Chapter 72

Kharis POV


I helped Cleopatra fix the table and set up dinner. Chris hadn't come to the dining table so I felt comfortable. I was shocked when ma Cleopatra asked if I had friends in New York. Friends? In New York? I had friends nowhere. I was basically a loner.


"Tell me what happened on the last day of your stay at Frederick's place?'' She asked me.


I was confused at all the questions and my heartbeat raced as well. I feared that a wrong or bad answer to the question might make her kick me out of her house. Maybe the interrogation had started already.


I tried to remember how it all started -my last day in the mansion. But was it really important? Was it going to prove to Frederick that I have always been loyal to him? Would it change how social media users see me?.


I took a deep breath and began narrating everything to Cleopatra. "I prepared a dish for Frederick and wanted to take it to his office. I called and asked if I could bring the dish for him. He did permit me to bring it over. I packaged it, wrote a note on the food pack, and went to my bedroom to change into nice clothes.


Just while I was making preparations to follow Lois, a woman showed up at the door. I had seen her first at the studio, then the restaurant where I worked as a waitress, and in Frederick's mansion. Her name is Ivy. She is a famous model though".


I didn't understand how Frederick and the model were connected.


"The model asked about Frederick and I told her I was going to meet him at the office. I saw her move in with a piece of mini luggage. I called Frederick to tell him about his visitor. He did tell me to leave her there at the mansion and follow Lois to his office. I knew for a fact that Frederick had been avoiding the model and I don't know why but I never bothered asking him about it", I said.


I knew that because anytime she showed up, Frederick was always unavailable. It seemed like he owed her something and was always on the run, away from her.


Just as I was confiding in Cleopatra about everything, Chris came out of the room and I lost my voice immediately.


"No, go on", I heard him say to me.


Oh wow, Chris was already aware of most of the things that had gone wrong. I sighed deeply and continued talking.


"I and Frederick did not go back home that day and the next day. We lodged in a big suite. The next morning, Frederick woke me up and began talking about the videos and photos. He was really mad and scary. I have never seen him like that", I told them, sobbing seriously already.


How about we eat and continue this conversation later", Chris suggested.


I took a seat and tried to wipe the tears that were already falling from my eyes.

Kharis dished out the food she prepared onto a plate and passed it gently over to me. I had never seen any food like that. It seemed like every country had special food. That was how it was with Ghana and now, Canada.


I'm sure ma Cleopatra noticed the look on my face when I wasn't eating.

She laughed so hard. "is it about the food"?, She asked.


"I've never seen anything like this", I answered shyly.


"Well, poutine is an indulgence of fries, gravy, and cheese. A Canadian specialty!".


"Poutine"?, I asked her.


"Yes, poo-teen", she pronounced.


I felt super nauseated and ran out of the dining table to my bathroom. I bent and vomited into the toilet.

"Is everything okay"?, I heard Ma Cleopatra ask, walking behind me.


She met me in the bathroom and helped me come out. She guided me with one of her hands on my waist, to the bed.


"You really do not like the food"?, She asked me.


"My head is spinning", I cried.


"That isn't the food then. Tell me, how do you feel"?, She asked, sitting close to me on the bed.


"I feel nauseated and my head seems to be spinning", I looked at her, with a sad face.


"Have you felt like this before, maybe recently"?, She asked.


"No. Not at all", I answered.

"Can I lay down for a bit? I'll eat the pootoon (poo-tun)later.


I heard her chuckle a bit. "What's wrong"?, I asked her.

"Its poutine, not poutoon", she answered.


She got up from the bed and left me all alone in the bedroom. I picked up my phone from my back and sadly, I had not gotten one call from Frederick.

'Everything happened today, just give it time', that was the hope I gave myself. Maybe after today, he'll listen to me explain everything. He'll know that I'd never cheat on him.


I logged in to social media and damn, I was still trending (but for a bad reason). This is not how I planned out my relationship with Frederick. Even though, even though it was supposed to end, not this way. Who plans for their relationships to end with a scandal? All over social media? 😔.


I opened my audio mack app and scrolled through any song that could help me cry and feel better. Jealous by labrinth, the song artist, felt like the perfect song to listen to. I'll drop the lyrics so you can understand how I felt.


'I'm jealous of the nights

That I don't spend with you

I'm wondering who you lay next to

Oh, I'm jealous of the nights

I'm jealous of the love

Love that was in here

Gone for someone else to share

Oh, I'm jealous of the love, cause

I wished you the best of

All this world could give

And I told you when you left me

There's nothing to forgive

But I always thought you'd come back, tell me all you found was

Heartbreak and misery

It's hard for me to say, I'm jealous of the way

You're happy without me

As I sink in the sand

Watch you slip through my hands

Oh, as I die here another day

Cause all I do is cry behind this smile'.


I felt dizzy and began dozing off till I fell asleep completely.


Frederick POV


Ivy had sent me a text message alerting me of Millicent's presence.


'milicent is here. Please come down here immediately. And, be nice to her'.


I checked the time and it was 4:08pm already. I thought about Kharis still. I missed her. The atmosphere in the house felt different. I wanted to call ma Cleopatra and check in with her to see if Kharis was okay but it felt like a bad idea. I had not eaten any food since morning and Ivy cared less. It was time to get a new maid, possibly, an older woman like ma Cleopatra.


I came down the stairs with one hand in my pocket and the other holding my phone. I saw Millicent, a strange man and Ivy sitting in one corner of the living room.


"Good evening Miss Millicent. Welcome to my home", I said and opened my arms to give her a hug.


I walked over to the strange man and offered him an handshake.

"Good evening man. My name is Frederick Hudson. What is yours?", I asked him. I was trying to be nice like my wife to be instructed.


"I'm Benedict Rodriguez. It's so nice to finally meet you", he said, reciprocating the handshake.


"I hear that you are one of the best fashion designers in the City of New York", I said.


"Yes", she answered with so much pride and happiness.


"Benedict here, would be taking your measurements and working on your suit. My work would be to sketch a design for it. Your wife has asked me to make something unique and worthy of a billionaire", she explained.


I laughed deeply within me. My wife Indeed. It didn't even feel good hearing someone address Ivy Clinton as my wife.


"So, Millicent fashion designs and makes the most lovely and majestic dresses. Most of our clothes have been used by well-known models and celebrities in New York and around the globe. Our unique skills and talents have captured the hearts of many in the fashion industry and the local market. Our creations have also become an inspiration for other people aspiring to be fashion designers someday. You are going to look super amazing on your wedding day", she said.


Nahh, I didn't really care about how I looked ti the wedding. I just wanted to get it over and done with.


"I know for a fact that you make bespoke attires. You came highly recommended by Ivy and I also know that you wouldn't disappoint", I said, feigning the smile on my face.


"Okay then, let's get to work. I've sketched some unique suits wears here", she said and handed over a catalog to me.

"Do you want to choose or you want Ivy to help you out. She has great taste for fashion", she said. I smiled at her and turned to look at Ivy, blushing.


"Can you do me the honor of picking a sketch for the suit"?, I asked Ivy and passed the catalog to her.


"Okay then. Benedict, please take his measurement", the queen of fashion (Millicent), instructed.


The young man walked up to me, holding a measuring tape, and a notepad. I took him to my bedroom for more privacy. Was he planning on taking my measurements in the midst of the women?


He measured my shoulders and other parts of my body required to get the perfect fit for the suit.

"I'm really sorry for what your ex-girlfriend did to you. Most women do not deserve good men like you", Benedict said.


The nerve of him to talk to me about what was trending. I hated the fact that he was being too unprofessional.


"Is that part of your job"?, I asked him in an angry tone.


"I'm really sorry sir", he said and ran out of the room.

I shook my head and went downstairs to say goodbye to Millicent and her puck noser of an assistant.


"Good night Millicent. See you at the wedding", I said, giving her a hand wave.


"Thank you for choosing us", she said and walked out through the door with Ivy.


After a long while, Ivy showed up in my bedroom and walked to my bed.

"What's wrong", I asked her.


"I want to get some sleep, she answered.


"Here? On my bed? In my bedroom?, I asked.


"Now Frederick, what is wrong with that"?, She asked.


I wasn't ready for an argument with Ivy. I had multiple rooms in the house. I picked my phone and walked out of the bedroom to a guest room. I needed to sleep alone, peacefully and comfortably.