling that promise. I will be going with the Bensons, so Dad won’t be dragged and shamed by other noblemen, I am his COLLATERAL”. She managed to complete her words but, overtaken by tears, she hung the frame back to its spot. She lifted her box packed with a few of her cherished belongings, and as she made to leave the room, the sun shone brighter, hitting her cheeks as it does each morning. She turned in the direction of the sun and smiled still in tears, ‘I will be back, and if I can’t you can come and visit me in High Valley. I’ll be expecting you.’ She took a final glance at her room, walked to the frame on the wall, and picked it up, ‘I guess I will be needing you over there. She teased and shoved the frame into her box and then went down to join the people waiting for her.

In the living room, Mr Derick Jones gave his daughter a goodbye hug, kissed her forehead, and gave her a written note. She kissed her home goodbye and made her way with Lord Benson and Master Hansel to her new life, where she is in doubt what life holds for her.

Sitting calmly at the back of the Range Rover jeep with tinted glass and the air conditioner chilling as though they were meant to be frozen, Brianna opened her hands to check the contents of the parcel given to her by her father. She carefully unwrapped the paper and glanced at the write-up, tears rolling down her cheeks as she muttered the contents of the letter; ‘I will come to pick you up soon, it won't be long, it’s a promise’.

‘Promises are meant to be broken. Also, she thought out loud, folding the paper, and I am still hopeful’. She smiled and made to reach for her bag but couldn’t, she then opened the center of the novel in her hands and quickly put the paper in it, and dozed off. Hansel watched her sleep like a baby without trouble, turning at intervals to place a balance, she was so innocent and tender, her lips were succulent and her tender face could attract nothing but much desire, she was all his definition of a damsel, one could notice he had fallen for her at first sight but who wouldn’t.

As they entered the compound, Hansel and Lord Benson alighted immediately. Hansel took his briefcase, his laptop bag, and some of Lord Benson's gadgets and immediately drove out with a different jeep to attend to an urgent need of the company.

The driver called out to Brianna, ‘Ma, we are here,’ and it was obvious she didn’t hear him. He reached out and tapped her shoulders. ‘Tap... tap, ma, we are here,’ she jacked up immediately. With an eye full of tiredness, she stretched her body, letting her bones and muscles relax. She asked, ' Where are we, and where are Lord Benson and Master Hansel?’

This is Lord Benson's house, ma, and I am asked to bring you into the house. Lord Benson had an urgent meeting to attend, so he left almost immediately with Master Hansel. Brianna watched the driver explain everything. Her mind and thoughts were shifted from reality, she just looked at the man without comprehending anything he explained. For minutes her mind wandered, the thought of the architectural work done in the mansion and its premises marveled her. How on earth did someone think of this design? How long did it take them to get this into shape? Years it must be, or centuries, maybe. This is nothing that I've seen before in my nineteen years of living. So, will I live here, going in and out of these premises? She smiled herself back to reality. ‘You may come with me Ma, a voice called to her from the entrance of the mansion, as she walked towards the path. Each step made her wonder how many workers would be in this mansion taking care of both the inside and outside the environment.

As Master Hansel and Lord Benson drove down for the meeting, his mind was stuck in the thought of Brianna and her innocent dark black eyes, the thought of holding her in his arms, looking into her eyes, pressing his lips to her succulent red lips and giving her the best kiss she could ever have. He imagined how sweet she would be, holding her tender hands and pressing himself deep into her. Engrossed in his thoughts, he let out a sigh and muttered out loud ‘She is beautiful’ with a smile on his face, giving way for the deep dimples in his face to show, his fine set of teeth placed in an exact description of a line of soldiers, well-placed and white.