Caitlyn stood in Jasper’s office like a statue. Never in years to come did she expect or know of Jasper to act the way he did toward her. What could have gone wrong? The question so filled her mind that she didn’t know what to do and stayed rooted to a spot like a tree.
“Are you a kid? Run after him! He might still be annoyed by what transpired between you earlier.” her subconsciousness chastised her. Hurriedly, she opened the door but bumped into Carl who was carrying some files with him.
“Ouch!” she cried faintly.
“Caitlyn? What are you doing here?” Carl asked, checking her from head to toe, however, she didn’t reply but tried to walk past him. Carl blocked her from moving and she tried passing another the free space opposite him. He blocked her again and she raised her head, glaring at him.
“What is it with you?” her voice sounded angry, more or less like a frustrated moan.
“What is it with you too? Tell me, what are you here for?” Carl questioned in return.
“How is that any of your business?”
“It’s my sole business because I am always here for my best friend to guard his sanity and I won’t let just a mere somebody come close to destroy what I work hard for.”
“Really? You didn’t tell me you’re his nanny who babysits him all the way ”
“Oh my, I bet you have no idea. I’m more than his nanny. I’m his life, I’m his love, his heartbeat, his confidant, his caretaker, his son, his father, his everything.”
“Eeewww, why don’t you get married to him then?”
“I don’t have to get married to him to show my love. I’m not like someone who only knows how to stick to someone and only comes whenever there’s a problem at hand.”
“What do you mean? ” Caitlyn queried, feeling that he was talking to her. Actually, she was the one he was referring to.
“Whatever your mind decodes for you is what I mean. I bet you’re very smart and sensible. Kindly take your leave”
“What’s going on, Carl? Do you have to tease me with your words every time? Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Carrrrlll,” Jasper’s voice shouted from behind almost like a roar. Carl turned around to face him, raising his hand in surrender. He moved closer to him, whispering some words in his ear.
“My bad, I have forgotten she’s going to be your new queen.”
“You!!” Jasper wanted to curse at him but stopped himself. They were in a place of work and they have to be more professional.
“Anyway, I wanted to ask if you sent for your nanny. I saw her heading down there as soon as she stepped in.”
“Sure, I called her to come to dress those kids up for me. They are appearing before the media with me.”
“Be quick then, we have thirty minutes before the chart drops so bad.”
“What is he talking about Jasper?” Caitlyn asked, not understanding the discussion between them. She didn’t want to interfere at first thinking it was about business, but hearing Carl mention his kids changed her mind.
“It’s nothing, Caitlyn, you have to leave now please.” Jasper turned around, his back facing Caitlyn. Before he could make a couple of real steps, she hugged him from behind, wrapping her slender arms around him. She rested her head on his back, tightening her embrace on him.
“I know you’re still mad at me, Jasper, please give me the chance to apologise and talk things out.” she pleaded. Slowly, Jasper removed her hand away from his body. He held her hand in his, looking straight into her eyes for a while. He sighed loudly to her hearing and kept her hand to her side.
“It could be some other time, Caitlyn. You just heard what Carl said. I have thirty minutes to make things right.”
“What exactly is going on?”
“Aren’t you conversant with the news?” Jasper asked, doubting her intention of being there. Could she be pretending? Her presence in his office just when the news of his divorce blew up seems too much to be a coincidence. If Jasper has time, he would sound her out to satisfy his curiosity and settle his doubtful mind.
“See you later,” he said
“Wait, is it a problem I can solve for you?” she was persistent in staying with him and not leaving. Reluctantly, Jasper agreed to let her be and she followed him to the social department of the company with a smile on her face. Her face beamed brightly like she just won a trophy.
*
*
Every news outlet in the whole of Bedouin was airing Jasper’s emergency broadcast. In supermarket TVs, electronic billboards on the roadside, news stations, online channels, just every news station who were opportune to get the news about the broadcast in time. Jasper appeared in front of the reporters wearing a royal blue suit, a sparkling white shirt, a pair of black latest edition shoes, and a navy blue tie with black stripes on it.
“Good day everyone,” he began after standing in front of the reporters.
“Mr Callaghan, you wanted an emergency broadcast, what for?” a reporter asked, typing away on his laptop. Reporters are so good at their work that they hardly miss the fun of such events. Not when the news contains an important figure in the country.
Clearing his throat, Jasper began. ” I know you’ve all heard about the rumours going viral for a while now right?”
“Yes, mister. Is it true that you divorced your wife for the kids you had outside wedlock?” a female reporter who looked to be in her early thirties asked.
“Who is the mistress you impregnated?” another reporter asked immediately.
“Why did you keep it away from your wife?”
“Why take such a drastic decision just because of some kids? Aren’t you scared of anything?” the reports threw several questions at him and he only smiled at them till they got silent or when it seemed like they ran out of questions.
“I’m here to answer your questions with nothing but the truth…….” he answered and began the simple things they needed to know and they all clapped for him. So far so good, he has never told them anything that made them doubt his words.
He snapped his fingers at Carl, and Jasper’s children entered the hall. “Woowww, they’re so gorgeous. So beautiful.” the reporters commented as they quickly took pictures of the kids. Oh, heaven! A blind person would not doubt their beauty despite being unable to see. Katrina and Jasmine stood beside Jasper on the left side, while Drake stood by the left. He opened some papers on his table, raising his head at the reporters.
“These are my children, you all know Jasmine right? This is Katrina Callaghan and Drake Callaghan. I encountered a situation some weeks ago, and it resulted in these two whom I adopted legally. Ever since they came into my life, I can praise God enough for bringing them to me. They are so sweet and loving and I love them so much. As I said, I didn’t adopt them to divorce my wife, and neither did I divorce my wife because of them. The two events are just fated occurrences.” Jasper concluded and everyone present clapped their palms together once again.
“Say hi to everyone,” Jasper instructed, and Katrina spoke into the microphone and everyone smiled at her voice. Drake did the same and moved back for Jasmine to say hers.
“Hi everyone, my name is Jasmine Callaghan. This is my sister and that’s my brother okay? You all don’t have to say bad things about my daddy, do you hear me?”
The reporters chucked and laughed at her childish action, but she didn’t mind. She placed her hand on her waist with her other hand pointing at the reporters. If any of you disturb our daddy with any bad words again, we shall sue you!”
“Really? Would you sue them?” Jasper asked with a smile on his face.
“Of course daddy, we would sue them. Right Sister Katy?” she looked over at Katrina who felt shy in front of the numerous cameras in front of her. Somehow, Jasmine’s words gave her the courage to reply.”
“Sure, we will”
“Count me in too,” Drake chipped in and massive cheers and laughter reverberated throughout the hall and the broadcast ended.
Grey switched off his TV angrily, banging the remote control on his desk.
“Where’s this bitch of a girl?” he roared, holding his chest immediately.
“Take it easy, sir, you have to watch your health please.” Billie tries to calm him down.
“What do you want me to take easy? At this rate? I never expected that girl to be so foolish after how much I trained her. She just ruined my great plans. Jasper should not be able to do this! He wouldn’t even have the chance if she didn’t act stupidly without thinking. She’s so lacking in reasoning. Where is she?”
Billie flinched at Grey’s angry screams. That was one of a couple of times he had to experience being yelled at. Being the only one around, Grey vents his anger to his hearing anytime he gets on edge.
Cassandra entered, dropping her bag in front of her father. Her look showed that she was so frustrated enough and would take time. Grey stood up and landed a slap on her cheek. Her cheek turned red and she covered it with her palm, giving her father a side-eyed glare. The only thing it took her not to fire at Grey was the bit of respect she reserved in her mind for him as her father.
“How dare you? How dare you! How dare you do that?” he yelled at her with so much strength that the veins in his neck became evident.
“What did I do?” Cassandra wanted to ascertain her doubt.
“Do you need me to spell it to you? Are you that daft?”
“Yes, I’m daft if that’s what you need to hear. You ruined my life to where it is now and you still wouldn’t let me be? What a father you are! Everything about my life has been to satisfy you and your greed but you don’t even care about my fate right now? I just got divorced and tried to set things right as you told me, but…” she trailed off, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“….. but what do I receive in return? Am I just some disposable bags for you? Tell me, am I? No, I’m your daughter! The daughter you birthed with that thing between your legs.” She lost control of her sentences.
“You!!!” Grey wanted to slap her one more time as she spew the last words out of her mouth.
“I’m sick of everything around you, including you, dad. You hurt me more than I can imagine.”