46. The strange dinner
Shirleen looked at the file on her desk again. She had lost count of how many times she had looked at it. She turned away and walked to the window looking at the green compound that spread as far as the eye could see. Her eyes caught sight of the mausoleum at the very edge of the compound. She couldn't bring herself to continue looking at it so she turned away. She and Adrian had decided it was time for her to move closer to the city. Due to her position as the queen and the Phoenix heir she needed her own house to conduct business and receive any crime lords who wish to visit her. They would both keep their residences separate but sleeping arrangements would include spending every night in each other's beds without fail. She took the file and walked to the safe in the wall and placed it inside. She walked out of the room reaching for her jacket. She stopped at the bottom of the staircase when she heard Eva scream in delight as she ran somewhere in the house. Nuke's voice was heard shouting that she was about to catch up to the giggling girl. Mrs. Nzula's voice filled the air full of laughter telling them to go play outside or there will be no supper for them. She was happy that Eva was slowly starting to behave like a girl her age and laughter now came easily to her. Since she stopped being a prisoner Nuke and Githu had pledged their loyalty to her and decided to continue staying by her side as her bodyguards even if she had ten deadly assassins filling said position. She silently turned to the door and went to the dark grey sports car Adrian had gifted her with and pulled out of the compound at full speed followed closely by two other black sedans with four of her assassins. She drove into the city and turned onto Kileleshwa road. She came to a stop in front of an impressive mansion. A black Mercedes stopped close behind her car and a bodyguard opened the door for Angela just as Shirleen was stepping out of her car. Angela stopped looking at her in surprise and then walked to the double doors that were being held open for her. "To what do I owe a visit from the one and only queen?" she asked handing her handbag to Stacey who was following them close behind.
"For one I would appreciate it if you would invite me for dinner. I am extremely hungry," Shirleen replied sitting on the sofa and looking around at the white themed living room. It looked so impersonal with not even a single photo displayed. It did not look as if anyone lived there. It looked more like a show house than a home. Angela lounged on another sofa looking at her in confusion, "Don't you have your own house? I believe Mrs. Nzula has some food there just for you considering how much she adores you."
Shirleen smiled and leaned forward, "Wait, are you jealous that she loves me more than you? Well you can't blame the poor woman I am way cuter than you," she teased and Angela chuckled looking away from the young woman. "Anyway, I am too hungry to make it home in one piece," Shirleen whined slumping on the sofa as if she was literally dying of hunger.
"You are out of luck," Angela said moving to the wine decanter and pouring two glasses of wine and brought one over to the unwelcomed girl in her living room. "My chef is away on leave. Stacey and I were planning on having some food delivered."
"Eating take out is extremely unhealthy both of you should know better," Shirleen exclaimed. "How about you cook I have heard you are an extremely good cook." Angela froze in the middle of taking a sip of her wine and her eyes took a faraway look as if she was remembering an extremely painful experience. "I haven't cooked in years," Angela said turning away from her, hiding the pain behind her normal blank mask.
"My mother used to cook me spaghetti. It was my favourite food. I haven't eaten spaghetti since the last time she cooked," Shirleen said her voice choked with emotion. Heavy silence filled the room at that confession and Angela turned to look at the broken young girl for a few minutes.
"Have you ever eaten spaghetti Carbonara?" Angela asked her and Shirleen raised her head. She shook her head silently and Angela sighed before she stood taking her glass of wine with her. "Come with me I believe I have all the ingredients somewhere in the kitchen. You will help with preparing the ingredients and I will teach you to make it."
"You should know I can't cook to save my life. I literally burn water," Shirleen said following her to the kitchen holding her own glass of wine. A few minutes later Stacey joined them holding her own glass of wine. She sat at the kitchen island watching them.
Angela smiled when she heard Shirleen admit to her lack of cooking skills, "I know." For the next two hours they cooked in silence only broken by Angela as she showed Shirleen how to prepare one ingredient to another. She also constantly explained to her why she used a certain amount of spice and not another. Finally, the food was ready and Angela directed her to set the dining table with table mats before the hot dishes were served. Not only did the spaghetti carbonara grace the table but also chocolate brownies for desert that Angela had hastily put together. She was an incredibly gifted cook to say the least as far as Shirleen could tell. Dinner was eaten in silence with Shirleen concentrating on her plate without looking at the two older women at the table. Stacey kept glancing between her two companions her eyes full of pity and sadness. She was also the only one who noticed the tear that slid from Shirleen's eyes and dropped on the food in her plate and how Angela kept blinking away her own tears as she focused on her own plate. After dinner at Angela's direction both she and Shirleen washed and dried the dirty dishes. For a moment there they were both lost in their own personal fantasy of domesticity. "Thank you," Shirleen said turning for the door without looking at Angela, "The food was delicious."
"Your father is on his way here. If you wish to stay and talk to him, I won't interfere," Angela said softly.
"Not today. I have other plans with Adrian," Shirleen replied and started for the door but stopped. Without turning she said, "What do you owe me and what do I owe you? I no longer remember." Her eyes misted with tears, "Everything is a mess now anyway let us forget about it." She left without another word after that not daring to turn back. Angela stood looking at the door a few more minutes, "Yes everything is a mess now, my convictions are crumbling to dust and my iron will is wavering but I can't afford that at least not yet. No until I achieve what I sold my soul to the devil for," Angela whispered and turned away from the door.