CANVAS GIRL

The bodyguard

Husuella smiled, all the drama had died down and at the very least, she was gratefull that everything was back to normal. Today she had to get out of work early to pick Gogiana and go and check on Ami. Everything was alright except for the fact that she had realised she did not exactly know how to e*****e anyone. Smiling, she got of the car and immediately spotted Gogiana but there seemed to be a problem. She was sarounded by all this laughing girls and she seemed to be holding on to the shirt of one particular boy who was not paying her any attention so she moved closer.

“Dave tell them, tell them you are my boyfriend. Come on tell them you asked me to be your girlfriend yesterday?” she looked up at him expectantly. The young boy just looked between her and the other students then smiled “well am not, I already told you I cant be your boyfriend. You cant turn this on me when you promised to pay me to pretend to be your boyfriend.” He said smirking, Gogiana looked at him in disbelief, it looked like she was about to cry “That’s not true, stop lying tell them the truth,” she said as if almost pleading. Husuella felt bad for her and she sprung into action, she held her hand then looked at the little boy “well its dave right?” he just looked on amazed, “ you have officially broken up, i don’t remember giving you permmision to court my daughter and from now on, you are staying away from her,” she said before pulling Gogiana away from the scene.

“So first of, let us start by you wiping away those tears and put up a smile,” she told Gogiana once they were in the car. She tried her best to try and hide her tears but husuella saw right through her. “Gogiana you are only seven, anyway who gave you permision to have a boyfriend? She asked looking at her intensly. “Okay you are still a little girl and a boy who cant stand up for you is not worth the pain believe me,” she told her as she hugged her tightly and let her cry on her shoulder. Husuella thought as she looked out of the window, how will she help her out of this situation. As if the heavens had listened to her secret prayers, her answer came a few minutes later in form of a boy playing out by the road side.

“stop the car,” she told the driver before placing the already sleeping Gogiana carefully on the car seat. Walking out of the car, she slowly approached and greeted the boy gently. She later found out he had ran away from her abusive step mother and was living out in the streets. “You want a job and a place to stay?” she asked the boy who seemed to be really disciplined. “yea sure, id really appreciate,” he said smiling. On the way, she learnt he had only stayed out in the streats for two days and had learnt karate from his late father and hat his name was Raphael. Husuella snicked her into the house and asked Gogianas nanny to clean him up and give him something warm to put on and some food.

That night, she waited for Kayden to return home and he took a little too long. It was eight when he openned the door and Husuellas heart skeapt. “hey, you havent slept yet,” he asked as he kissed her fore head in concern. “Yeah I kind of wanted to talk to you about something,” she replied nervously. “Okay, so what is it,” he said as he approached her and sat beside her. “I-I brought a boy back from the streets,” she said and immediately regretted her line of words, “What, you brought someone you don’t know into my house,” “Not really, yeah I don’t know him but he really needs our help, besides he is almost Gogianas age and in the same grade,” she looked at him pleadingly. “No,” he answered with so much conviction, “this is not an orphanage,” he said made a move for the door but she beat him to it “He is eight for heavens sake, ran away from his abusive step mum, an only child and both parents are dead, if it was your son or you, tell me you wouldn’t want someone to help you out,” she pleaded.

Kayden stopped, he imagined one of his sisters in that situation and slowly moved back before sitting on the bed, “Okay fine, just make sure he doesn’t cause problems,” he compromised and Husuella immediatelly engulfed him in a big hug, “Thank you,” she whispered smiling, “uh, one more thing before I go to bed, am taking an off and Gogiana will stay at home too.” “what, is she okay?” he asked in panic. “ she is fine, just had a rough day,” she said and Kayden sighed in relief “don’t worry, ill take good care of her,” she said making kayden smile. He changed into his red pajamas and cuddled her as they fell asleep in each others arms.

Kayden woke up and wanted to find out why Gogiana had a rough day but decided to let it go, if Husuella thought all she needed was a day off then that was okay with him, besides she was a bright student and missing out a few days wouldn’t hurt her grades. After dressing up, he picked his phone and called in at her school to inform them she was taking the day off. After that he walked into her room and to his surprise, she had Ami cuddled up to her, at the very least he was happy they got along. He kissed both girls goodbye and walked out. He had informed his personal doctor to come and check on Ami and was going to call in a psychologist to book an appointment for later, he wanted to make sure that she was okay and what she had gone through wont affect her in future.

Husuella woke up and found Kayden gone, she smilled and walked into Raphaels room. She found him already awake and slowly observing the room, testing the bed and beddings. “you are awake?” she asked and noticed he was putting on Gogianas yellow pajamas written am a big cuddly bear and started lauging, he did look like a cuddly bear but a cute dangerous one at that from the look he was giving her. “You need some clothes, that was bought by Kayden and its obvious he doesn’t know Gogianas size,” he looked at her enquiringly, “Well the girl who was sleeping in the car,” she said making him nod in recorgnition.

Husuella first took him to a spar to get his wild hair and wild nails worked on. When they were done, you could hardly see the boy from yesterday in him, he even looked better than the David boy. She smiled and payed then took him to get some clothes. When they were done, they headed home. Reaching home, she found Ami and Gogiana playing in the front yard and when Raphael came out with the bags, he stopped and while Ami shyed away from him, Gogiana stared at him with intrest.

After introducing them, Husuella helped him organize his clothes into the closet. “So you are going to attend school with Gogiana and I will be paying for all your expenses, the work you are going to do is to be her pretend boyfriend and protect her from the bullying,” she said and waited for his answer “That’s all, and I get a place to stay and get to go to school?” He asked seeming excited. “yes,” she said smiling down at him. “Its been one year since I last went to school, thank you.” He said looking at her gratefully, “its alright, one more rule, no fighting, you just have to be there for her and use your brain and mouth,” she said making him giggle.

Once she was done, she went into the sitting room where she found the two girls waiting. Ami seemed to be more comfortable with everyone around. As Husuella looked at the small girl smilling at her, she promised herself that she was going to be there for the three kids and protect them like her own. Growing up she had imagined of one day adopting children beside her own and maybe she could adopt one more with time but now she needed to focus on the three. It was a big responsibility being she had never been around kids but she honestly believed she could do it, all she needed to do was live one day at a time.

“Hey, how are you girls doing,” she said making Ami look down shyly while Gogiana ignored the question and asked one of her own, “Who was that boy?” she asked seeming to blush at her straight forwardness. “well arent you to curious? His name is Raphael and he is your pretend boyfriend,” she said looking at her curiously for reaction. “isnt having one illegal at my age?” she asked suddenly blushing. “Well I didn’t say he was, I said pretend meaning he is not your boyfriend until I think you are fit and mature enough to have one,” she said making her nod.

“Can I have a pretend boyfriend too,” Ami asked looking puzzled, it was clear she was really innocent “well you get a doll instead,” she said pulling out the surprise from her back making her jump out in excitement. Well what more could she wish for than to make this kids happy on Kaydens bill? She smiled as she removed his master card from her pocket and smiled down at it. She then kissed both girls cheeks and headed upstairs, she needed to take a shower before he came back from work. She had a feeling he was coming back early because he must have received the notification of the use of his card to purchase things.

Husuella sat down on the bed smiling then she heard the door open and there stood his handsomeness Kayden in all his 6.5 inches staring down at her in fury, “I received a message from the use of my master card to pay for services at Jackyd for men and I don’t remember misplacing my card do you have something to tell me?” she smiled up at him “Yea its me,” she said looking at him deviously, “So let me get this straight, you use my card to buy another man clothes,” something was brewing in his eyes but Husuella couldn’t place her hand on it “yes, you can deduct it from my salary though, sorry I didn’t ask,” she apologised honestly but Kayen was having none of it. “You don’t get it, you buy another man clothes using my money, I know you don’t love me but that was too far, you went too far.” He was now pacing the floor and was getting on her nerves.

“Unbelievable, I already said ill return the money,” she said beginning to get furious, its not like she even used one percent of the money in the card, what was making him mad afterall he had a premium card with hundreds of thousands shopping limits. “This is not about the money Husuella, atleast you could have given me the slightest respect, you don’t love me and I get that, I know am not the best of person but knowing how I feel about you, I didn’t pin you for someone who could do this,” he said shaking his head and Husuella lost it. “Okay I get it, Raphael isnt your responsibility, I brought him here and you don’t want him but he is just a little boy and I couldn’t bring myself to leave him out cold and hungry out there in the streets, don’t worry ill figure out a way to pay you back and rent our own place.” She said staring at him in fury.

“Oh, so now you are moving in with him?” Kayden asked heart broken, he thought he had a chance with her but he did not expect this, he felt a pain in his heart, it was like a part of him was being torn away. Husuella moved for the door and pulled it open with all her might. She needed to vent her anger somewhere but immediately stopped when she saw the three kids standing at the door. “I- sorry I didn’t mean to course trouble, I’ll just leave,” Raphael made to move and Husuella sprang in to action, there was no way she was leeting him be on the streets, atleast he was still at salvations reach, she was not letting the world turn him into something he was not. She was sure he was a good boy, “Raphael wait,” she shouted making Kayden follow her. “This is not your fault, Kaydens just being mean as always and am not letting you go back to the streets, ill find you somewhere to stay tomorrow.

Kayden watched from behind her, how could he be stupid, this was the man you went shopping for right, I mean he is supposed to be a man not a boy, Raphael?” he said raising his brow questioningly. “He is the one I went shopping for, you can take back the clothes I bought we don’t need them anymore,” kayden looked at her amused, he tried to hold back his laughter but failed and soon he was shading tears while the rest just sat back and stared at him like he was crazy.

“You can go back and buy Raphael the whole store, I can add my credit card on top if the mastercard isnt enough,” he said smiling. “What?” Husuella asked looking confused but he just walked past her and gave the little boy a warm hug lifting him up and embracing him. “Im sorry little guy and welcome to the familly, call me Kay,” he said and was about to start playing with him but Husuella stood infront of him. “Are you bippolar or something?” she asked looking serious. “No, its just we were arguing about two different people, this here is a boy, I was talking about a man,” he said placing Raphael down before taking Husuella into a suffocating hug.” Kaydens heart sped up, He wanted to cry both for joy and pain “I love you Husuella, I thought you were leaving me for another man and I lost my mind,” “What, oh” Husuella said when it finally sank in, it wasn’t about the money he was jealous? She almost said the three words but held back.

“So you thought I was dumping you?” she asked in an attempt to clarify. “Something like that,” he said smilling into her hair. She wondered if her kinky hair wasn’t pricking his jaw. “Okay then im not paying back the money,” she smiled and moved out of his hold “and I need a good massage for the stress you just Caused me,” she said smilling and he smilled back. He watced her dissapear behind the door and turned around to the shaken boy “Okay son, lets get a few things straight, I don’t know how to explain this but lets just say… damn it, am not mad at you and I love you,” he rushed not knowing what else to say “Just be a big brother to my girls, take good care of them and you can have the room you sleep in its yours, finally you can go and play I love you,” he hugged the little boy and he relaxed in his arm “ and don’t think of leaving the compound, don’t get lost in the woods too, stay by Gogiana she knows her way around,” he kissed his forehead making him smile then winked at the two little girls making Gogiana smile while Ami shyed and closed his bedroom door “and play downstairs,” he orderd before closing the door.

The following day Husuella woke up late, she was supposed to have taken Raphael to school and she panicked. She rushed back to her room to get her phone to inform Kayden he had taken off but was distracted by the pink note on her dressing table. She picked it up and smiled ‘Sorry I didn’t wake you up. You sleep like a baby…she smiled at the comparison, he was right though, she had always been told she was a heavy sleeper. She wondered how come she didn’t hear her alarm, maybe Kayden had turned it off. Don’t worry about Raphael I took him to school, sweet dreams and see you later at work,’ she smiled in relief.

Walking up the stairs to the skimlink building, Husuella smiled, coming to work late was becoming a routine and it bothered her. she used to enjoy coming late to work just to annoy her employers but the thought that she could come to work late, walk out of work wenever she was annoyed was becoming a routine and she promised herself to stop. She felt like Kayden was being too forgiving when it came to her. she also noticed that most of the employees had started distancing themselves from her and it bothered her, maybe she could ask Kayden later.

“Phhh!” she tried spitting off the warm liquid that had just landed on her face but noticed it had stained her white canvas and cursed as she quickly tried wiping it off with her handkerchief but the coffee stained it further, then she looked at her chest and noticed her blouse clinging to her chest and cursed. Of all the days it just had to be today when she had won white and it just so happens she had taken the extra blouse away from her desk. She looked up and noticed a girl smiling down at her. she was taller and skinnier than her but she was determined to not let that intimidate her. “Oh so you think this is funny?” she asked looking furiously at her. “Well,” that all she said and walked away shaking her skinny dearies.

Husuella got off the elevator and stormed towards Kaydens office. She did not know why of all the places she chose his office and stoped when he noticed someone else in the office. He was a man in his late fifties and had a one piece suit worn with brown leather canvases and she immediately smiled. Kayden stood and covered her with his coat, “What haappened?” he asked seeming concerned, “Nothing really, it was just a coffee accident, its just I don’t have a spare shirt to put on,” she replied and and kayden smilled. He excused himself and brought her to the always locked room accessible from his office and she gasped. He pulled on a couple of shirts and asked her to try them on. Amidst complains, she tried on a few and finally found a slightly smaller one. Kayden rolled up the sleeves and loosesly tacked it in. she looked at herself in the mirror and smiled, she didn’t look that bad. She thanked him and as she was about to walk away, he pulled her into a tight hugand smiled, “Have a nice day master,” he said in a husky voice making her swallow hard.