RICHARD’S POV
Barging into my mom’s office without knocking or giving her a prior notice about my arrival at her office, I charged towards the man standing in front of her holding a book and pen taking down the instructions she was giving, I proceed to drag him by the hand and throw him out of the office before facing Tiffany who had both surprise and confusion written all over her face.
“Hey Tiffany, you always want to see my face, right? so here I am for you”
“What’s the meaning of all these, Richard? I didn’t bring you up so you’ll turn out to be this rude’ the surprised look on her face had changed into anger.
“I’ll keep correcting you till you decide to accept the fact that it was my father you brought up, not me. Get that fact, Tiffany” I corrected her as firm as I could
“I did all that for you, Richard. That is the reason why you’re the only heir to the throne; I think I deserve some accolades for always being there to clean up the mess made by your father”
“But you never deserved any accolade when it’s about me, the fact still stands that you were a wife and not a mother” Growing up, I longed for my mother’s affection and love but in return I got nothing and now that I don’t even need her, she’s trying to take up the mommy’s role.
She sighed in defeat before looking at me “What are you doing in my office? To what reason do I owe this unpleasant visit” she asked
“I’m here to tell you to stop being the mother hen you never were, you were not even there when I needed you and now you feel you can just come back and get involved, over my dead body, Tiffany. I won’t accept it”
“What are you even talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, you understand me totally. You met up with Vanessa without my consent or my permission”
“You don’t have the right to raise your voice at me, son’ she corrected and she’s forgetting the fact that I don’t care.
“Address the issue I came here with, not the one about the manners you forgot to teach me” I stood up waiting for her to give me a tangible explanation for why she approached Vanessa behind my back.
“What’s the big deal about meeting up with her, she even had the guts to tell you about it” she said the last part almost in a whisper
“She didn’t tell me anything, I have my own ways of doing things. You’re not the only one who is smart”
“Try to understand me, Richard. Vanessa is not the type of girl to rule beside you. She’s from a low-income family and she’s not even up to standard. If you want me to help, I have a list of girls here with me that you can get to choose from. Vanessa is not the girl for you. Just take the baby from her after birth and get her out of our life forever’ she advised
I laughed
I laughed so hard my body was trembling
“Why am I even surprised at your level of intelligence, if it’s the same tiffany that was ever ready to kill for her husband is saying this, and then I guess she’s still the same as ever? But let me make this known once and for all, if a single strand of her hair goes missing, I’ll destroy things and at your own interest, back off. Leave Vanessa and the baby alone”. I’ve made myself known and I think that’s clear enough.
Without waiting for her response, I walked out of her office and headed toward Vanessa house to see her because it's been a week since we went to the hospital for a test and it's been a week since I’ve last seen her, though we do talk on the phone, that was only once, I had to make sure she was safe
“Where have you been?” I asked immediately she got to the front of her apartment. I’ve been standing there for more than three hours.
“I’m not a kid, stop asking as if I’m five years old” she proceeds to unlock the door and entered with me following behind like a lost puppy
“It’s few minutes past nine; anything could have happened to you out there, it’s not safe for you and the baby” Ever since I’ve learned about the pregnancy, all I’ve been doing is trying to protect both of them, I don’t know why Vanessa keeps coming to my mind. If I really need the baby, then I’ll protect the mother at all cost.
“Maybe it’s you that’s not safe for me and the baby. What else do you want me to do? Stay indoors for the next nine months as if I’ve been condemned to house arrest’ she replied angrily
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t leave the house. I just don’t like the idea of you staying out late at night. It’s not safe” I explained
“Well, your highness, there’s absolutely nothing I can do about that”
“What do you mean?” I asked
“My work won’t allow it. In case you didn’t know, I work at a very nice place now”
What is she even saying!
“You’re totally out of your mind, you’re breaking the contract and you’ll pay for this, Vanessa. I promise you” I turned to help place the vegetables she had brought into the kitchen properly. She had scattered them all over the dining table out of anger.
“Why are you doing this, Richard? I know you hate me but this is getting too much. Nine to twelve months from now I’ll be out of your life forever and I won’t even have the chance to be a mother for my child after that. Where do you think I’ll turn to?, all I’m doing Is trying to fix the future from now, a way to get away from everything after all this is over, is that too much to ask?” she asked through tears
To say I was moved is an understatement, I was touched and I realized how unfair I was. I’m taking twelve months away from her and all I can do is let her do things her own way instead of forcing her.
I moved close to her and lifted her chin up “I totally understand you and I’m sorry if I’ve been too harsh on you. You can continue with the work but if it gets too stressful you have to stop, promise me you’ll do just that? And also promise me you’ll give me the full details about this place so I’ll do my own investigation, promise me?’ she nodded in response and I pulled her into a hug.