CHAPTER 7: FOR MY FAMILY

It’s been a week ever since that incident, and thank goodness Thatcher haven’t make a move yet. He is still not showing his face nor his presence, so I am still hoping that he stopped on pestering me. But, ever since that day William is acting strange as if he is always scared, and what’s more strange about him is that he hired a bodyguards, I try to talk to him but he is avoiding me. So here I am again, trying to talk to him.

“Mr. William!” I said after knocking on his door, I didn’t heard any response so I just enter his office.

“Mr. William.” I said as I enter. He looked so surprised when he saw me inside his office.

“What is it Kimora?” He said.

“Ahm sir, I just noticed that ever since that day you are acting strange and you are avoiding me. Is there something wrong?” I asked as I walk near him.

“Oh, I’m sorry if you felt that way, but there is nothing wrong everything is fine.” He said while smiling at me, but his smile is faint and there’s a hint that he is hiding something from me.

“Sir if it’s about what happened last week, please tell me. I can’t work at peace knowing that there is someone suffering because of me.” I said

“You know---” He said but didn’t continue and just let out a heavy sigh. I feel like I was about to cry, so I looked at the ceiling in order to stop it.

“Kimora come here.” He said so I walk towards on where he is, as I reached him he hugged me so tight that made me feel that there is something wrong.

“Just always remember this, I will always protect you and everyone here in the art gallery no matter what happens, so calm yourself and your mind, okay?” He said, and I just nod at him.

“Stop crying will you? We can go thru this, I promised no one will leave.” He said

“Ahm, Mr. William can I know what really happens?” I asked, he looked at me with so much hesitation, but in the end he told me all. After knowing the truth, my mind is now in chaos.

“You can go home now Kimora, I know that you need some rest, and promise me that you will be your normal self tomorrow.” He said.

“Yes sir.” I said then leave the room, as I closed his office’s door I suddenly burst out crying. What have I done? I’ve never thought that Thatcher is so cruel and will use any means no matter who or what he might stepped on. I walk towards my office while still thinking about William said, it suddenly flashed back on my mind that made my knees lose its strength.

“Kimora take a sit before I tell you what is happening.” William said, so I sit on the chair in front of his table.

“Well, I told you he will use all means just to get you.” He started

“Ever since that day, he is sending me a message. At first, he is still insisting his offer, but I always declined it. Until one day, I received a message from him threatening my life, until it comes on threatening my business, at first I can handle it because I am the only one that was involved, until I received a message from him saying that he will do something bad to my employees, and I can’t afford that to happen.” He said sounded so frustrated

“Sir, if I am the solution for this then let’s just accept his offer, I can’t continue working here knowing that you are receiving threats from him.” I said but he just shake his head.

“No, I know how happy you are when you were hired here, and I can’t take that happiness from you.” He said

“But sir----” I said but got interrupted by him.

“You don’t know me well Kimora, I can fight that Thatcher, so please Kimora don’t ever think on quitting ever again.” He said while smiling, this smile is different from earlier it was like he is saying that I can trust him with this thing.

“Okay sir, but there is only one thing that I want.” I said

“What is it?” He asked

“If things cannot be handle alone by you, then please lay on me sir we will think a solution for this.” I said

“Okay.” He said

“Promise me, dad.” He said

“Yes I promised my daughter.” He said, and that’s what happens earlier, I don’t know well my father as he said, and he also don’t know me well, because I was just an adopted child and I am not closed with him as well as with my mom, that’s why after I graduated college became independent and while I am searching for job the owner of the first company that I worked with turns out to be my legitimate father, and after knowing that I am their long lost daughter they took me back from William, so I guess my life is full of dramas and surprises.

“Kimora?” I heard someone called my name from behind and saw that it was Sky. I immediately stand up from the floor when I saw her.

“Sky!” I said enthusiastically.

“What are you doing there?” She said

“Oh! I just take a rest.” I said

“Oh okay, let’s go?” She said

“Okay.” I said then we started walking. While on our way, I saw Winter and Legacy walking together and they seem so happy they were like having their own world, and not noticing what’s on their surrounding, and I super hate it! So I turn around and decided to take a different way where I will not interact with them, but Sky notices that I am not walking beside her so she shouted my name that made everyone looked at her including Winter and Legacy. Crap! I really hate this girl’s mouth, I started walking faster as if I do not hear her, but she kept on calling me, so I get my phone then message her.

“Sky, there is something urgent that came up so let’s just meet on the art room.” I said on my message and a seconds after she replied saying:

“I know that there is nothing urgent that came up, you just saw Winter and Legacy, don’t worry they continue walking and Winter didn’t give a damn on seeing you.” She said, after reading her message my heart feels like it was being held so tightly that made my breathing hard. I sit on the stairs first while trying my best not to show what I am feeling right now.

“Kimora.” Sky shouted while running towards my place.

“Hey! Are you okay?” She said, I just nod at her then hide my face because I feel like I was about to cry, Sky suddenly hugged me and with that I let out my tears to flow.

“Shh, hush now Kimora.” She said but the more she said those comforting word the more my tears are flowing.

“What’s happening here? Kimora are you okay?” I heard that it was Winter.

“Yes she is fine!” Sky said

“But I heard that she is crying earlier. Kimora talk to me.” He said

“She is not crying Winter, let’s go Kimora.” Sky said while pulling my arms, so I stand up from the floor then we started walking, but we are only taking a few steps Winter suddenly pulled me while looking at my face.

“Why are you crying?” He said instead of answering him I just pulled back my arms the run from him, I heard that he is calling me so as well as Sky, I don’t know where I am going until I bumped on someone.

“Are you in a hurry Ms. Kimora?” By just hearing his voice, I got goose bumps. I looked at him and saw that he is grinning on me.

“Wha-what are you doing here?” I said while stuttering.

“I am here to sign some paper.” He said

“What paper?” I asked while standing.

“Oh you didn’t know?” He said

“What?” I asked, he laughed before answering me.

“Well, your stepdad’s art gallery is now mine.” He said then started walking.

“What are you saying, that this art gallery is yours?” I said

“Like what I’ve said Ms. Kimora. So if you didn’t like the idea then come to my company.” He said.

“Oh you are fine with that? Okay.” He said then started walking again. Crap! I need to think fast, I need to stop him from entering that art gallery.

“Wait!” I shouted then he looked at me.

“Okay fine! I will work for you.” I said and with that he walks towards me then tap my back.

“That’s a good girl.” He said. I’m sorry daddy second on acting on my own, it’s just for you and for this art gallery. I can’t afford seeing someone managing this art gallery that you inherit from grandfather, I’m sorry daddy second.