In Love With My Father’s Best Friend

The New Intern

Klarisse

All through the train drive back home, Quintin's voice kept on replaying over and over again in my head.

And the face of Mane for reasons I couldn't explain, briefly appeared in my subconscious mind.

At dinner I barely touched my meal. Everything on the table was my favorite, but I had no appetite.

The moment I heard the sound of Quinton's car driving past the house, I jumped the stairs one at a time to go meet him so we could have the long overdue conversation that was eating away at me.

“Quinton.” I began, breathing shakily as I approached his front yard where he stood with both hands shoved in his pocket.

“I don't think the death of the farmer was natural. There was a way Mane looked at me in your office the other day… what if he did more than looking at the poor man?”

“So you're saying he didn't die of a heart attack and that Mane murdered him…” Quinton drew out his words, making me feel like a fool for making absurd claims when his medical reports said otherwise.

“You know what… never mind.” I choked out, completely discouraged from interacting with him on the topic entirely.

“I know Mane… he might be a thief and a dishonest son of a scoundrel, but he doesn't have the stomach to kill someone. Trust me.” He assured me, staring at his wrist watch before yawning out loud. A sign that he wanted to call it a night and I was the one keeping him up.

“Let's talk some more tomorrow. I need to go to bed.” He said, waiting for me to crossover to my side of the estate before heading inside his apartment.

All through the night I barely slept a wink, turning and tossing on the bed. There was even a point in between being half asleep and awake where I had a nightmare which I couldn't remember.

With the school on a one month break, after summer examination was done and dusted. I reported fully at the company.

The intern job was actually a chore that I enjoyed and every morning I looked forward to waking up, getting dressed and heading out to the work of the day. Today was no different.

“Klarisse, there is a new intern at the company. My gosh is he is good looking.” One of the girls who was interning with me commented, placing a hand on her lips in an excited manner to make a point.

“I'm sure he is…” I said half heatedly, barely interested in engaging in conversations related to men or boys.

“My goodness… there he is…” She gushed out, tapping on my shoulder for me to turn and see who this overhyped person was.

The moment my eyes landed on Evans, a gasp which I had no control of escaped from my ajar lips. When our eyes met he wore the same reaction I had plastered on my face as he approached me with a smile that slowly built up with each step he took towards me.

“If it isn't destiny…Klarisse not in my wildest dreams did I think to find you here.” Evans said, barely leaving any breathable distance between us.

“Same here Evans. I thought you weren't interested in business.” I pointed out, trying to figure out the reason for his change of heart and how he even managed to secure a slot at the number one most sought out company in the city.

“Actually my cousin talked me into taking the internship position so she could keep a close eye on me.” He replied, staring at Quinton's secretary who had just come out of the elevator in the company of some of her colleagues.

“Laura… is your cousin?” I spat out, almost choking on my spit in the process of trying to wrap my head around this plot twist.

“Yeah… she is.” He responded, pinning me on the spot with his eyes which gleamed with a warmth I was sure the girl beside me would appreciate greatly.

“I have to go… Duty calls.” I said, staring at my wrist watch even though I wasn't looking at the time on it.

“Let's have dinner after work. There is this favorite Italian restaurant down the road.” He offered, indirectly asking me out on a date which if I accepted might end up giving him the wrong idea and raising his hopes that we still had a chance.

“Maybe some other time, I need to go home after work. My parents have me on this curfew and I don't want to get into trouble.” I said, grateful for the excuse which came to me with ease.

Once work hours were over and I had finished the task handed to me. I took the train home. My parents had gone out on their usual date night which meant I would be home alone all through the night into the early hours of the morning.

After freshening up and making a simple dinner for myself. I turned on the television to my favorite channel, laughing at the funny figures on the screen when I heard a loud banging on the door.

My heart immediately sank to the deepest pit of my stomach when the banging stopped only to start again this time around stronger.

“Klarisee open up, it's me.” Quinton slurred out, clearly drunk as I exhaled the breath of relief that clogged my throat

“Quinton you scared the hell out of me. You should have used the door bell. I thought you were a burglar.” I complained, coming to stand beside him as I used my body to assist his drunken figure inside the house.

“It's the weekend, you should be out in the club… having fun.” Quinton said, furrowing his brows at me as though I had done something wrong for choosing to enjoy my alone time being cooped up inside the house.

“This is my type of fun. I don't want to be outside Quinton.” I responded, helping him out of his coat and placing it in the hanger.

“I saw Evans at the company today. I swear, if I knew if he was on the list of interns, I wouldn't have given him the job.” Quinton vouched, placing a hand on the wall for support so he wouldn't stagger and fall.

“It's fine Quinton. I can handle Evans, you don't have anything to be worried about.” I assured him, heading to the fridge so I could get him water to sober up.

“Let me make it up to you. Ask me anything and I promise to make it happen.” He slurred out, still clearly drunk.

“Anything?” I repeated his words to be sure he wasn't going to go back on them once he was sober.

“I am a man of my words Klarisse. You of all people know I always keep to my promise.” He pointed out and I couldn't agree less that he was that whose yes was yes and no, no.

“In that case… I want to work at the refinery.” I replied to his request, watching as Quinton instantly sobered up, his response coming out strong.

“No.”