Chapter Thirty Three

Grace spent the whole day in my studio. We talked at length. She told me about her work, including what she is expected to do as a model and influencer for the company.

“ I would like to work with you. Will you be my stylist, technician, and make-up artist? I need to help boost your business and refer you to potential clients. Is that okay with you?” She asked casually 

“ Of course, I would be glad to work with you”. 

“ That means your staff needs to follow me everywhere I go whenever I need your service”. She informed me.

“ That won't be a problem, we are at your service anytime, any day” I assured her.

Grace waited until the close of work for the day, and she insisted on following me home, at least to bond together because she hadn't been to my house ever since I got married.

“ Welcome to my humble abode,"  we got home and I led her In.

Grace was marveled at what she saw as she stepped in.

“ You own a mansion here, nice settings, your husband is indeed a man. You must be really enjoying it. I trust Lawson is taking good care of you with all this I am seeing”. She commented.

It's nothing Grace, it's just a house, he just tried to be comfortable in his place that's all”.

“ Caroline, please get us something to drink first and then find us some good food to eat afterwards”. I instructed.

 Caroline brought us some red wine and dashed to the kitchen to make our food ready.

“This food is so nice, she is a good cook, and her plating is very enticing” She commended the cook's effort.

We finished eating and I expected Grace to leave after some time, but no she didn't.

When I noticed she wasn't ready to leave, I needed to ask her what she was up to.

“Grace, don't you think the time has gone? You should be going home by now”.

“ Are you chasing me? Since we are just reconnecting, I think we need to spend more time together, but if you think I have overstayed my welcome, I can go. Besides it's been a long time since I saw Lawson too, I need to say hi to him as well”. 

“I can't chase you from my house, but you didn't tell me you would be staying over when you come. Anyways, I need to inform Lawson you are here”. I picked up my phone to call him, but the call hadn't gone through to him, then I heard the sound of his car outside.

“ I think Lawson is here” I informed her.

He entered and saw Grace sitting comfortably on the sofa in the sitting room.

“ Grace? Long time no see. Where have you been all these while? You made us all worried the other day”.

“ This is me fresh and blood in your house. I came visiting and will be spending some days with your family, am I welcome?”

“ Of course, stay as long as you want, I need to go upstairs now to freshen up”. He hurriedly left the sitting room.

A week passed without Grace making any effort to leave, she stayed at home all through it if she didn't have any work to do, and sometimes came to my studio and we would come home together.

“ Grace, I just got a deal with the NORA company to be a model for their skincare products,I will be traveling for three days. I need two of your staff to be with me throughout, I will pay you handsomely.”

“That's a great one, this is business, negotiation is very important. You need to treat my staff right.

“I will forward to you the charges required, and of course, I will give you a discount as a family”. We concluded.

Grace followed me to the studio the day they were traveling, she needed to get her makeup done and her nails.

“ Can't you see you are spilling make-up on me? You lack manners”.

“ But I asked you to sit properly, you can't be pressing your phone while making up.” The girl attending to her responded.

“ You must be very stupid for talking to me in such a way, I apply make-up every time and they are not rude like you.

I noticed she is not well-behaved, the way she talked to those girls was uncalled for, so I had to intervene.

“ Grace calm down, she is not rude to you. You need to relax your body when they make-up for you, you can't just sit anyhow or move”. I bluntly told her.

“ I knew you would support your staff, instead of correcting her and making her adjust, you chose to humiliate me in their presence. Thanks so much.”. She stood and was about to leave.

“ It's not up to that, alright I will scold them but you also need to do better as well”. I informed her.

I called the girls who would be following Grace to my office.

“ You guys need to be careful, do your work perfectly, and don't give Grace any chance to talk to you anyhow. Make sure she doesn't get angry at the slightest opportunity she has, do you get what I am trying to say?” I warned them.

When I was through with them, I called Grace who was ready and waiting for the girls inside the car also.

“ Why do you call me in when you know we are running late already”. Grace complained.

“ I am sorry to delay you, I want to implore you to take things easy with the girls. I trust and believe they will carry out your work diligently, but please don't provoke them. I know how your temper can be” I pleaded with her.

The car moved to their destination and I got a call from Grace that they arrived safely.

I got a call in less than an hour from one of the girls.

“I can't take this, I need to come back home” She told me.

“What happened, why do you need to return home?” I i

nquired but she said she would explain when she saw me and hung up the call.