The surrounding air in the office was tense because of Darryl’s foul mood. Darryl remained stoic as he attended to the paperwork assigned to him. Even Vanessa’s presence remained unnoticed by him.
Vanessa was thankful that Darryl was not his usual self. However, she knew something was wrong with him since he met the woman in the elevator. He also rejected his coffee, which was a bad omen just as Phoebe had said it.
She shakes off Darryl’s thoughts out of her mind as she prepares to retire for the day. She straightened her skirt before heading to Darryl’s office next door.
“Before I retire for the day, is there any other thing I could do for you?” She inquired as she stood at the door of his office.
The usual Darryl would have replied as a flirt, but the present gloomy Darryl was dismissive.
“No, you can go home.” He retorted without looking up from whatever he was doing.
Vanessa didn’t bother to say goodbye before walking back to the office to get her bag. Her steps moved elegantly as she walked out of the building. A fresh wave hit her face as she inhaled the fresh air outside the building.
She didn’t call Carolyn for help because she didn’t want to disturb Carolyn from working. She was supposed to buy another car after Rusty decided to stop working, but perhaps it wasn’t time for a new car.
She hailed a cab to her house. As she occupied the back seat of the cab, she fixed her gaze outside. Her eyes flickered as she observed the buzzing street from the car. Her eyes caught a digital banner with Darryl’s face on it. “A new era for D’Peters.”
As the driver navigated his car, Vanessa’s eyes caught another banner. This was the first time she had seen it there. The banner had a photo of Emmy, her abusive ex-boyfriend.
Her eyes widened in shock as she saw it. It was a surprise to her that Emmy became someone who is on a digital banner. This only meant that his business had flourished. Good for him.
The memories of how he hit her at his office flooded through her. This made her fume in anger. She had vowed that no one would ever have the chance to treat her like that again.
The driver stopped in front of her building. After paying, she got out of the car. As she strolled to her apartment, she noticed a familiar car in front of the building.
“I knew I wouldn’t have to wait at your door for long.” Her mother’s voice caught her by surprise. Her mother squatted beside her apartment door, patiently waiting for her to return from work.
“Since when have you been sitting here?” She asked as she hurriedly opened the door. “You should have called or texted me before coming.”
“You would never allow me to visit you. What other choice do I have as a mother?” Her mother replied.
“Staying outside in the cold is not an option.” Vanessa queried her mother.
“Is that a concern that I hear? I had never imagined this day.” her mother said jokingly.
She helped her mother hang her jacket. Her mother settled on the couch while Vanessa went to the kitchen to prepare tea for both of them.
“Why are you here, mom?” Vanessa asked as she placed the streaming hot cup of tea on the table in front of her mother.
Careful, she also sat on the chair opposite her mother with a steaming cup of tea in her hands.
“To see my daughter,” Vanessa’s mother said.
“Since when do you drive across the city to see your daughter?” Vanessa countered her reply. Vanessa knew her mother was not the type to just visit others without a valid reason.
“Since now.” Mother said before lifting the tea cup to her lips.
“Mom!” Vanessa voiced out with a questioning tone.
“Fine, I was in the neighborhood.” her mother confessed.
“What for?” She asked. Her question met deaf ears as her mother refused to answer her. “Why did you come all the way here?” Vanessa rephrased her question.
“Since you ignored my last invite, I came to invite you again.” Her mother told her as she had dropped the tea cup on the table.
“I won’t accept any of your invitations, mother, not even if you bring the president.” Vanessa countered her mother. “I know your ideas of gatherings are not the ideal ones. This is a husband hunting in the disguise of a party. I know you, mom and I know what you are capable of doing.”
Her mother laughed out loudly in defeat. She knew Vanessa would figure out the reason she had come all the way to invite her.
“Disobeying me has become so easy for you. If I might ask you, baby, why do you refuse to get married? Once, you were head over heels for your previous boyfriend. What changed? Her mother stared into her eyes, searching but not judging her.
It was no news that Vanessa and Emmy were doing great in their relationship but what had transpired between them was a secret to others. Her mother, who had been concerned about her, was left with no choice than to ask her these questions.
Vanessa remained quiet as she was lost in her thoughts. The images of Emmy kissing his secretary resurfaced again. She wished she could forget everything, but it was an unforgettable experience.
She should have told her mom when it happened that year, but she could not bring herself to do it because her mother had anticipated the wedding. Since then, telling her mother the truth has become difficult.
“It is nothing, mom. I don’t just like the idea of marriage, that’s all.” Vanessa lied through her teeth.
“Why did you hide the truth from me, my child?” Her mother’s voice came out calm and sad.
“What are you talking about?” Vanessa voiced out her confusion. She was surprised to see her mom in a melancholic state. The last time she was like this was when her pet passed away.
“I met Carolyn before now, and she told me something horrible had happened between you and your former boyfriend.”
Vanessa’s eyes widened in shock as she heard what her mother had said. Immediately, she replaced her surprised expression with an expression akin to regret. She could have told her mother, but she didn’t.
“I’m sorry mom, I should have told you. I just didn’t know how to face you after disappointing you.”
She didn’t realize her mother had moved close to her, until her mother pulled her into a hug. She patted Vanessa’s back gently, in a reassuring way.
“Don’t ever forget that I’m always here for you.” Her mother told her before pulling away.