Chapter 3 ROSES HAVE THORNS

A month had passed before I summoned the courage to resume work again. My dad disagreed with my decision. He wanted me to take more time off work, which I refused. I needed something to bury my head into, otherwise the pain was becoming too much to bear.

My mom was my world, my everything. The burial had gone smoothly and Benny stayed behind to support me from afar behind the shadows. He wasn't comfortable with that but I convinced him it was the best thing for us. For now, I didn't want my father to get to know him under such circumstances. He returned to London the day after the burial to continue with his business. We stayed in touch constantly round the clock he constantly sending me pictures and I was sending him pictures too many of them nude of course

The lawyers had come two days after the burial and had read out her will as instructed. My loving mother willed all her properties to me and I had five companies dealing with gold, petroleum, and the clothing company it was more money than I could ever need and I could ever spend. Of course, managing those businesses would be time-consuming I chose to keep my mother's workers in place why I continued the work I was doing with my father. however, something was about to happen that would change the relationship I had with my father for a very long time.

Two days after resuming work I came back home late from The office. I took a shower when I got a message from the maid that my dad wanted me in his study. The Large room was still the same as I remembered it although I had not entered it for quite some time. the oak desk, the panel wall, the bookshelves that contained many maps and items I don't even know what they were. he was seated at his desk wearing a top and dressed in smart pants. He barely looked up as I walked in and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Hello, Dad I said you sent for me he motioned to the seats beside him and asked me to sit. He was in a very serious mood I wondered what was up. I knew he was yet to recover from the death of my mom but he had been jovial for some days this seriousness was getting me upset and I was itching to know what the matter was when he cleared his voice and began to speak.

He told me he knew where I was the day mom died and everyone was looking for me but he decided not to say anything to the police or anybody else. I was shocked and I asked him how he knew where I was and he told me that there was always someone watching me every moment. I blotted out instantly even in London. and he said yes but somehow they seemed to miss me after the football match.

I said Dad you promised he was like I know but I can't leave you unwatched there's someone always watching especially now because you are all I have. We stayed silent for a few minutes pondering about what was going to happen next then he dropped a bombshell. Who was that young man that you went to see at the hotel? I told him it was just a friend and he was like a good enough friend for you to switch off your phone, your pager, and ditch your driver.

I looked at him in amazement and I wondered what else he knew he told me that he had Benny checked out but could not find any information about him he also knew that he had boarded a flight back to London. He was watched to Heathrow airport. He wanted to know which business he was into. what his family name was and how we got to meet?

I summoned up courage and told him the story of what happened in London and how I had fallen in love with him. He asked about his family background I told him the little I knew about Benny and his family background Benny came from Kosovo. His family was killed in the war and a sympathetic journalist found him crying at the corner journalist was working with the BBC at the time and brought him home to London and adopted him as her son, unfortunately, she died of cancer five years later and Benny has been alone ever since.

He asked me if I loved him or if I was infatuated he said he had not been able to trace Benny since he arrived at Heathrow Airport. I told him that we had been in communication even till this afternoon then he asked me a serious question. Are you going to marry him? I lied I told him that Benny had not asked me then he said to me what if he asks you I said I had not made up my mind on what to do he then told me that under no circumstances would he allow me to be with Benny who has no history and no family money he's not about to work hard and leave all his proceeds for a nobody to squander besides he notified me that the Emir of Qatar son was visiting New York next week and he had arranged a dinner for the both of us.

He listed the benefits of marrying into a wealthy family. I was stunned I couldn't believe what I was hearing my dad wanted to sell me out to the highest bidder I Bid him good night and went straight to my room forbidden to be disturbed not even for dinner.

Once alone I cried and cried wishing my mom was here she would understand me and tell me what to do. I only wanted Benny and I would not be getting married to the son of the Emir no matter what my father said. While I was thinking of how to defy my father and go against his wishes my phone rang.

It was Benny I tried to greet him as well as I could but he noticed that my voice was shaking and asked me if I was well I told him I was and that I was just missing my mom and he reassured me that everything was going to be alright that he was there for me even in the sun or in the rain.

I left home early the next day to avoid meeting with my father. Even though it was my day off from work I had made no plans to go anywhere. so I headed to Purple Orchard. Situated at the heart of New York, this garden was famous for its many tourists and visitors who came in to relax and breathe in the naturally perfumed air emanating from the three thousand plant species in the garden.

I found a seat opposite some rose flowers and as I admired them I remembered the popular saying that Every Rose had thorns. how apt I thought my perfect life had just unveiled its thorns and I needed to find a way out.