NYSSA
Even though I was back at the house, I made Kazmir understand that I needed some time from ‘im.
“I’ll be invitin’ a friend over in a while, give us a few days and she’s here. But in the meantime, can I get a phone? I’ll also be needin’ that.”
He looked at me, not knowin’ what to say, and gave a nod. The next time Kazmir went out, he came back with a new phone.
I knew in my heart that it could be for his selfish reasons – so he could reach out to me if I went away from his grip and at the same time, I needed it for my reasons also.
After thankin’ ‘im in the best of ways that I could, I walked to the room I had returned to. A smile came on my face as I walked to the bags’ stand to take out one of them – the one with the card of Ariadne who I met at the auction the last time.
“Yes.”
A sigh ran out of my mouth when I held the card, lookin’ around it to be certain there was no mistake or rather, the man I live with didn’t change it yet.
“Hello, Good day. It’s time for a business deal with you, Mrs. Ariadne.” I said when she took my call later the next day. “This is Nyssa callin’. Nyssa Draven, I mean, and I am callin’ to let you know I have made up my mind to work with you. How do we begin?” I got off the bed and walked to the other end of the room, smilin’ and imaginin’ the shock she must have felt.
“Mrs. Draven! Am I dreamin’?”
“No, you’re not. That was easy, wasn’t it? I don’t have all day. How can we begin?” I asked while she asked for the address of the penthouse we live in and I, on the other hand, released it to her without any hesitation. On the other hand, she promised to be there in the space of a week, which caused me to run down the stairs so that the news could be broken to Kazmir who looked at me with suspicion in his eyes since the phone was given to me.
“I’ll have a guest in seven days, baby,” I announced when seated on the same couch with ‘im. “We met at an auction Lysander and I went to a few days ago, ’bout a week ago.” I explained further even though I didn’t owe ‘im anythin’.
He faced me.
“What do you have to do with a woman like that, from such a place? Are you suddenly an artist?” He turned to face me who also turned, shakin’ my head with boldness livin’ inside of me. “Are you an artist?” He asked again and there was also me who shook my head once more. “What happened, then?”
“I don’t know,” I said, makin’ up a clean lie in my head. “We met in the toilet when I went to ease myself and there we talked. She confessed the need for a therapy session and gave her card to me. You can check it out.” I gave the card to ‘im. “You can see she’s into therapy, can’t you?” Now I looked away, feelin’ very fulfilled.
“Oh,” he sighed and looked away as well. “She can always come around, then. But what do you possibly need therapy for, baby?”
“I don’t know, Kazmir.” I confessed. “But I’ll know when the time is right, or don’t you think so? How is work, by the way? And have you been goin’ to the office since the last time?” I asked once more and he gave a nod, also standin’ on his feet and headin’ to the kitchen, comin’ back again with two glasses of juice: one for ‘im and the other for me. “Thank you.”
“I have gone to work a couple of times, yes,” he said when he dropped the glass on the table not far from us. “I missed you a great deal and didn’t go at some point. Thanks to Darius who monitored everythin’ on his end, givin’ me good feedback at the end of the day.”
It wasn’t up to seven days when the house bell rang. Kazmir was gone from the house on a trip to one of his restaurants when this happened.
Thankfully, I had taken my bath before this time, all ready for the day when the bell rang again. Without any hesitation, I rushed to the entrance door of the house and walked into the compound for the first time since I got back from the hospital and away from Lysander.
How was he doin’?
Has he been discharged from the hospital already? I wondered, shruggin’ thoughts ’bout ‘im off the next moment.
In a matter of moments, I was standin’ right at the gate – openin’ it the next moment and smilin’ at the figure I met in it.
“Mrs. Nyssa Draven?”
The woman walked through the gate and landed inside the house.
“It’s nice to meet you again and I must confess that you have a very lovable home. This is so beautiful.” She was lookin’ around and I was doin’ the same, lookin’ for the exact lovable thing in it.
“Thank you for comin’, Mrs. Ariadne,” I hugged her shortly. “I believe we should go inside at this point or don’t you think the same?” I started walkin’ after shuttin’ the gate. We walked to the entrance door together and I let her go in first so that she could feed her eyes before I finished lockin’ the door.
“You have such a beautiful home, Mrs. Draven. Well, what was I expectin’ from a woman whose husband owns a chain of restaurants in the city?” The woman walked to one of the couches and took a seat on it, lookin’ up at me. “Thank you for invitin’ me, I must say that I wasn’t expectin’ that call as soon as this time. How have you been?”
I took a seat as well.
“I have been very well, Mrs. Ariadne. Thank you for comin’ also. I thought ’bout what you told me and don’t mind workin’ with you.” I adjusted on the chair, not knowin’ how to say what I was goin’ to say.
“This is good news.”
I nodded.
She continued.
“I am glad you put my words into consideration, but we can’t get to work as soon as possible. Not until we’re done with a therapy course for you.” She smiled at me who smiled back, not grabbin’ the memo.
“I-I don’t think I understand you, ma’am.”
She sat up.
“I’ll break it down for you.” She mouthed, lookin’ around before meetin’ my gaze. “You should be able to remember a couple of things, you know. It doesn’t have to be general but in art itself. I’m sure you don’t know how to paint and even if you do, it may not be like it used to be. Do you understand me at all?”
This was exactly what I wanted to say – that I’m no longer good at holdin’ a pencil, talk more ’bout paintin’. “Yes, I understand,” I said with a smile, noddin’ with happiness runnin’ around me. “Thank you for understandin’, too. So how do we go ’bout this art therapy? How long should it also last?”
She now relaxed on the chair. “We will be startin’ as soon as tomorrow, or maybe next week. And as for how long it would last, I don’t know yet. Some therapies last for three to four months and some, a year. We’ll know how long yours will last as time goes.”
“That’s fine-” I assured her with a nod and got on my feet. “Hold on while I serve you a drink.” I was walkin’ to the dinin’ area when the livin’ room entrance door was pushed open by none other than Kazmir.