Chapter 4

Bowman knew his son to be grumpy, almost all the times. He saw Dion sitting very quietly in the car. He may had been quiet but surely, his mind-space must have been loud. He could see the frown on Dion’s eyebrows. Bowman was in deed curious on what was bothering Dion this time, “So, Dion. What are you grumpy about today?”

Dion did not feel the need to answer that, he only looked away. He looked into the scene through his window. Not that he was admiring, no. He never admired anything. Not even nature itself. As far as he knew, he was perfection itself, and nothing compared. Admiring other things only lowered his standards, the way he saw it.

They were far from home by now. The journey was quiet and Bowman did not like that. He thought he should break the silence. Actually, he thought he should ask Dion what had been bothering him ever since they left the mention. “So, tell me, why is there Mr. Liam and Miss Thandi following?”

“Protection and maintenance.”

“And the people in the car behind? There’s like six people in there.”

“That’s for extra protection and maintenance.”

This was getting interesting, “What about them?” he pointed at the car driving in front.

“For the cases of ‘in case’. In case, we need more of the extra protection and maintenance.”

Bowman and Daphne could not hold back the laughter. It went out like a sudden burst. Pity, Daphne suffered the intimidating gaze of Dion, Liam and Thandi alone. She quickly turned away.

“Is there a problem?” asked Dion after the laughter had died down.

“No. Not all.” Bowman continued, “I’m just wondering how come you need the guards when you have your own muscles. I also can’t get my head around the fact that you are too old to have the maids wiping your chin and fixing your sleeves.”

“Pray to God, I did not hear you right.”

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In fact, among the maids, Dion had brought along his beauticians who made sure he looked good all the time on the field. Not a single strand of his hair was allowed to pull out from the tucked mass and dangle over his forehead. Each group of the persons had a task of their own. Some made sure to wipe away his sweat the moment it glistened, another kept him hydrated while the other powdered his nose as soon as a single spark of facial oil peeked. His father would only laugh in his palm and pretend not to mind any of that.

Dion would not admit loss, instead he went sarcastic about how he was letting his ‘poor’ father win. “Let’s break,” Bowman took the first leave. They went under the veranda. Daphne had set the table. She emptied all of the basket onto the table. “What a game that was. You still play good, sir,” Daphne praised Bowman.

“See? Even Daphne saw that! I won fair and square, you didn’t let me win.”

Thandi thought she should stand up for her own, “Golf isn’t a sport to sir Dion’s liking. Why would he go on ahead and spoil your fun? A compassionate man, this is.”

“Don’t say things you know nothing about,” Daphne faked a smile with that, “Thandi. Now come sit down, let’s eat.” Thandi thought she would get away with it, she pulled a chair, but Dion dismissed her with the raise of his palm.

Bowman’s phone rang, he excused himself off the table. He quickly rushed off. It was that important. Thandi stood back in her place, behind Dion, next to Liam. “And you?” Dion was after Daphne now, who was already on the chair sitting. “I do not share a table with my cleaners.”

Daphne, insulted, got up and stood away. She glared at the man. Thoughts must have been circulating in her head. Bowman was back. He took his seat, “Daphne? What are you doing standing there? Come sit down, already.”

She hesitated a while. Looking at Dion only shook her more but she chose to challenge him. Daphne pulled the chair and immediately thrust herself on it. “What are you doing?” Dion was threatening the girl.

“Dion, what is it?”

“Get this piece of dirt off the table. Who knows what filth she carries under her nails?”

“Dion, don’t say that to another human being! Daphne, I must apologize. I have done a terrible job as a parent; all I did was feed him and I forgot to raise him. Thandi, Liam, come sit, please.”

Dion was unable to tolerate Daphne sitting next to him. He felt the spews rush up his throat. He held onto his mouth and quickly rushed off. Daphne felt like dirt itself. She did not think she could recover from that.

**First, he says that I belong in a zoo and now I am gross. Sharing his table with me lugs up his gag before he can even take something in. What was I thinking, I could manage the man? Challenging him has only dug up a wound I don’t think will ever heal from. This is it, I am packing my bags and leaving as soon as we get home. Home? That has never been my home. **

Instead, when they arrived, things took a sharp turn that shook her plans a bit more. She felt the urge to prove her colleague wrong. They were the other helps. “Oh, no,” Daphne lied, “it all went well. We played golf and,” well, she partially lied, “Mr Hill won. I quickly got tired so I sat down and prepared the food.  They told jokes and we were all happy.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Dear one, why should you always be Thomas? For once, accept the truth without proof.”

Very soon, there walked in Liam, “One more minute with that guy and I swear I’m going to lose it!” he cried walking in, he was obviously referring his boss—Dion. The ladies neared him, they wanted answers. “Liam, how was the game? Did she even play? Was she tag team with Dion?” Liam could not believe the lies Daphne had told. When he looked, he saw her shrug at a distance. She could not even look at him straight. “I see, sweet Daphne couldn’t wait to share the wonder.”

“So, it’s true?”

“Liam, do you confirm?”

Liam said, “Even I can’t believe it, hearing it spoken out loud. Things happened, hurtful and beautiful,” he said.

“No. So, Dion lost? There’s nothing hurtful about that. Anyway, Mr Hill must have been happy.”

Liam wanted to leave the room already, “He had a great time.”

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Daphne followed right behind him. When they were alone, “You didn’t rat me out,” she said.

“Why do you care so much about him? Hasn’t he hurt you enough?”

“Thank you for not ratting on me, Liam,” she was walking—

“Daphne?”

She turned back to him. Liam had developed a soft spot for Daphne. He began having an interest in her ever since that morning when she walked into Dion’s room to pick up laundry. He thought she was brave to not have left after being fired. He thought that she was brave for walking up to his room to clear things up about her employment.

“You are the strongest one of them all. They all go packing the moment he sends them off but you didn’t and that is admirable of you.”

Daphne thought that was sweet of him, she gave him a little cuddle. He was very pleased by that. He was not sure if she was flirting or if it was just an innocent hug. He wanted to make a move, “Daphne?” he called her back.

She turned back to him, she went and stood right in front of him again. Her eyes gazing at him with some excitement. “Would…” he was making his move. “Would you be interested in…?”