Chapter 18
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The first time I tasted real fear wasn’t when my mum started turning off the light of my room after bidding me goodnight or when I gazed into the eyes of the dead wild animals my dad brought home after hunting, imagining what would happen if they suddenly sprung back to life.
It was in sixth grade, during a math test.
As I stared at the questions on the paper in front of me -with no clue how to solve the problem because I had zoned out during my classes and hardly studied for the test- I imagined I might have to repeat the grade.
It left a bitter taste in my mouth. I hated the thought of being left behind by my
classmates.
What if the boy I had a crush on forgot about me and started following the girl with the longer pigtails?
What if all my friends stopped talking to me because failing a grade may be contagious?
What if my parents never looked at me with pride again? I was so scared my hands became sweaty and I almost had a panic
attack
Madam Tew looks very much like that math test right now, her grin resembles the division sign on the first question.
She takes another drag of her cigarette, and exhales,
This time she doesn’t turn to the side and I start coughing from the smoke.
After my coughing fit dies down, I see her staring at me with an inquisitive look.
“So, how did you do it?”
I should have told Sawyer before I left the car that if I don’t come downstairs in 20 minutes, he should come a but that would have probably being too dramatic,
And he is watching Candace right now, that gives me momentarily relief.
and find me
She ****ks her hand and leans closer to me, “Aurora? Are you there?” I take a tiny step back and nod, “Yeah, how did I do
what
“Go from owing me rent in this shabby apartment building to being entangled with some big shot”
“Who said I am with a big shot? The guys that came to help me move could be from a moving company.”
She laughs heartily, “How would you have afforded a moving company? You were barely surviving.” She didnt have to really say that though.
“Besides, from what my guys told me as soon as you arrived, the car waiting for you downstairs is a very posh car, wherever it came from, it’s worlds apart from this neighbourhood.”
It’s good she knows that there is somebody waiting for me downstairs, right? That did not drive myself here. She can’t hurt me when she knows that or can she?!
She kisses her teeth. “I like you and your daughter very much Aurora, that’s why I let you stay so long in my apartment without paying my rent. It’s also why I never set my men on you and threatened you with the police instead, doing things by the book and all that? What would I have looked like harassing a single mother
“Uh thanks
She sports. “Anyway, knowing that you have a lot of money now ukes me want to increase your interest rate.” I breath in
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Chapter 18
sharply.
Is she going to start blackmailing me? She doesn’t have anything on me to be able to do
that
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Aaron already knows my humble background and she doesn’t know I am married to Aaron anyway. No paparrazis were allowed at the wedding.
Some pictures still found their way online but they showed us entering and coming out of the venue, my face did not show properly.
“But I am not going to do that.” her expression suddenly becomes friendly.
“I think you have been dealt the short had of the stick way too long. I am happy for you Aurora, and your daughter. She deserves to grow up somewhere comfortable and not this.”
She looks around the corridor we are standing in, place.”
dy eyes widen in surprise. “You are not mad at me?”
“I was she waves the envelope I gave her, “but you have paid your dues in full. So we are good.”
shakily breath out in relief, “Thank you Madam Tess.”
“I can’t tell you to keep visiting because if I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t. But something tells me this is not our last meeting. See you around, my regards to your daughter”
She says before walking into the room the tenant and the huge guy are in.
1 sag against the grimy wall in relief, I was being dramatic for nothing
I go downstairs as fast as my legs can carry me and enter the car breathing heavily.
“I was about to come upstairs to see what was taking you so long ma’am. Are you okay?
“I am fine, thanks Sawyer. Sorry to have kept you waiting.” I smile at him and pat Candace’s hair. The relief makes me feel like my body is floating.
“No problem ma’am. Shall we go?”
I grin, “Yes we shall.”
As we drive away from the neighbourhood, I take one last look as the apartment and smile.
Maybe, Madam Tess isn’t so bad after all, I remember the tenant that was pleading with her and the smile drops from my face. I look away and enjoy the drive to the penthouse.
Candace and I go up to the penthouse after bidding Sawyer goodbye.
I press the doorbell and wait for Aaron to open up. He opens it inoments later and I am momentarily stunned when I see
He obviously just got out of the shower judging from his wet hai
His skin is still flushed from the hot shower and the way he is staring at me through his wet hair makes me swallow thickly. Capdare’s excited giggles breaks ir out of my reverie. He leave the door open and walks away, I clear my throat and go into the apartment.
“Sorry I am late. It’s because.
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Chapter 18
“I didn’t ask he interrupts my explanation without looking back and continues walking to the entrance of the hallway.
I stick my tongue out at his retreating back, Candace laughs and sticks hers out too. “He is so annoying, right Dace?”
She frowns at me and taps my nose while shaking her head from side to side. I sigh, she likes him already. “Don’t get attached Dace.” I tell her as we go into our room.
After resting a bit, I decide to go and make dinner for Candace and 1.
I stop in my tracks in the hallway as it occurs to me that Aaron may not have eaten yet.
I frown at the thought, so what if he has not eaten. I sigh as I find myself walking towards his study, hoping for the second time today that he isn’t in.
I knock and turn to walk away when I don’t get an answer. The study door suddenly opens and I look back to see Aaron with a mildly annoyed look on his face.
“I think I need to set some rules. I really hate when people disturb me when I am in my study or my room. I like to have my space to myself and you have knocked on this door one too many times today. I already left the remaining space for you so, why do you keep knocking on my f*** door?” his jaw ticks showing how annoyed he is.
I scoff in disbelief at his tone, “You are acting like I came to your door because I was bored or something. I have only come to your study for good reasons.”
“What is the good reason this time?”
I roll my eyes at him, “Are you hungry? I want to make dinner. Isay with an air of disinterest even though I was the one that showed interest by knocking on his door in the first place..
The look he gives me makes me immediately feel foolish, “Answer the d***n question.” I mutter.
“You don’t have to concern yourself with my meals. Whether I eat or not is none of your business, I can take care of myself. You do the same.”
He says and closes the door of the study. I scoff at the closed door.
“My fault for f***g trying to be nice, Mr. Scott.” I stomp my feet and walk to the kitchen, muttering profanities every step
of the
way.
After dishing our food, Candace and I settle down to eat with the noise of the TV in the background.
When we are done, we move to the living room to watch cartoons. Actually, Candace is watching the cartoons while I am keeping her company
I laugh when she wants me to and stay silent when she wants. I patiently wait for her to get tired or fall asleep but the sound of my ringtone startles me awake. I already dozed off.
“i really need to change that f**g tone. I mutter under my bath and search for the phone on the sofa.
I finally find it and squint my eyes at the caller ID. It’s Ella, my next door neighbour
Aaron comes into the living room before I can answer the call.
“You are going shopping tomorrow. You need to completely change you wardrobe,” he announces,
I agree with him, my clothes are out of date but I don’t give him he satisfaction. “I like my clothes”
“They are an eyesore. Get ready in the morning tomorrow, Sawyer will pick you up.” he leaves the living room before I can come up with an lifting retort
Wed, Oct.16
Chapter 19