1 Tender Heart

CHAPTER ONE

¤•Vanessa's Pov•¤

The strong smell of food wafted up to my nostrils persistently, though I was feeling hungry, I didn't just have the appetite to eat anything.t

"Bon appetit." the chef clad in thickly starched white uniform said cheerily to me. I beamed him a bright smile and nodded slightly, as a dismissive gesture. My gaze wandered to the different assortment of food laid out on the table, ranging from bacon, eggs...scrambled eggs, a very thick greasy looking omelet...

I picked up a glass and poured out a generous amount of warm milk. I had barely lifted up the glass to my lips when I heard the clicking sound of heels on the hard mabel tiles, accompanied by a sonorous voice and rich laughter.

My mom soon came into view, overdressed as usual, holding up a phone to her ear and smiling like a shy teenager who has recently fallen in love. I couldn't help but roll my eyes as I knew immediately who she was talking to. Joe, the beard-y-old man who has been courting my mother four the past two months now.

My dad and my mom had divorced when I was fourteen, it had been tough for me then, I had been nearly shattered.

My mom won the custody of me, my dad remarried a year after the divorce, his new wife made it very obvious from the beginning that she never liked having me around, so I tried so much as possible to avoid visiting my dad.

I didn't say anything to my mom as she sat down on the chair beside me, she was still engrossed In her call, I instead picked up my fork and began to stab idly at the piece of pancake on my plate.

"don't slouch in the dining room Vanessa! "mom's voice came out sharp, startling me. I raised up my head slowly and nodded, before sitting upright. The atmosphere was tight, very stretched, mom's silence rattled me.

I paused my eating to watch her uncover the food placed in front of her. Her facial features distorted slightly in a frown. She pushed away the plate in front of her as though it contained something offensive.

"chef!! "mom yelled loudly in an uncultured manner, making me cringe. The chef ran in, looking as timid as possible.

"yes Miss? "he bowed stiffly to Mom, his uniform ruffling slightly.

"there's not enough coating of sauce on my bacon. "mom's voice was a sharp contrast as to when she was nearly yelling off her head.

"I'm sorry ma..." the chef bowed again, looking scared and miserable at the same time. I felt sorry for the man, his cooking was excellent and there was nothing wrong with the bacon.

"mom, there's nothing wrong with the bacon. "I said as gently as I could. My mother looked up sharply at me, her èyes holding mine.

"Vanessa, how dare you contradict what I said? "she asked quietly, her great eyes looking menacing. I looked away, unable to continue looking into my mother's intimidating eyes.

And not surprisingly, all the strong points I had formed up in my head in support of the man's cooking disappeared. I stared down at my hands instead while the hostile silence threatened to consume me.

"Vanessa?!" mom snapped inpatiently, I raised up my head sharply, startled.

"I'm sorry..."I murmured, feeling like a loser.

"Good." I was relieved when her hostile scrutiny left me, and when she turned her attention to the apprehensive looking man in front of her.

"you're fired." she stated calmly. I gasped loudly, simultaneously with the chef.

"But ma..."the man began.

"get out! "she snapped irritably.

I glanced into the young man's face and I felt a surge of pity for him. I wanted to protest, to tell my mom that she was been unfair in sacking the young man. But I lacked the essential courage to do that. I just sat there like a statue and watched as the young man walked away, his head hung low in dejection.

The food in front of me didn't look so appetizing any more. I hastily stood up, unable to stay a moment longer with my mom.

"where are you going to? "she asked sharply.

"to..to... "my voice came out hoarse in my first attempt. I cleared my throat and looked into her face. Her face was so passive, so blank, so inconsiderate right now....i doubted if it was this woman who birthed me.

"I'm going to my room." I gestured to my school uniform, implying the obvious.

"Sit down Vanessa. I want to talk to you. " she said, before raising up a glass of wine to her lips. Her èyes never left mine, it was almost like she was dating me to dare refuse her command. The eyes battle continued for another ten seconds, then feeling tired all of a sudden, I slumped back into my chair.

My mom's too red lipsticked mouth twitched in a smile, her white teeth in sharp contrast with her lipstick.

"Good girl." she said nothing else again. I began to tap my feet impatiently on the floor while rubbing the end of my ponytail fondly. My mom was obviously taking her time in getting out the information, and I was running out of patience.

After sitting there for about five minutes, I stood up hastily again.

"mom I'll be late for school, you can tell me whatever you want to tell me when I return from school. " I turned to leave.

"Joe and I are getting married. "she said even before I could take a first step towards the direction of my room. I felt my whole body freeze and my brain sent jumbled signals to my body so that I felt both hot and cold at the same time. I Turned around slowly to regard her.

"what did you say? "my voice was surprisingly clear. Mom's lips lifted up in a happy smile and her eyes lighted up.

"I said Joe and I, we... We are going to be getting married, he proposed last night and... "

"I don't care about that! "I snapped impatiently, cutting her off rudely. "why?!"

"why what? "mom was looking confused and surprised as well.

"why do you want to get married to him? "I asked.

I never liked the man Joe. I had no problem with my mom's liaison with men, but this Joe guy struck me as creepy. My instincts warned me that he wasn't whom he said he was. I never felt comfortable around him.

"why that's a silly question Vanessa. I love him, he loves me, why shouldn't we get married? "

"he doesn't Love you mom. "I stated boldly, not caring about her reaction at my declaration. Her facial expressions has distorted into that hateful frown again, even her èyes had narrowed into silts.

"why would you say that? "her voice had gone cold and hard.

"isn't it very obvious? "I scoffed, hunching my shoulders slightly. "he's after your money mom. "

I really wasn't expecting my mom's next move, so I was stunned when she stood up from her chair and came to stand in front of me.

"you take that back this instant. "I brazenly held her eyes, my mom's eyes were frightening to me, they were so big, I always avoided looking into it.

"take what back? "my voice had dropped to a whisper.

"that Joe is after my money. "her voice dropped low too, to match mine.

"he is after your money mom, I know you're blinded by love but... "

A sharp stinging slap interrupted me, the force of the slap jerked my head to the side. I gasped as I held my stinging cheek.

Then I felt a hard tug on my hair, my mom was pulling at my hair forcefully, I was afraid that she'll pull out my scalp. My scalp felt like as though it was in fire. A little cry left my lips.

"I won't have you say nasty things about Joe, not in my house, get me? "her voice was strong and the warning was evident in it. A little whimper left my lips. My heart broke that instant.

When the pull in my hair had slackened, I turned around and ran to my room. I slammed the door after me and leaned back against the door, breathing heavily. I fought the tears by clenching my teeth hard, I clenched them so hard ,my head hurt me so much. I rushed into the bathroom and blindly reached for the tap and splashed water on my face. The coldness of the water made me gasp loudly and my breathing became much more deeper. I avoided looking into the mirror in front of me, I left the bathroom, water still dripping from my face and then pulled off my milk white shirt that had water stain on it. I changed into another milk white shirt and then tucked it into my grey skirt neatly.

I had to examine my face in the mirror to make sure that there was no mark or weal left on my face from my mother's hand. But unfortunately there was a slightly inflamed area just below my eyes. I stared at the puffiness for a while, before bringing a damp towel and pressing it softly on the spot. The damp towel helped to make it less noticeable.

I refused to think of my mom marrying Joe, it was none of my business now.

I picked up my school bag and walked out of my room.

Outside, the orange sunlight illuminated the garage,casting golden rays on the different cars parked in the garage.

The Chauffeur was already waiting behind the wheel of the Camry in which I rode to school with every weekday.

I nodded stiffly to the chauffeur's enthusiastic greeting and got into the car.

My heart was still heavy as I leaned back into the cushion of the car and closed my eyes. As the car moved out of the compound, I peered out of the tinted windows. I saw a figure leaning on the ledge of the flower bed

"stop the car." I commanded the chaffeur, he obeyed. I wind down the glass and peered at the figure again, harder this time. I recognized it as the chef whom my mom had fired earlier today.

I quickly got out of the car and walked towards him. I realized he was still young, in his late twenties, his face was moist with tears. When he saw me approaching he began to quickly wipe his face with the back of his hand.

"hi "I said, smiling sweetly at him. He couldn't say anything, just gawk at me.

"look I'm sorry about what happened today, it's just that my mom...acts irrationally sometimes and she wasn't in a good mood today..."I stopped talking when I had run out of lies that I could use to cover up for my mom.

"please tell her I'm sorry, but I need this job badly please madam... "he tried to kneel down, I placed a hand on his shoulder, preventing him from doing what he had in mind. How could I start explaining to him that nothing would make my mom change her mind?

"OK, ok, I'll try and...talk to her, but I don't think she'd even listen to me... "

"please madam, please... "tears had started rolling down his cheeks and he finally managed to lie prostrate before me. I did the only thing I could do. I rummaged through my bag and brought out the slightly thick wad of note that was allocated to be my pocket money for the week, and handed it over to him.

"here, manage this, it's small I know, but that's all I can do for now... "I said with a big smile as I pushed the notes into his hands. He looked stupefied and stared in awe at the money I was giving him. I searched for a pen in my bag and asked him to jot down his mobile number. He did that with shaky fingers, while thanking me profusely.

"I'll see what I can do. "I told him confidently, with a confident smike.

"thank you so much madam. "

"it's Vanessa. "I told him kindly.

"I can't call you that, but thank you so much madam. "

I laughed loudly then glanced at my watch. I'd soon be late for school.

"I'll call you."I called out as I hurried back to the car.

"thank you Vanessa! "I smiled as I got into the car.

My stomach rumbled slightly as I buckled my seat belt, reminding me that I didn't have breakfast and that I had just given a stranger my pocket money.

"let's go. "I told the chauffeur And leaned into the cushion of the car, pushing away the negative thoughts that were forming in my head.

***

The car slowed down to a halt, I sighed inwardly in impatience, there was a traffic jam, that meant that I'll be stuck here for god knows how long!

There was much honking and the air was thick with smoke. I looked out of the window, meeting the eyes of the passenger in the car beside mine. I quickly looked away as the guy's stare became probing.

I was idly nodding my head to the sound of the music playing in the car stereo and inwardly praying for the traffic to ease a little.

Then suddenly the shout of 'armed robbery' filled the air.

"armu robber oo!! "someone screamed as he ran past the car. Panic gripped me as I looked at the chaffeur, Abdul .

"madam calm down, è fit be prank oo." Abdul was still talking when I heard the deafening sound of gunshot.

An involuntary scream left my lips as I dipped my head down, clutching my hands to my ears.

Another gunshots,more scream left my lips. It felt like I Was a character in a horror movie. My instincts screamed at me that I should keep my head down.

"shhhhh! "the chaffeur was telling me furiously. I nodded stiffly and put my hands over my lips, whimpering quietly. My heart was beating fast, my brain was busy conjuring up the bad thing that could possibly happen.

What if I get hit by a stray bullet? What if I get abducted? What if our car got burnt? What if...? There were so many what if...

The street was quiet now, maybe they had left already. My heartbeat returned to normal,but my breath still came out in quick shallow puffs.

I was tempted to raise my head, I did just that.

I immediately regretted it.

Someone dressed in black was looking through the window of the car beside mine. The Lower part of his face was hidden in a black mask. He turned around and looked at me. With a gasp I ducked down, my breath catching in my throat, blood roaring in my ears.

A thief! A masked thief ...i had seen with my eyes!

My heart beat nearly stopped when I heard someone try to open the door of the car. My breathing automatically stopped as the person tried harder to open the door.

"open the door! "the command was muffled due to the mask.

I nearly swooned and dropped in a faint.

"open the damn door!! "the command was clearer and Sharper this time. I was paralyzed with fear and couldn't move my limbs to comply to the order. I nearly jumped out of my skin when a gloved hand snaked into the car from the window. I was already shaking terribly as the hand fumbled with the lock. Then I heard a loud click and the door swung open. Sunlight streamed into the car, I was already curled into a ball in the car seat.

"come out! "another sharp order. My eyes were shut so tightly,my hands were tightened into a fist, my teeth clenched .i couldn't believe this was happening to me, I only watched about robbers attacking their victims in TV, but I never expected it to happen to me!

"i said come out!! "

"no! "the words wheezed its way out of my throat. I was surprised that I still had the energy to talk.

I felt someone roughly drag my hands and pull. I screamed loudly, and clawed at the hand until it let go.

"Make una leave that small girl alone. "I heard Abdul's voice. I was already shaking like a leaf.

I wondered what the robbers wanted with me, with us.

"Will you shut up there?! "The masked man barked.

"She still be small pikin na...her mama get money, abeg-"

The loud report of a gun silenced Abdul.

A wave of horror washed over me, I met dark beady eyes that was hidden behind the mask.

I could tell he was smirking.

The bastard just shot someone and he was smiling?!!

He made to pull at me again

I screamed loudly, the tiger in me was awakened. I clawed furiously at the robbers hands and wrist. I heard a silent cuss of pain.

"Leave me alone! Somebody help me!"

Then I felt something cold and heavy descend on my head forcefully. Blackness floated in my vision, blurring out everything and every noise.

Then I was unconscious.