Chapter 2

Orange light from my lamp tore through the darkness, leaving nothing but the remains of it in far corners of my room. Silence filled me with an unfathomable mixture of excitement and fear as I stood before my window, gazing the starry sky with a longing for a hot cup of coffee.

I pushed open the glass, allowing the light wind to caress my face and fill me with the peace that I had started to crave for every other night.

I stood there for some time before my mind decided to reminisce him.

That man... who was he and why did the aura around him radiated terrifying yet intriguing darkness?

I could understand Lydia thinking of me to be seeking drama for making a scene out of a thing as usual as him approaching me for a talk but I felt at loss to explain how did not seem as it looked. Hell, I couldn't even make a point to myself! Just lost between an unusual feeling and dawning realization of exaggerating things.

I let the window be open and sat on my bed.

'Looking for someone?'

His words repeated in my mind. Maybe I am thinking too much, I thought to myself. Finally deciding to rest my mind, I pushed his sinfully handsome face out of my thoughts and lay back down.

Just as I was about to drift into my sleep, a question arose, like always, in the core of my mind,' will it be an exciting day tomorrow or just like always?' But how can life be exciting when you are almost lonely even though you have relations surrounding you.

Hope life does get exciting.

The next day I woke up to the banging at my door.

"Dinah? Wake-up! Your father is coming today," my aunt sounded from the other side, leaving me to wonder what befell this house for her to wake up early.

"I am awake, aunt" I answered as I opened the door.

"Good. He will be arriving anytime now. We will have breakfast together so you better wash up and come to the dining hall."

"I'll be there."

"Okay then," she turned on her heels and left.

I was happy that my father was coming but not literally jumping on my toes like my aunt was. Half of the reason for her excitement was because he was her younger brother and the other half because he would bring her heavy gifts. The latter being more bearing more weight.

But I was tired of getting gifts to keep my mouth shut from asking him about his whereabouts. This time I was determined to know the truth!

I knew he loved me with all he had but what bothered me was the fact that he paid very little heed to me. Distant love and care can never substitute for moments to spend together. I wanted to make memories with him, not phone calls.

I took one last glance at myself in the mirror, brushing my fingers through the length of my hair all the way to my waist.

A cream, simple maxi would do for today.

***

"How is my daughter?" Father asked as he made himself seated on the sofa, the servants carrying about a dozen branded bags after him, liting Jamaica's face in pure delight.

" Good as usual." I smiled. " You must be tired. Why don't you change and I will bring you a cup of chilled coffee?"

" Ask the servants to send it for me, though they can't fall anywhere close to your speciality."

"Let me make it for you then." With that being said, I got up and went to the kitchen.

I came back to the lounge with father's cup however, could not find him there.

"Where is father?" I asked Jamaica who was busy putting the things back in bags.

"He went to his room." She answered back. " Did you see the things he bought?" She asked excitedly.

" No, I have not. I should not keep father waiting." I replied with a hint of annoyance over her overly materialistic approach.

As I was about to take a step, she called out to me, " Dinah?"

I turned to face her.

" Your father brought this dress for you."

"I'll see to it later."

" Yeah, of course, but I was guessing don't you have many dark clothes? Why don't you try_"

" You want it?" I cut her off.

" No... I was thinking why don't we exchange this with my new pink-"

" It's okay aunt, you can have both." With that being said, I walked to my father's room.

Letting out a small sigh, my hand reached out for the wooden door.

" I will get the truth out today" I whispered to myself before knocking.

"You are always welcome, Dinah," I heard him say, lifting my lips in a smile. He was lying on his bed with a big smile plastered on his face. He seemed to be in peace after so long.

" It feels so good to be back after seven months, so good to be with you and your aunt."

" I can understand father. If it was on me, I would have never let you go" I gave him the cup and made myself seated on the chair next to him.

" Who wants to go, my little darling? but when work calls, you gotta put your desires aside."

Work that is still a mystery to me.

"Does your aunt take care of you?"

I didn't need her superficial love and care.

" Yes father, she does."

" I can never repay my sister for what she has done for the two of us. She left everything that once had her name only so she could be my backbone and raise you better than a mother would have."

"Sure, she left everything to gain everything" I whispered to myself, feeling a bit outraged at the words yet kept my cool.

" What Dinah?"

"What do you do, father?" I asked out of nowhere.

He placed the cup on the table and sat straight. " Dinah, I told you I am a Businessman"

" What kind of businessman are you?" I pushed, knowing it well he was lying to my face.

" What do you mean by what kind? I have companies where we produce and sale fine cloth internationally" I could sense a tension in his voice.

" Fine clothes? Companies.? Then I am sure father I must have heard of your company, after all, it's a big one, isn't it?" I challenged.

" Yes... maybe yes," he rubbed his forehead.

" Name ?"

"Yes... it's DTM "

"DTM?"

" Donovan Textile Mills."

I decided to keep my silence.

" Dinah, I think I will take a nap now."

I smiled before leaving the room quietly, knowing it well how a mere look at my smile had him rubbing his forehead.

The whole day passed but I and father did not have a proper conversation after that little chat. It was midnight when I decided to get myself a glass of milk. The house was drowned in complete darkness downstairs which meant everyone was asleep. I opened the fridge and poured myself a glass before making my way back as quietly as I came.

As usual, my bedside lamp was on, making everything seem to appear dim.

I stood near the window, gulping my milk sip by sip as my mind processed the words of my father.

Maybe I was being irrational about his profession. If that was true, I would have been glad cause the idea that it could be otherwise sounded repulsive.

Gulping down the last sip, I placed the glass on the dressing table and grabbed my laptop from the desk. 'Donovan TEXTILE MILLS' I searched but to my dismay, I could not find anything as such. Google continued to correct it to 'DONOVAN AND BROTHER'S MILLS'.

Lies. Again.

" Fine! You want to fill me with your white lies, I wouldn't pursue this topic again." I hissed, pushing the laptop off my legs and lying back down. " But I won't ever close my eyes to your mere words again, father."

BEEP BEEP.

How I wished to throw my alarm off a cliff and watch it scramble to its despicable pieces!

I moaned and switch its annoying summer tune on my phone.

After another five minutes of lying in my bed, I finally decided to get up and start a new morning. After performing my usual morning routine, I changed into my casual clothes. I wore Dark blue jeans with a white top along with a dark blue button-down, jeans shirt, that was longer and open from the front revelling my white top. I brushed my hair as I danced to distorted lyrics of a song I heard sometime in the past. Once satisfied with my looks, I went out to have breakfast with the family.

Passing through the drawing-room, I heard someone chit-chatting with my father which only meant we had some guests to keep father busy. I wasn't bothered by the fact that he won't be joining us for breakfast this time as used to be when father was busy even when he came home after so long; the reason being that I was simply getting used to it.

As I was about to enter the dining hall, my aunt came in front of me, her eyes glittering with excitement while her face held a bright smile.

" Is there something you need aunty?" I asked gently.

"oh yes, come here my dear," she held my hand and bought me to the dining table from where she grabbed the tray consisting of two cups of tea along with some biscuits and bread cake. " Take this and serve it to your father and his guest." She said as she handed me the tray.

" I'm to serve them." It came out as more of a question.

"yes, my dear."

"Okay... then where are the servants?"

"Dinah servants are busy in preparing brunch, so don't waste time and take this to your father while I go and supervise them," she said and left for the kitchen, leaving me behind with the tray.

After taking a look at myself in the mirror, I grabbed the tray and made my way to the drawing-room. As I entered, I said my greeting to my father after which I turned to face the guest. But as soon as I saw the familiar face, a lump formed in my throat and words couldn't come out. My eyes widen at the man before me.

It was him!

I didn't realize I was staring at him until a small smirk formed on the corner of his lips as he studied my form.

It was enough for me to burst out of my stance and place the tray on the table.

" Why did you bring it, my darling? What do I pay the servants for?" Father asked as I handed him the cup of tea.

" Aunt said they were all busy in preparing brunch, father" I replied as I grabbed the cup of tea and handed it to him. His face held no expression whatsoever that could give away the momentary flash of a smirk on his lips when he first graced my presence with eyes as calculating as that of a hawk; he simple muttered out a plain thank you and took the cup.

As I was about to leave, my father called me.

" have a seat, Dinah "

I smiled before taking my seat next to him, all the while being an object of attention of father's special guest.

I knew something was up and before I could ask my father, he spoke up.

" Dinah, you know why is he here?" My father turned to eye my puzzled expressions.

" I guess I don't," I replied straight forward.

" Well, this young man here wants your hand in marriage."

To say I was shocked would be an understatement; I was appalled! It took me all the courage I had to look up to his form, sitting on the couch, head bowed and finger caressing the rim of the cup with a smile dancing on his lips; a smile so menacing that it gave me chills.

And then he looked up, his eyes met with mine and the smile faded like it was never there in the first place.