“Ella!” Thelma exclaimed in horror at her daughter for putting her backpack on the floor again. After their fun trip from the ice cream shop, Thelma got a call from Emma her co-worker at the Sweet dreams hotel saying her shift had started twenty minutes ago and she needed to hurry up before the manager checks in. And with Ella’s messy nature she might have to take more time before leaving.
“I am coming mom!” Ella yelled from the top stairs.
Thelma slightly pulled her hair in frustration. “Ella I have told you many, many times never put your bag on the floor, take it to your room now.” She rubbed her temples feeling a slight throb ache there.
“I’ll pick let me just-“ Thelma cuts her.
“Do it now! Oh God Ella I don’t want to raise my voice at you just do as you are told, please.” Thelma was getting irritated with Ella’s messy nature ‘she takes after her father’ who wouldn’t know, like father like daughter. ‘Mi Valentino’ she groaned, silently holding the grief that was once dead.
Ella came back instantly sensing her mother was really pissed, it was not the regular scolding she receives from her. Ella did not want to offend her mother than she already is, so she behaved like a good girl and picked up her bag from the door entrance. She grumbled all the way up to her room, Thelma did not mind her at all she did not want Ella to manipulate her with pure emotions.
Thelma ran a shaky hand in her hair thinking of what to next, ‘my bag and keys’ she remembered. She went to grab her keys and head upstairs into Ella’s room, as much as she wanted to get mad at Ella she just couldn’t.
“Hey.” Thelma greeted her with a small smile on her rosy lips. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”
“It’s okay mom, I am not mad.” Ella sat up to look at her mom, her expression a bit sad.
“You sure?” Thelma asked still confused about her sad expression.
Ella nods her head to reassure her mother all was well, but Thelma sensitive motherly instincts told her otherwise.
“Ella? Are sure you feel fine?”
“Why won’t I be fine mom? I have never felt so better.” Ella glanced up at her mother. Ella knew her mother very well, this little covering cannot blind Thelma. Thelma is as sharp as a sword, a strong woman, a woman of virtue, a woman who what she is doing.
“But you are sad.” Thelma scoots closer to her daughter but restrained from engulfing her in her arms.
“Noooo… I just miss home that’s all.” Ella quickly respond. Thelma’s eyes widen a bit, she felt tension and worry fill her system, it was as if her heart had just dropped in her stomach.
“Home? Urr- what home?” She cautiously asked her little girl, trying not to scare or startle Ella. Thelma was a bit paranoid Ella will remember their old life and want to continue with it or worse ask about her father.
“I don’t know.” Ella’s eyebrows furrowed as she stared in front of her. “I don’t know, but I still like it here except for school though.” Ella looked up at her mother, her small eyes glinting with happiness.
“You always hated school. I don’t know why.” Thelma pet Ella on the hair.
“Because school is so much boring.”
“How about this house? Don’t you like it?”
“I love it, it is way better than our old house, but I will like if we can move somewhere much bigger, with enough room to play and stroll, you know, because you don’t let me out most times.” Ella made know some of her emotions, she wanted her mother to also understand her just like she does. Instead of seeing an angry look plastered on Thelma’s face a sigh only escaped her lips.
“Well, that was good.” Thelma muttered very low under her breath.
“Mom, what happened you seem quite shaken.” Ella asked.
“Nothing just starting to you know…” Thelma drift off almost forgetting there was a curious ten year old by her side. ‘I need to get used to Ella growing up’ Thelma reminded herself, never has she since the day of Ella’s birth raised her voice at her. This kind of treatment was new and it pained Thelma to see Ella sad.
“I’ll be leaving for work now and I want you to be a good girl. Please finish your homework before I am back, okay?”
“Now? Why can’t you stay?” Ella complained feeling left out again. Just like any day, she wonders if her mother would take a day off so they could spend it together. Another reason could be that her mother was getting tired of her.
“I wish I could, you know I have to go, I am the breadwinner here and I have to make enough cash to help pay the rent and feed our stomachs.”Thelma tried explaining to Ella hoping she understood why she left every single day.
“Okay, but promise you’ll be back early.” Ella brought out her pinky finger to seal their words, it was a normal ritual between them.
“Promise.” Thelma crossed her pinky with her and kissed it. “Lock the doors and answer no one no matter who it is or what they want. Only open the door for me. And if there is an emergency, call me, if it is something serious and I haven’t gotten here yet go to Mrs Docks okay.” Thelma passed important instructions and regulations Ella was to follow during her absence. She is still yet to trust anyone especially around her daughter and someone like Grayson will target little Ella just so he could get to her.
Ella nods in understanding, this rule was always the same, it wasn’t the first time she was alone at home it won’t be difficult to abide with something you hear everyday.
“I’m being serious this time Ella, don’t joke about it.”
“I swear it mom.”
“I have warned you about swearing haven’t I?”
“Oops, I am sorry I forgot.”
“It’s okay, I just need you to do this for me. Keep all the light on, do your homework, take your bath and stay safe for me.” Thelma couldn’t explain why she felt the need to keep Ella safe. From who?. She couldn’t point out, it was better safe than sorry.
“Yes mom I get it you have nothing to worry about I’ll be good.” Ella assured her mother but Thelma was restless and hoped all will be fine by the time she got back.
“Isaiah don’t you think this is all too fast, I mean Orlando has zero interest in the family business, he is just like Uncle Sam in the fortune stories who hates life and everything. Orlando just goes about doing what he likes he doesn’t very much care about anything or anyone.” Ruby tried talking her husband from pushing Orlando to forcefully take over the family business.She knew Orlando too well, and throwing all the family’s hard earn inheritance into his hands will surely lead to a forever disaster. Isaiah looked at his lovely wife, she has no idea how important it is for the first son of the Chester family to take over the business. Isaiah Ivan Chester popular by the name Ivan Senior has worked so hard to build his successful shipping company (I Ivan.co) his company has been awarded the best shipping enterprise in America and his legacy must continue, this is when
Thelma reached the sweet dreams hotel by six which means her work shift had started about an hour ago, being a chef at this big hotel was the only job and living for her and Ella, and she doesn’t intend to lose it any time soon.“You’re lucky Kaycee did not find you sneaking into the restaurant this late Elle.” Emma had her covered up till she arrived and took her position in the kitchen where all the meals were made and served to the hotel and it restaurant. Technically there are two kitchens one for the hotel restaurant and the other for room service but most foods were cooked in the hotel restaurant’s kitchen.“Thanks again Emma, I totally forgot about my shift. A lot has been going on lately, it makes me tired and stressed out, I guess it must be the reason work slipped off my mind..” Thelma explained to the nice mi
“Such a disoriented fool.” Emma rolled her eyes at Kaycee who left the kitchen with a plate of joy in hand. “You know he is our boss, right.” Thelma reminded her, she wasn’t defending him or being sarcastic. Thelma just needed to remind Emma that he is still above them on the job even if they behaved like friends. “Yeah I know. And he knows better than to fire me, I mean where would the hotel be if not for my great culinary skills and good brains.” Emma praised herself. “You work only for the hotel restaurant, remember.” Thelma reminded her with a smile on her lips. “Yes I know, but I rule this place.” Emma wiggled her brows at Thelma, they both talked and worked while clearing pans and leftover ingredients from the stove and the countertop. When they were done
The sound of a car drifting roughly burst through the cold night. Tires screeched loudly and continuously before it stopped. Ruby looked out the opened window of her private living room seeing the black Porsche parked in front of the house and Orlando stepping out of it. She quickly changed out of her dressing gown into a simple purple gown that went to her knees and strode downstairs a scowl on her face. Orlando burst through the mahogany doors like a drunk, jangling his keys around then sets them into a bowl on a wooden table. “Orlando, how many times do I have to tell you to stop speed driving?” Ruby scolded her oldest son as soon as he came into their family house. She was so pissed at his careless driving she felt like spanking him. “Mom!” He exclaimed moving to hug Ruby but she stopped him.
Isaiah paced from left to right in the basement of his house. The floor was covered with a wine carpet and a table rug placed in the middle. With expensive painting and souvenirs and vases organized at various sections, it is the definition of richness and glamor, ‘I hope to God this works’ Isaiah prayed and looked down at his Rolex watch counting the seconds that passed. He then paused as the door opened and Ruby’s form appeared. “What did he say?” He asked eagerly. “He said he’s coming.” Ruby replied with a half-smile on her face. Isaiah let out a sigh in relief and put his hand over his chest dramatically, he sat on the bed rubbing his face with the palm of his hands still in utter shock Orlando accepted without causing chaos. “So you told him this ceremony
Five years earlier “Heyyy Ariella, want to know what Aunty Pamela got you?” Thelma cooed five-year-old Ella. It was a week after Ella’s birthday and they promised Ella that they will open all the gifts a week after. The weather was cold, snow and ice coated the streets and houses, Thelma took a green wrapped gift signed by her sister Pamela and opened it with a cutter. “Aww a tinker bell pen. That’s weird? Right babe.” She frowned at the gift wondering why her sister had gotten Ella a pen, Thelma dropped the box beside her and heard something jiggle inside, she frowned again and carefully carried the box in her hands shaking it again for confirmation, it jiggled again she traced the inside of the box and found a hole inserting her index finger she pulled on it and it revealed a cute golden chain decorated with little fairies and an envelope beneath.
Four hours laterThelma had waited for four hours with no update or call from her husband, she was worried something had happened but tried to play it cool around her daughter. Thelma also tried to reach his phone but it never rings or goes into voice mail ‘he is alright.’ She kept telling herself and she knew things were really going to be different. The wait could not hold on and her daughter also needs to eat. Thelma went to the kitchen to prepare some food for Ella and a bit for herself knowing Ella would not eat it if she didn’t.She was preparing food for Ella when her phone rang from the living room, she stopped cooking, and turned off the stove before going to answer the phone. “Hello.” She said.“Pl
The present Ceremony of the handing over. “I need white bouquet flowers on each table and all the food laid on the serving table, let’s go, let’s get this going guys!.” Kaycee yelled to all the staffs. As the hotel manager and supervisor, he has to make sure everything was perfect and in order. The Chester family were no ordinary rich people they were wealthy public figures, the first top partner to support and grow the Sweet Dreams hotel to the fame it is today. “Kaycee where should the carpet go?” A worker asked him. “let’s roll it all the way from the double door to stage, come on people we need to hurry up it’s almost seven. Kaycee had gathered both morning and evening workers to set up for the event they needed more helping hands to make it work. “Kaycee… lights, music and party time all set!” The DJ yelled from the corner giving Kaycee a thumbs up. “We are good to go.” “Okay DJ smooth.” He moved