NEW FRIEND

"Goldie!" Gerardo called and she cover her mouth with her hand.

"Am so sorry Mr Steinfeld, it actually escape my mouth" she said.

"Are you okay at all, you mean to tell me that you have no control over your tongue again?" Gerardo said and she binked.

"Am sorry, am sorry" she bowed.

"Sometimes Goldie, try and act like someone with sense, stop showing us how stûp¡d Nigerians are" a lady said and Goldie faced her immediately.

"Duro!(wait)" she said

"se o n ba mi soro?( Are you talking to me?)" She said in a local dialect and the lady look at her in confusion.

"Se o ya were (are you mad?), How dare you talk to me in such manner not like you behave well" she said.

"Huh?, Are you.....

"E be like say something the worry you for head, o ko le paapaa ronu taara ( you can't even think straight), how this matter take concern you..

"Just take a look at yourself, you think you are beautiful?, Even with all the makeup on your face, you still resemble Portable, are you not ashamed of yourself, Bishi (bitch)" she fired at her.

"Goldie stop!" Gerardo said and she exhaled heavily.

"I don't like it, when am talking to someone and someone else speaks, so respect yourself Cathy" he said to the lady and she bowed.

"Ok as I was saying...

"Boss she's here" A guy walk into the Hall and said.

"Am sorry but I guess this meeting is over, we can do it tomorrow" Gerardo said and walk out of the hall, Goldie followed him.

The staffs stood and start walking out of the hall slowly.

•••••

Gerardo walk into his office and smiled when he saw Nellie on the couch watching TV.

"Nell" he called and she turned swiftly.

"Daddy!" She called and he smiled.

"It's really you" he said and she got down from the couch and run to hug him.

Gerardo squat down to her level and spread his arms wide open for her to embrace him and she did

"Daddy" she giggled and Gerardo stroke her hair affectionately.

It's been long they saw each other, almost close to two years and he won't deny that he miss her so much.

She is the reason he still lives, and his only joy giver, they only get to talk to each other through video calls.

"Nelly" Gerardo smiled and break the hug.

"Daddy" she pouted and he hug her again before releasing her.

"My baby, you've grown so big" he said.

"Aunty Lizzie is taking care of me" Nellie smiled, she looks so thiny due to her sicknesses that one would hardly believe she is 6yrs going to 7.

"I miss you" he said.

"Me too Daddy, tell me how are you doing?, Are you feeling better, I mean are your allergies gone?, Do you still suffer from insomnia and are you still Asthmatic?" She asked cupping his cheeks and he smiled.

"Nelly, am feeling better, my insomnia is getting better, and for the allergies and asthmatic suffers, I guess we have to endure that, till the day we will die" he said and she sniffed.

"But Daddy, why do it have to be us, I can't even go out like other kids, I can't even play with my friends in America, all because of asthma, i am being home schooled because of the same asthma, i love oranges and Tangerines but I can't have a taste all because am allergic to it, I can't even eat biscuits and bread like other kids just because am allergic to flour, why does it have to be us dad, I don't like it" she said tears leaving her eyes.

"It's okay, am sorry I brought this upon you, so don't take it all on yourself, everything will be fine, a miracle can happen at any time" he said and she nodded.

"I love you Daddy" she said.

"Love you more" he said and hugged her again, k!ssing her hair repeatedly.

"Let's go out, I will take you to a private playground, where you can play with kids that suffers from asthma too, I promise to keep an eye on you, so you are safe" he said and she smiled.

"Thank you Daddy" She said and he pick his suit and put it on, he took his car keys.

"Let's go" he said taking her chubby hand.

"Yeah I can't wait" she giggled happily as she walk out of the office with Gerardo.

"I won't come back again Goldie, so arrange the files on my table and go home after that" he said to Goldie who is standing.

"Ok sir, goodbye" she waved and Gerardo walk out with Nellie.

Goldie sat down and continue working on some of the files he gave her earlier.

•••••

PLAYGROUND

"Thank you daddy for bringing me here I love you" Nellie said coming out of the car with Gerardo.

"You don't have to mention, I can do anything for you" Gerardo said walking towards the swing with her.

The playground is very clean and neat, no single dirt or dust can be seen around it, it a private playground, only rich kids with asthma or allergic to dust and dirt or any bad sickness are allowed there.

"You should go ahead and play I will sit down over there and watch you" Gerardo said pointing at a nearby chair.

"Ok Daddy, don't leave without me" she giggled and Gerardo smiled.

"Sure, am still here" Gerardo said and walk to the chair, he sat down on it and watch as Nellie climb the swing and giggled happily as it sway her around.

A girl of Same age with Nellie suddenly walk to the swing beside Nellie and climb it.

"Hey" she waved and Nellie roll eyes at her.

"C'mon don't be too rude towards me, I mean no harm" she said and Nellie look at her.

"Ok, what do you want?" She asked.

"Nothing, I just wanna be a friend" she said and Nellie pouted.

"Ok, what's your name?" She asked.

"Oh, am Millie and am 7yrs old" she said.

"Wow, our name sounds alike, Am Nellie and am 6yrs old, turning 7 soon" Nellie said.

"I like you" Millie said.

"Me too, why are you here?" She asked.

"Actually I am allergic to dust and sunshine, so once my home class is over, my nanny will bring me here to play with the kids here, since am not allowed to play with our neighbors" she said.

"Oh you have a nanny?" Nellie asked.

"Yeah, and she is the best and very beautiful" Millie said.

"I don't have any, so I will tell my dad to get one for me" Nellie said.

"So why are you here?" Millie asked.

"I suffer from asthma and also allergic to flour and citrus fruits, so to avoid getting into contact with dust or flour, my daddy brought me here" she said pointing at Gerardo who is sitting not too far from them.

"Wow, your daddy is so handsome, I must say" Millie said and Nellie smiled.

"I know right" she said and giggled.

"So we are friends now right?" Millie asked.

"Of course we.....

"Millie c'mon it's time to go, your daddy is back" Her nanny called and she faced Nellie.

"Am sorry Nellie, I have to go, my nanny is calling me" Millie said getting down from the swing

"Ok bye, I will see you some other time" Nellie said and Millie run off.

Nellie got down too and run to Gerardo, she hugged him tightly.

"Did you see that, I made a new friend" she smiled.

"Yeah, I did, now let's go home so that you can rest" Gerardo said and carried her.

"Am no longer a baby dad" she pouted.

"But you are still my baby" he said and she giggled as they walk to his car.

•••••

CALLAHAN'S FAMILY MANSION

"Pierce are you sure you are okay?" Chelina asked looking at Pierce who's face is red from the slap Susanna gave him earlier.

"Am fine, I said am fine, stop worrying about me" he said.

"Are you sure?" She asked and he look at her and roll eyes.

"I don't know" he said and she smiled.

"I will go get ice and press it there" Chelina said.

"Don't do that" he said.

"I insist okay" she said and walk to his fridge, she got an ice bag and walk back to him, she place the ice bag on his cheek and start massaging his cheek.

"I hate it when you are hurt,or sad, always smile for me please" she said and he keep a straight face.

"C'mon Pierce my heart, don't be too angry, give me a smile ok" she said and he scoffed, he is still Angry.

"C'mon Pierce" she said and ticked him.

"Hahahaha, stop" he laughed and she smiled.

"Now I got you back" she said and he smiled.

"You always have a way of making me smile" he said and she giggled.

"That's my job" she said.