CANVAS GIRL

Promise to come

Kayden felt like this was all a dream, it couldn’t be her, she hated him and wouldn’t want to be around him for any reason. He felt a load of emotions overcome him, he knew this was the only chance he had to let it all out but he didn’t know how to start. Everything within him told him to go away before he caused more harm but he couldn’t bring himself to do it, instead his body seemwd to have developed a mind of its own and started moving towards her. kneeling down besides her, he slowly placed his palm on her hair afraid she would disapear and he was only being dilusional but to his surprise, he touched something solid.

Suddenly all the emotions he had been bottling up over the past two weeks came to the surface, he did not notice he was crying until he noticed tear drops on her forehead causing her to sit up. Husuella was pulled into a bone crushing hold while she just sat there confused. The moment it all came back crashing she pulled out of his hold and stared at him surprised, how could he just assume that, and then it hit her, he was crying and that wasn’t the site of the man who had been hell bent on breaking her, he seemed more broken than she felt and something tugged at her heart. In that moment she knew that she was never getting out of this one.

Husuella just sat there staring at him, what was wrong with him, wasn’t he supposed to have been happy or was he mad that she didn’t give his friends the chance to…” am sorry, am so sorry,” he wispered seeming to want to hold her again but was scared “ am sorry my love..” he said looking down at his hands while Husuella was taken by surprise, “My love,” She whispered bringing him out of his world and he stared at her in horror “You just called me my love,” she repeated pointing at herself. Kayden wanted to say something but words got stuck in his throat, he opened and closed his mouth like a fish and finally resorted to nodding his head. The truth is he was scared of saying something that would push her away further, he felt he had done enough damage and maybe not saying anything was his way out.

“ What the, you called me my love? Why would you, what do you mean?” she asked still looking at him in shock. Three months ago, she would have thought this was amaizing but she had learnt her lesson, real life fairies didn’t exist, and if they did they came to the rescue of real damsels in distress not an arrogant one like her who wouldn’t keep a job for the life of her. for a moment she wished if she was born during King Sauls reign in Jerusalem, she could imagine herself being in desguise at the battle field, maybe she would have fought Golliath and eloped with David because she could imagine he must have been a young, handsome shepherd.

“Poor David, none of his fellow country men were wiling to help,” she pouted at the bitter thought of how bad it sounded. Kaydens hopes were shattered, she was in love with someone else and it was himself to blame, how could he be so stupid to have pushed her into another mans arms? An idea popped up in his head, he wasn’t giving up on her, all he needed was to strike a deal with this David guy. “Can I have his number, we need to talk,” he said standing up and starting to move back and forth as if in deep thoughts, different thoughts crossed his mind but one stuck out, money, all he needed was to offer him money, ask him to dump her then he becomes a shoulder to cry on, he could just take a few days of and then “Whose number?” Husuella looked at him puzzled, was he running mad, first he goes around calling her my love and then..” “David,” he said sounding irritated, “Who is that,” she asked then it clicked, “No way, I didn’t say that out loud right?” she asked looking at him as if begging him to disagree. “I know how you feel about him but I need to talk to him,” in his mind Kayden only saw one thing, if he was damn enough to exchange her for anything then he couldn’t let him have her. Husuella stared at him, David didn’t have any phone numbers and that is what she told him. “Although there is another option, you can write to him on a scroll with bird feather and travel back in time to deliver it with a horse chariot, you could hire someone to write the message in Hebrew am just not sure the language is still the same but you can try,” she explained her plan in details not leaving any part out.

“It doesn’t matter the cost, I have to talk to him,” in his head he was already budgeting on how to get there, all he needed was a horse and that he could get from the farm. “You just give me a map or directions,” he said looking at her hopefully. “ What, I wasn’t there which am glad for, heck I wouldn’t have wanted my son to go to war and come back without a head. Wait don’t tell me you are going to foot the bill for creating a time machine?” she looked at him horrified, “ what is so important that you have to tell David? And even if you do travel back in time, you’d be one unlucky being if you land in the sharp edge of the spear soul threw at david.” She completed looking at him as if he had completely lost it.

“What,” Kayden looked at her confused, “Oh,” he mumbled when it finally clicked, David, Soul, Spear it was a Bible story. He looked at her horrified, what was he thinking? She must be thinking he has completely lost his mind. “Never mind,” he said looking at her skeptically, the last thing he wanted was for her to see the embarrassment present on his face so he looked away.

Husuella on the other hand was absolutely convinced that everything was wrong. First he comes around claiming he was in love with her and then wants to speak to David? That would explain his bipolar behaviour, he needed to see a psychiatrist before this all went to worst. She slowly walked to him and gently touched his shoulder making him turn around and there they were face to face, slowly the air grew thick between them, he wanted so badly to hold her in his arms and so when he reached out, Husuella came into his arms and hugged him tightly as if it was the end of the world.

“I know that you are okay, fine and well but we have to do it, you are a strong person and you can do it,” for a momment Kayden wondered if Husulla was nuts, she wanted him to go talk to David, the man who ordered the killing of a soldier in battle just for having an affair with his wife? “ I know you think you are well but we have to take you to a psychiatrist before this gets out of hand, I promise to book you into one of the best hospitals available.”

“What, you are nuts if you think am becoming some psycho,” he said looking at her amused before he started laughing uncontrolably, she couldn’t possibly think he was going mad or could she? He stopped laughing and stared into he eyes to find a clue she was joking but finding none he started clutching his stomach while laughing when she added an ‘oh my goodness, that is what they always say,’ he lost it. She went to move out of the room but Kayden jumped infront of her making her bump into him while he reached out and held her by the waist to stop her from falling backwards. “Don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t ,” and just like that, his body seemed to defy the order his sensory neurons sent to his limbs, maybe the researcher who did the research should do it again for the exceptional cases or maybe sometimes the body involuntarily reacts to stimuli generated from the heart and not senses, the want, the hearts desires and needs.

Kayden felt like he had fallen into a bliss, his whole body went into shock when his lips touched hers in a soft gentle kiss and in that state he did not know what was about to hit him until he felt it on his left cheek. Husuella had acted out of anger and frustration, a part of her wanted to sit back and enjoy the kiss but everything that had transpired between them before stayed alive on the logical side and when she couldn’t take it anymore, she lifted her right hand and landed it on his left cheek without a care that there lips were still locked.

“How dare you?” she asked when the pain on Kaydens left cheek made him pull away. Then it hit her, she was alone with someone who was probably nuts in a room and she just slapped him? Nice way to go Husuella, she smacked herself inside, what else could go wrong? “ am sorry, I didn’t mean to its just I was so frustrated I didn’t know what I was doing.” She started stepping away from him and he saw it in her eyes, the fear and her calculating eyes. So she really believed he was psycho and would hurt her? when she moved another step backwards he lost it, “ Stop, damn it, you really believe am insane?” he yelled raising his voice out of frustration but regretted it the moment he noticed her flinch. He took a few deep breaths and decided it was time he had a long talk with her.

“Hey, come here,” he said in a low commanding voice while he looked at her gently in the eye to show her that she could trust him. Husuella looked hesitant at first but started moving slowly towards him. When she was one step away Kayden drew her into his arms and hugged her like his life depended on it. Somehow despite everything that had transpired, Husuella felt safe in his arms. “We need to have a long talk,” he said while he held her arms and walked her towards the bed sitting her down comfortably before sitting down facing her. He could only hope that this would work to his favor and have faith it won’t turn out bad as he was imagining.

“look at me,” he said noticing she was looking down and fidgeting, “To begin with I am not exactly insane, well a little but not an extreme psychopath, the insanity depicts itself only around you,” he said smiling, for the very first time since she first saw him, Husuella noticed there was something different. He had lost a lot of weight and there was this hollow emptiness showing in his eyes and she hated it, as if he was scared but all she remembers was an arrogant bachelor who would be willing to destroy anyone for his ego and status. “Secondly, yes I called you my love and I mean it, I am in love with you and that’s why we have to talk, I have a lot of things to tell you and it is going to take a while, I promise to answer any questions honestly and to the best of my abilities.”

Kayden told Her everything he could, from how his mother had abandoned him and his father for a man she thought was richer while she did not know his father had actually invested and started his own company, from the struggles they went through and how his father would often put a stop to all his relationships because he didn’t like them to how he found a nice young woman who became his secretary and slowly at the age of ten, she had invaded his space and became like a second mother to him. Then his mother had discovered that his father was rich and tried to get back into their lives but his father wouldn’t let her. Then he joined high school and was approached by a man who claimed to have his mother and he had to sacrifice every single upkeep he got to pay and keep her safe to how he found out his father had an affair with his secretary who for the longest time he had thought as a second mother was pregnant and apparently he was to become a big brother. He told her about how betrayed he felt to how he only had the chance to appologise for being a brat on her death bed after he promised to take care of his dad and little sister.

“Am really sorry,” Husuella whispered between sobs making Kayden look at her surprised, he hadn’t noticed her state, “ Its okay,” he whispered while rubbing her back, “am okay,” he said making her wipe her tears with the back of her hand before embracing him in a tight hug, “You are such a strong person you know,” she said letting go of the hug and smiling at him. “I know,” he smiled back at her.

“You know when Emy passed away, I felt like I had lost a mother all over again, maybe if I hadn’t been such a brat I would have spent more time with her,” he said looking into the space as if wishing he could turn back time. “ Then my dad suddenly decided to leave the company in my hands, I was just three months away from graduation and I had planed so much for my life and then suddenly boom, I have a one month old baby to take care of and a company to run. My dad only visits once a year.” He said with a look of longing in his eyes, ‘he really did miss his father, poor Kayden,’ Husuella thought as she looked at him with sympathy.

“ You know he doesn’t want to say it but I saw it in his eyes, he looked at her as if she was the person who had taken away his happiness, I know he tried so much but he just couldn’t and gave up, he is scared of ending up hating her,” he said sympathizing with his dad, “But am glad he visits though, it gives us the courage to go on.” Then it suddenly clicked, “that’s why you,” she looked at him questioningly making him look down in shame, “Yes, I was falling for you and it scared the hell out of me, I admit at first it was just some sort of revenge but soon I realised it was much more and I could have found a better way to deal with it but instead I just,” he swallowed hard, “I just hurt you,” he whispered the last part as if saying the word itself was a crime and looked down before sighing heavily as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

She wanted to hurt him so bad, all he had to say was one damn word but he just went all the way shuttering her ego and self esteem? She looked at him taken back, she wanted to storm off and never see him again but the hope in his eyes shatered her intention, she couldn’t let him down, she couldn’t bring herself to pretend that she didn’t care while she did and even if she was bad at hiding her feelings and she would just fall back. “I know its stupid and I shouldn’t have done it, if you ask me I don’t even know. Me and my friends, I didn’t mean what I said, in my mind I was trying to make them loose intrest, partly I was scared of loosing you and when I went after you, you were already gone. And about the cab fare am taking it from your salary,” he said and looked up at her making her giggle, “It doesn’t take you off the hook though,” she said smiling.

“I know, and I don’t expect it to I just hope that you give me one more chance to make this right. I know its far fetch but a man can hope.” He said looking at her like a child and she couldn’t help it and without realizing she said yes. Unable to help himself, Kayden pulled her into a tight hug with “Thank you, I wont blow this up I promise,” he said looking at her as if begging her to believe him to which she just smiled, she knew deep down it wont take long before he blew this up but she hoped that even if that time comes, he really did love her and they would work things through. That she wont have given her heart out on a silver platter only to be shattered when she woke up and realized it was never love after all.

They were rattled out of their small fantasy world by someone knocking on the door. Husuella stood up and went to open the door only to be greeted by a little human throwing herself into her arms. “You came, I knew you wouldn’t disappoint, we will have a lot of fun tomorrow you’ll see,” she said loudly before gripping her in a death grip. “Yea I don’t doubt that,” she said and put her down. She ran and rammed into Kaydens legs hugging him tightly and claiming how happy she will be before running out. Husuella looked at kayden and immediately she knew it was coming, she could see the anger brewing in his eyes.

Kayden started walking back and forth bitting his hands like a little over thinking nerd in a movie. If it wasn’t for what she felt coming, she would have laughed at him or even scolded him a little. “ what, now you are trying to use my little sister to get to me? She is calling you mommy for heavens sake. When did this happen and what do you have in store next, take over my company?” she said looking at her in the most spiteful way she had ever seen anyone look at her. “ How could I be such an i***t, I should have known the moment you and your friend agreed to live in my house for free that you were gold diggers,” he held her left wrist tighter than she would have wished to. She looked into his eyes and she wasn’t getting out of this. She wanted to pull away and stand up to him but all the memories came flashing and she lost it. All she could see was his lips moving and soon she could only see a blur of an image.

Kayden was brought out of his trance when he had her hiccup. He looked down at the wrist he was holding and noticed how tight he was squeezing it and he quickly moved away his hand as if he had been burnt by a hot metal. He went for the door without thinking and locked it, there was no way he was letting her leave this time, once again his ability to crush everything good had been displayed and he wasn’t sure how this was ending but he would rather have her hit him with a chair than go. “You really think that of me?” she asked scared to receive the feedback she had expected and went on “ I let her call me that because they were saying nasty things to her about not having a mommy and I couldn’t take it. I planned on telling you but I didn’t have the time,” she whispered and looked up at him, “Im sorry,” she said and made a move fore the door only to find it locked making her turn around.

Kayden watched her make a move for the door and he couldn’t be any grateful for having locked the door. He took a few steps toward her and stood behind her so that when she turned around, she was between him and the door. He moved his hand and she flinched moving one step. “No don’t, don’t move away from me don’t,” he whispered looking at her making her stop in her trucks. “I am such an i***t,” he said before pulling her into his arms, “Don’t go,” he repeated hoping he could get to her. Maybe he did or maybe not but he hoped he had.

Kayden expected her to push him away, shout at him or hit him. He did not know what was worse, her silence or rage but it didn’t matter anymore, all he wanted was for her to stay it didn’t matter anymore what it cost him, for all he cared she could fraud him of his company and everything as long as she would always be here. When he finally moved her away and looked her in the eye, she had a misschevious smirk. “Under one condition,” she said smiling while she turned around “Sure, anything” he replied looking at her intently. “You become my slave for the next two months,” she said smiling while tapping her chin. Kayden observed her for a few minutes contemplating, he really didn’t have a choice, in her eyes he saw the anxiety, it was like she was waiting for him to say no so he smiled and replied yes.

Husuella sighed disappointed, now she was stuck with some arrogant bachelor for who knows how long. She had never enslaved even her grandmas cat, how was she going to e*****e a grown up man? Well you should have thought of that first’ her conscience laughed at her. ‘damn it, how am I supposed to e*****e a grown up man’ she yelled at her brain getting frustrated ‘couldn’t you have thought of something better like maybe if he brought you the first king of France?

“You should have just said no” she admitted feeling defeated, “its okay really, for two months you have the rare opportunity of misusing your employer, if I were you id use it wisely” he smiled and opened the door for her, “Dinner should be ready your royalty, should I bring it in a silver plater?” he said feeling amused. “No, bring it in king Paolas palm,” she said smirking, “who is king…” “I don’t know,” she cut him office, “probably doesn’t even exist. “What, damn it what have I gotten myself into,” Kayden whispered to himself, he had a feeling he was going to fire one of his employees before the end of a month. On the other hand Husuella was smilling from ear to ear, maybe enslaving your employer doesn’t require past experience after all.

“For now you can start by carrying me to dinner on your back,” she said smiling while Kayden groaned. It was not even an hour into his enslavement and he was already getting oders to bring food in the palm of people who don’t exist and carry her around? Choices have consequences, his inner self reminded him but this were consequences he was ready to endure.