Chapter 4

I branched at the local market to get vegetables. The vegetables here are always cheaper and fresher than the ones at the grocery stores and supermarkets. I headed home straight after getting there. I am going to try a new recipe today. It is a Mexican dish called………

I googled for most famous Mexican food to make this evening. I got my pay from my part-time jobs so I decided to make something nice today.

I was done making the food, my dad arrived home on time and he went straight to his room after we exchanged pleasantries. He came out a few in later after the table had been set.

"What did my princess make today?" he asked with a huge smile on his face.

Before I could reply to him, we heard a knock on our day.

"Who could that be?" my dad asked with curiosity.

"Let me go check," I said to him as I let down the napkin and made my way to the door. I just hope it is not the landlord. I am sure our rent will be days in days. Maybe he is here to ask for his money.

I opened the door slightly and peeked outside to see who the person was.

It was Mrs. Stones.

"Hello, Mrs. Stones. You knocked on our door." I faked a smile at her.

"Yes. You have a visitor. Your dad. He does not know your room number. He is downstairs." She informed me.

"My dad has a visitor?" that's unusual. My dad never had a visitor since like two years now. Only his friends. He doesn't keep new friends. He doesn't socialize.

"Sorry, but did he introduce himself?" I asked the middle-aged woman.

"He said he is your father's childhood friend and your uncle." She paused and then smacked me lightly on my arm. "I didn't know you have someone that wealthy. He looks so expensive. He came with Ferrari wheels." She informed me. I frowned my face in confusion.

I don't think we have any family members that can afford a Ferrari car brand right now nor my dad's friends.

I think my dad has some explanations to do. How can he have someone that rich while we are here suffering?

"Thank you, Mrs. Stones. We will come downstairs to meet him.

"You are welcome. He is at the parking lot by the way." She informed me as she exited our porch.

I closed the door and jogged inside.

"Who was that?" my dad asked me.

"We have a visitor downstairs, Dad. A rich guest, precisely." I informed him as I took my hoodie from the kitchen chair and wore it.

"Who is that?" he inquired.

"I don't know. We don't know. I was just informed that he came to Ferrari. We are going to find out who is he when we meet him." I skipped the part about him being his childhood friend and my uncle.

"Okay?"

"Can we just go, Dad? He is waiting." I stood him and we walked to the door. We made our way to the parking lot to meet the rich guest.

Little do I know that meeting this guest will change my life forever.

This guest will change my life forever.

We spotted an old man leaning on a yellow-colored Ferrari. This is insane. I can't believe a real Ferrari wheel is parked in front of our shabby apartment.

I can't believe this.

We walked closer to the man who hadn't acknowledged our presence. He checked his wristwatch as he tapped his feet gently against the floor impatiently.

I think he is impatient.

"Are you perhaps the person looking for us?" I asked him, making him turn in our direction.

He glanced at us before putting his hands in his pocket.

My dad held my hand and slightly pushed me behind.

"Long time, no see skylark? How have you been?" he fixated his glance on my father.

"What are you doing here, Mr. Worsley?" my dad stammered.

"Don't be surprised to see me, Skylark. You would have known that I would come sooner or later." The man smiled at him.

I was in the darkness of their conversation. I didn't know what they were talking about.

"I just felt like this place is so shabby. You shouldn't be in an environment like this. You should have called me to come meet you at somewhere nicer." My dad told him.

"This place doesn't match my aesthetic but I think this is the perfect place to have a conversation, especially when your child is present." He objected as he started walking towards up. My dad moves back slowly.

What is happening? Why do I feel a weird atmosphere here?

Why is it that their relationship is more than being friends?

I feel like they have something in secret.

"You can call us to meet some other time in another place. We can even go and talk some here else but it shouldn't be a place like this." My dad insisted on his words. The man smirked as he walked past us.

"Don't be silly, Skylark, show me your house. Let's catch up with each other. I would love to know about your daughter as well." He chuckled as he was walking ahead of us.

My dad held my hand tightly and shot me a strange look. I didn't know what it meant so I asked and whispered to him. "What's wrong Dad?"

He kept mute as he was walking behind the old man.

We got to our apartment and I didn't miss the displeasing look on the man's face as he gave our living an eye tour. He was so reluctant to sit on our couch.

Who wouldn't?

I mean the couch is so old and ripped out. I was feeling embarrassed knowing our couches weren't even well presentable to the guests.

His name sounds familiar.

Worsley? Where have I heard the name? It must be a popular name.

Because I don't think I know any rich person with that last name.

He must be a popular man then.

My dad got him a glass of water which he politely rejected.

"I think we have a lot to catch up with, or what do you think?" he asked my dad.

"I think so," my dad replied, in an uninterested tone.

"Where is Gabriella?" he asked my dad about my deceased mother.

"She is dead," he replied in a low tone. Her name alone always changes my dad's mood. So we refrain from always mentioning her name.

"I am sorry for your loss." He looked like he was being sincere.

"Thank you, Mr. Worsley. I feel honored by your visitation." My dad faked a smile.

He lied. My dad lied about his last sentence. I know when he is lying or not. And right now, he is lying.

"I cooked lunch, do you mind joining us, Mr. Worsley?" I asked him.

"I would love to love to. If it was made by you." He smiled at me. And my dad shot me a deadly glare. What did I do wrong?

"This way, please," I said to him and he stood up and made his way to the kitchen. He had his seat, waiting to be served. His strong aftershave was strongly alluring throughout the kitchen.

I made sure to serve him with our best plate.

"Enjoy," I said to him. My dad came and sat beside him. I served him as well and he dug in.

"What's your name, damsel?" he asked me.

"Heather, Heather Skylark," I answered him.

"Whoa! What a beautiful name for a beautiful lady. How old are you?" he asked.

"I am eighteen years old. I will be turning nineteen days after I graduate from school." I replied to him with a huge smile on my face.

"Whoa! I love your confidence. Congratulations on your graduation in advance." He smiled at me.

"By the way, the food is delicious." He complimented.

"Thank you, sir." I smiled at him.

"I have never seen a young buoyant girl like her, Skylark. You trained her well." He faced my hand.

"Thank you, Mr. Worsley." My dad who has been mute since said to him.

"I am here to ask for what you owe me, Skylark what I want in return for what is your daughter's hand in marriage to my nephew, a few days after she graduates from high school and birthday." He said with a straight face as he wiped his hand with the napkin.

"What?" my dad and I chorused.