#AFTER_THE_STORM
©Sir Zach
EPISODE 12
*Some years later…*
*LAWRENCE POV*
“ Baby, you need to stop watching that channel why do you like it so much” I adjusted as Dafina took the remote and changed the channel.
I said nothing as I knew I had already sealed my fate by agreeing to marry her some years ago.
“Baby, seriously, I still do not understand why you are still sitting down there, doing nothing, you are not helping me with the wedding arrangement and you are not even going to work…”
I shut my eyes as she kept on nagging, sincerely, I knew I was doomed for life…
I said nothing, I just stood up and held her close to me, kissing her forehead..as a means of saying “SHUT THE HELL UP!” in a romantic way.
“I’m sorry D…” I finally replied, that long Kenyan name was too long for me to pronounce . “Just that, I know you can handle this right?”
“I know but it is fine if you can atleast do one or two things for me. We ‘ve been planning this wedding for a long time and it still remains like some months to go, we are not postponing it again. Plus i still do not know which designer to give my wedding gown …”
I nodded. “Yes honey, we are not postponing.”
Just then, my butler came in….
“Hello sir, your father just drove in.”
“Okay thanks Akin.” I replied, pulling away from my ‘fiance’.
“Let me go see what father wants….”
She nodded, took her tab and sat on the coutch.
***** ***
“Look, if you are going to be the CEO of that company after I’m retired, you need to start being responsible. All your step sisters are already showing what they are capable of doing..instead, you are sitting down with your fiancé…”
I gave an exasperated sigh….it was like all my life was filled with nagging people.
“Father, I do not know what you want me to do! The wife you asked me to marry because of your selfish interest in acquiring all the Africa wealth is giving me hell, want me to help with the wedding, now you are complaining about the company!”
“Look son, you need to be a man! She is the woman, so start acting like one, I am not surprised anyways, that was why you ran away from home those years ago to live a wretched life. I could have let you die out there, if not because of the love I had for your mother!”
My fists were already brandished as I kept listening to the nonsense he was saying, but I didn’t want to wound an old man so I inhaled a quick breath and blew out slowly.
“What do you want from me father?”
His brows went up and he leaned forward, holding his staff closely…
“I asked you to marry Dafina because we need it… the truth is, your step sisters want to ruin my company with their mother, and I need my son! I am old and there is little I can do! The only way to return the glory of my company is to build a good relationship with a wealthy family. Dafina’s father and I have been business partners for many years…. the family has the biggest jewelry industries in Kenya… once the marriage is sealed, we can easily merge and maybe you can finally start a company at Kenya. “
I was quiet….he’s got all this figured out already.
“I know I wronged you and I am so sorry for everything son, please have pity and forgive me… I do not want this family to be bankrupted.”
“Can’t you just send them away?” I blurted. “Why do I have to fix it and all these years, isn’t that what I’ve been doing, you should send them away father!”
He sighed. “I will send them away son, but they still have their shares and look… it’s just something that I cannot do right now, this is why I need you to stick to your wife and do everything to make her happy, we need an anchor right now and that is your marriage to her…. Please”
I leaned back and shut my eyes.
“No problem dad, I’ve heard you.” I said finally.
“ I will come to the company tomorrow. Just that I do not like those girls,.”
“I know son. Your marriage is the solution to everything.”
“Okay father. No problem.”
***** ****
When I got back to my living room, Dafi was already asleep, with the tab in her hand….
I took the remote control and switched back to the Fashion Channel. I don’t know why I just kept hoping I would hear or see her again but I haven’t. Eversince she got married, it was like she just disappeared. I should have given up this search but I couldn’t.. i just couldn’t.
Dafina turned slightly… I kept looking at her. she was going to be my bride in the next few months and I still couldn’t feel anything for her, maybe because I never wanted her anyways.
I remembered lying to Scarlet about my father, I just had to. I made everyone believe my father was dead, to me he was better off dead, why would he take the side of my step-sisters when I was accused of a rape. He said he had to because he wanted peace and he loved his wife. I was so angry and it still made me furious many years later… even though I had forgiven him.
I hissed angrily and stood up, going to my room
****
Just as he left for his room, there was a new flash and Dafina stirred.
“Hello beautiful people, do we all remember our Kenyan_Nigerian Girl on Fire?. Scarlet, who is now in a Hollywood style married to the popular business American Mogul, Mark Anderson, well, she is back in Kenya after spending years at England in a long years of Honeymoon. The good news is, she has started her own clothing line.. yea… let’s hear from her directly…”
Dafina stood up and took the remote to increase the volume….
“Hello my beautiful Africans, it’s your girl Scarlet, the girl on fire! and yes, I am starting my own fashion line, it’s already in process actually, one here in Kenya and another in my country Nigeria..so….”
The reporter came back on screen…”We have had so many questions regarding the ‘girl on fire’ and we are happy to announce that she is even more successful and more richer than ever… report says.. stay tuned for more stories….”
The next thing that came on the screen was an advert….
“ Baby, where are you? Wow! I just got the perfect designer for my wedding gown”
______
*A week later*
*SCARLET ANDERSON POV*
“Do not tell me you are still searching for that boy?” I was startled and looked up only to find Franca and Atieno coming in. I smiled.
We reconnected as soon as I got back into the country, I already hired Franca to be my partner , Atieno was my Personal adviser but the other two girls were already happily married and they are no more in the country.
“Well, I am , sue me.” I replied, still going through my tablet. “How are you doing Atieno, how is Selina?”
Selina was her daughter, the one she was pregnant with the night of my stardom, she had made me her godmother.
“Oh, she is fine, she’s at her grandma’s place” She replied, sitting beside me and changing the channel of the TV.
Franca sat beside, looking at what I was doing.
“So how far?” She asked again.
“I have tried to call all the foster homes I could think of, no one could tell me who he was . I called FADBAS house too, the new mistress doesn’t know me or Lawrence so, there is no way to just find him.” I replied, dropping the tablet in frustration.
“Well, God knows you have tried your best girl. Maybe he died or something.” Atieno replied and I threw her a dangerous look.
“Lawrence cannot just die like that. He is …..” I began to look for a word and I found myself smiling….
“Chill…are you blushing?” Atieno demanded, throwing a pillow at me.
“No, no.. I’m not, I’m just trying to describe him ok. He is strong, very strong. He was my friend all those times.” I blurted out.
Franca winked at me suspiciously. “ Are you sure he was not more than that?”
I smiled. “That’s not the point. We stayed for many months together, in the same room, this guy would starve himself so I could eat. He would be beaten several times to release the whole amount he made during our social works, he wouldn’t all because he wanted to buy me sanitary or a new pair of sandals. He was….he was….” I stopped and said quietly. “He was my hero. If not for him, I wouldn’t be here. if not for him, I wouldn’t even be in Kenya at all, he saved me that night and he helped me escape else I would have been taken to that place of torture! You guys don’t understand. We stayed together for many months so its understandable if I developed feelings for him along the line.”
“Well, we understand that you want to see your childhood sweetheart again and to help him in anyway you could. But do you know who else is your hero?” Atieno asked and continued. “Mark Anderson, your white husband is your hero. He picked you and saved you. He married you!”
“Yes, I know but it was his plan initially.” I replied stubbornly.
“Yes. To save you from that wretched Tanya!” Atieno replied. “He took you to London or was it England?, refined you and now here you are , one of the best successful models in Africa and now you are starting your own Fashion line. Do not be an ingrate by looking for some boy!”
“Easy Atieno!” Franca warned her as I was beginning to lose my nerves. I knew she was right but she had no idea what was up between myself and Mark, even I had no idea. It was like I was not capable of loving him even though I have tried to…
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 13