Chapter 3 Significance of Flowers

Lilibeth pov.

"How qualified is he?" I asked my P.a, Vivienne, over the phone after she informed me that she has gotten someone to occupy the vacancy in my firm.

"He's very qualified and a father as well." She said,

"Brilliant! I just hope he's a responsible one anyway." I said and she affirmed, "That's alright then. I need to attend to other things now." I said to her before ending the call and looking at the vase on my left which was surprisingly filled with flowers.

"This flower vase must be on the right-hand side of the wall," I said in an authoritative voice and my maids scribbled around behind me to place the vase in its right position," Why are there so many flowers in it by the way?" I asked in annoyance.

It was Saturday and I was having a routine inspection in my home with my maids. I found it necessary to check their work right after the normal Saturday cleanup.

I was currently in the living room and although they are doing a great job which I must admit, It often gets me annoyed when I have to work so hard at my company only to come home and see them misplacing items in my home. What is too hard in keeping a home neat and just leaving everything as they were, instead of carrying out stupid arrangements.

"The three flowers in it are significant! Dammit!" I yelled. I always left just three flowers in the vase to represent me and my kids. It's like we had just us for everything against the world and whatever it brought.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I thought having that little number of flowers was too small seeing that the vase was large so I got more at the flower store." One of my maids explained but I didn't know who it was since they were behind me so I tilted my head to my right but didn't turn.

"Who just spoke?" I asked and I saw a hand up from the side of my eyes, stretching my eyes a little, I saw that she had her head low so I turned.

"Your face!' I ordered and she gasped before raising her eyes to meet mine, "You're the one who kept the throw pillows for the daybed on the couch last week Wednesday?" I asked in a disgusted voice and she nodded.

"It seems you'd be taking a break if you make this mistake once more," I warned her before continuing on my way to the other rooms while they followed.

I rubbed my index finger on the stairs handrail and looked at it to check for dust and to my dismay, there was. This isn't healthy, especially when there's a child in the house.

Glaring at them, I brought my index finger to them, "Do I owe any of you?" I asked them in annoyance, "Don't I pay you well enough? I feed you, don't I?" And they nodded.

"Why then is there dirt on the rail and you said you were done cleaning?" I asked them but shook my head when I saw Gladys, my chief maid cleaning it with a towel.

"Mum," I heard my son, Daniel, call me from the dining area and rushed to tender to him, "Mummy!" he called again but a little louder this time and I hurried in my steps.

"Yes, love?" I replied. I rubbed my hand over his face, brushing his thick black hair which was trailing over his forehead to the back but it fell back again. That often amused me. It was one of the traits he got from his dad.

"Can we go to Blissful scoops today?" He asked but unfortunately, I had no idea where or what it was so I turned to my maids for help. I know it makes me seem like a bad mother but I try, I really try to make time for my son but since I wasn't always around, I got him a nanny.

"Ice cream," one of the maids mouthed and I nodded before staring back into his pretty brown eyes which thankfully is like mine.

"We would go some other day, honey," I tried to assure him but how well can you fool a seven-year-old, "Mum is busy right now," I whispered and he turned back to his food with an undisputed look of disappointment written on his face.

"He'd get over it," I whispered to myself while staring at the oats in his place.

"He seems to be putting on weight," I said to my maids, "He should be on a diet." I said in a firm voice and brought my hand to his chubby cheeks but he swooned his head away from my touch, "Can't you see he is getting fat? I do not want anyone bullying him for his weight." I told them.

"He's only seven," One of the maids dared to say but she sounded more frustrated than she was trying to just remind me.

"Not another word!" I hissed, "He should have a healthy weight, not th-"

"Ma, he's actually on a diet but as a child, it's only normal to have this much weight." An average brunette said and it aggravated me the more.

"Who said that?" I asked and her hand went up, "You're fired!" I breathed and she stared at me in shock.

"Mum!" Daniel screamed and I turned to him. "Why'd you send her away?" He asked me but I didn't have to explain everything to him.

"Go to your room," I ordered him but he shook his head,

"You're being wicked!" He screamed and my breath hitched.

"You will not use that tone of voice on me, young man," I warned him while gritting my teeth. "To your room, now! Daniel." I said a little louder and he left the dining chair. He raised his eyes to meet mine and they had a teary glitter but that isn't what I wanted him to always do whenever he wasn't happy about something. He needs to understand that I just wanted the best for him and getting body shamed isn't in the picture.

Folding my hands in front of me and putting my right foot out, I looked away from him afraid that I might cave. After he passed and I noticed that he was in the hall, I brought my hand down, "Gladys?" I called my chief maid and she walked to me, "get a replacement," I said under my breath and she nodded.

"That would be all," I announced and they moved in different directions while I dropped to the couch and breathed a deep sigh.

I know that Daniel, my dear son may not understand what I'm doing but I hope that with time, he will. I hope he understands that I do not hate him, rather I just don't want him to face most of what I encountered. My biggest fear is that he will become like his father but I'll make sure it never happens

That's my fear and it's the reason I'm pulling all the strings within and out of my reach to give him a better future. A future his sister would have shared as well.

What's your opinion on the relationship she shares with her son?