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THE PACT
CHAPTER 3
Unedited
In a long list of bad days, today is at the t©p of the list and it is only 7 a.m. stepping out of the shower, I am yet to decide what to wear, I love to dress well when going to the office so I can draw attention to myself and stand out.
Wearing a large towel, I walk throu-gh my be-droom to find Clive sitting up in be-d drinking coffee.
‘’Good morning,’’ I say, walking over to the closet.
‘’Good morning sweetheart, you sle-pt well?’’
‘’Yes, how about you?’’
‘’I had a great night thank you.’’
pu-lling out my clothes from my closet, I get dressed and stand in front of the mirror. I am clad in a golden yellow dress which is just above my knees with little slits on both legs. My outfit is completed with blue high heels and a n£¢klace with a blue crystal. Satisfied with how I look, I sit in front of my mirror to do my hair and makeup.
‘’How busy are you today?’’
‘’Why do you ask?’’
‘’I would like us to have dinner at my sister’s house this evening.’’
I look up at him, ‘’dinner? At your sister’s house?’’
‘’Yes, I would like her to meet you.’’
I laugh, ‘’you are joking right?’’
‘’I am serious Kristian,’’ he gets out of be-d, walks towards me and places his hand on my shoulder.
‘’You are trying to upset me right?’’
‘’I am not trying to upset you–.’’
‘’But what?’’
‘’You know I love you Kristian and—‘’
I laugh cutting him off mid-s£ntence, ‘’this has never been about love and you know it, this is just S-x.’’
‘’I know this has never been about love but I am tired of pla-ying hide and seek, I want something different, I want commitment.’’
I take a de-ep breath to control my anger before continuing, ‘’I have to be at the office in the next few minutes, I don’t want to get into this right now, can we talk about this when I get home, you are alre-ady ma-king me late.’’
‘’Does it mean you will go for dinner with me.’’
‘’Let’s talk about this when I get back,’’ I say my voice raised almost to a skrie-k.
‘’Fine!’’ he responds before heading towards the bathroom.
‘’Just what I nee-ded,’’ I mumble un-der my breath before I continue doing my makeup and hair.
‘’I am leaving now!’’ I call out to him when I am done. And with that I gr-ab my handbag and car keys from the dressing table, walk out the door and make my way to the living room. Setting down my bag on the table, I call out to my housemaid.
‘’Jessie! Jessie!’’
No response.
This girl knows how to get on my last nerves, I gave her strict instructions to have my coffee re-ady by the time I leave my room each morning but somehow she never achieves this task on time, she is always busy with other things. I would fire her if it were up to me but she was brou-ght by mum from the village, apparently she nee-ds to raise some money to go back to school.
‘’Jessie!’’
‘’I am coming!’’ she calls back quic-kly ma-king her entry into the living room.
‘’I have been calling you and you have been silent,’’ I say, ma-king no attempt to hide my annoyance.
‘’I am sorry, I was in the toilet.’’
‘’Is my breakfast re-ady?’’
‘’I was about to start preparing it when I felt the urge to visit the toilet.’’
‘’Pathetic girl, I don’t know why I even keep up with you.’’
‘’I am sorry.’’
I roll my eyes and stand up, ‘’when Clive leaves, clean my room and change my be-ddings.’’
‘’Okay.’’
‘’And the house should be sp©tless when I get back.’’
‘’Sure.’’
gr-abbing my bag, I walk outside and get into my car before I drive out. When I pu-ll up in front of the office it’s twenty minutes past 8. Stepping out of my car, I take a de-ep breath and head straight to Mr. Msizi’s office.
I walk into his office expecting to find him alone but I am disappointed to find him with Kenzie and they are de-eply engrossed in their conversation. I stare at them for a few minutes, my heart boiling with rage, these two have a perfect father/ daughter relationsh!p, this is something I will never have with my father, she stole him from me and I hate her for that.
I clear my throat to announce my pres£nce and they both look up at me.
‘’Hello!’’ I manage a smile.
‘’Daughter of mine,’’ he exclaims.
‘’Mr. Msizi,’’ I respond.
‘’I know I am your boss but above everything else I am your father and it would make me happy if you acknowledge as such.’’
‘’I am sure you didn’t call me here to talk about this,’’ I say before I sit down next to Kenzie.
‘’Hey sister,’’ she says and I shoot her daggers with my eyes.
‘’You are not my sister Kenzie, know your lane and stick to it.’’
‘’Kristian!’’ Mr. Msizi shoots me a serious look, ‘’I thought we are past this kind of behavior.’’
‘’Can we get started with the meeting alre-ady, I have other things to attend to.’’
His secretary brings us coffee right before he is about to start talking.
‘’Thank you,’’ he says and she walks out.
He gr-abs his cu-p of coffee and takes a sip before he says;’’ I will be brief and I will go straight to the point. I want to step down from my position as editor in chief for the newspaper, you know I have worked so ha-rd to get this far, I have made money and I have enjoyed my time being here but I guess it’s time for someone else to take over.’’
‘’Oh!’’ I exclaim.
‘’Have you thought about this thor0ûghly daddy?’’ Kenzie asks.
‘’Yes, I have been thinking about it for some time now.’’
‘’Did you talk to mummy about it? Did you seek her advice?’’ she asks again and I roll my eyes.
He reaches for her hand and squee-zes it, ‘’your mum and I are old, we want to travel the world and enjoy life.’’
‘’Oh plea-se,’’ she laughs. ‘’You two haven’t aged a bit in the last couple of years, you still look young.’’
He laughs along, ‘’flattery will get you everywhere child.’’
A wave of jealousy sweeps over me and I stand up, ‘’I guess I am not nee-ded here.’’
‘’What do you mean?’’
‘’Can’t you see what you are doing?’’
‘’Child plea-se sit down and allow me to finish.’’
‘’Whatever!’’ I sit down only because I want to know who will take over from him.
~THE PACT~ 👏
CHAPTER 4
‘’I would like the two of you to run the newspaper once I retire.’’
‘’And what is that supposed to mean? What does Kenzie know about the newspaper business?’’ I ask.
‘’You two are the only children I have, it would make me really happy if you started getting along at least for my sake.’’
I laugh, ‘’you know that is impossible, Kenzie and I can never get along, she and I have nothing in common.’’
‘’Her blood flows in your veins, you two are sisters, what should I do to make you un-derstand that?’’
‘’It’s not blood that makes you family. It’s love,’’ I shoot back.
‘’Why do you hate me so much Kristian? What did I ever do to you?’’
I laugh blinking away the tears that are threatening to fall, ‘’your father would be the best people to respond to that question.’’
Mr. Msizi looks at me ha-rd with a pain expression in his eyes and says, ‘’child! Will you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?’’
I swallow ha-rd , ‘’can we plea-se get on with the meeting, you know I hate to mix business with personal issues. I am sitting in this office as your employee, can we plea-se stick to work or else I will leave.’’
He opens his mouth to respond but he closes it immediately and for a few minutes there is a brief silence.
Then he clears his throat, ‘’I have decided to make Kenzie the Editor in chief for the Newspaper, I would like the two of you to work hand in hand together to bring in new ideas so you can continue from where I have st©pped.’’
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I take a de-ep breath trying to control the sudden erratic beating of my heart. Repressing the urge to scream, I ask in a low tone, ‘’what did you say? I think I didn’t hear you correctly.’’
‘’I said Kenzie will take over from me as Editor in chief.’’
I shift in my chair ti-ght£ñing my hand around the glas-s, holding it so hand I am surprised it doesn’t break. Hi fresh kwaku ome on+23354 to be added to Story headquarters room for more stories.
‘’I have worked for you for years, I have worked my as-s off to put this newspaper not only on the local market but the international market too, is this how you are going to repay me? This was supposed to be my promotion.’’
‘’Calm down child,’’ he says.
‘’Don’t tell me to calm down,’’ I yell, slamming my hand on the table. ‘’What does Kenzie know about running a newspaper? Where was she all this time? After all the ha-rd work I have put in this is how you will repay me?’’
‘’Kristian, I said you will work hand in hand together, you will be p@rtners.’’
I laugh so ha-rd it hurts the inside of me, ‘’Bull$h!t. This is all bull$h!t.’’
‘’Language!’’
‘’It’s always been about her right? The child of the woman you love the most? Your favorite child? I do the ha-rd work and she takes over, br@vo, br@vo,’’ I cl@p my hands together while I laugh.
Then I look at Kenzie, ‘’congratulations boss!’’ I stand up and push the chair aside. It hits the floor with a loud thud.
Mr. Msizi looks up at me, ‘’plea-se listen to me Kenzie.’’
‘’What’s there to talk about? You have alre-ady made a decision.’’
‘’I know the kind of work you have put into this newspaper, you are a ha-rd worker and every day we sell millions of copies because of the factual and objective stories your team puts up. You are the br@in behind this newspaper, as a managing editor you do your job perfectly. Kenzie will not take anything from you, she will work with you, you will be a team.’’
‘’Right.’’
‘’plea-se!’’
Shaking my head, I walk away and strode to my office, walking past Calvin, I slam the door behind my back.
‘’Ahhhhh!’’ I scream.
I feel betrayed knowing I have spent the last couple of years building this business and now he will give it away to someone else just like that- once again my father has failed me, he has chos£n another over me. It’s always been about Kenzie, it’s always been about her and her stupid mother, I hope they rot in hell, I will never forgive Mr. Msizi for this.
My office door swings open and Calvin walks in, startling me from my thoughts, I look up at him, ‘’what did I tell you about walking into my office without knocking?’’ I snap.
‘’I am sorry.’’
‘’What do you want?’’
‘’I wanted to upd@t£ you on the ideas for today’s diary meeting.’’
‘’I don’t feel well, I don’t think I will have the energy to deal with that today, you are my P.A and I am sure you know what I would approve and what I wouldn’t, let the stories be forwarded to you, edit them and let them run.’’
‘’You want me to decide which stories will run today?’’
‘’I am sure you un-derstand English and you are not deaf.’’
He stands there gawking at me.
‘’What?’’
‘’I don’t un-derstand.’’
‘’What don’t you un-derstand Calvin? Do what I have told you, this is the time to prove yourself.’’
‘’Okay.’’
‘’Cancel all my meetings for today, I will be going out shortly.’’
‘’Sure.’’
As soon as he walks out of the office, Kenzie walks in, closing the door behind her back.
‘’What do you want?’’ I eye her from head to toe.
‘’’Can we talk?’’
‘’You and I have nothing to talk about.’’
‘’You know what sister–,’’
‘’I am not your sister.’’
‘’You and I are sisters weather you like it or not and the sooner you realize it the better for the both of us.’’
‘’Get out of my office Kenzie.’’
‘’I am not leaving until we talk.’’
‘’We have nothing to talk about.’’
‘’You nee-d to get rid of that bitterness or else it will be the death of you. So what if your parents divorced? So what if dad left your mother for mine? So what if I was born? Can’t you see that your behavior hurts dad?’’
‘’I have no father, I don’t know what you are talking about.’’
‘’plea-se Kristian, let’s try to work together for the sake of dad.’’
I laugh, ‘’never! Both you and your father can go to hell for all I care,’’ with that I gr-ab my bag and match out of the office, I rush out and head to my car, when I get in, I allow the tears to fall. For a few minutes I allow myself to cry and when I feel much better, I start the engine and drive off.
*
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