CHAPTER 4 - Heart Felt Confession
1191 Words
Claire wakes up late the next day. She goes into the bathroom to wash her swollen face because she cried all night, her eyes are red, and she looks unkept. After washing her face, she unlocked the door and stepped out of her room while she met her father sitting down on the bare floor with his head down between his laps. She was shocked to see her father in that state. She bent down as tears began ``to roll down from her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Dad," Claire said with tears.
"I don't mean to make you stay all night; I was just mad at myself," Claire said, touching her father's shoulder.
Mr. Alexia, who was asleep, heard the sniffling sound, and he opened his eyes just to see his daughter in tears, apologising to him.
"Little princess, what happened to you? You have got me worried all night," Mr. Alexia said with tears welling up in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I'm sorry for getting you worried all because of me; you even stay here all night thinking about me. I'm really sorry, Dad," Claire said as she burst into more tears.
"You don't have to apologise, princess; you don't do anything wrong by making me worried. I'm happy to be there for you when you are having hard times, and I promise to be there for you whenever you have a hard time," Mr. Alexia said with tears.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I promise to be strong and protect you, but I was the weak one who could do nothing but make her father cry and worry," Claire responded.
"No, don't say that."
"I love you, daddy."
"I love you too, my princess."
They both hug each other and burst into tears without minding others watching them, and that is no other people than Mr. Leo and the cook, Mrs. Roselyn. The other workers are the maids; they stay in another building and are allowed to stay in the main mansion except to perform their daily activities, and this is due to Claire security; no one is allowed to see her bare face.
Mr. Leo and Mrs. Roselyn were staying in the main mansion with Mr. Alexia and his daughter, despite the fact that he has so many workers working in the house.
Mr. Leo and Mrs. Roselyn were watching the scene of the father and his daughter. Mrs. Roselyn was already in tears seeing how Mr. Alexia loves his daughter and how the little girl has a wonderful soul. Mr. Leo felt pity for the both, but it seems the father and daughter are lost in their worlds, and someone needs to bring them back, and no one can do that except because Mrs. Roselyn is already shocked to tears.
Mr. Leo walks towards them and taps Mr. Alexia's shoulder.
"You have to calm down and talk it out with this little girl about what happened to her instead of crying with her. She has shed too many tears already, and you don't have to make her shed more of them. Calm down, sir," Mr. Leo said, bowing.
Mr. Alexia disengaged from the hug and looked up to Mr. Leo, who was bowing down.
"Thanks so much, Mr. Leo," Mr. Alexia responded, and then he faced Claire.
"Go and clean up yourself, little princess."
"I will do that immediately, Dad," Claire said with a little smile.
"Come downstairs to eat immediately after your bath," Mr. Alexia said.
"Sure, daddy," Claire said, going back to her room.
* * * * *
Mr. Alexia was sitting at the dining table with Claire, who was putting on a pink gown with a Barbie design and picture. They both sit down as Mrs. Roselyn serves them breakfast. They have jollof rice and chicken for breakfast with milk.
After serving the food, Mrs. Roselyn and Mr. Leo were about to leave the dining room when Mr. Alexia stopped them.
"And where do you think you are going?" Mr. Alexia said.
"We are going back to our post, sir," Mr. Leo replied with a bow.
"And where is that your post?" Mr. Alexia asks.
Mr. Leo and Mrs. Roselyn didn't reply.
"As of now, both of you are eating with me and Claire in this dining room," Mr. Alexia said in an authoritative tone.
"Thank you for giving us the privilege, boss." Mr. Leo bows together with Mrs. Roselyn.
"And you, Mr. Leo, I will like it if you stop using "Sir and "Boss" for me. And stop bowing down when talking to me; you are older than me and more like a father to me," Mr. Alexia said.
"Thank you so much, sir." Mr. Leo said
"Again "
"Sorry si..."
"Just call me A." Mr. Alexia was interrupted by his daughter.
"Alex" Claire interrupts her father.
"The boss woman has spoken," Mr. Alexia said, smiling.
"So, daddy, can Mrs. Rose and Mr. Leo come join us now because this food looks yummy?" Claire said it jokingly.
"As your lordship pleases, ma'am." Mr. Alexia responds with a bow.
Everyone burst into laughter.
"I'm happy now that my brave princess is back and now smiling," Mr. Alexia said, holding Claire's hand.
"I never leave you, Daddy," Claire said, smiling at her father.
"Alex and Claire, can we concentrate on eating now and go to the theatre later and act out this scene?" Mr. Leo said in a teasing way.
Mr. Alexia found himself smiling at what Mr. Leo said; no doubt he loves the way "Alex" sounds in Mr. Leo's mouth.
"I guess it was not a bad idea to ask you to call me my name; it sounds cool, though." Mr. Alexia said he was digging in his food.
"And thanks to me for giving out that specific name," Claire said proudly.
"I know you will say something," Mr. Alexia responded.
Everyone eats the food happily, and laughter fills the whole room as Mr. Alexia and his daughter play with each other.
After eating breakfast, Mr. Alexia called Mr. Leo and Mrs. Roselyn to have a drink with him in the sitting while Claire was busy mouthing her Hollandia yoghurt.
Everyone was curious to hear what Mr. Alexia was going to say and why he called for the gathering. Mr. Alexia's head was down, looking like he was lost in thought, and this created suspense feelings among them, including Claire, who was worried about her father's silence.
Claire decided to lighten the atmosphere with her drama; she stood up and cleared her as she used the Hollandia yoghurt bottle as a source of microphone.
"Good morning; welcome back to the show. Today we are having one of the best businessmen in the world and the best dad in the world. Please can you welcome Mr. Alexia Thompson, the CEO of Mirae Group, as he shares his speech and words of encouragement to us?" Claire star clapping in a dramatic way, which earns a chuckle from Mr. Alexia, and everyone laughs at the little girl drama.
"Queen of drama, can you please have your seat and let's listen to Mr. Alexia's speech?" Mr. Leo said.
- Writer
