CHAPTER 3
1726 Words
Tatiana's POV
“Hey bestie!” Tori shrieked with laughter as soon as I answered her video call. I rolled my eyes while she laughed, and I wasn't amused at all. Tori is highly known for her annoying, unnecessary laughter, even when the situations don't call for it. I used to call her out initially, but with time, I got used to it and gave up.
“Hey Tori” I answered with a straight face, wondering why she would call me on a Monday morning at 7 am. That was very unlikely for her. But I guess you can never tell what agenda Tori has in her mind until she lets it out.
“Look, I know you're mad at your bestie. I totally understand that, and I promise to make it up to you.” She blurted out with puppy dog eyes, with both hands across her chest.
“Yeah, yeah whatever!” I replied, nearly screaming in defiance.
“Chill girl, so tell me...what's up? How's life after college? Before you answer, my man and I will be celebrating our 3rd year wedding anniversary, and I'd like you to come...but,” she paused abruptly, and I could sense a ridiculous condition coming my way.
“But?” I rolled my eyes once again, waiting for what this drama queen had to say this time.
Giggling while shaking her head, she responded, “You're so predictable, Tiana. So where was I again? Oh yeah, the condition is that you must come with a plus one.”
Before I could utter any words, she shushed me with her index finger placed on her lip.
“No excuses, Tiana. You had better find one, because if you don't, I'll help you find one."
“Okay. Fine! Now can I talk?” I sighed and blurted out while I grabbed my bag on my way out to work.
I met papa in the living room tuned in to BBC news, and I blew him kisses while I gestured Tori with a wave, to hold on.
After a few minutes of chitchat with my dad, I resumed the video call with Tori. I couldn't wait to see her reaction when she found out where I was working and whom I was working for.
“So guess what?” I asked her over the phone as I squealed. Needless to say, I had to pretend I liked my job and the whole idea of working for THEE Almighty Cyril Walker, which I knew deep down I wasn't. I had come to dislike him very much for his cold demeanor these past few years, working for him as his nanny. I usually consoled myself with my love for his daughter.
I didn't want Tori to know, hence my fake squealing and pretend happiness. Knowing Tori, she would have advised me to quit with immediate effect. I've always known her to be one who likes to enjoy her life without settling for less.
“Ugh!! My ears are itchy already, Tiana. Tell me, is it good news?”
I told her how I ended up working for Cyril Walker and how I had struggled with Iris, but my determination to help her recover gained me a special place in her heart, but her face fell while I narrated my plight.
“Well, Tiana, I get that you love children, and you've grown fond of the little girl, but do you think it's worth it? I've heard a lot of rumours about how he treats women. If it's about money, don't you think you can get a better job? Or do you like him? I know you've secretly had a crush on him” she sighed.
Her questions really got to me. I found myself reflecting on what she had said.
Have I heard the rumours? Yes, but did I believe them? I wasn't too sure about that.
Could I get a better job? Well, probably not. His pay was perfect.
Was I really doing this for Iris or for the money? Was it necessary to choose? Couldn't it be both?
Did I find Cyril attractive? Of course, I did.
Did I like him? Initially. But currently? Maybe not.
Was working for him worth it? Who knows? Only time will tell.
Despite everything, it went beyond the money. Given what I studied in school in child psychology, I was so interested in getting to know Iris and when I did, I never wanted to let her go or let her down. Her mother's demise took a huge toll on her. I couldn't bear to see her in that state of trauma.
I genuinely loved Iris and I equally needed the money too. Since papa retired, I promised myself to make it a point to raise money to contribute to our upkeep. In the long run, I planned to also revive Muller's Brew, our family coffee business.
“Hello? Are you still there? I'm talking to you Tiana, why aren't you saying anything?” Tori's voice echoed, disrupting my thoughts.
“Yes, yes I am. Sorry sis. I have to go. I'll catch you later. Bye.” I attempted to end the call before she interrupted.
“Wait. Before you hang up, don't forget about your plus one Tiana. I'm serious. As a matter of fact, I have a plan. You've got nothing to worry about. I'll find you a perfect date, you'll see. Later hun. Mua hahaha, take care, I love you.” She ended the call with an evil laugh before I could jump in.
A perfect date? Is Tori trying to set me up with someone? Well, she better not.
***
I got to Cyril's apartment at 10 am. That was the time Cyril and I agreed on. He usually left for work by half past nine. I suppose he spent some time with Iris before he left, because I couldn't imagine her being all by herself till I arrived.
Her homeschool teacher, Ms. Desree was not around. I inquired about her from the chef in the house and was told that she had called in sick the day before. Hence, she was not going to be around.
Ms. Desree was a middle-aged woman who had decided, out of her own volition, to teach Iris at home since she had retired. Upon the few times I conversed with her, I gathered she was a teacher and a principal in one of the public schools in Texas. She failed to mention where she met Cyril.
Her countenance, however, showed her compassion and tolerable spirit in dealing with Iris. I could tell from my occasional interactions with her that her experience made it easier for her patience with children. Her only job was to teach Iris in the best way she could, and she was committed to it.
From the kitchen, I walked up to Iris's bedroom, where I found her engrossed in her colouring book. In her left hand were three coloured pencils-one black, the other red, and the last one green.
She lifted her head as soon as the door shut behind me and I rushed to hug me with her notebook. I stood in front of the door with her arms around my waist as my arms held her shoulders. She later opened her notebook and in it, she wrote:
“Welcome miss Tattie. I miss you”. I believe that was my new nickname.
“Miss Tattie” how cute, I muttered to myself.
“ I miss you too, sweetheart” I bent over her ears to whisper to her while she let go of me.
She resumed her colouring and when I noticed she was engrossed in her art once again, I stepped out, hoping she wouldn't notice.
***
“Wow! When did he do this?...when he said he was going to take care of it, I thought he was going to get rid of the painting.”
I spoke to myself out loud. I had walked up to the balcony to see how it looked after my last encounter with Cyril. He had ordered me to leave his premises in a rage. That was the first time I had seen him furious. I couldn't imagine him getting angry over the mere painting Iris had done on the floor of his balcony.
What struck me the most was his cluelessness and shock at discovering Iris was a gifted artist at such a young age. I thought he would know this as her father. I was as surprised as he was at his disbelief in his daughter's passion for painting.
That definitely says a lot about him, doesn't it?
What kind of father has he been to Iris?
He seemed to care less about his daughter than I expected. Maybe he thought providing her with a homeschool teacher and a nanny was enough.
Evidently, it wasn't. Iris deserved more than that. He, on the other hand, was more concerned with his business, money and prestige. I doubt he ever spent much time with his daughter, considering he didn't know about her passion, drive or talent.
Now here I stood, gazing at the painting done by our young budding artist. This time it had been redesigned. It looked so realistic. It looked as if it had been sculptured on the tiles when it was first designed.
Cyril altered it. I'm sure he was so impressed with her art that he made it part of the tiles. It looked extremely beautiful. I turned around and saw a gigantic picture frame of the same painting.
It had the inscription “Artwork by Iris”. At that moment, I felt:
Maybe I was wrong about one thing. Cyril did care about his daughter's passion for art. This absolutely meant a lot to Iris.
After admiring Iris's painting, I went back to her room, where I got jolted by a phone call. I picked my phone from my one-hand bag and answered, “Hi bestie, what's up?”
“Tatiana, guess what? I have good news for you! I got you a dating match!! Can you stop over by my salon next week Saturday? I won't take no for an answer. Bye, take care.” Tori responded.
“Wait... You did whatttt????” Before I knew it, there was dead silence.
- Writer
