Love And Ashes

I just finished preparing lunch, it wasn't well spiced like the food the chefs made at the restaurant but it was something a human could eat, I made spaghetti.

Getting something to eat everyday has always been a miracle after the death of my mother, it wasn't like it was so easy when she was alive but at least I had a helping hand from her.

I didn't have a job that paid me much neither did she but together we always found a way to put food on the table and fix our leaking roof once in a while.

I always get scared when raining season is drawing closer, it leaves most parts of our house wet with puddles, most times I come home from work after a rainy day to meet my clothes wet.

I placed the food on an old table, the only table in the small living room located at the right side, I sat on the long bench taking a deep breath, at that moment I wondered where my sister had gone, there was nothing more to eat apart from this food so I needed to share it with her.

Anabelle walked into the house smiling "I knew it, I perceived something, gush! I'm so hungry" she said sitting beside me.

I could hear her stomach grumble and it made me laugh.

Her weight on the weak old bench made it shake a little and she giggled over it.

"I have just one spoon here, go get another" I told her waiting patiently for her to arrive.

She left hurriedly for the kitchen which was right at the corner of the living room.

A knock came at the door.

Anabelle arrived with the spoon "huh... Is that Louis?" She asked.

I took a glance at her and shook my head "he didn't tell me he was coming today" I stood to my feet.

"Wait here Anabelle and don't eat anything" I warned pointing at her.

She glared at me from beneath her eyes "don't take too long" she said in her baby voice putting her head over the table.

I was her elder sister and she was just thirteen so she always had to listen to me and do as I say.

The knock came again, I was already at the door swinging it open.

I gasped at the sight of the mann standing in front of my door with a two other men, they were all on black suit.

I got a little scared wondering who they were and why they had come to my house this evening.

I looked ahead and saw a black Mercedes G-wagon and a red rolls royce phantom parked ahead.

"Who are you people and what do you want here?" I asked almost with a rude tone.

I tried my best to hide my fear looking straight at their faces.

"Our boss wants to see you" one of them said to me.

I clutched my hands on the door handle "who is your boss?" I arched my brow.

"Mr Larry Chancy" he answered with his Chin up.

"What? What the hell is he doing here?" I asked angrily.

None of them answered.

"Tell him that I'm busy" I slammed the door at their face.

I scoffed walking back into the living room.

"Who was that Selena?" Anabelle asked.

"An unwanted guest" I answered looking a upset.

"This unwanted guest seemed to have gotten you angry" she said as we started munching on the meal.

A knock came again, Anabelle fixed her stare on me.

I bowed my head for a while and the knock came over and over again "you can continue eating" I stood to my feet.

Anabelle shook her head "don't worry I will wait for you."

I smiled at her, I was so sure she had checked the pot to see if there was more food left.

And here came the annoying knock again, I sagged my shoulders looking totally depressed, today I have a meal and someone wouldn't allow me eat in peace.

"I told you to get your ass out of here, I'm......" I paused on seeing the face of the man, I just opened the door and started yelling without looking at the face I was talking to.

"Hello Selena" he greeted with a calm smirk at the end of his lips.

"What are you doing here and how did you find my house?" I asked angrily.

The old man chuckled "don't you think this is a wrong way to welcome a guest for the first time in your house?"

"You're not my guest" I answered bluntly.

"How did you find my house?"

He shrugged "informations aren't so difficult to get around here especially when it's Mr. Larry Chancy asking."

"I see... so you had people spying on me huh? Is that it?" I asked with so much contempt.

"I would never do that to my wife to be" he said.

"What? I have told you that I can't be your wife, why can't you let me be?" I asked angrily.

"I came to the restaurant today, you weren't there" he asked curiously.

"I looked away folding my hands while leaning on the door "I was off today."

"I see...." He said nodding.

"Mr. Chancy I would advice that you stay away from me please" I tried walking back into the house but he held my hand.

I looked down at his hand which had slightly shrinked with wrinkles "I love you Selena, allow me change your life, a beautiful girl like you doesn't deserve to be in a place like this."

The disgust in his eyes when he looked at my house got me furious, I forced my hand out of his grip "I'm not a beggar Mr. Chancy and I am not complaining, I have a boyfriend, he wouldn't be so happy to see you here, please leave!"

He laughed "you mean you poor little boyfriend?"

My eyes widened in shock, I have never told him anything about myself, I wondered how he got to know about Louis.

"Grow up Selena and stop being sentimental, you and I know so well that you don't like this life your have right now, barely feeding and clothing" he touched my face.

I pushed his hand off "stay away from me and don't come here again" I warned.

"I doubt how possible that will be young lady, marry me... that's all I ask of you."

I looked away without saying another word to him, he was just so annoying and persistent with his request.

How does he expect me to marry a man old enough to be my father? I am not a gold digger and never will I be.

Mr. Chancy signalled one of the men who had earlier knocked at my door, they seemed to be his body guards.

They left for the car and returned with lots of bags and dropped it at my feet.

"Groceries, clothes, jewelries and some money to take care of a queen" he said grinning.

I gasped "I don't want your gifts, take them away!" I yelled.

But he paid deaf ears to me and went back to his car, I watched them zoom off.

I sat on the floor with my hands supporting my head "he should just stay the hell away from me" I mumbled sadly.

Anabelle came to the door, I guess she got tired of waiting for me .

"What's all these?" She asked picking the bags, she peeped inside each of them.

"Oh! My God! So much groceries, clothes, jewelries and... money!" She screamed happily.

I did not say a word to her "I stood up and went back into the house."

"You should be happy that we have enough now Selena" I heard her say.

Anabelle brought the bags into the house.

I had lost my appetite, I retired to my bedroom.

"Selena, aren't you eating anymore?" She asked from the living room.

"I have lost my appetite" I yelled turning to the other side of the bed wrapping my hands around my body, I was lost in thoughts.

"This man is really pestering my life" I thought aloud shutting my eyes.

From the very day Mr. Chancy first saw me at the restaurant, he always insists that I am the one to serve him, since it was what the customer wants, the restaurant has no other choice than to oblige to his request, so it was difficult to avoid him.

At first he started getting me gifts and one day he broke the unbelievable news to me on how he wanted to make me his wife.

Mr. Chancy is a widower with a daughter but I couldn't understand why he would want to marry a girl of my age, I'm only nineteen years old, young enough to be his daughter.

I turned to the other side of the bed opening my eyes gradually, I couldn't sleep, I sat up on my bed with my hands running through my head.

I stood up and walked over to the mirror, staring at my reflection like I was just seeing myself for the first time.

I smiled, I was truly beautiful and Mr. Chancy wasn't wrong when he called me a queen. I am tall with straight legs, very curvy with an oval face, I had this natural hyena brows with beautiful blue eyes which looked like that of a cat, red lips and very long brown hair.

Mr. Chancy isn't the first man to talk to me about how beautiful I was, it was an everyday compliment I got from people.

I couldn't forget the very day a woman had told me to join the modeling industry, well I didn't give that a second thought, it wasn't what I wanted for my self.

I have always dreamed of being a CEO and owning a very big company, most times I wondered how possible that would ever be, I'm only a waitress.