DEAR MUMMY, I FOUND DADDY

CHAPTER 4

"Sit at home, watch cartoons and don't leave the house playing matchmaking." I instructed with a stern look.

Alyssa nodded. She had nodded this way so many times but did the opposite.

"Mummy loves you. I will be back." I kissed her cheeks, stormed out of the house and got onto a public bus. And then dropped at Skyline company.

I froze on my track seeing the receptionist's hall was crowded with other young individuals.

I received a number.

"32."

I cried out. The interview was at 10:00am. I had gotten here by 9:30 am believing I was an early bird. Obviously, I wasn't the only one in need of a decent job.

Finally, only one person was left. Those who had been interviewed did not look cheerful at all. They all came out murmuring some words and stormed off the office.

"Number 32."

The receptionist called out.

"It's your turn."

I followed into the luxurious office. A lady conducted the interview alone. Her bright pitch gown and jewelry screamed millions. She gestured for me to sit while she continued making her call.

"Uhmm. Okay boss, you won't be coming to the office today. Noted. I will take care of everything, boss, and do as you have said."

She hung up.

"Name." Her voice wasn't as gentle as she looked.

"April."

At the mention of my name, the lady straightened up as if the name sounded familiar to her.

I handed some papers to her. Without thoroughly going through my credentials, she pushed it back to me.

"You're hired."

***

*Flashback*

"My mummy is really smart and hardworking. Trust me, you won't regret employing her in your company."

The little girl spoke boldly to a male stranger. Disobeying her mum once again and going out to play matchmaking. She told him a lot about her mummy and how she had gone for a job interview at Skyline.

"Alright Alyssa, your mummy just got the job."

"Thank you, you're so kind, and you will make a good husband for my mummy."

The man was quiet. He just looked at her. The more he looked at her, the deeper the connection she felt. Alyssa was a little kid but super smart and the man could also feel his bond with her.

**

April's pov

I returned home with bubbles of floating excitement. My interviewer, Hailey, was so nice, as if we had known ourselves. I got the position of secretary to the CEO and expected to resume work on Monday. The most interesting part is, I was offered a lot of money to fix up her wardrobe.

"Tell me I'm not dreaming."

I sank into the chair, still skeptical of everything. My brain kept asking and answering a lot of questions at the same time. Soon my attention was distracted by a loud knock.

"Are you sure this is your house?"

The stranger impatiently knocked.

"Yes Mr."

On hearing Alyssa's voice, I did not wait another minute.

"Alyssa."

I yelled out opening the door. But soon froze, seeing who had returned with my little daughter. My heart skipped for a split second, looking into those dangerous black eyes again. After all these years, I never thought I would see him again.

"Mummy, I got you a husband."

I felt so embarrassed, my cheeks stained red. I wished the ground would just open and swallow me up now.

"He got you a job mummy, he is a good man."

She licked her ice cream cone.

'He is not a good man.' I screamed in my head.

"I'm Manuel."

He extended his hands. The last time we met he hadn't told me his name. Our meeting was just quick and swift.

April cleared her throat.

"I'm April."

She refused his handshake.

"Alyssa, go inside and clean up now."

Sarah obeyed, smiling one last time at Mr. Manuel, who had been too nice to her.

"I hope to see you again, Mr."

"You will be seeing more of me at your doorstep. "

Mr. Manuel waved her goodbye. His attention returned to April, who had buried her head on the floor, looking at nothing in particular.

"Look at me."

Manuel ordered. After five years, he still hasn't changed his authoritative and possessive nature. Some things never change after all.

Looking at him, I realized how deeply Alyssa took after his physical features. Dark eyes, pointed noses and the grin on their faces when smiling.

"I should get you arrested in April. How could you send out a little child to go play matching making?"

My throat went dry with his accusations. So quick of him to pass judgment without hearing my own side of the tale.

Not knowing what else to say. I tried closing the door. Manuel stopped the door with his leg. Veins protrude from my neck trying to get his leg off the door.

Crack...

A plate crashed to the floor, followed by another sound alerting both of us.

"Alyssa."

Alyssa laid on the floor motionless with shreds of broken plate by her side. Luckily, there wasn't any cut on her delicate skin.

"My love what happened to you."

I cried out. Fear gripped me at the thought of Alyssa dying.

"Take your hands off my child."

I rebuked Manuel, slapping his hands away from Alyssa. I was going to do it all by myself, just like five years ago when I gave birth before the nurses arrived. Alyssa calls her a superhero. That's what I was going to do now.

I lifted Alyssa up and moved three steps to the door and felt a wave of dizziness hit my head and I staggered, almost dropping Sarah on the floor.

Manuel immediately caught both of us.

"So help you Lord, you drop my child."

Manuel glared at me, taking Alyssa from my hands.

Within ten minutes, we were at the hospital. It usually takes fifteen minutes to get to the hospital, all thanks to Manuel's fast driving skills.

"I can't afford the bills of this hospital."

I held his hands but soon took my hands off at his icy stare.

"Her father will pay the bills."

Every nurse and doctor moved at a fast pace, doing their possible best to revive Alyssa. I was somehow stupefied by the scene. They regarded Mr. Manuel with so much esteem right from the moment he stepped into the hospital environment. I guess he's one of their top clients.

Alyssa was taken to the very important section of the hospital on the fourth floor. No one asked unnecessary questions, they seemed to know what they were doing, which I kinda liked.

I had to sit and wait. I would have loved to pace back and forth, the hammer pounding on my forehead hadn't stopped. Thinking about what had caused the dizziness, I remembered I hadn't eaten right from the previous night up till this afternoon because I had been so excited about my new job.

After a few minutes, a doctor came out, walking straight up to Mr. Manuel leaving me in the dark. From the little I heard my baby was going to be fine. Right now she was sleeping.

"Thank you."

Manuel greeted the doctor, then returned his gaze at me. He liked concern about the beads of sweat on my forehead despite the room being cool. I looked pale and sick, far worse than Alyssa.

"You've got some explanation for me."

Said Mr. Manuel with eyes that could see through the deepest soul of a man. Perhaps he could see I was hungry.

"There is a canteen on the second floor. That's where you would find me."

With that said, echoes of his heels kissing the floor faded as he entered the elevator with a warning sign in his eyes not to dare disobey him.

I would love to eat something right now, but definitely not with him. Oddly, I found myself seated in the same space with Manuel devouring the food on my plate, eating to my very satisfaction, not minding who was and wasn't watching me.

"Thank you."

I said after the meal, then twisted my heels about leaving.

"Why didn't you use the pills?"

Pills.

My brow creased in confusion. Yes, there were some pills on the table, but I never thought they were meant for me. There weren't any instructions or notes that said I was to take the pills.

" I didn't think I would get caught in a trap like this.

He brought out a cigarette and let it ignore the no-smoking sign boldly written in every corner of the canteen.

"Excuse you Mr. Manuel. This isn't a trap and if I could turn back the hand of the time to correct the pass I wouldn't hesitate."

He chuckled at my words, as though it meant nothing.

"I have no doubt you planned it. I would give you an award for the best actress."

My lips pressed together. I was out of words to put this arrogant man in his place.

" You should have called when you discovered the baby. Still, I want proof that it's mine. "

His mouth twisted nastily. "Although I'm sure it is. I have seen the birthmark."

"Mr. Manuel, my child isn't an it. Alyssa is a person and a blessing from God to me. She isn't a burden to bear."

I raised my voice in the quiet room. Eyes were beginning to stare, but I did not care, so I continued.

"We do not NEED you."

My eyes flamed with unquenchable anger.

"Drop the pride April. You can't even take care of yourself."

He was definitely talking about that night.

"That night was different Mr. Manuel. I'm not some slut."

I wanted to forget about that night and the misery I had faced over the years, the pain and opportunities I missed because I was a single mum. All the same, I don't regret keeping Alyssa. She's a sweet girl.

"You were angry and did something reckless because you wanted revenge."

"Yes."

I sniffed back tears.

"You see."

He leaned forward, shaking the ashes off his cigarette.

"To avoid further mistakes in the future, I'm going to take Alyssa from you, and you will never see her again. If you try coming close to me and my daughter, I will get you arrested."