CHAPTER 9

BELONGING TO THE OUTER WORLD

****JANELLE'S POV****

After I had met with the Novato estate agent or manager, whatsoever they call him, I signalled to Steff, for us to go home.

I had surveyed the house very well, and it's just the perfect place for any students to stay, as it's very quiet, and another bonus to the house is the fact that it's so beautiful.

I wasn't bothered of the fact that the lodge, No, I won't literally call it a lodge as that's someone's house. Ohh yeah!!, that reminds me, the estate agent said something about the owner coming back anytime.

Anyways I don't want to be bothered much, since Steff said she hasn't heard that the owner ever came here to stay.

I do hope and pray that by that time, he would have changed his mind, cause I can't imagine staying with a man, at worst, a stranger.

Immediately I thought about him being a stranger, my subconscious mind said, "are you really gonna call him a stranger right now??", Do you really think he's a stranger?.

"Ohh yeah, I do know he's a stranger, cause literally I have never met him in my entire life, so I don't think I know him", I replied back.

"Chubs?,chubs!!!!, Chubs, what are you thinking of, oh yeah I know, you're thinking about the wet life you're gonna live when you resume college"

"WTF are you saying, lady macho, you know I won't ever do what you're thinking of, right now, I feel so blessed of the fact that I won't be staying with you" I said.

"Excuse me!!!!!, What did I just hear you say, I hope am having a dis functional ear, You just called me a lady macho???. I can't believe this.

And for the record let me tell you, for the fact that I won't be staying in your lodge doesn't necessarily mean I won't be with you all the time", Steff replied.

"Please enough with the talks, let's just head straight home, I have no energy left for the argument you're trying to start up now.

God knows, the last thing I'll ever do is to start up a heated argument with you, just look at how full, you're looking, it's only when you eat enough food that you'll be able to have time to argue about things that doesn't matter", I said, feeling so tired.

***JANELLE'S POV***

We later boarded a taxi back to our house, I went home, and met my mum, making Jamaican rum. This is actually the first time hearing about Jamaican rum.

I bet it tastes so good, for it so smell like this. I greeted her and gave her a warm hug, she turned back immediately and asked you of my whereabouts.

"Janeeey, where have you been since morning, I called your best friend, Steff, she said you went to your boyfriend's house.

Baby please tell me it's a joke, tell me what she said was a slip of tongue, I don't wanna believe what she said", she said

Right now I'm damn speechless, Steff, what's the meaning of this nonsense, why did she play this stupid stunt on me.

"Hey mum, calm down, I went nowhere, okay actually, I went somewhere, but mum definitely not my boyfriend's house.

Mum!!!, I have just been here for three months and you think I will be so cheap to run into the arms of a stranger.

Mum think this through, I can't and will never lie to you", I said.

Right now, I feel like if a pin should just pass through my skin, I'm gonna burst, what's the meaning of this, when am trying to gain my mum's trust, she's just making it more hard for me.

"Hey listen, I know you want to feel what it's like to be loved, but baby, this is not the right time, I don't wanna see you get hurt, we're good??"

"Yes mum", I snickered. Her best way of making it clear to me that I must adhere to her words, is by ending the discussion with "we're good?".

"Hey mum, I got an admission at West Indies University, Steff helped in working it out for me. I was so surprised when she told me to prepare, so we would go to the university, just for me to find out, I have been given an admission.

Mum you do remember earlier last month, I had been looking for my highschool credentials, I didn't know she sneaked into the house to get it, mum that girl is a big psycho", I snorted

"Did you just say you went to collect your admission letter, oh baby I'm so sorry, maybe that was her best way of telling me not to bother you.

Babe I know, you're grown up, but you know I've got just you and Diaz, I'm so sorry if I had taken things so serious", she said quietly.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh mum, don't worry about that I do understand, like you do say, every parents want the best for their children.

So mum, I will always encourage you to be on the lookout for me, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MUM", after saying that, I hugged her, as I heard her muffling her sob.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh mum, please not again", I said, we unhugged and she looked piercingly into my eyes.

"Hey kiddo, something else I got for you, you're gonna be entertaining into the outer world, where things are not too nice, I want you to be the best of who you're.

Literally not everyone wanna see you laugh, but remember when you start glowing they're gonna come around.

I want you to promise me you'll be a good girl, huhh", she said, "yes momma, I'll always be.

"Ohhhhh!!!, Such a nice scene we got here", that was Diaz, my younger brother. I quickly took a knife and chased him round the house, threatening to stand him when I get him.

****RASHIDS' POV****

I woke up the next morning, hurriedly took my bath, I just remembered I am having a meeting with the board of directors and shareholders.

Work keeps getting complicated tho, I called Dargok and told him to prepare my car, as I'm gonna have an urgent meeting this morning.

I went downstairs, straight to the dinning table to eat my breakfast, I don't miss breakfast for anything. After I was done eating, I quickly went outside.

What a wonderful morning, I said inwardly.

"Dargok is the car prepared already??", "Yes sir, I was just coming to tell you", he said. "It's alright I'm here already, let's go"

***NOVATO FASHION AND CLOTHING COMPANY***

"So what do you say about that, cause we're waiting for your proposal, as we haven't heard you say a word.

Hope nothing's wrong, since that company has been built, you haven't been there.

Don't you think it's high time you went there, so at least you'll know how things are running there.

"Y'all want me to say something, what do you want me to say, why don't yalla go there instead and send the message across of how the company over there is faring", he groaned.

"As much as you're the owner of this company, that wouldn't make you to counter our opinion, what's theneed of being shareholders if we can't give our opinion of how things should run.

Or do you expect us to fold our hands, while what we've been working for, for ages go down, no we won't, we would be so patient and lenient with you to give you two weeks, just two weeks to travel over there.

Yes if you say you can't and wont, then be ready to run this company solely", one of them said, he turned and asked his fellow shareholders"if they were okay with his verdict", they all nodded their head positively.

"Y'ALL looked for a country to send me to, of all the continents in the world, it's Africa.

Not just Africa, but Jamica, it's not like am belittling the country, butttttt!!", they all said" but what".

He quickly shut his mouth and said, "it's alright, Jamaica I'll definitely go". He was burning with rage, as he slumped on the chair.

He opened his eyes and noticed they were all looking at him, "what is it, y'all can go, the meeting has ended, or do you still want to chase me to Kenya?", He sighed and they all left.

"Tiffany, Tiffany!!!, Tiffany!!?", He was calling on his personal assistant. "Yes sir", she said, as she stared at his slumped state.

"Cancel the appointment I have with Mr Browns, next week, we're gonna be travelling", "sir please hope, you don't mind, if I may ask to where sir?".

"We will be flying to Jamaica, guess you know that place", her face crumbled as she said, "Yes sir".

TBC

AUTHORESS JANE