Nora I watched as Maxwell Ratliff bounded up the steps. I mentally observed my house from a stranger's perspective; chipped blocks, rusty roof. A house that appeared ready to give up the ghost anytime. His presence made me uneasy. To meet me at his workplace was one thing, to follow me home and witness my living conditions was another. My cheeks flamed with embarrassment. He halted in front of me, l peered at him. “ Hello.”His resonant voice greeted. “Hi, armored SUVs, is that not an overkill?.” l joked to hide my uneasiness. He looked over his shoulder, “ no it's not. My father was nearly killed sometime ago. The culprits mistook him for me, so they are a necessary devil.” My eyes widened, “ you are a Mafia Lord?.” His deep throated laughter surprised me. His scowling face yesterday made me think he was incapable of such an act. “ I'm not, but l have Mafia friends. We had a meeting that day with one of them. My dad went home while l finished up at the office. They ambushed my c
MaxI stood at the window watching the traffic below when i heard a knock, somebody came in without permission. “Sorry Max for badging in your office without permission but things are bad, you are being made a fool of. I can't stand it.” I turned around at the voice of my sister. What was this instigator doing in my office? When the shit hit the fan, she chose her side, our father’s side.Her action came as no surprise, my father always took her side in my altercations with her. My eyes tracked her as she came across the room towards me.“Who is making me a fool?.” Her eyes glinted with an unnamed emotion. She flushed down to her neck. “It's painful for me to see you in this situation but it had to be done to protect you. Your wife is the gutter rat we warned you against.”My anger was instant. “Get out. From today onwards never set your feet in my office again..”l barked at her, she walked backwards, the fear in her eyes warring with defiance. As she put one foot behind the oth
NoraThe metered taxi deposited me, Nora Reidy, at the corner of my intended destination. My neck worked overtime as l studied my environment. Downtown Bluewaters was cleaner, less crowded than my noisy, overcrowded stomping ground, the upper part of town.The upper part of town hosted a cauldron of races, blacks, whites, brown. Any colour you know, Bluewaters had it. Here the prominent race appeared to be white.The stationary and moving cars looked expensive. The few people l saw on the street wore costly clothes, shoes and accessories. I felt naked in my washed out jeans, scruffy sneakers and a sweater that had seen better days.I turned a corner and the Ratliff offices came into sight. I uncapped my bottle filled with iced water from home. l could not afford to pay for the taxi and buy bottled water at the same time. I gulped down the water and studied the building. All my hopes were pinned on this building. If l failed to get the job today, my world faced total collapse.You see,
NoraChapter 65. The meeting Nora“So, when do you want to meet Caesar? There's no pressure, ok baby?” Max questioned, as he trimmed his beard. His eyes found mine in the mirror. I was babysitting him as he made himself presentable. “ I think the sooner l do it, the better. How about tomorrow evening?.” Max lathered his face, “ it's fine. Who would you prefer to be there?” He poured water onto his face then wiped his face. “ I know who l don't want there, Angela. Everyone else is welcome.” Max dropped the towel in the washing basket. He took my hand and we headed to the kitchen for breakfast.Matilda's breakfast spread made my salivary glands ooze. We dug in with gusto, “ Max, don't expect much from this meeting. I'm agreeing because you convinced me it will save my life. I have zero feelings for that man. He doesn't evoke a father -daughter feeling inside me. He leaves me cold emotionally.” I poured out my feelings.The thought of an interaction between Caesar and I gave me gooseb
NoraI, Nora Reidy, was a 25 year old medical student. This was my last year as a student, when the results come out l would be a neurosurgeon. I had a mother but l might as well be an orphan. My mother abandoned me for a man and alcohol as a toddler, leaving me in the care of my grandmother, Sophia Reidy.Granny was now very sick, she needed a kidney transplant. Our dire family situation prevented her from getting the much needed treatment. We were dirt poor but happy and content. Granny's illness threw our little family into a spin. Joy fled from our lives. I needed to make an immediate plan. Right now l was on my way to a job interview at Ratliff Restaurants. I had to at least try to raise funds for her kidney transplant. I turned a corner and the Ratliff offices came into sight. I uncapped my l liter bottle filled with iced water from home. l could not afford to buy bottled water. I took a long refreshing drink and studied the building. Two glass doors faced me. l craned my neck
NoraMaxwell Ratliff entered the room with urgent footsteps. Did this guy follow me here?My eyes tracked his movements as he circled the table. He stood beside Mrs Ratliff.He raised his head and his sharp gaze fell on my face. He frowned and scowled down at me. I pressed my shoulders against the chair and straightened my legs to make myself smaller.Marylin beamed at me. “Nora, this is my son Max Ratli..” This man was my employer's son? Why did l not think of it.? The same surname on both their businesses. Maxwell removed his dark eyes from my flushed face. He addressed his mother, his voice irritated.“ What is she doing here?.”His deep hostile voice inquired. Marylin glared at her son. “ What? Max behave please, this is Nora Reidy, my new employee.”Max stared daggers at me,“ fire her.” Fire me? Before l even started? The man was not only rude, he was also cruel. I gave my employer a quizzical look. She was staring at her son with burning eyes."Why would l do that, l don't meddle
Nora I was supposed to start working today. I opted to forfeit it because of two reasons. Firstly l poured water on my employer's son. My embarassed self recoiled at the thought of meeting him regularly when he visited his mother. The second reason was my employer, her offer put me off. If l got married, it would be for love, not convenience. I watched as Maxwell Ratliff bounded up the steps. I mentally observed my house from a stranger's perspective, chipped blocks, rusty roof, a house that appeared ready to give up the ghost anytime. His presence made me uneasy, to meet me at his workplace was one thing, to follow me home and witness my living conditions was another. My cheeks flamed with embarrassment. He halted in front of me, l peered at him. “ Hello.”He greeted, his voice deep and resonant. “Hi, armored SUVs, is that not an overkill?.” l joked to hide my uneasiness. He looked over his shoulder,“ no it's not, my father was nearly killed sometime ago. The culprits mistook h
NoraI found Max pacing up and down on my porch, his anxiety showed through a deep frown and slitted eyes. I called him in. He remained standing. “ I will marry you.” I mumbled, my eyes on the floor. “Sorry what?.” I raised my voice, almost shouted, “ l said l will marry you.” A big smile split his face, dammit he was a handsome beast. Granny got up, “ well kids, l will leave you to talk, l need to rest.”Max went to her and shook her hand, “thank you Mrs Reidy, I will start the ball rolling, before the end of the week you will have your surgery.” Tears of gratitude filled my granny’s eyes. “ Thank you young Ratliff, you have no idea what you have done.” Max patted her back and steered her towards her room.He came back and towered over me, “ let's go to the Ratliff Restaurants, we will talk there.” “ Why can't we talk here?.”He eyed the sofa like it was a poisonous snake. “ Ok let's go, let me fetch my phone.” I informed my granny we were leaving.As we approached the cars, a