Yearning for Love

A Leopard can’t hide its marks

Caroline got over the call more quickly than she’d expected. She’d made her way to the kitchen and helped Millie with the cleaning.

“No, it’s fine. It’s already 9:00 pm at night. You should go to bed now.” Millie gestured her off.

“I am not used to having maids do everything for me. Let me assist you.” Caroline wiped some wet glasses with a neat handkerchief. Millie smiled.

“You have such a pure heart.”

Caroline shrugged.

“I am just being me. I don’t know why Andrew doesn’t see me for who I am. He thinks because I am uneducated, that I am incapable of doing anything. That’s a big lie because I am harder working than my sister. I don’t understand why he doesn’t believe in me.”

Millie noticed the hurt in her eyes. She collected the glass cup from Caroline and placed it on the counter.

“Tell me what’s wrong. What did he say to you?”

“He told me that my grandma left her mine under my name. I had no idea until he’d informed me tonight. I was really excited about it, but he did not seem genuinely confident that I couldn’t manage it. He offered me a document to sign. I just hope he gives me a chance to prove what I am capable of.”

“What document is that?”

“I do not know. I couldn’t read it. But it had my name written on it in bolded letters.”

“Did he not explain the content to you?” Millie was in doubt.

“No….” Caroline disagreed. “Was he supposed to?”

Millie already sensed something fishy in the idea, but she’d shaken it off and continued cleaning.

“Next time, do not sign a document without knowing the context. I am sure Andrew knows what he is doing.”

Caroline smiled.

“I know he can be money driven, but I trust him. You won’t believe the jealousy in his eyes when he saw other men stare at me today.”

Millie raised her eyes.

“Really?! That guy got jealous….”

“I couldn’t believe it myself. He held my hand and didn’t let it go. He does have amazing colleagues though. I made a couple of friends today.”

“You are an easygoing individual so I am not surprised.” Millie had hit her playfully on the back.

***

Caroline went on gisting about that evening and how Drey followed her into the female bathroom. Millie was extremely confused about the information she was told, but she’d tried not to give it so much thought. After telling Caroline good night and turning off all the lights, she’d made her way to the balcony where Andrew spoke with a business official. Andrew caught sight of her and ended the call promptly.

“Someone important is here, I will speak to you later.” He told who was at the other end of the call.

Millie blushed.

“You still cut your business calls for me. When will you grow up Andrew? You can’t me to your business folks.”

“You are like a mother to me. Your needs matters to me the most, just like my mom’s”

She smiled and nodded in agreement.

“Of course it should matter. I took care of you more than your mum ever did. Rich people’s problem.”

Andrew nodded.

“Have you eaten?” He asked.

“I ate with Caroline before she went to bed.” She explained.

“O! That lady has gone to bed.” Andrew ran his hand on his beard.

“Yes, she has. She is 4 months pregnant and needs all the rest she can get.”

“Alright then. I will join her later when I am sure she’s in a deep sleep. I do not want to disturb her.”

Millie nodded, but her eyes showed she had more to say. Andrew read her like an open book.

“What did I do now?” He surrendered.

“You gave Caroline a document to sign. What document was that?” Millie asked.

Andrew paced for a short while feeling unimpressed by the question.

“Did she complain to you now?”

“No she didn’t, but she seemed clueless of what was on it. The only thing she recognized was her f*king name….”

“I understand her tension. I should have explained the document to her. I just chose not to….”

“What was in that document?” Millie asked.

“Caroline’s family are highly intuitive people. Their business flourish like honey and they get partnership deals with almost everyone. The reason why I am involved with her in the first place is to tap into their business world. Her pregnancy was the least of my expectations, I swear. Anyway,…” he shook that thought off. “I made her sign an agreement that after she gives birth to her child, she would let me handle everything that has to do with the mine. It would still be under her name, but I will have the upper hand.”

Millie was astounded. She frowned with disgust and hit him hard on the shoulder.

“Why the hell will you do that? What sort of monster are you?! Do you have any empathy at all, Andrew?! She is the mother of your unborn child.”

“I am a businessman, Millie. I do not operate by emotions.” He defended himself. “I am not with her for love. I do not care about those things. I want to be one of the top entrepreneurs in the world. To flourish in the business world, you have to bury your sentiments. Caroline could have seen through me if she wanted. Her sister saw through me! But what had she done, she fell pregnant. Why would she do that? I had almost abandoned her anyway.”

Millie couldn’t believe he was saying all these. She had tears gathering in her eyes now.

“Why would you blame her for the baby? You were the one who slept with her. I remembered when she mistakenly entered your room that night….”

“Please do not cry now. You will make me feel bad. I do not want to feel hurt because of you.”

“I am deeply disappointed, Andrew. You have disappointed me so many times, but this time you drew the last straw. You are taking advantage of a lady that loves you. A lady who did you no wrong. If it were left to me, I will report you to her parents and send her as far away from you as possible.”

Andrew didn’t like the sound of that.

“Millie, you won’t do that.”

“I am not even going to get involved with both of you anymore. I am tired of this toxic relationship.”

Millie walked back into the building feeling her headache. She was in her mid fifties crying out loud. Why did she have to suffer so much stress such as that? She felt bad for Caroline, but knew Andrew needed a lot to change. She walked into her room and shut her door. She’d prayed silently and hoped her son would graduate from college soon, so that she could leave that job.