Chapter Seven:An offer!
1280 Words
"Mummy, mummy! let us play a game" Emily cried.
Serena was struck between gardening today or giving in to her kid's demands to play with her. Esekel and Emily, her two beautiful twins were always bugging her.
In her darkest time, she had these children and they brightened up her life, they came into her life and added colour to her grey life and brought her happiness when she was drowning in agony, but the kids were a handful sometimes.
They were just five years old but they sure stressed her, it was their summer break and if anything she knew they needed a vacation now, but she just couldn't decide where to travel to.
"Uncle Sam!" Esekel screamed at the top of his voice, he jumped off the couch and ran into Sam's open arms
"And where is my angel, Emily? " Sam laughed as he carried Esekel over his shoulders,
"She's with Mom, they are in the garden" Esekel was overjoyed to see his uncle and the expression on his face was priceless.
Sam walked briskly over to the garden, of course, Emily saw him and ran towards him, and the duo shared a passionate embrace.
"Finally, someone who can help me"
Asher was expecting Sam, in fact he invited him over because he needed his help
"Okay, you both can play now, but I'll be back" he dismissed the kids and gave Asher a firm handshake
"So, what's so important Asher, you sounded frustrated over the phone?"
"Why won't I be frustrated when your sister wants to throw away a 10 million dollar deal?" At the mention of the money, Sam's eyes widened towards Asher, his sister was getting so many well paying gigs, lately
"What!, How?, Why?, Where is she?" Sam's voice was a mixture of excitement and anger
"Slow down honey, first of all, we all need to sit, she's in the garden right now, we can all sit there and have a decent conversation".
Asher and Sam took one left turn and entered the garden. Serena hugged her brother, but he didn't seem interested in the hug, he just moved her from her roses over to the chair in front of the garden.
"Sam I hope you're not here because of Asher"
"Oh, darling, he's here because of me" Asher turned his eyes over to Sam and continued "Now please, talk to your sister"
"I'm lost too, what deal are we actually talking about " Asher asked
"It's Ales.........."
"Shhhhh, I'm the one talking" Asher cut in, interrupting Serena
"Well dear Sam, two days ago I got an email from a luxury perfume brand"
"Go on" Sam gestured with his hands
"They are actually a new firm and they want Serena here to feature in a few commercials to promote the brand for 10 million dollars" he took a deep breath and repeated himself for clarity, making air quotes with his fingers "10 million dollars"
"Oh my God sis, this is good news, what's the hold up about?" Sam was ecstatic, his sister kept growing and growing and he couldn't help but feel proud
"I guess I can speak now" She rolled her eyes at Asher and turned her gaze to Sam
"Well, I would never accept any business offer from Alessandro Nasir, period!".
Serena remembered reading that email two days ago, it brought back so much pain and anger, that she felt irritated to the pit of her stomach.
The memory she had tried to fight back for the past five years of her life, came out of nowhere staring her in the eye.
She alone knows how she had to suffer because of Alessandro.
She suffered the most cruel heartbreak ever, and Alessandro never for once reached out after he shattered her heart and left her in tiny little pieces, but now he needed her, never!
The offer was great, no doubt, she could have jumped on it if it came from another company, but since it came from Alessandro it was a big 'NO'.
The mere sight of Alessandro's name, irritated her, as far as the business proposal had something to do with Alessandro, she made it clear to Asher that she wasn't interested, but it's Asher, he doesn't take no for an answer, hence the kangaroo panel meeting.
"So! " Sam responded, throwing a nonchalant look at her
"What do you mean by 'so? I said I'm not taking the offer and that's final" Serena stood up and marched back into the house, she wasn't in the mood for the conversation, but Asher and Sam were, they followed her immediately.
Serena's feet finally stooped at the kitchen, the tears she thought she had long abandoned gathered up in her eyes, threatening to fall, the lump in her throat got harder and swallowing became very painful, all this pain, again because of Alessandro.
Sam got closer to her and held her shoulders, he wiped her eyes with his fingers and fixed his gaze on her.
"Serena don't you see, the universe has placed you above him, you're the best and his company wants to be associated with your greatness" a soft smile appeared on his lips "Look sis, this doesn't have to be hard, he didn't ask to see his ex-wife Serena Donalds, he asked to see the supermodel Serena Donalds, so why are you being so sentimental"
"He has a point you know" Asher added
"It's strictly for business, he hasn't reached out to you since, so why do you think there would be a conversation? Girl, it's strictly business this time, let's go show those bitches your sexy abs and take their cash"
They all burst into laughter.
The pain in Serena's chest suddenly disappeared. She thought about it in a new light, Alessandro didn't want to see her, technically he wanted a model so in strict sense it was just business.
Serena mirrored the smile on Sam's face, she thought about how the cheque would boost her net worth and smiled even more.
"Asher, please reply them" Serena was feeling a wave of fresh air.
"Girl" Asher paused, he let out a very corny laugh, after a few seconds he put himself together and continued "I replied already" This time Asher wasn't the only one laughing, Sam joined too.
Serena has always known Asher to be a goal getter, he didn't joke with money, and she found herself laughing too.
"So when am I supposed to travel? how long will it take?"
"One week max" Asher answered back
"Are we coming with you?,Mom"
"Please let us come with you Mom" Emily and her brother cried simultaneously, they didn't know what was happening but they weren't going to miss a chance to travel.
"No kids, you can't go with your mom, how about you spend some time with me" Sam offered to take the kids because the knew how stressful it was for Serena.
"Asher they can come if you're coming along"
"oh dear Serena, I wish I could come with you, but......"
"Please Mom, please Mom, we promise to be good Mom, please Mom" Esekel interrupted.
This was going to be tougher than She imagined, how was she going to face Alessandro alone, and bring the kids along?
Not that Alessandro would care about them, Serena thought to herself
"What are you going to do sis, these kids aren't going to stop nagging?"
"Well they'll come with me" Serena concluded
"Darling, are you sure" Asher was sceptical, he didn't think it was a good idea, not that he could offer any other assistance, he had other important things to attend to.
"Yes, what's the worst that could happen?"
- Writer
