Chapter 60 She looks like Mr Dashiell
"Why do I feel the boss is treating you differently?" Benita asked, trailing after me. She refused to return to her office after the meeting, so she could gossip a little. Not only that, but I promised to take her home with me so she could see my babies, hence another reason for sticking to my side like a stubborn glue.
"What are you trying to say?" I stopped in my tracks and turned to face her, frowning as I folded my arms. "Why do you think he's treating me differently? Because he agreed to use my ideas? That's nothing, Nita. You should have seen how he opposed the idea when I first proposed it. He's only supporting me because he has discovered how right I was." I kept my tone neutral, hiding the slight tremor in it. The last thing I wanted was for others to know about my relationship with Brion.
"Nita? I love the nickname!" She clapped in glee, grinning. "I love it better than Benny."
"Oh, I'm glad you do." I turned to continue my stride to my office, praying she wouldn't return to the conversation.
"So, you are trying to say he's not treating you differently because he likes you?" She egged, her tone teasing.
I froze, the blood draining from my face at her words. Gulping, I closed my eyes, inhaling sharply before I resumed my walk. I almost tripped on my toes but righted my stance at the last moment. "Nova?"
"What's it?"
"Do you know who Mr Dashiell is? Aside from the work environment, I mean."
"Not at all," I lied, keeping my face straight and devoid of any emotions. The fewer people knew about my relationship with him, the better. It wasn't as if I intended to get back together with him. We would never return to being a thing, which was why I kept this a secret. It was for the best.
"But that doesn't seem so," she argued, not ready to let it slide. "Mr Dashiell seemed to know you. I can tell, even though I'm not that close to him. It's either you -"
"Can you quit talking about him?!" I whirled around to face her, folding my arms. "I don't want to hear about Mr Dashiell, Nita. I have heard about him all day in the boardroom. I need a rest!"
"But -" She gulped, staring down at her hands. "I just want to have a conversation with you, Nova. I didn't mean to anger you."
"I'm not angry. I'm just tired." My response came out more forced than I assumed it would. I knew she could tell.
"Sorry," she apologized, not looking up. "I guessed... Well, forget about it. It's not like you will understand." Sighing, she resumed her walk to my office, with her shoulders hunched like a tortoise carrying his shell. She didn't turn to look at me, but I could tell what was going through her head at the moment. She just wanted me to stop her.
Nita was a brooding mess until we arrived at my house. The sight of the River made her forget all about the incident at the office. "Oh my God, Nova, your son is an angel!" She gasped, kneeling so she could pat his hair. "How are you, darling? Do you still remember me???" She took his hand in hers, smiling at him. Her eyes sparkled like stars in a clear summer light, and her lips were spread in a smile as she watched him, her gaze hopeful.
"Of course, I do. You are Miss Benita, Mum's friend." River smiled at her, showing off his teeth. "Why are you here today?"
"I came to see you! Why do you sound as if you didn't miss me as much as I missed you?"
Chuckling
r disappointed tone, I walked over my favourite cou and plopped
door.
on it, looking
"Where's Willow and Mara?" I asked River,
was the one who met me by the
"They are..." The river frowned. "I think Mara is making Willow's hair. They chased me out of the room after I made fun of the hair. You can check it out if you like." Shrugging, he returned his focus to Benita, who was staring at him like a hard-end fan. She looked as if she had just seen a god walk down from heaven.
"I will go check up on those two." Rising to my feet, to walk towards my babies' room. "Girls, are you in there?" I knocked before I walked in. "Mum!"
Willow, who had her back to me when I wrapped in, rushed over to my side and hugged my legs. "You are back?!" she grinned. "How is my hair?" Letting go of me, she stepped back, so she could wait for me to see the new braid she got.
Though Mara's skills weren't as great as mine, it was good. The three-weaved hair looked much better than on my first try. The beads they put on the tip jiggled when they touched each other. "This is awesome, darling. I love it!"
"You think it's good?" Mara whispered, rising from the bed. "That took me two hours to perfect, yet I feel it's mediocre compared to your first braid. It's not great. It's bad."
"No, it's not!" Willow and I yelled at the same time. "You did wonderful, Mara. I like it." I walked over to her, and patted her left shoulder, smiling.
"I think so too!" Willow twirled once more, obviously in love with her hair. "I need to show this to River!" Yelling, she hastened out to the room, calling out to her brother as she did so. "Believe me, Mara, you are good." I grinned at her. "Come on, let's go to the sitting room. I got something for you."
She looks like Mr Dashiell
"I know it now, Nova," Benita said when we arrived at the parlour.
"Know what?" I frowned at her, confused by her words.
"Who your daughter reminds me of. She looks like Mr Dashiell."