Back-off. This Billionaire Is Mine

The sun was very much out today, and its reflection on the green trees formed the most beautiful sight Clara had ever known.

However, it was the opposite of what Clara was feeling today. She was very sad that she would be leaving her grandma and would soon be meeting the very woman who brought her into this world for the very first time.

''Clara.'' Her grandma called from her bedroom doorpost. "Surely you haven't let your mind wander off again. Everything is going to be just fine. You'll see.''

Clara doubted that but needed to give ''Nana'', which she fondly called her grandma, some kind of assurance that she'd truly be fine. She had not heard her grandma knock and open her room door. With a forced smile, she turned around and held both her shoulders. "I'm fine, Nana. I just sometimes don't understand how a mother could leave her daughter for this long. Does she hate me that much?''

"Oh Clara, do we need to go through this again?" Nana spoke softly. Her exhaustion could not be masqueraded. She was the only family Clara ever knew. She loved this woman with all her heart, but it was obvious that she might be losing her soon. Her frailty grew by the day. It hurt Clara to see her this way. Growing up, she was her pillar of strength. Now it seemed the other way round.

Having a reason to change the subject and not wanting to annoy or exhaust her grandma the more, Clara quickly asked, "Nana have you been taking your drugs as prescribed?" Nana quickly gave her that 'I know better' look. "Surely I won't be around to ensure you take them so promise me now that you'll be good and take them as Dr. Francis told you to." Clara pressed on.

I'll be fine dear. I promise to take them as prescribed''. Nana quickly replied. It was hard to convince Clara that it was time to go and live with her mother. Clara had found a thousand reasons not to go. She could see the disdain for her mum in her eyes when she refused the idea.

"I'm not leaving you Nana. You were there for me all these years. You're the only mother I know now. I'm not leaving you now that you need me the most. Who's going to care for you when I'm not here?'' With that she wandered off to her room and slammed the door. They rarely had fights. Thinking back, she realized that was their first heated argument. Clara was a good girl.

''This is the name you should ask for,'' Nana carried on giving her a piece of paper. The address had already been given to her a day before. She did not want Clara to change her mind at this point. It had not been easy convincing her.

''Juliet Sherps? Did she change her name or what? I thought you said her name was Vivian.

Nana did not know where to start from. ''Yes, I heard she later changed her name from Vivian after she got married, but she never told me her new name. I was instructed by her to always send every correspondence to the address only.'' Guess she did not want me shipping her daughter off to her one day without her permission. Nana thought to herself sadly.

''Do I get to see a photo of her at least? Oh! Yes, I remember. All got lost in a fire.' Clara always found it easier referring to her mother as 'her'.

"I packed you some lunch. It's on the counter. The train will be leaving by five past nine this morning. Hurry, or you'll miss it." That said, Nana hurriedly left and shut the door behind her. She wasn't sure her heart could take the emptiness growing inside of her. Clara had been her everything these past fourteen years. She did not want her to see her cry. If not, she might change her mind.

As Clara walked out into the garden, she turned back to look at the house that she had called home these past years of her life. Last month she turned twenty-one but felt like she was older. She had passed through so much hurt and pain. All thanks to her grandma for rescuing her from that dreadful place. She looked up abruptly and caught her grandma looking down at her from her bedroom window. She was so sure she saw tears dripping down Nana's cheeks. ''I'll be back for you soon grandma'', she whispered to herself and walked further down the garden into the street.

On the bus ride to the train station, Clara began recalling all the discussions she and Nana had concerning her mother.

"'What does she look like? Is she pretty, Nana?" She had asked Nana one cold winter evening.

"Who?" Nana had retorted absent-mindedly.

''She.'' Clara was very careful not to use the word mother.

''Yes dear. She was very pretty as at the last time I saw her.'' Nana responded after realizing who she was referring to.

''I bet we don't have anything in common,'' Clara went on. ''Maybe I was not good enough for her. That was why she left me."

Her grandma, who had been busy kneading the barter, turned around abruptly and walked towards her granddaughter. Giving her that rare stern look that always eventually softened into a smile, she said, "Clara, you are the most beautiful young lady I have ever known. I don't want to ever hear you say that you are not good enough for Vivian, your mum, or anybody for that matter.''

She had said it like she meant it but Clara knew that it was just to make her feel better. Asides her grandmother, who else wanted her? No one. Not at that dreadful place and later not at school.

At school, she remembered all the stares, from her classmates to her teachers. She always imagined what was going through their minds. Plain old Clara. Yes, as far as she could remember, she was always the oldest in every class she found herself in. She had missed seven years of the educational system and only had the opportunity to go to school when Nana came for her.

She had no friends. She only agreed to keep going to school because she loved learning.

And today, even at twenty-one years, those insecurities still keep growing day by day.

She was also sure no one wanted her except Nana. Not even the woman who brought her into this world.

That word 'mother' only belonged to Nana. She wasn't going to allow anyone take that title away from her. It was she who understood a little of what she had been through. It was she who had stayed by her bedside when she had those nightmares and cried out at night, and it was she who rescued her from that dreadful place called an 'orphanage'.

Her thoughts came to a halt immediately when the bus arrived at the train station. The sun came out early today. The warmth she felt when she stepped down from the bus made her wish she was back home with her grandma, reading a book in their beautiful garden and eating one of Nana's freshly baked cookies with a glass of juice.

The train ride was going very smoothly. Clara brought out a novel by ''Jane Reves' to read but soon fell asleep.

It was a long ride.

She arrived at her mother's house and was ushered into a room. It was a cold room. Just like the one at the orphanage. Poorly furnished with a very dim light which was only put on at night. There was no bedside table, no flower pot with flowers placed on the window sill like in her room back home. She heard her door open and from the silhouette of the shadow coming towards her, she was sure it was a female. Her mum had finally come to welcome her. Suddenly, the shadow was carrying a stick and the hand raised up to hit her with that stick. She rolled over to avoid being hit and woke up suddenly realizing it was a dream. She was still on the train on her way to meet her.

Clara could not read or sleep after that bad dream. She kept wondering what that dream was trying to tell her. She tried concentrating on the scenery outside. The train was going too fast now, and so she could not focus.

Every passenger on the train seemed to either be chatting with another passenger or reading a book. The rest, she observed, had fallen asleep.

Her mind wandered back to the orphanage. The matron of the orphanage hated her and did little to hide her feelings, so the other kids took advantage of this and made her the laughingstock. They played hurtful games on her and ensured the matron used her as a scapegoat always.

She remembered cleaning toilets late into the night while others were either reading, playing pranks or asleep.

Karen was her name. She was the leader of the lot. Both the boys and the girls feared her. There was a rumour then that she had super powers and could make any child in the orphanage bleed to death.

Clara was three years old when it dawned on her that Karen hated her and was going to make her life in the orphanage miserable.

The matron may have heard and believed those rumors too, because she always granted Karen her every wish. Clara always thought.

''Your bed sheet is wet, Kas.'' That was the name they called her at the orphanage. Her so-called mother hadn't even bothered to give her a name before leaving her on the orphanage staircase. Some had their names pinned on them when dropped by mostly teenage mothers. ''Did you wet your bed again?'' ''I, I..." was all Clara was able to mutter still wondering how the puddle of water on her bed came about when the door opened sharply. The matron had come in just then to see the pool of water Karen had planted on her bed. She immediately grabbed her hair and shoved her into the nearest wardrobe, locking her in and instructing no one to open it until she gave permission.

She could hear the other children laughing and wondered when she would be let out of the cupboard.

That was just the beginning of so many incidences that became a lifestyle for her at the orphanage.

''What kind of name is Kas?'' She heard one of the girls yell the moment she entered the dining room one day.

She had just turned 6 years old.

Birthdays were not celebrated at the orphanage because who knew the correct ages of the children, anyway. However, for those that did not have the luxury of their parents writing a little about them before rejecting them for life, your birthday was given from the day you were dumped there.

She attempted to ignore her. It was Liya, one of Karen's friends, and she was in no mood that day. She had stayed up cleaning the night before and just wanted to sit alone and eat.

She had hardly reached her table when Karen dragged her back with her hair, demanding she explain how she came about the name 'Kas.'

In truth, if she had the answer she would have just said it because all she wanted was peace and quiet.

Kas and Liya took turns hitting her after pushing her to the floor for daring not to respond.

Her body by now was all covered with scars and bruises from previous fights. Not fights actually, but beatings she got from either the matron or some of the other kids.

In one of those beatings, Karen had hit her head on the wall, making her pass out.

She had woken up about four hours later to find herself in the orphanage sickbay.

''Kas! Thank God you are awake. What happened this time? Seems you slipped on the staircase or something.'' The matron's voice was soft and gentle for the very first time. The nurse present had looked at her pitifully but could not make out what would have actually happened.

That night she was made to stay awake and wash all the dirty dishes used in the orphanage for dinner. Nothing had changed.

She recalled the matron's harsh voice, ''Kas you are an omen for me in this orphanage. If by your next birthday no one adopts you, I just may do away with you myself.'' Her head ached from the bruise on her head so she did not bother thinking of what that meant while she struggled with the dishes. However, every night in bed she thought of what the matron had said and prayed she will be adopted soon. She had various imaginations of what might happen to her if she was not.

Then the nightmares started and this time she did not need Karen to plant water on her bed. She actually started bedwetting every night.

As the train gradually started slowing down, she continued with her thoughts.

Her bedwetting and waking up every child in her dormitory from shouts due to her nightmares brought the full wrought of the matron on her.

The other children also hated her for making them lose some of their precious sleep and inflicted more pain on her in any way they could.

Just when she thought it couldn't get worse, her grandma came for her exactly on her seventh birthday.

She could still remember that day vividly.

''Yes that's the one. She's the one I want to adopt. That's my grandchild''.

''Are you sure ma'am?'' Matron had asked. She had a frown on her face. ''Are you sure this is your grandchild? She hadn't expected anyone to show up. It was like a miracle. Clara thought and shifted in her seat to get comfortable.

''If she is the child my daughter dropped on your staircase seven years back at about ten in the evening, then I am sure. I want her. Process all the papers.''

Clara had been summoned into the matron's office. A very untidy office with papers scattered everywhere. Her previous visits to the matron's office were not good stories to tell. She recalled being spanked in that same office several times.

The other children were in the classrooms that day, but she had never been allowed to attend any classes. It was a punishment for her bedwetting.

Nana had looked down at her intently and looked at her all over after that, and she could see tears build up in her grandma's eyes.

Some of her bruises were still fresh. No one needed to explain to her what Clara had been through.

Nana had later told her several years later, on her tenth birthday to be precise, that she knew she was the one immediately she saw her. She was a brunette, which was common among the women in the family. Her beautifully sculpted face reminded her so much of Vivian, her daughter.

The train finally came to a stop.

Remembering her years in the orphanage, Clara felt her heart burn with hatred. This hatred was not for the matron, neither was it for Karen and the other orphans who had tormented her daily for many years, even after leaving the orphanage. This hatred was for 'her', the woman her grandmother called her mother. Clara stood for a while and took a deep breath to help reduce the sudden pain piercing through her.

She had a few things to tell her once she met her today. Clara began preparing a list in her mind of what she was going to tell her so-called mother.

Clara did not care if that would make her send her back to Nana.

Thinking about it now, that was exactly what she wanted she thought to herself.

She finally arrived at the address she was given and thought she was looking at the most beautiful house on earth. Everything about the house spelled luxury.

"I'm surely going to love it here," she said to herself.

The door was opened by a big, well-dressed man. "Good day sir. I believe Madam... Mrs... lives... "I'm looking for Juliet Shwerps." Clara suddenly remembered the name. Clara stopped fiddling her bag. She was looking for the piece of paper Nana had given her. She realized she had forgotten the piece of paper on the counter back home. "I believe she lives here."

"Juliet Sherps." The man corrected her politely. "Yes." the man replied and motioned her to take a seat.

So her mum was rich. She already had thoughts of how her room was going to look going by the furnishing of the house. Was she still married and did she have other kids? Clara thought to herself.

A lady came rushing to her. The man who opened the door for her walked just behind her. He was curious to know who she was. This lady was obviously not the owner of the house. She wore a uniform. She must be a maid.

"Clara!" she cried out. How you have grown. It's so nice seeing you after all these years. How is your grandma? Her questions just came pouring out. It was like they were rehearsed. Was she not happy to have me come live with her? Clara thought.

"I'm looking for ehh... Ms, Mrs, Madam... Sherps," Clara repeated. "Are you she?"

"Yes, yes dear. I'm the one. I'm your mother."

The lady, though speaking very soft and kind, did not strike her as her mum. How could such a woman leave her daughter for so long? This woman did not strike her as that type.

"Please follow me." The lady said and picked up her suitcase. I stay at the servant's quarters. "It's just behind this building."

This lady was stout with very black hair. She couldn't see any resemblance between them. She must have taken her looks from her dad. How she wished she could see him right now. He would have solved this puzzle going through her head right now.

Clara was a beauty to behold. Her brown hair and grey eyes were worth gaping at. Her slender features and white skin gave some the impression of her being an angel at first sight. Her beauty was very rare.

The lady was very welcoming. Clara loved her instantly. Her name was Juliet. And from the way the other workers took orders from her, she knew she was in charge. She helped Clara unpack.

She touched Clara's cheek, turned her back and left the room. Clara sat on her bed and stared through the window. If her mum wasn't the owner of the house, at least her mum was in charge of the house. The other workers took instructions from her.

Not that it mattered to her but her expectation when she walked through the gates had been that she had a rich mother. That had instantly made her happy as there would have been enough rooms to enable her grandma, Nana come and live with them.

Clara was still deep in thoughts when she got up and walked towards the window.

Still staring through the window, she saw the gardener pruning the flowers. It was indeed a very beautiful house. Being the child of a maid, she hoped that would not deter her from taking a walk around the very beautiful garden from time to time.

Two shadows suddenly walked up towards the gardener. It was a young man and a lady. She realized from their backs, which were turned towards her. He walked with some sort of arrogance or was it confidence. She wondered. He was talking to the lady. She could see them laugh together. He wove to the gardener while the lady pretended not to be aware of his presence at all. So he was not arrogant after all. She thought to herself.

He suddenly turned facing the building and looked up at her window at the same time. It happened so fast that she did not have enough time to look away. Her cheeks turned scarlet red instantly. She couldn't hide the blush on her face.

Clara saw the curiosity in his eyes. He had very beautiful eyes. He is the most handsome man I have ever seen in my life. She thought to herself. She stepped back and walked to her bed and sat down. She could not take her mind off him.

She was still thinking of him when Juliet walked in. "Seems you haven't moved an inch since I left you dear. You need to clean up and join me in the kitchen. Dinner is ready." ''Yes Juliet... She paused. Guess I can call you that? Of course dear. Yes you can. After all these years it would be unfair of me to expect otherwise." Your journey must have been very tiring. Please come and have dinner then you can go to bed. I'll be back to the quarters by ten p.m. That's when I close from my duties daily.'' '' Yes Juliet. This time she said it effortlessly. Juliet was a woman who could be easily loved. She always spoke softly and kindly.

It was obvious who that young man was. Wealth was written all over him. She wished he hadn't turned around so fast. She swore she would have hidden behind her curtains. He was just so handsome. And those eyes... .

"Well Clara, she muttered to herself. Do as you've been told. He's obviously a son or some kind of relative and you are just a daughter to the maid,'' and with that she shut him from her mind. She finished up unpacking and went to clean up.

Juliet, her mum was already eating. Guess she could not wait for me any longer. She thought. She dare not tell Juliet what she was thinking. She yearned for her grandma. If she were here with her, it would have been different. She would have poured out her heart to her instantly on how she just met the most handsome man on earth.

"Please sit," Juliet said, and with that she got up, went over to the pot and served her some mashed potatoes with grilled chicken. She also brought out a bottle of wine which she said was in celebration of their re-union.

Clara enjoyed the meal. It was food for the rich. She at least knew that though her mother was a maid, food was not a problem for her. The wine was vintage. Juliet ate and drank freely, not bothering that someone would walk up on them. She seemed to command a lot of respect in the house.

She was still on the bed tossing and turning later on that night, trying to get that young man she saw in the garden off her mind when Juliet walked in. She did not hide her surprise at seeing Clara still awake.

"You are still up young lady. Well, I can understand that you may be feeling so excited meeting your mum for the first time in your life." Tomorrow we will meet my boss. The woman of the house. She paused, then she went on like she was thinking of something. I promised her that I'd bring you to her once you arrived. However, it's been a hectic day for her.

"Your boss?" Clara feigned interest, trying not to go back to her earlier thoughts.

"Yes. Madam Whitson. She and her husband own this house. She also runs the company with him. She's a very busy woman. Promise me to always stay out of her way.'' Juliet carried on.

Juliet slept off almost immediately her head touched her pillow. 'I should be angry.' Clara thought to herself. Juliet had not even deemed it fit to do a catch-up of her life, but that was taken over by the pity she felt for her.. "She must be very tired." Running such a big household couldn't be an easy job.

Clara slept by the side of her mother for the very first time in her life. At least that she was aware of. However, her thoughts were still of the handsome young man and beautiful young lady she had seen in the garden earlier. She thought of Nana a little afterward. She hoped she would be okay on her own. She thought before she drifted off to sleep.