Gilded Deception

Chapter2

Mr. Kamani has been the chauffeur for the Johnsons for years. He had been working for the family before his daughter Kim or the Johnson boys, Tyler and Eden, were born.

His years as a chauffeur have been good. He has never had any reason to complain or quit.

As he walked home that day with the cheque in his right pocket, he thought about how Mother Luck had shined her light on him and his family, and he thought of ways to convince Kim to accept Tyler's proposal.

“Hey dad!” Kim yells as she spots her dad coming in from the gate.

“Hey baby!” He replied, smiling.

Mr. Kamani loved his daughter so much that he always wanted to be rich to make her happy and buy her all the things she could ever possibly want.

"Daddy, walk fast! Dinner is getting cold!” Kim yells at the top of her voice, erupting laughter from her dad.

It has been the two of them for the longest time. After Kim lost her mother when she was ten, it became just the two of them trying to fill up the house with their laughter so the emptiness wouldn't be felt.

“Dad!” Kim yells again

“Calm down love, I'm already at the door.” Mr. Kamani replies between chuckles.

As he opens the door wanting to step in,he is enveloped in a hug by Kim.

“I have news daddy!” Kim said as she helped him with his bag and proceeded to the dining table.

“The news must be huge,seeing how happy you are and the feast you have prepared for us this evening.” Mr Kamani points towards the dining table.

“It's not a feast, daddy.” Kim laughs, pushing her hair from her face.

“What is it then?” Mr Kamani asks as he settles down into one one of the chairs.

“Okay, let's hear you, what's going on?” Her father quizzed

“you know I have been looking for a job, yeah?” She looks at her father for reassurance that he is aware that she had been looking for a job. Mr. Kamani just nods his head.

“Yes, I am aware.” He replies.

“Okay great! I got an offer today!” She screamed, an ear piercing scream that someone two blocks away would hear her.

“That's wonderful honey.” Her father said, his fork dancing around with pasta on his plate.

“You don't seem excited.” Kim said

“I am, trust me I am. I’m just a little tired.”

Mr Kamani said. The truth is he didn't know how to tell Kim about his discussion with Tyler, he knew she wouldn't agree and now he didn't want to ruin her good mood. At the same time, he doesn't want his relationship with the Johnsons to be affected by anything.

“Tired? Have you been driving all day? Tyler made you drive him all day?” Kim asked with a tone of disdain in her voice.

“No honey. It's just old age. I am no longer as strong as I used to be.” Mr. Kimani reaches for his daughter's hand and squeezes it.

“Don't worry, dad. I have a job now, I will take good care of you so that you won't need to work for the Johnsons anymore.”

Kim replied, her hand still interlocked with her father's.

“Thank you, my love”

They both continue with their food while Mr. Kamani debates in his head how to bring up the pressing issue.

“Kim dear?” Mr. Kamani said in a very low tone.

“Yes dad?” Kim replies

“Let's talk after dinner.”

After dinner, Kim waits in the living room for her father to join her. When her dad joined her, she could notice his palms were sweaty, and he was avoiding her eyes. She became worried.

“Dad, what's going on?” She asked

“I had a meeting with Tyler today.” He said he was still avoiding Kim’s eyes.

“Okay and?”

Mr. Kamani does not reply, the whole room suddenly becomes hot.

“What happened, dad? Did he fire you?”

Seeing how Kim was becoming worried and that wasn't his intention, Mr. Kamani's eyes meet those of his daughter’s and he finally spills.

“Tyler brought a proposition to me today. A proposition that will benefit everybody, including you.” Mr. Kamani smiles, trying to ease the tension in the room, and maybe if Kim sees how happy he is about the proposition, she too will be happy.

“What's the proposition?” Kim asked

“He wants to marry you.”

A rush of shock and anger washed over Kim, her eyes widened and her jaw tightened. Her face suddenly became red. She tried to say something, but her voice failed her.

“Dad, I don't understand.”

“Tyler is in love with you and wants to marry you. This will be a good way to unite both our families, we have known them for a long time, we are basically family, yeah.” But this is like a formal occasion.”

Kim kept quiet.

“What was your response to his proposition?”

“I told him I would speak to you about it.” Mr. Kamani said, his voice steady as he now felt relieved after dropping the bomb.

“You want me to marry him?” Kim asked her father, staring directly at him, her eyes could bore holes into his body.

"Kim, my dear, I want the best for you. This is the best, but if you do not want this, it is okay.”

Kim stood up and walked towards the window. From the window, she could see the large mansion belonging to the Johnsons. Her face did not give off any expression, it was blank.

“Kim, are you okay?” Her dad asked, but no reply came from her, she just stared at the window and then walked to her room, banging her door so hard that the entire building shook.