Chapter 4 Third Chapter

"You are the one who said I'm the kids' babysitter, right?" I ask him. He distances himself from me and walks away. I stand up, leave the office, and follow him, as he didn't answer my question earlier. We are riding the elevator now. He presses the button for the parking lot, and after a few minutes, we arrive there from the tenth floor.

He walks toward his car and opens the door. I get in, and he asks me, "Where is the address?"I show him my ID, and he just nods and starts driving. The whole ride is silent. I take out my notebook and start sketching. After an hour, we arrive in front of my apartment. I invite him in, but he declines, so I just bid him goodbye.

I cook myself dinner, and after eating, I call my family in the province. We talk for almost thirty minutes. After talking with my family, I take a bath and prepare my outfit for tomorrow. I choose a red blouse and pair it with white jeans. I pick my shiny white two-inch heels to wear tomorrow. After that, I work on some unfinished tasks, canceling all of Mrs. Aminah's schedules for tomorrow. Once I finish, I get ready for bed. I lie down, turn off the lights, and pray for a good night's sleep, but I can't seem to sleep.

"Argh!" I shout in frustration because I can't sleep. I check my phone to see what time it is. It's already eleven in the evening, but my body and mind are still awake. "That man is a jerk. He just left me in the office without helping me up. How rude!" I say to myself.

I turn on the lights and gather some of my painting supplies. It's good that I already bought a canvas to paint on. I start my drawing: a man offering an umbrella to a woman in the rain, in front of a convenience store.

By the time I finish my drawing, it's already five in the morning, so I don't bother to sleep. I cook breakfast, then take a bath and change my clothes. After eating breakfast, I grab my things and leave my apartment. I'm lucky this morning because I quickly get a cab. I reach the Gustavo Empire at 7 a.m. Since Ms. Aminah is not on duty, I head straight to my office, taking the elevator.

But it's not working, so I use the stairs. I'm exhausted by the time I reach the tenth floor. I enter my office and start working, arranging my boss's schedule for tomorrow. I yawn as ten in the morning passes, so I decide to head to the cafeteria to buy some coffee. Afterward, I return to my office and continue working. I take lunch as the noon hour passes, and after lunch, I continue my tasks, reviewing documents that Ms. Aminah needs to sign. I text Ms. Aminah that I will go to her house for the documents to be signed.

As three in the afternoon passes, I leave my office and get a cab to Ms. Aminah's house. When I arrive, I ring the doorbell, and it opens quickly. I see a woman in her late forties.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," I greet the woman in front of me.

"Good afternoon to you too, young lady. You must be my daughter Aminah's secretary," she says while guiding me inside her home.

"Yes, ma'am," I reply.

"Good to hear that she chose a good secretary. I heard what happened yesterday, and I'm impressed with what you've done," she says.

"I'm just doing my job, ma'am."

"By the way, young lady, Aminah is not here yet. She's at the kids' school attending a meeting. Can you wait for her? You look tired. Didn't you sleep last night?" she asks.

"I'm fine, ma'am, and you're right. I didn't sleep because I finished my painting yesterday," I reply.

"You paint, really? I'm a big fan of paintings," she says.

"Yes, ma'am, I paint, but I don't sell them. If you want, I can do a painting for you, ma'am," I offer.

"Are you sure? Aren't you busy?" she asks.

"It's fine, ma'am," I assure her. One of the family's servants comes and gives me some desserts.

"Eat up first while waiting for my daughter, and I'll get some pictures I want you to paint. Is that okay?" the lady says.

"Okay, ma'am," I agree, and Ms. Aminah's mother goes upstairs. I take my sketch notebook from my bag and start sketching. After a while, someone honks in front of the gate, and a servant in her mid-twenties runs toward it. I put my sketch notebook on the table.

Kids run toward the table, and as I turn around, I see Miss Aminah and Alyx walking together. They come to where I am.

"Sorry, Aleeza, you waited for me for so long," Ms. Aminah says as she approaches me.

"It's okay, ma'am. Oh, by the way, ma'am, I brought the documents that need your urgent signature," I say.

"Just leave them there, and you should go home. It's already four, and I can see you look tired,"

Ms. Aminah says, and I nod. As I look downstairs, I see Ms. Aminah's mother walking quickly.

"Just take it slow, Mom," Alyx says.

"Oh, I'm sorry, young lady, but I haven't found the pictures yet," Ms. Aminah's mother says.

"That's okay, ma'am. I'll wait," I reply, and she just nods at me.

"Alyx, drive Aleeza home," Ms. Aminah's mother says.

"Oh, it's okay, ma'am. It's too early, and I need to stop by the convenience store, anyway," I say.

"Are you sure, Aleeza?" she asks.

"Yes, ma'am, I have to go," I say.

I leave the Gustavo's house, but Alyx is following me. I notice and stop walking.

"Are you following me?" I ask.

"Do you know where the gate is?" he asks, so I keep walking. After a few minutes of silence, he speaks again.

"Give me your number."