CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

'If my room is the VIP room, I am wondering what your nicely furnished room is called'

Jason felt right at home on Naya's soft bed.

Naya sat on the bed next to Jason. She saw he was tired and stressed and he was trying to handle the stress on his own. His eyes were closed. His chest rise and fell softly as he breath. Jason was wearing a white long sleeve shirt with golden strips cuff links, the first two buttons on the shirt was unbuttoned and on the upper right side of the shirt was a child's dirty palm's print probably Nolani's. Jason wore a black pant with black socks and designer shoes.

'So how was the fundraiser?' Naya asked as she watched him closely. Jason didn't move a muscle or answer her question.

'How was Chicago?' Naya asked again. When Jason didn't answer again, Naya peeped closer and he was fast asleep. Jason was probably jetlagged too.

Naya detached his shoes from his legs and positioned them beside the bed. She removed the cuff link and loosed his belt. Naya's hand might have lingered for a while.

She stood up and removed the towel from her hair and her strawberry blonde hair fell to her shoulder. Naya picked up the brown dye on the dresser and opened it. Her hand went to her strawberry blonde hair to apply the dye when she heard a knock.

'Miss Naya! Miss Naya'

Naya recognized the voice that yelled her name. It belonged to one of the children. Naya made it a point not to refer to the kids as orphans. John was the oldest kid in the orphanage, almost seventeen years of age. His real name wasn't John but it was a mouth full and Naya couldn't pronounce it when she first came to the orphanage around two years ago. At first, it was just a name she called him as a preference to calling him boy, just until she could learn how to pronounce his real name, Naya told herself. Two years later and everyone in the orphanage now called him John. To be honest, John loved being called John.

'Miss Naya!'

John knocked briskly on the door. Naya checked herself on the mirror to be sure she was dressed appropriately before opening the door because the last time she answered John's call wearing a crop top and mini skirt, John almost turned red with embarrassment and handed his jacket to Naya to wear. It might be normal thing for her but John doesn't take kindly to inappropriately dressed women.

'Miss Naya…Madam Veronica wants to see you and the big boss' John said breathlessly.

Jason was yet to meet John but John very much wanted to meet Jason. All his life, he has been surrounded by girls, women and younger boys. As he grew older, he took the job of a big brother and man of the house. Fixing broken house bulbs, plumbing and other household chore that required strength. He kept the younger boys in line and treated the younger girls with distant affection and respect.

Naya occasionally worried about him, in a year time, he will grow out of the orphanage and become an adult legally. He will have to leave the orphanage and he had nowhere else to go. Naya had noticed that John was never chatty. He only spoke when spoken to and the only person that seemed to bring out any form of response from him was Madam Veronica. It was mostly anger and uneasiness.

At seventeen, he was smaller than his age. He was skinny, average and had a dark chocolate skin color that shone in the sun whenever he applied Vaseline. He wasn't outspoken but he was brilliant and quick on his feet, ready and willing to help out.

Having an older man in the orphanage will be good for John, Naya thought. She saw the way John looked behind her to where Jason was.

'I am sorry John but the big boss is sleeping. Veronica would have to wait' Naya told him calmly

'Madam Veronica won't be happy' John said uneasily because the idea of telling the woman in charge of the orphanage that Jason was not coming would probably blow the short fuse in Veronica's head.

'But the big boss needs sleep. Madam Veronica is always in a bad mood, anyway' John shrugged. He looked at Jason one more time and made his way out, when Naya stopped him.

'Wait…John, let me handle Veronica'

John grunted softly and nodded before going.

Naya took a jacket from her wardrobe and made her way towards Veronica's office. She knocked and entered her office.

'Miss Reese' Veronica said when Naya entered her office.

'Call me Naya'

For the six hundredth time, call me Naya. She wanted to add but she exercised self control.

'Miss Reese, I asked for Mr. Yagazie to come too'

Veronica was a middle age woman, stout, dark with a big nose that was oddly perfect for her round face. She had a permanent scowl on her face and even when she smiled it looked like it was forced. Veronica was an authoritarian who ruled the orphanage with a firm hand. It might be because she believed children need order, rules and discipline to thrive. Naya might not always agree with her methods but she knew Veronica was also fair.

'Jason just came back from a trip and he is probably jetlagged, so I thought it wise to let him sleep for a while, Ms Veronica'

'Miss Reese, when I ask for an employee to come, you should know it is for a good reason' Veronica explained while she flipped through the documents in front of her. She removed her glasses from a case on top of the table and wiped the lens with a white handkerchief and positioned it on her eyes.

'I am sorry Ms Veronica if I overstepped' Naya apologized.

Naya took the document Veronica handed to her and flipped through it. Her face beamed up and she looked at Veronica.

'Oh my God' Naya said and read through the document.

'Yes, God is faithful' Veronica smiled too but briefly.

Veronica opened the bottom drawer of her table and brought out two cans of malt. She handed one over to Naya and she gladly took the rare gift.

'Oh Ms Veronica, tell me we can finally build the vocational school'

'We can finally build the vocational school, Miss Reese'

Naya didn't give it much thought; she just went around the table and hugged Veronica. Veronica was taken aback but she didn't push Naya.

'It won't be enough for the project but it is a good start. You can stop hugging me now' Veronica said and Naya smiled and let go of her.

'Thank you' Naya said, took the can of malt and left Veronica's office.

Veronica took out her phone from the brown bag by her left foot and dialed a number

'I am taking this call, means my son is back from Chicago' Elixir Yagazie said over the phone

'Good day ma'am, Mr. Yagazie is back and resting. The funds he raised in Chicago is enough to start the new project aim at helping orphans who grow out of the Orphanage, a vocation and a place to stay for two more years before figuring out their life as adults' Veronica said over the phone

'My baby' Elixir voice contained a hint of happiness

'Your son is exceptional, Mrs. Yagazie'

'There was never a doubt, Veronica…there was never a doubt'