CHAPTER 9

　　KAREN P.O.V

　　“What happened to you?” I asked and he Chuckled lightly.

　　“My principal wants one of you in my school tomorrow” he replied instead.

　　“Did you commit any offense? Why did your principal wanna see one of us?” I asked.

　　“You’re asking me too many questions, I am not in good mood, you will find out yourself when you get to my school tomorrow” he replied.

　　“Sky darling” mum called with a smile and he scoffed.

　　“Mrs. Martin, what happened?” He asked with a frown.

　　“Why’s your face like this? What happened to you?” Mum asked.

　　“Stop pretending as if you care” he snapped. “Are you okay? Why are you harsh on her?” I asked.

　　“Sky I care, so tell me what’s bothering you,” Mum said and he burst into tears.

　　I moved closer to him and hug him to myself. “You can tell us anything that’s bothering you, remember we are the only family you have,” I said and he nod his head.

　　“My girlfriend broke up with me yesterday, she leave me for the richest guy in our class” he replied and I backbite a laugh.

　　“Why did she leave you?” I asked. “Maybe because we aren’t rich” he replied.

　　“But I thought you have numerous girlfriends,” I said.

　　“No she’s the only one I love, my heart is burning,” he said and I clean his tears with my palm.

　　I am trying so hard not to burst into laughter.

　　I don’t wanna laugh at him, so he can be free to talk to us some other time.

　　Mum clears her throat to get out attention. She put on a perfect smile when she gets what she wants which is our attention.

　　“Sky darling, you know you’re still young for this, why don’t you work hard, make sure you pass all your exams, that’s what matters now, you will become rich in future I know that but only if you leave relationship and focus on your education,” Mum said.

　　“Mum is right, Sky” I replied.

　　“If truly education will make me rich why’s Karen not rich yet?” He asked.

　　“Being educated doesn’t mean you will be rich, but education can also make you rich, I believe Karen will also be rich, just focus on your education for now?” mum said and Sky nod his head like an obedient servant.

　　“Have you eaten?” I asked.

　　“No I didn’t have an appetite before, but I think I now have an appetite,” he said stretching his back.

　　“That’s my boy,” I said with a smile.

　　“Who’s your boy? Don’t place yourself too high” he said and walked out, I and mum exchanged looks immediately after he walked out and we burst into laughter at the same time.

　　“Pervert!” Mum said In-between laughter. “You understand the assignment perfectly, I thought you were going to laugh,” I said.

　　“I dare not when you aren’t laughing” mum replied.

　　“Derrick told me he has prepared our lunch, let’s go eat,” I said and she stood up immediately.

　　“Karen Derrick said you should meet him at your former working place, where you work as a cleaner” Sky said when we get to the dinner.

　　“When did he tell you?” I asked with a frown because I don’t trust Sky a bit.

　　“When he brought our lunch, I know you won’t believe me,” he said and play a record from his phone.

　　“Hope you aren’t deaf to listen to this?” He asked with a smirk.

　　“I’ll kîll you one day,” I said and Mum spank my àss.

　　“What’s my offense?” I asked with a frown. “How could you say you’re gonna kîll your brother,” Mum said.

　　“It’s a joke mum” I replied. “that joke is too expensive” she replied and I walked to the chair pretending to be angry and Sky scoffed.

　　“My love are you angry?” She asked.

　　“Don’t talk to me” I replied. “I was only trying to correct you, my dear, it’s wrong for you to say you’ll kîll your brother” mum said.

　　“Was that the reason why you’re scolding me in the presence of Sky?” I asked.

　　“Oh my bad, I am very sorry my love” she replied.

　　“I am not angry,” I said and burst into laughter. “Eat up, so you can go meet Derrick,” she said. “Alright, mum” I replied and blow her a kîss.

　　“Why did you ask me to come here?” I asked, I am currently at Derrick working place, should I say my formal working place after all I am once a worker.

　　“Wait let me attend to Miss Helen I’ll be right back,” He said and rushed out.

　　“Hey I heard someone bigger than me get you the sack,” Helen said.

　　“Thank goodness you know you’re an ant” I replied.

　　“How dare you insult me?” She said and lift up her hand.

　　“What are you trying to do? Trying to slap me? Thank goodness I am no more working here, I’ll bèat you to dèath just try me” I said and she drop her hand immediately, she clenched her fist angrily.

　　“Derrick, why did you invite her here?” Helen ask.

　　“I am a customer, you should treat me with respect,” I said before Derrick could say anything.

　　“Customer?” Helen asks with a scoff. “Yeah, did you have a problem with that?” I asked and she walked away angrily.

　　“Why did you tell me to come?” I asked.

　　“You look more beautiful today,” she said. “I know” I replied with a smile.

　　“You should at least pretend like you’re surprised for once,” Derrick said.

　　“I don’t like pretending, I love being real” I replied.

　　“Anyway it was the manager that sent for you” he replied.

　　“Why did he send for me?” I asked.

　　“I don’t know, he ask you to come to meet him in his office” he replied and I stood up.

　　“This is 5:40 pm when are you going to close?” I asked.

　　“When you’re done with Mr manager” he replied.

　　“Alright,” I replied.

　　“Good evening Mr. Collins” I greet.

　　“How are you dear?” He asked with a smile.

　　“I am fine sir” I replied. “I am very sorry for what happened, I am deeply sorry Karen,” Mr. Collins said.

　　“Common, you shouldn’t be sorry because it wasn’t your fault” I replied.

　　“I know your work is very important to you, if I didn’t send Derrick on an errand, you will still be working here,” he said and I smile.

　　“None of this is your fault, I know who’s behind this, she will still find a way to get me to sack if you didn’t send Derrick, so you don’t need to feel bad” I replied.

　　“Alright, I have prepared some money for you, it will help you till you get a new job because you’re one of our best cleaners and I really love you,” he said and gave me an envelope, Helen throw the door open and eye me angrily.

　　“Did you just say you love her?” She asked fuming in anger.

　　“You look like a ghost, Jèàlóûs will only give you wrinkles,” I said.

　　“Helen it’s not what you think, I didn’t love her romantically, you know I can never cheat on you, I love her like a sister, not a lover” He replied.

　　“Lies, you’re a lier, this is how you go around sleeping with your workers, girls young enough to be your younger sister” she yelled.

　　“Enough!” Mr. Collins snapped and banged his hand on his table.

　　“I won’t take this from you, I’ve never cheated on you before and if you took my humanity to flirt, I don’t think our relationship will last,” Mr. Collins said.

　　“I am very sorry my love, why would you say you love her?” She asked.

　　“For your information Helen, you aren’t older than me, we are age mates,” I said.

　　“Mr. Collins, I really appreciate your kind gesture, you’re a God sent,” I said and walked out of his office.

　　“What did he tell you?” Derrick asked.

　　“He gave me some money” I replied.

　　“I love Mr. Collins for this” Derrick said. “Yes he’s a good man” I replied.

　　The next day

　　“Good morning Mr” I greet Mr. Leo Derrick’s principal.

　　“Morning Miss Martin, let me go to the point because I see you’re in a hurry,” he said and I nod my head.

　　“Sky fought with one of his classmates yesterday and he broke his teeth and the worst thing is that the boy is the son of the owner of this school, thank goodness Mrs saint is a good person I am sure Sky will be behind bars by now” he replied.

　　“Oh I am very sorry, but my brother will never be behind bars” I replied.

　　“I sent for you, so you can talk to him, he needs to work on his anger issue,” Mr. Leo said. “Alright, Mr. Leo I’ll talk to him” I replied and stood up, something he Inherited from Dad, likewise me, how will they know we are Mr. Martin’s children if we don’t have an anger issue.

　　I walked to the parking lot, luckily for me, the parking lot isn’t far from their school.

　　I pray my first day at work goes well because I have heard a much about her so-called fiance. “We are their ma’am,” the cabman said and I look around with my mouth slightly opened.

　　“This is heaven, her fiance must be very rich, this company is so big,” I said out loud.

　　“Miss you haven’t paid me,” the cabman said. “That’s true I am very sorry” I replied and gave him a dollar note.

　　I walked inside the company not without showing the secretary my id card, it’s very funny how Luna get my ID card yesterday.

　　All the workers I came across was neatly dressed, thank goodness mum chose this dress for me, I’ll be regretting why I wear my baggy clothes today, I actually wanna wear baggy trouser to frustrate the so-called fiance.

　　I put on a polite smile and walked to the receptionist.

　　“How may I help you, Miss?” The receptionist asked with a smile.

　　“I’m Karen Smith, the new secretary” I replied. “Oh, the boss ask you to see him in his office when you come” she replied with a smile.

　　“The problem here is that I don’t know his office” I replied.

　　“Floor 53” she replied and pointed to the elevator.

　　“Thanks very much, Miss,” I said.

　　“I’m Mrs and welcome to S and J construction company,” she said.

　　“Thanks very much, Mrs, but you look young,” I said.

　　“Yes that’s because I marry early” she replied. “It’s good to marry early thou, I’ll see you later, I hope the boss isn’t grumpy,” I said.

　　“You will see for yourself, hurry up he hàtè it when his workers resume late,” she said. “Alright, you only tell me it’s floor 53, you didn’t tell me the office number,” I said.

　　“My bad, 2” she replied and I walked away. I spent more than five minutes in the elevator, I checked the office numbers and placed a knock on number two, I heard a come in and I push the door open immediately.

　　“Oh, my mistress!” I heard a voice say, but no one is in the office. “Am I hearing double?” I asked.

　　“No my mistress” the voice replied.

　　“Did he knows what I came here for?” I asked myself.

　　“What did you come here for my mistress,” he asked and came out from his hiding place.

　　My mistress Karen have suddenly turn to a Mistress