RESILIENT HEARTS

CHAPTER FIVE

As soon as we got to the sitting room, mummy's countenance fell. She was so sad that I was leaving but what can I do?, I'm bound to leave sooner or later.

"Celine is bent on keeping my daughter from me" she joked.

"Come on mummy, she's a big girl, don't worry I'll take good care of her" Celine promised.

"I trust you my dear, you girls should keep looking out for each other and continue taking care of each other like you've always done okay" she advised.

“Yes mummy” we replied in unison.

I went over to daddy “Please daddy, take care of yourself, if you need anything, I’m just a call away, don’t stress too much okay?” I said to him.

“I’Il do my best my child, you know how attached I am to you, I’ll try my best not to miss you too much. And take care of yourself too” daddy said and a tear dropped from my eyes.

“Okay daddy, I promise to always come to see you” I told him and started crying.

“Come here my cry baby, daddy is healthy okay, he’s much stronger than you think.” Nicky said drawing me to his Bosom, soon Maureen joined, Celine, Mummy and then Daddy.

“Don’t stress yourself too and do not overthink, everything will soon fall into place. The new nanny will resume work tomorrow, the agency already called. I’ll wire some money to your account later” Nicky said.

“Thanks bro” “Come on, you will always be my baby and it is my responsibility to take good care of you, and I’ll be waiting for you to introduce your new boyfriend to me soon” he said and we all laughed.

“No problem “ I could only say shyly.

“Hand me the boxes, let me see you off” he said and took the boxes from us, while, May carried the gift bags to Celine’s car.

Few minutes later we were on the road, it was more like a get together because both Nicky and May are very busy, and it will take time for us to meet like this again.

I really enjoyed every bit of my stay there.

But I really feel sorry for daddy, he used to be a very active, friendly and funny one but ever since this heart disease he just changed.

We used to play and c***k jokes, we were really very close, I miss those days.

“Jasmine, what’s on your mind?” Celine said tapping me lightly on my thighs.

“Sorry, what did you say?” I asked her.

“Do you know I’ve been talking here, before I realized you weren’t even listening” Celine complained.

“I’m really sorry” I apologized.

“What’s on your mind, Girl?” she asked again.

“I’m just thinking about daddy” I told her.

“Come on Jasmine, daddy will be fine, it’s just a matter of some time, okay?” she tried to make me feel better “.

Soon we were home, Nora had gone already because it’s past Seven but she left the key with the security, so we opened the door and went inside.

The party is set to commence at 9 pm so we still had a little time on our side.

As soon as we got inside, Cel’s phone rang “Its Thelma” she said to me and I nodded in affirmation.

“Hi girl” Celine greeted “Good Evening Cel” Thelma greeted from the other side of the phone, the phone is on loud speaker so I could hear their conversations.

“How’re are you doing?” Thelma asked.

“I’m doing great, you?” Celine replied.

“I’m good, you’re still coming right?” she asked.

“Yes of course” Celine replied.

“You’re still coming with Jasmine right?” she asked again. I was surprised as to the way she called my name like she knew me in reality. I know it's all Celine.

“Yes dear” Celine said.

“I just wanted to make sure, you know it won’t be possible for you girls to go back today so I want to make a reservation for you two at home” she explained.

“Ok dear, thanks” Celine said.

“So I’ll be sending my chauffeur in like 50 minutes to pick you girls up, I can’t let you drive this late at night, just text me your address again, okay?” she said calmly.

“I’ll do just that now” Celine replied.

“See you soon then” Thelma said and ended the call.

Celine quickly texted her the address and said “Girl, just go take your bath, I’ll be in your room soon to glam you up okay?” I nodded in affirmation and went up to my room.

In few minutes Celine was already in my room she was looking very stunning in her blue laced sleeveless gown, and her sliver heels and purse.

She had a pony tail hair style and a light casual make up. Celine is a very beautiful lady.

“Babes, you never even wear cloth” She scolded in pidgin.

“I’m sorry I wasted little time in the bathroom and plus this dress has a corset” I tried to explain but she was already helping me into the gown and tied the corset for me.

She made me sit down before the dressing table and started doing my make up.

She’s very good at make up and hair styling.

I still don’t know the reason she didn’t take it up as a skill.

Before I knew it, I’d already changed and looking more beautiful, she’s too good at this.

Next she restyled my braids into a bun and I was looking very different.

Then she helped me put my jewelries on, I smeared some body mist and perfume.

I picked my black heels and purse and I stood.

I was looking at myself through this mirror and I looked very different and beautiful.

The gown was very beautiful and it showed bit of my cleavages, the gown rested on my hips revealing my curves.

I was really proud of my mum looking at the gown.

“Omo, see beauty, girl, you look breathtaking in this dress, mummy really understood the assignment” Celine complimented.

She seizes every moment to compliment me.

“Thank you dear, you don’t look bad yourself” I said.

“Thanks dear, but you and I know that you’re stunning” she said and I laughed.

“Lets get going, the driver will be here any moment from now” she said and we left the room.

The moment we got to the gate, the driver pulled up before us and we got in “Good Evening Ladies” he greeted respectively.

“Good Evening” we greeted him.

“You ladies are looking very pretty, I bet you’d be the center of attention tonight” he said all smiles and we thanked him.

“We would begin our journey now” he announced and drove off.

The ride was about 35 minutes and before I could realize, we’ve gotten to our destination.

I thought to myself ‘this house is very big and very beautiful’ .

And truly the house is so grande, more like a French ‘Chateau’, such houses really did exist in this city, I couldn’t believe it.

“What do you think, Jas?” Celine asked.

“This place is heaven on earth, damn, it’s really nice” I gasped.

“Well, this is Barth Christopher’s home?” Celine announced.

I don’t think I heard well, Sir Barth Christopher of Chris’ Corporation a National Successful business man, no it can’t be, who am I to be here, in his home.

“You’re joking right?” I asked Celine who just kept laughing.

“I’m damn serious babe, this is Chris home” Celine confirmed. She must be joking.

“How on earth did you even meet his daughter, wait you mean Chris as in Chris Corporation’s Chris, that Chris” I queried.

“Yes dear, it’s him” Celine verified.

“Then what are we doing here?, Like in his home, Are you sure you're not mistaken?, because I don't understand anything at all” I said as Celine continued laughing.

“ Don’t worry girl, pull yourself together I’ll tell you every thing, that’s if Thelma doesn’t tell you herself” she said and with that we went inside.

As we got in, all eyes were on us, was I that lowly to be in this kind of party? I asked myself, was poverty and joblessness written on my forehead? I don’t understand why people were looking at us like that. I could even sight rich politicians and all kind of celebrities, and they were still looking at us, but I couldn’t decipher what the looks meant, just then Celine tapped me and said.

“Can you see people staring at you?”.

“Is poverty written on my forehead, why are they looking at me that way?” I asked Celine and she laughed hard.

“So because I told you where we came to it’s now messing with your head?” Celine grinned.

“I don’t understand” I said to her.

“Your beauty dey choke them, they’ve never seen anyone as beautiful as you are” Celine said and just then I kind of relaxed, was that really the reason they were looking at me that way.

“That’s Thelma over there” Celine said pointing towards a direction, I followed her hands and saw three beautiful ladies sitting at the mini bar.

I guessed Thelma is the one on Green sleeveless long gown and the other two are her friends, cause she looks so much like the Chris I see on Tv all the time.

She’s a very pretty tall, dark skinned lady with a beautiful smile.

“She’s very beautiful “ I told Celine.

“Yes she is, let’s go surprise her I don’t think she has an idea we’ve gotten here” Celine said and we went inside the large living room.

The place was beautifully decorated and colorfully lit.

There were people at each corner of the sitting room with wine in their glasses, smiling, greeting and exchanging pleasantries with their mates.

Everyone looked happy, there was much to eat and drink and there was music to make everything fun and lively.

“ Hey Celine, when did you get here?, wow!!!, Is this Jasmine? I'm Thelma” Thelma said smiling when Celine gently tapped her shoulder .

“Yes she is” Celine replied.

“Gosh, girl, you said she’s a Diva but she’s an Aphrodite, you’re so breathtaking dear” Thelma complimented.

“Thank you very much, Thelma, you don’t look bad yourself” I said to her.

“Oh no don’t tell me that, I’m no where close to beautiful if you’re the definition of beauty” she said.

She's quite humourous.

“Girls, these are my friends, Celine and Jasmine, I met Celine at work and this is Jasmine her best friend, Celine, Jasmine, these are my girls, Kimberly and Courtney” Thelma introduced.

I already like her and I could tell she’s a sweet girl, she introduced me as her friend.

We exchanged pleasantries and gossiped about a lot of things.

I guess the only difference between the rich and the poor is money.

I used to think they had a different kind of life but sitting and having a conversation with these ladies made me think otherwise, they are just lovely and humble and fun too.