★
^^ KNIGHT FAMILY HOME ^^
“What’s wrong with Clifford?” Susie asked, knowing wh@tëver will come next wouldn’t be good.
“Clifford has been diagnose with stomach cancer, we detected it late” Crystal said.
“What stage?”
“Fourth stage . He only has a few months left to live” Crystal answered once again.
Susie felt her heart going to Clifford, who would have thought that a perfect looking man only has a few months left to live.
“But something can still be done. Have heard about chemo and….”
“It’s not going to work. It’s stage four, it’s too late” Nina spoke this time around.
“Clifford wants to use the remaining months he have to live happily, doing the things he likes and also to fall in love. Which is where you come in, Susie” Crystal said and stood up to get down on her knees.
“What are you doing!” Susie said, hurrying over to her but Crystal took hold of her hand still kneeling on the floor.
“It’s hard to see Clifford smile but he does that around you. That kid has bring nothing but joy into our lives and for the few months that is left, I want him to be happy too. Couldn’t you at least stay by his side and give him that joy?” Crystal pleaded, tears in her eyes.
“But I don’t feel the same way he feels” Susie said honestly.
“All I want is for you to stay by his side on the remaining months he has left. Can’t you do that?” Crystal asked making her reconsider.
She thought about Clifford, about the things they did together, how he made her smile and how he also smiled because of her.
“I can also…”
“I will do it. I will stay by his side” She said cutting Crystal off.
“Aren’t we taking things far by lying to her?” Nina asked sometime later when Susie had left.
“It got her to agree to stay by his side” Crystal replied, wiping her face to get rid of her tears.
“But…”
“Stop focusing on the negative side of things and think positively. You said that that girl is in love with someone else which is why she keeps refusing to help us. Am certain that if she’s by Clifford side, she will fall in love with him in no time and then, it would be hard for her to leave him since she loves him ” Crystal told her.
“The most important thing is that she keeps on making my boy smile, I don’t ever want that to stop and I will do everything just to achieve it ” Crystal sounded very determined about it.
******
^^ NEXT DAY ~ DAY OF THE ANNIVERSARY ~ STARLIGHT NURSERY SCHOOL ^^
“Look at you taking your phone to school, back in our time, we were never allowed to” Adrian said to his nephew as he drove into the school vicinity.
“Do I look like I care” Ben answered like the spoilt brat he is.
“Then you are definitely going to care when I tell your mom about it” Adrian threaten.
“You do that and I will post this video of you dancing in your room and singing crookedly in just your underwear” Ben threaten in return showing him the video.
“When on earth did you record that!” Adrian yelled at him but Ben got out of his car and ran into the building.
“Someone save me from that kid” Adrian muttered and was about to drive off when he heard a man yelling at two women .
“You have no right to butt in when am talking to my wife!” The man yelled at the lady who stood in front while the other lady hid behind.
“Oh, so beating your wife means your talking to her” The lady in front question him and it was then Adrian notice the bruise on the second lady.
“Women sometime needs some beating to get their head straight!” The man yelled.
“For gawd sake. We are in front of your daughter school, can’t you be civil?” The lady with bruises yelled.
“You dare yell at me! You really need a good beating!”
“Seems like I have to save those ladies” Adrian muttered, getting out of the car but he stopped when he saw what the first lady did to the man.
She threw him over her shoulders and he fell hard on the floor groaning in pain.
“Wow!” Adrian gasp out,watching the fierce lady with interest.
At that moment two cops arrive and took the man away leaving the two women alone.
“Thanks a lot Miss Martha. I don’t know what I would have done without you” the bruised lady thank her before going away with the cop to press charges on her husband.
“That was awesome” Martha heard someone say.
“The way you handled that guy was awesome. Am Adrian” he said introducing himself.
“Martha” She replied, not wanting to seem rude.
“Are you working here or…”
“Am one of the teachers here. Did your bring your child to….”
“Miss Martha, your attention is needed ” a lady called at the door way.
“I have to go. Have a lovely day, sir” she said and began limping towards the building.
Other guys might have been put off by seeing the way she walk but that only fueled Adrian to get to know her more.
*****
^^ KNIGHT HOTEL HALL ^^
Dressed in a white and black uniform, Susie stood at the entrance of the hall, handing out brochures to the guest that arrived.
There was no sign of Clifford, she had with her a tonic drink which she wanted to give him.
She wouldn’t deny that when she got back home, she had done her research on stomach cancer and had found out that not everyone survive it when they get to stage four.
Which is why she will do her best to make Clifford happy for the rest of the months he has left to live.
“Why the hell are you out here?” Kate question jolt her to the present moment.
“I was told to give out brochures” Susie replied.
“Giving out brochures isn’t your job. Your job is to wait the guest in there. So go and join others ” Kate ordered and added forcefully.
“Mrs Bobby ordered you to do so”
Susie went into the hall and joined the waiters and waitress to serve the guest.
She was attending to some guest when Clifford arrived with Crystal and Nina.
She couldn’t stop the smile that tilt her lips as she watch him. He looked more handsome and charming today.
She was still starring when someone whisper into her ear from behind.
“I need a drink, missy”
“Of course….Mr Stanley” she called, taking in his appearance, he didn’t seem bad himself.
If she had seen him first, she would have thought of him as the most handsome man in the room but Clifford won this round.
“Did you volunteer to work as a waitress?” He asked.
“I did. If you think about it, it’s also part of my job, am in the cleaning department after all” she said.
“It’s embarrassing right?” Susie added but he shook his head and surprisingly, he patted her on the head.
“I respect people who work hard and you are no exception” he said making Susie blush.
Some distance away and after so many search, she finally saw Stanley but she was surprise to see Susie with him.
Why are they together… She thought.
Somewhere in the crowd, Kate made way to one of the guest.
“You know what to do right?” Kate asked.
“I do. You payed a hefty price afterall ” The lady replied and made way to where Susie was clearing up some used glasses.
The lady kept sipping her wine while watching Susie.
It wasn’t until Susie was set to leave that the lady began her attack.
She put out her leg, making Susie trip over it, crashing all the content in the tray.
This got the attention of some of the guest.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Are you blind! Look what you did to my dress” the lady yell at Susie.
“But you made me trip over” Susie replied, still kneeling on the floor.
“You dare blame me for your incompetence! ” The lady yelled, throwing the rest of her wine on her Susie’s face.
“Lowly people like you are meant to know their place but they won’t!” She added, raising her hand up to strike Susie but she hit someone else instead.
“Oh no! Am sorry” the lady apologise quickly but Stanley ignored her and went to Susie.
“Are you okay?” He asked and when she said nothing, he took off his coat and put it over her, helping her to stand
“You can’t just take her away. She needs to be reprimanded for destroying my dress” The lady said, standing in their path.
“And if you don’t stop with your shenanigans, I will make sure your thrown in jail for assault!” A gruff voice said from behind and they all turn to make way for Clifford.
“And who are…”
“Clifford Knight. The owner of this hotel and this lady employer and let me tell you that you just mess with the wrong person” he whispered the last part into the lady ear as two security officers showed up.
“Take her and under no circvmstance must she leave ” he ordered and when the lady had been pulled out of the room.
Clifford went to Susie who was still in Stanley arms.
“What are you doing?” Stanley asked as Clifford lift her into his arms.
“Handling the situation” Clifford replied and went into a room which had private written on it’s door.
He set her down and went into an adjoining room, returning with a hand towel, which he used to wipe her face and hands.
“Is this the reason why you refuse to be my partner?” Clifford asked
“I was chosen to work as a waitress today. It’s either that or I lose my job” she revealed.
“I am the boss and no one will dare fire you!” Clifford said crisply.
“But that will lead to people talking about me and that’s the last thing I want”
“So you prefer embarrassing me the way you did! You have no idea how I felt seeing you on the floor and…”
“And what? Did I ruin the perfect image you had about me? You know, I thought you were different from all rich folks…”
“What do you mean by rich folks?” Clifford queried.
“You all look down on people who aren’t your level, you think them as thrash and condemn them even before knowing them. I had applied to be courier but I wasn’t given a chance and that’s because I didn’t have a good credential”
“Though I didn’t get to further my education, I took enough test to know that am good enough but I wasn’t given the chance to prove my worth and I had no choice but to work as one of the cleaners!” She said,breathing heavily.
“Susie I…”
“Am proud of what I do and if you don’t like it, it’s your choice. After all, you are one of those rich folks who look down on poor people!” Susie said, cutting him off.
They heard someone knock and the door open to reveal his secretary.
“Am sorry to interrupt boss, but it’s time for the opening speech”
“Tell Nina to take over” Clifford ordered brusquely.
“But sir you…”
“Right now. Setting this woman straight on her view about rich folks is very important, go away!” He ordered gruffly and the secretary timidly left.
“You need to go and…”
“No! Your opinion about me is more important ” Clifford said and once again someone knock on the door.
“The party can’t begin without you. You need to do the opening speech” Stanley said at the door way, starring at Clifford and at Susie.
“Its best I take my leave” Susie said, running out of the room before they could stop her.
Some minutes later, Susie stood outside the hotel watching the down pour.
If she had known the rain will hinder her to leave, she wouldn’t have bothered to change her clothes.
But she decided to take the risk and run down to the bus stop in the rain.
She had just made it down the street when two car stop beside her.
The wind screen open revealing Stanley and Clifford in their respective car.
“Let me give you a ride home”
They both said at the same time, leaving Susie wondering who she should go with…..
➳ TBC ➳💙🤍🧡
