Suspects: murder case

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

I wonder where Nkoli is, I wonder what she is doing, I wonder if I ever cross her mind. Does she ever think of the child she left behind? How does she even sleep at night knowing she walked away from us when we needed her the most?

When I get home I head straight for the shower, there are so many things running through my mind, I don’t want to lose my child, I have been praying for a miracle for the last couple of weeks but her health seems to be getting worse by the day. Joan gives meaning to my life. I don’t know what I would do without her.

‘’Dear God, keep her for a little while longer!’’ I whisper, sinking to the ground as the water hits my body.

In a long list of bad days, today is at the top of the list and it is only 7 a.m. stepping out of the shower, I am yet to decide what to wear, I love to dress well when going to the office so I can draw attention to myself and stand out.

Wearing a large towel, I walk through my bedroom to find Clive sitting up in bed drinking coffee.

‘’Good morning,’’ I say, walking over to the closet.

‘’Good morning sweetheart, you slept well?’’

‘’Yes, how about you?’’

‘’I had a great night thank you.’’

Pulling out my clothes from my closet, I get dressed and stand in front of the mirror. I am clad in a golden yellow dress which is just above my knees with little slits on both legs. My outfit is completed with blue high heels and a necklace with a blue crystal. Satisfied with how I look, I sit in front of my mirror to do my hair and makeup.

‘’How busy are you today?’’

‘’Why do you ask?’’

‘’I would like us to have dinner at my sister’s house this evening.’’

I look up at him, ‘’dinner? At your sister’s house?’’

‘’Yes, I would like her to meet you.’’

I laugh, ‘’you are joking right?’’

‘’I am serious Stella,’’ he gets out of bed, walks towards me and places his hand on my shoulder.

‘’You are trying to upset me right?’’

‘’I am not trying to upset you--.’’

‘’But what?’’

‘’You know I love you Stella and—‘’

I laugh cutting him off mid-sentence, ‘’this has never been about love and you know it, this is just sex.’’

‘’I know this has never been about love but I am tired of playing hide and seek, I want something different, I want commitment.’’

I take a deep breath to control my anger before continuing, ‘’I have to be at the office in the next few minutes, I don’t want to get into this right now, can we talk about this when I get home, you are already making me late.’’

‘’Does it mean you will go for dinner with me.’’

‘’Let’s talk about this when I get back,’’ I say my voice raised almost to a shriek.

‘’Fine!’’ he responds before heading towards the bathroom.

‘’Just what I needed,’’ I mumble under my breath before I continue doing my makeup and hair.

‘’I am leaving now!’’ I call out to him when I am done. And with that I grab my handbag and car keys from the dressing table, walk out the door and make my way to the living room. Setting down my bag on the table, I call out to my housemaid.

‘’Jessie! Jessie!’’

No response.

This girl knows how to get on my last nerves, I gave her strict instructions to have my coffee ready by the time I leave my room each morning but somehow she never achieves this task on time, she is always busy with other things. I would fire her if it were up to me but she was brought by mum from the village, apparently she needs to raise some money to go back to school.

‘’Jessie!’’

‘’I am coming!’’ she calls back quickly making her entry into the living room.

‘’I have been calling you and you have been silent,’’ I say, making no attempt to hide my annoyance.

‘’I am sorry, I was in the toilet.’’

‘’Is my breakfast ready?’’

‘’I was about to start preparing it when I felt the urge to visit the toilet.’’

‘’Pathetic girl, I don’t know why I even keep up with you.’’

‘’I am sorry.’’

I roll my eyes and stand up, ‘’when Clive leaves, clean my room and change my beddings.’’

‘’Okay.’’

‘’And the house should be spotless when I get back.’’

‘’Sure.’’

Grabbing my bag, I walk outside and get into my car before I drive out. When I pull up in front of the office it’s twenty minutes past 8. Stepping out of my car, I take a deep breath and head straight to Mr. Msizi’s office.

I walk into his office expecting to find him alone but I am disappointed to find him with Kenzie and they are deeply engrossed in their conversation. I stare at them for a few minutes, my heart boiling with rage, these two have a perfect father/ daughter relationship, this is something I will never have with my father, she stole him from me and I hate her for that.

I clear my throat to announce my presence and they both look up at me.

‘’Hello!’’ I manage a smile.

‘’Daughter of mine,’’ he exclaims.

‘’Mr. Msizi,’’ I respond.

‘’I know I am your boss but above everything else I am your father and it would make me happy if you acknowledge as such.’’

‘’I am sure you didn’t call me here to talk about this,’’ I say before I sit down next to Kenzie.

‘’Hey sister,’’ she says and I shoot her daggers with my eyes.

‘’You are not my sister Kenzie, know your lane and stick to it.’’

‘’Stella!’’ Mr. Msizi shoots me a serious look, ‘’I thought we are past this kind of behavior.’’

‘’Can we get started with the meeting already, I have other things to attend to.’’

His secretary brings us coffee right before he is about to start talking.

‘’Thank you,’’ he says and she walks out.

He grabs his cup of coffee and takes a sip before he says;’’ I will be brief and I will go straight to the point. I want to step down from my position as editor in chief for the newspaper, you know I have worked so hard to get this far, I have made money and I have enjoyed my time being here but I guess it’s time for someone else to take over.’’

‘’Oh!’’ I exclaim.

‘’Have you thought about this thoroughly daddy?’’ Kenzie asks.

‘’Yes, I have been thinking about it for some time now.’’

‘’Did you talk to mummy about it? Did you seek her advice?’’ she asks again and I roll my eyes.

He reaches for her hand and squeezes it, ‘’your mum and I are old, we want to travel the world and enjoy life.’’

‘’Oh please,’’ she laughs. ‘’You two haven’t aged a bit in the last couple of years, you still look young.’’

He laughs along, ‘’flattery will get you everywhere child.’’

A wave of jealousy sweeps over me and I stand up, ‘’I guess I am not needed here.’’

‘’What do you mean?’’

‘’Can’t you see what you are doing?’’

‘’Child please sit down and allow me to finish.’’

‘’Whatever!’’ I sit down only because I want to know who will take over from him.

‘’I would like the two of you to run the newspaper once I retire.’’

‘’And what is that supposed to mean? What does Kenzie know about the newspaper business?’’ I ask.

‘’You two are the only children I have, it would make me really happy if you started getting along at least for my sake.’’

I laugh, ‘’you know that is impossible, Kenzie and I can never get along, she and I have nothing in common.’’

‘’Her blood flows in your veins, you two are sisters, what should I do to make you understand that?’’

‘’It’s not blood that makes you family. It's love,’’ I shoot back.

‘’Why do you hate me so much Stella? What did I ever do to you?’’

I laugh blinking away the tears that are threatening to fall, ‘’your father would be the best people to respond to that question.’’

Mr. Msizi looks at me hard with a pain expression in his eyes and says, ‘’child! Will you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?’’

I swallow hard, ‘’can we please get on with the meeting, you know I hate to mix business with personal issues. I am sitting in this office as your employee, can we please stick to work or else I will leave.’’

He opens his mouth to respond but he closes it immediately and for a few minutes there is a brief silence.

Then he clears his throat, ‘’I have decided to make Kenzie the Editor in chief for the Newspaper, I would like the two of you to work hand in hand together to bring in new ideas so you can continue from where I have stopped.’’

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I take a deep breath trying to control the sudden erratic beating of my heart. Repressing the urge to scream, I ask in a low tone, ‘’what did you say? I think I didn’t hear you correctly.’’

‘’I said Kenzie will take over from me as Editor in chief.’’

I shift in my chair tightening my hand around the glass, holding it so hand I am surprised it doesn’t break.

‘’I have worked for you for years, I have worked my a*s off to put this newspaper not only on the local market but the international market too, is this how you are going to repay me? This was supposed to be my promotion.’’

‘’Calm down child,’’ he says.

‘’Don’t tell me to calm down,’’ I yell, slamming my hand on the table. ‘’What does Kenzie know about running a newspaper? Where was she all this time? After all the hard work I have put in this is how you will repay me?’’

‘’Stella, I said you will work hand in hand together, you will be partners.’’

I laugh so hard it hurts the inside of me, ‘’Bullshit. This is all bullshit.’’

‘’Language!’’

‘’It’s always been about her right? The child of the woman you love the most? Your favorite child? I do the hard work and she takes over, bravo, bravo,’’ I clap my hands together while I laugh.

Then I look at Kenzie, ‘’congratulations boss!’’ I stand up and push the chair aside. It hits the floor with a loud thud.

Mr. Msizi looks up at me, ‘’please listen to me Kenzie.’’