Icing on the Cake

“Welcome Mr. Jaden, I hope you love the job?” Mr. Browne surprisingly asked Jaden Ludascott. “With all pleasure, sir, I do love it,” Jaden answered. “And here is my daughter, Sylvia,” Mr. Browne said, referring to the young lady by his side. He faced her and said, “Sylvie, this is Jaden Ludascott. He’ll be your new driver.” The bright charming smile that was once on Sylvia’s face disappeared quickly and shock replaced it. Wayne Browne glanced at Jaden before looking back at her. Lowering his voice he said, “C’mon, acknowledge him.” Sylvia sighed and turned to Jaden. Her dad was the type to acknowledge everybody irrespective of their financial status or their physical appearance. He treated everybody fairly. She offered Jaden a bland smile and said, “It’s nice to meet you.” “My pleasure, miss,” Jaden answered politely, offering a bright smile in return. “Dad, I think we need to talk. Excuse us,” she said to Jaden. He nodded and Wayne Browne asked, “Okay then, I hope you’ll start work right away?” “Yes sir.” “Okay. I’ll be on my way to a meeting now.” “Take care, sir.” “Dad, I think you’re missing the point here,” Sylvia chipped in unable to hold it in anymore. “How is that so?” Wayne asked, turning to her. “I don’t need a driver. I can drive myself.” “So you could run off again anytime you want, eh?” “Dad, it’s not like that.” “Then what is it like? Whenever I give you a piece of freedom, you take a whole bunch of it and even though you always promised you will never run off anymore, you still do. Then, what do you want me to do?” “But it’s not like I’m sixteen anymore. I need to travel round the world,” Sylvia protested. “And when you want to do that, do you take anybody to protect you?” “I can take care of myself daddy! I don’t need any protection, not from you or anybody.” “Oh! Do you forget you are my daughter? There are lots of people out there who will give anything to have you in their custody so they can take anything they want from me,” Wayne said and sighed. “Please Sylvia; I don’t want to have this discussion here. Jaden has been appointed as your driver and your bodyguard. He’ll follow you everywhere you go except I and your mum says he can’t. I will love it very much if you accept this.” Then, turning back to Jaden, he said, “I will leave her now in your care, Jaden. Please take good care of her. That is my only wish. Don’t mind if she proves stubborn, she can also be very friendly at times.” Jaden bowed his head slightly and said, “I’ll make sure I do my best, sir.” “I’ll be on my way now,” Wayne said and turned to Sylvia. “Make sure you behave. I’ll be back tomorrow or next, and expect your mum too; although she might come next tomorrow.” With that, Wayne turned and walked to the awaiting car, leaving a very shocked Sylvia with Jaden. Wayne got into the car and in no time, the car was gone. Sylvia regained herself and took a deep breath before turning to look at Jaden who was also looking at her. She threw him a disdainful look but was taken aback though by the charming smile he gave her. She scowled and asked, “What is it?” “It really is a pleasure meeting you, Miss Browne,” Jaden replied coolly. Sylvia paused. “So, are you happy?” “Of course, I am happy,” Jaden replied, surprised by the question. “Yeah, and it is going to be my greatest pleasure when you’re out of this house. Then, I’ll be really happy.” “Uh... I think you should be showing me round the house and not out of the house.” She shot him a steely look before replying, “And why should I show you round the house?” “That’s because I’ll be staying here too,” Jaden replied, smiling as he knew it would make her angrier. “What!” Sylvia shouted. This had really gone out of hand. First, her dad had hired a driver – who didn’t even look like one – for her. Next, the same guy he hired was her bodyguard and he would also stay at the house, and to think all these happened without her knowing. Well, maybe even more were coming. She frowned and turned quickly, half-running and half-walking back to the house, her heels clinking against the glassy staircase. Jaden still stood there staring at her as she went inside. This was going to be a hell of a job. He didn’t even know why he applied in the first place. Yet, from the look of things, Mr. Browne had already handed over his daughter into his care, and he guessed it was going to be hard before Miss Browne trusted him. Regaining himself, he rushed inside to catch up with Sylvia. He didn’t want a bad report on his first day of work so he had to be sure she was okay and was not going to do anything funny. He got to the long corridor leading to the rooms and sighted Sylvia almost reaching her room. He hoped she was not going to do anything funny in there. Clearing his throat, he said, “Miss Browne, wait up!” Sylvia stopped in her tracks. How dare he? How dare he use that informal tone with her? But before she could start walking towards her room and pretend she didn’t hear him, he appeared right in front of her. “Miss Browne, are you okay?” Jaden asked, not knowing what else to say. Sylvia eyed him suspiciously. “I’ll prefer it if you use my first name.” “Okay. Miss Sylvia, are you...?” “No ‘Miss’ please,” she cut in, already irritated. “OK.” This was hard! He thought, trying to make himself remain calm. “So, are you okay?” She turned to look behind her as if the question was not directed at her. She looked back at him. “Who are you talking to? Me?” Jaden sighed. “Sylvia,” he said, stressing every syllable. “Are you okay?” Her lips twitched. “Why are you asking me that kind of question?” “That’s because you are supposed to be in my care,” Jaden replied, almost loosing it. Nah. A driver needs to remain calm and collected and humble. Yes. And should not talk back, he reminded himself. She looked at him for a while before turning her face and sighing for the umpteenth time. She didn’t need to be reminded of the dilemma she had found herself in. She walked past him towards her room and Jaden followed her. She got to her door and stopped. “I am okay. And don’t ask that kind of question to me ever again.” She turned to him. “I hate it, especially from you.” “Especially from me or just from me,” Jaden asked. Sylvia glared at him for a while before turning the door knob. Then, as she was about to close the door, she saw he was still standing there. “So, what are you still doing here? Or are you going to ‘take care of me’ in my room too?” She scowled and slammed the door, the corridor echoing the resounding sound. She leaned against the door and let out a heart-wrenching sigh. She closed her eyes, remembered the kind of state she was in, and then she rushed and fell flat on her bed, allowing herself a good cry. After about ten minutes, she regained herself and reached for her phone. She needed to talk to her best friends. She dialled Sandra’s number first but there was no answer. Maybe, she was at a meeting since she was already working as a lawyer. Next, she tried calling Sally’s number but it was switched off. What on earth was going on? She fell back on her bed and within minutes, she was asleep. JADEN LUDASCOTT had waited outside Sylvia’s room for some time before he finally convinced himself that she was okay. Then, he left in search of any other worker who might show him round the house. He saw one of the housekeepers who readily agreed. In about forty-five minutes, Jaden had seen just half of the house. He had tried taking in the whole landscape; the beautiful yellow wide stone driveway, the trees that stood behind the black iron fence that surrounded the huge front yard, and he would say that the house was money itself. The gardens were filled with red, yellow, and orange hibiscus together with red and white roses and also yellow sunflowers that brightened the green grass with splashes of colour. The house was butterscotch-yellow stucco, with rich cocoa-brown trim and columns that rose to the flat roof overhang and a sparkling glass front door. The garage doors wore an orange paint. Rows of wide, flat steps made of emerald-coloured stones led from a wall of French doors at the back of the house to an in-ground pool. Shiny emerald-coloured tiles intermingled with tan and yellow tiles rimmed the pool and also created a walkway that led to the patio of the same stone as the stairs. Behind the patio was a huge gazebo and beyond the well-mowed backyard was the canal where a bright white yacht was docked. Then, the housekeeper took Jaden inside the magnificent house and showed him the various rooms; his own room, the large family room, the sitting rooms, the large kitchen, and the bathrooms. An hour and half had almost gone by when they were through with the tour. Then, Jaden thanked the kind housekeeper and went into his room. Drat. He was exhausted. The house was big, fine, but he was surprised. Not because he hadn’t seen such a house as this, but he didn’t expect such a simple businessman as Wayne Browne to have a house as large as this. And by simple, he didn’t mean ‘not very rich’. He meant his character was just so accommodating, not proud and arrogant like some other business men who had made it big in the industry. He went to his window and took in the house once more. His room provided a clear and beautiful panorama of the pool and flower gardens. Jaden breathed in the air and smiled. It just seemed as if the air here was different. Then, he brought out his phone and called his best friend, Keith Roberts. Well, it seemed like Keith Roberts was more of a brother than a best friend to him. He was the one who had persuaded Jaden to apply for a driving job at Wayne Browne’s, and Wayne was in need of one for his daughter who was fond of running away from home without anybody to accompany her, so that also provided another job opportunity for him – a bodyguard. So, he had accepted the job and his everyday prayer now was that Wayne should not find out about his roots. Jaden called Keith’s number but he was not answering the call. Well, maybe he was busy; Jaden concluded and dropped his phone. Suddenly, he remembered Sylvia and guessed she would still be sleeping. He then stripped off his clothes and had his bath before going to check on Sylvia.