Chapter 5

An offer

Elina keep glancing at the clock on the wall, that has been the only thing she’s been doing for the past hour while eating her pancakes. She wanted a distraction, something to take off her mind off Ray, the look in his eyes, when she asked him out. He looked disgusted and totally off it. That’s what she’s been so scared of. Being rejected.

Shithead!

Who would want her anyway, she’s pretty. Plump and clumsy. Partially blind, couldn’t see a thing without her glasses.

Tears prickle at the corner of her eyes. She’s not wanted.

Shove the plate of pancakes aside and buried her face in her hands. With an already lost appetite.

How’ll she face him now, her plans were to stay in the Carols but she had to walked home, upon reaching home, she throw herself in the bed, crying to sleep.

Her eyes were all puffy and swelled when she woke up, which was quite unusual she had to use a mascara.

Lifting her head and staring at the clock again, time to leave the house. Taking nothing but her small pulse. And her phone.

“I thought you were on leave?”

“I ne’er thought you could do that. Where did all those courage came from. The super shy Elly Who won’t look up to a boy in the eye. Asked a guy out. Look at you all grown up.”

“Oh please Barbra.” Elina whispers with a hint of embarrassment down her throat.

“How’s your mom? Carol thought me she was sick that’s why you took a leave, I didn’t except you to get back so quickly.”

“It wasn’t anything serious, she fine now. Apparently My elder sister came back from her trip yesterday, so here I am.”

“It’s good you’re back, this place has been suffocating while you’re away.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“You just sounded like Ray. I’m fine, it’s nothing to worry about. Am sure it’ll pass.”

She place a hand on Elina shoulders. She touched her hands on hers. And squeeze it a little, giving her an assuring smile.

Barbra was like an elder sister to her and her best friend. The only female she talks to. Who understood her and try her best to be their for her, she was few months other than her. She was eighteen. Elina would be, in a couple of months away. But you would think is either sixteen or fifteen, because she didn’t look quite her age. Elina was taller. To her Barbra was prettier, she had always admire those perfectly curved face. Her cute eyes.

She was the only one ugly. And always gets mad when she keep on insisting she was pretty. Her own friend, mocking her was something she couldn’t bare. Like she didn’t have a mirror at home. Her eyes weren’t sexy or cute. She slightly escaped being called fat. And not to talk of the pimples on her face.

Pretty huh?

“I understand why you had feelings for him, he’s been with you for years. Loving, caring and he’s super cute.”

Elina rolled her eyes, something she hardly does.

“But What isn’t there to like about you, you’re smart, you’re sweet, you’re... you’re.. well there’s something good about you.”

“You’re worse than Ray.” She slapped her hands of her. With a playful glare. Speaking of Ray, what would he be feeling, she just ruin their relationship of ten years. She couldn’t have just concealed it, like she’d always done. Pretended she never like him. Now she had made the situation difficult for them both.

She was about replying Barbra when a customer enters, she shut her lips and turn to the customer.

“Duty call” Barbra whispers in her ear.

The day ran quite fast, and they had being so busy attending to customer which rarely happens on a normal. Monday, well it could be because Ethan was here yesterday, that was it.

She snapped her finger.

Though she keep staring and wishing Ray would pass through the door. But he didn’t. Not even his shadow. Guess she was right, she had pushed him away. She hit the spoon on her head.

Stupid!

She was stupid.

“Okay?” Barbra gave her a questioning stare. She nodded with a small smile. And turned away from her.

And finally they were done from the day.

She took her purse. And pulled her uniform away from body...

“Bye Elly baby.”

“Bye.”

She waved at Barbra and waited for her to get into the bus, she waved again and Barbra waved back and until the car bus took off.

She watched solemnly towards her own path, dragging her feet with her bag slung on her shoulders. Ray.

She missed him.

This was all her fault.

She opened the door and enters. Throwing herself in the couch, and shut her eyes. Her life, humph! She couldn’t even say anything about it. All she need was a change. A good one, which she would be happy and free. With lots of money.

“This is the rathole you live?”

She snapped her head quickly, too grateful it didn’t break. At the density which she had snapped it.

She was standing beside the door, examining the house. The word was hanged in her throat, she keep blinking her eyes at the intruder, she didn’t shut the door while she came in.

“How did you get In here?”

“You left the door wide opened. Excepting someone?”

“Non of your damn businesses. What’re you doing here?” She yelled, jumping off the couch, she misplaced her feet and fell on her face.

“You’re really are clumsy.” He chuckled and step in fully into the house with his shoes on.

“Ethan, what do you want?” He gritted her teeth. And stood up from the ground. Curling her fist into a thing ball.

He glanced around the house, shaking his head.

“You’re not just clumsy you’re dirty as well.”

“How did you know where I live?”

“Am sure you’re fully aware of who I am. Or you need an introduction. Am Ethan Brennon, the handsome son and last of the Brennon, who always gets what he wants”

“Since when did being handsome become a quality.”

He looked around again.

“What is this?”

“Just get out!” She gritted her teeth again. The annoying bastard, he could be around nineteen or twenty. Couldn’t be more than that. She gave him a disgust look. And hissed at him.

He smiled and tucked his hands on his pocket.

“I came here to offer you something beneficial, and before I do that, you’ll have to smile. At me.”

“Is that the way to make me pay, huh?” He smirked lower his head so he was the same height with her.

“Do you want to know what my offer is.”

She moved her head backward. And he moved his head closer.

“I don’t want to hear any stupid offer from you, just get out. Now!” She yelled.

He only laughed. And stood erect.

“You’ll love the offer. Cause it would bring you a lot of money. And change your life forever.”

Was this the change she was talking about, but why was it from someone like Ethan, who would perhaps want to ruin her or something.

She looked at him with a little curiosity, it won’t do any harm just to hear what the offer was right?

“What’s it about?”

“You wanna know? I told you to smile remember, smile.”

“Just say it and get out.” She glare.

Forcing a smile. “ What is it all about?”

“Am offering you a job..”

“How much?” She blurt out before she could stop herself and slaps her mouth a little.

“A million bunk.”

“To work at your place?” She butted in.

“Not really my place. But somewhere you would love.”

“How much did you say it was again.”

“A million bunk. Or more “

Her eyes bugle and her jaw dropped, didn’t mind the drool dropping down her mouth.

A blessing in disguise.

“Are you in or not?”

Is she worth it 06

“Is this some kind of joke. Ethan.”

“Do I look like someone who jokes around.” Ethan inquired, standing so close to her now. Her jaw was down, she still couldn’t find the right words to say.

“You’re not thinking of rejecting the offer are you?”

“What am I gonna do there?”

“The same thing you’re doing at Carols..”

He bit his lips, there was a sinister smile at his lips, which Elina was too dump to see. Her head was banging at the amount. A million bunk. In a month. Her college fee is settled, her rent. Everything is settled with just that million bunk. She could even buy new clothes, shoes and bags. If she works for three months it would be wow!

“Six months.”

“Three.”

Elina corrected.

“I’ll work for just three months.”

“You’ve made the best decision of your life. And note when you’re leaving don’t take any of this trash, I mean your dresses with. You ain’t taking a dine from here. Understand?”

She nodded and exhale.

“You’re strong and smart. You can do this.” She thought out loud to the amusement of Ethan.

“Hand me you cell phone. I’ll text the address.”

“Am going alone?”

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“What, I should stick to you. Are you out of your mind. They are expecting you just go over and do your thing. You can cook. Serve them on time, you know what to do.”

He gave her the phone once he had stored the address.

“That’s my phone number, you call me if anything comes up.”

“Okay.”

“Start now.”

“Now?”

“Are that dumb, write you resignation letter to carol. Now. First thing tomorrow morning you’re leaving here. He doesn’t like lateness. If you’re a minute late. Get ready to be beheaded.”

She looked shocked and a little terrified.

“That was a joke. Thought it was funny.” He laughed.

“Anyway don’t be late.” He turns and heads for the door.

“Remember this Elly, it’s once in a life time. Don’t be like the bamboo that breaks when it’s hit by a storm but be like the grass that will still raise after the storm.” He chuckled and shut the door behind him. That was weird.

“Are you a philosopher!”

She yelled. Hoping he heard, and he did.

“You’ll know what I mean soon enough!” He yelled back. She was leaning by the door. Totally confused. But she needed the money, if she keeps working for Carol she might never get the money till next year. That’s if she didn’t cut from her wages. And with this. It could be settled. At times like this she needed Ray.

She pulled her phone out of her pocket and called him. A couple of times but he didn’t pick up the call. And when she tried again it was switch off. She slowly slide to the ground. You’re own your own now. Elina, every decision you make is on you. Every step you take. You take the responsibility that comes with it. Cause it’s your life. Not anyone else’s .

And that life, if you don’t live it the way, you’d promise, someone will definitely be mad at you. And that was her mother.

Susan.

Dead.

She wanted you to go to school, make friends, have a lot of boyfriends, cry a lot. Happy always. Always with that beautiful smile on your face.

“You’re my life. Elly, you gave me a reason to be happy. You made me a mother. I don’t want you to suffer. I don’t want to cry yourself to sleep when you think about me. Live. That’s all I ask. I’ll be watching you.”

Elina covered her mouth to muffle her cries. Her words from her dying bed. She was crushed by a hit and run driver.

“ I hope have made you proud mother. I couldn’t make friends except Ray Who you forced us to be friends, and now my colleague. Barbra. No one else really liked me. They see me as a curse because I wasn’t pretty. They made no one talk to me. In high school I was mostly on my own was the best in high school. I won a lot of accolades. Made my school proud. I was offer a scholarship to complete high school.” She cried.

“I wanted to go to college but it’s hasn’t been easy, I wanted to study. Business. That was what we talked about remember. I really need the money to fulfill my dreams. Our dreams.”

Her face was filled with tears. And she wasn’t making any attempt to clean them off. After crying for long. She stood up from the ground and wipe her face with the hem of her dress.

No doubt, her journey starts tomorrow. She sat down with her laptop and began writing her resignation letter to carol....

He was standing facing the mirror as they had him dressed. His gaze was on the mirror but he was his attention was there.

“Don’t..” It was already too late before Aziel could scold him. The new recruit staff. Already had his hands on the body which he hates. Your hands mustn’t be on his body. Don’t touch them. Avoid them as plaque but button his shirt. His neck.

“He’s new, he doesn’t know..”

Kenzo gripped his hands and twists them.

“How did this twerp get in here?”

“Am so sorry “ He bow his head. But he knows nothing can be done, if he had been upset, there’s no second chance.

“You know what to do Aziel.” He took the gun from Aziel and cocked it.

Aziel turn to the two men beside the door. Giving them signals.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know.” Immediately they had a black cloth over his head.

“Don’t kill me please.” He cried as the strong arms held him. Down.

Not a good way to end but what can he do. He looked away when he pulled the trigger and hurled the gun at him. He caught it. Tucking them back in it’s rightful place. He killed him, without a hint of guilt in his eyes. He tuned to Aziel.

They dragged the body out of sight. And return almost immediately to wipe out the blood from the floor.

“Bring a bowl. I shouldn’t be telling you this. Aziel. You know your duty, if you don’t want to be beheaded.”

“Am sorry sir.”

He waved his off with his fingers. He returned as soon as possible with a bowl. Holding it up, so he could wash his hands. He could easily go over to the bathroom. Wash his hands and come back him. But he choose to send him around.

Well, he thought he was used to it. But it looks like he wasn’t.

He was buttoning his shirt by himself when came in, he bow and stood in beside him.

“What is it. Aziel? Why do I feel like you’re monitoring me. Do you need me to remind you I’m your boss. I’m Kenzo.”

At this point there was a slightly difference between him and Ethan. Proud. Assholes.

He dare not say that out loud. If he still wanna stay beside him.

“It’s about Ethan.”

“What about him.”

“He said. There’s something, or maybe someone you have to see, very urgently, this morning.”

“Didn’t you tell him, I have no spare time for games.”

“He sounded serious sir, I think that was what he wanted to tell you when he came. I think you should see what this is all about. We could delay the meeting for five minutes.”

He swirled around and face Aziel.

“And if it’s something not worth my time. Who takes the blame.”

“I’ll. You can have my head for it.”

“Sure enough.”

He smirks and returns to the mirror.

“And sir...”

“What else. Aziel.”

“The party.”

“What stupid party.”

“Sir you know what it is already. And you’re expected to be there if you really want to have lord Gilbert by your side.”

“Is that a threat.”

“That was what he made it sounds like.”

“That you may not like the outcome of it.”

“I’ll take that as a threat.”

“You sure should.”

He moved away from the mirror and Aziel helped him but his suit on. He fix his wrist watch. And glanced at it.

“Five minutes before the minute. Let’s wait for the quest or whatever you was coming. For five minutes. A little late than that. I’ve Your head for it.”

Aziel bow and followed him downstairs. Running to keep up with him. Cause he was quite fast. And he knew the reason for it. So he could put him on the spot again.

“Kenzo Brennon..” he whispered. They had been together for almost six years. When he was still struggling for the top. He had chosen him, to be beside him when lord Gilbert cast his aside. To be killed. If he hadn’t walked in at that moment and bought him from lord Gilbert. He would have been singing hallelujah. By now. He still doesn’t know why he picked him, choose him, aside from the couple of others. Why he shown mercy when he shouldn’t have. Why he suddenly became soft towards him.

He sat down at the chaise with his leg crossed. Everything about him was just so perfect.

“Waiting for your guest.”

“Actually is Ethan’s”

“It’s better worth my time. Aziel. Am telling you.”

With a tone as that. He knew one of them wouldn’t see the light. Either the quest or him.

Is the guest worth it?