Chapter 3

Daphne was ruminating over what Dion might have meant the previous night. She had asked to keep her job, but Dion was not exactly clear on his decision on her request.

………………………….last night nemory…………………………….

“I depend on this job, sir. I don’t want to lose it.”

“You got me out of bed for this?” scorned Dion. He hated that he had to get the door for Daphne, when she had only petty matters. “GET OUT!!!”

Daphne did not waste any time, she bounced instantly. Shut the door behind herself as soon as she was out.

…………………………………………………………………………………

“I mean, what did he mean by that” Daphne pondered. “Do I keep my job? Or do I move on?” She was the kitchen. Daphne could not sleep the previous night—she was very anxious about her job and so, she was the first house-help up that early. She was supposed to get started in making tea for her fellow house-helps so that all of them would be energized for the day’s work.

However, Daphne’s mind was not at work. She did not want to have to work and only find out later that she would not be getting paid. Daphne was not a charity worker.

“I must go back to him and ask again.” She was sure of her decision and then the next minute, she curled up, “Oh, but what if he gets mad again?”

She had to shake her head over again, “No, but that’s impossible. I’m pretty sure he had a good night sleep. He must be in a good mood this morning. Hey, I could go and fetch his laundry, and let’s see how he responds to that.”

She had knocked again on Dion’s door. This time the door was answered by Liam, the butler. “Is Dion in?”

“He’s in the shower. How can I help you, Daphne?”

Daphne could see that Liam was not about to let her in, voluntarily. And so, she squeezed herself in. In that very moment, she saw Dion walk out of his shower. He was dripping wet, with a towel covering his lowers privates.

“What are you doing in here?” Dion asked. He held an intimidating gaze at Daphne.

Now, Daphne felt so wrong for walking in like that, and having to walking in on a man who was undressed. She could almost hide her eyes in her palms, but Dion had pulled himself closer. She had to keep her eyes looking out for herself. “Who are you and what do you want?”

Daphne was caught off guard. Did he really not remember her?

“Little miss, are you going to speak or you are going to get out?”

“Oh, um,” Daphne now, realized something. It appeared that Dion did not remember her or that he had fired her. She had to remember the stories she had heard about Dion randomly firing people almost all the time. He probably, fired people and not remember it again. The said people would usually rush to get going; however, Dion would often forget firing them.

“Um, I was… I was just here to collect the laundry, sir.”

…………………………………………………………………………………..

The other helps could not understand why Daphne was still around. “He often forgets who he fires,” she told them. “People just panic and start packing the moments he sends them off.” It was not easy telling them how she had a sound conversation with Dion because they would not believe it. “He is not that difficult, actually. He just likes keeping up a face in public, that’s all.”

They made her prove her story. She was to replace Mrs. William on the golf trip. The golf trip was Bowman’s idea. He wanted to take his son out for golf, it was part of the activities he had planned for his son’s visit. Those were one of the moments he felt like he was bonding with his son.

However, Mrs William was not liking the idea that Daphne pitched to her, she felt that Daphne would mess things up. As head of the helps, Mrs. William felt that it was her responsibility to ensure smooth running of things on the golf outing. Each time things fell of the waggon, she felt it was her fault. “Please, Mrs William,” Daphne begged, “I promise I won’t mess up!”

“Daphne, stop! Leave the basket alone, young lady!” she finally managed to pull it from Daphne. “Maybe next time and I am not sure if sir Dion will be quite pleased to see you again. He fired you in front of everyone.”

“So, you don’t believe my story? He knows I’m still around, I promise!”

“What noise is this?!” came the intruding voice of Dion, making way into the room. With his head high, arms held back and back straight, he descended the stairs. Behind him, stood two people. The most usual people; Liam-the butler and Thandi-the personal maid.

He had caught Daphne and Mrs. William pulling the basket from each other. They each had their head bowed and held silence, now. Dion had neared already, “You again? You seem to cause trouble everywhere you go.” He was talking to Daphne. She was first in the line. “How you got here in the first place is just beyond me. You have gotten to a wrong place, ma’am. This place is not a zoo.” That shook the poor girl so hard that she could cry. “When I return, I wish to not find you here. Will you make my wish come true?”

Tears started pouring, she nodded to his request. He hurt her so much. Bowman was too late when he showed up. It was only after Dion said all that he could dig out of his system that Bowman budged, angrily, into the room, “Dion! I am waiting. What’s keeping you?”

He noticed the two people in the room, his mood was healed. It was Mrs. William and Daphne. He loved them. He loved all of the helps in his mention. They were his family when Dion was not around. “Mother William, you are looking good today.”

She smiled, “Why, thank you, Mr. Bowman.”

“You must be going somewhere fancy looking like that.”

She was going on the golf picknick with them but it seemed Bowman had not realised that. He saw Daphne all dressed up as well, and he assumed that it was Daphne who would be joining them at the picknick. “Daphne, is that you?”

She had wiped her tears by now, she faked a smile for Bowman, “Yes. In flesh and in bone.”

“I thought it goes, ‘In flesh and in blood’. You always have your ways with words.”

Bowman was acting nice and polite with workers who scrubbed their toilets. Out of disgust, Dion was walking out already—he could not stand what he saw. He felt that his father was only embarrassing himself, talking to ‘peasants’. He was making way to the car outside. It was a big van. It could carry five people and some load at the back. Bowman loved it green. Dark green.

“Come now, let’s go, little princess. We don’t want Dion leaving us behind now, do we? You and I have a lot to catch up on.” Daphne was hesitating. “Come!” Like that, she accepted the basket from Mrs. William and ran along. Bowman was driving. Unlike his son, he loved driving. Dion sat in the front seat with him. Thandi and Liam sat in the back seats, the personal maid and the butler, respectively.

Daphne soon joined them, behind at the three-seater. Dion did not seem pleased with her. “What is she doing here?”

“Who?” Bowman was starting the engine.

“Her.”

“Daphne? Oh, she’s coming with us. Why’s this mirror like this,” Bowman pulled it in to adjust it to his liking, “That’s right,” and then he slot his arm back in. “The clouds were thicker yesterday… Today seems promising. Who would want to play golf under rain?” Bowman remembered something, “Oh, yeah, my princess likes the wind. Why don’t you remind me, Daphne?” he pressed a button and a window to her side went down. “Is it alright now, dear?”

There was an incredible silence. It caused a sudden tension in the car. “Daphne? You are too quiet. Are you alright?”

“Oh, um. Yes, yes, sir. I am fine.”

“I’ll believe that for now, okay? So, Dion. What are you grumpy about today?”