Little Rose – Chapter 7 – No trace of Rose and Keith’s outbreak of anger

I was backed to work as usual. Keith avoided me too and only calls me into his office whenever he needed some documents to be sorted out, typed or re-typed. One day while I was taking down a dictation from Keith, Bob walked into Keith’s office, looking very dejected. On seeing Bob’s face, Keith asked me to leave his office. The moment I left Keith office and walked in my office, Keith pulled the blinds down on the glass partition that separated our room, totally blocking the view of his office. I was surprised for Bob did not even acknowledged me as he usual do so whenever he see me in the staff cafeteria or at the elevator. Sitting at my desk, I started drafting the letter as Keith has instructed me to do so and promised myself to email to him later, before I leave the office.

Bob looked solemnly at Keith and said, “Sorry brother. Mike went to the orphanage and found no photographs of Rose other than her babies picture with the other children. The new Mother Superior, who remembered Rose, told Mike that the child had disappeared and they had not seen or heard of Rose for the past six years. It is as if she has vanished and they don’t know anything. Mike also said that one of the Sisters remembered Rose fondly and secretly told Mike that Sister Cathy was very protective of Rose and only Rose had her pictures taken with Sister Cathy and the previous Mother Superior. We are in a dead end, Brother.” Bob ran his hands through his hair and sat on the sofa with a sigh. Keith was listening to Bob and walked over to look out through the window. Finally Keith said, “Bob, we will leave the search for Rose for the time being. Dad has been doing things behind my back to irritate me and at this moment, I just feel like killing that tyrant with my bare hands.” Turning to look at Bob, Keith said, “Do you know that old fool send his men to France to look for Dr. Luc to enquiry about my condition. I received a phone call from Dr. Luc two days ago. Dr. Luc said he showed them an old X-ray that showed the damaged done to my brain and my report from other doctors to certify my unrecovered state of mind and my anger and behaviour issues. Bob, only the three of us know about my recovery and my plan.”

Bob was shocked and lost for words. There was a silence and finally Bob asked Keith what he intend to do about this matter? Keith walked over to his desk and said, “I am going to play the game. Soon I am going to get a visit from the tyrant and when I do, I will not be held responsible for my actions and smiled widely at Bob. “Show time, brother” Keith said and looked at his computer and started laughing. Bob looked at Keith with a puzzle look on his face. Keith pointed to the glass partition and say softly, “My church mouse has emailed the letter, which I had asked her to draft and has left the office according to Kim.” Bob on hearing this started laughing and went over and pull up the blinds. The office was empty, all things neatly kept away. Turning to Keith, Bob said, “So Kim is your office spy for Miss Watsons?” Keith nodded and smiles to himself and said, “Spying only when the church mouse leaves the office on dot at five. No other office politics is tolerated.” Bob nodded and finally said, “Let’s go for a drink, brother. I really need one to relax myself.”

A few weeks later, I heard a loud and angry voice of an old man. I could hear Kim’s terrified voice, telling the person that Keith was away for a meeting with the clients and was not in the office. The angry voice refused to listen to Kim and threaten to terminate her immediately if she did not call Keith immediately. I heard Kim’s voice being firm and insist that Keith was not in. The next thing I knew, the old man and his secretary walked into my office. On seeing me sitting at the desk, the old man demanded to know where was Keith. I stood up and greeted him and said, “I am sorry, Sir. Mr. O’Heir is out for a meeting with his clients. The old man was looking at me with so much of contempt and said loudly, “You are his new secretary right? Call my son right now.” My legs were shaking and I saw Kim standing a foot away from the old man with an anxious look on her face. I apologized and said we received strict instructions from Mr. O’Heir not to disturb him whenever he is away from the office or whenever he is having meetings with his clients. On hearing these words, the old man started hitting things in my office with his walking stick. I was so frightened and stood rooted behind my computer desk, praying so hard to God that He would send Keith back soon. I looked at Kim and saw her frightened face too. The old man’s secretary tried to calm him down but in vain.

Suddenly Keith walked in, demanding to know what was going on in his office. I saw Kim face relaxing immediately upon hearing Keith’s voice. As for me, I lowered my head down and refused to look at both father and son. My legs were shaking very badly and for once I was afraid that the old man would strike me too. Form the corner of my eyes, I saw Keith grabbing his father’s arm tightly and literally pulling him out from my office and shut the door behind him. The moment Keith left my office I sat down on my chair with a loud thump and buried my face in my trembling hands.

Next I know the blinds were being pulled down to block my view. There were loud angry voices and things were thrown around. The old man mellowed his tone but Keith voice was the loudest and threatening his dad. He blamed his dad for ruining his life and being responsible for what Keith was now. “A wild beast, Keith shouted angrily. My staff called me a “wild beast.” The whole office staff called me a “wild beast” behind my back and you are responsible for it. You are forgetting that your godfather era is long gone and forgotten. It is dead. How dare you walked in to my office and threatened my staff with your tyrannical and autocratic ways. How many times have I told you that I do not want to see that face of yours? You led my mother to her early grave at a young age and she died a broken spirit with your entire overbearing attitude. When she died, you turned your attention to me. I would have died too if I did not have Uncle Charlie, Aunt Marie and Bob. I cannot and will not give you anything. I have got nothing to give you, old man. That old Keith died six years ago when you murder the only person he had ever love. I wished I could murder you like you murdered the girl I loved. In an unknown marked grave.”

There was total silence and I heard Keith father saying in a high-handed voice, “Go and meet the Chancellor and settled my issue for me.” I heard Keith cynical laughter, followed by, “Why should I do your dirty job for you? It is time for you to realize that the world does not run at your command. If need arises, you need to go to jail, I will be the most happiest person to send you there myself. To hell with you.” I heard a loud thwack followed by Keith’s angry voice saying, “Don’t you ever lay your hand or your walking stick on me. I mean it for I do not know what I can do in anger. I can kill you old man and walked free for the rest of my life due to my medical condition. You know it.” With these words, I heard Keith’s door opening and Keith dragging his old man from his office. The old man kept shouting words like ‘lunatic’, ‘psychopath’, and ‘maniac’ and “I will see you in mental health institute” at Keith but Keith ignore his father’s taunt and dragged him out of the office.

After Keith had left, I came out of my office and went over to see Kim and the other staff. There was a guilty look on their faces for they too addressed Keith as a “wild beast.” I gave them a weak smile and asked Kim if she was okay. Kim nodded her head and came over and hugged me. “I am sorry Daffodil, Kim said. “I did not expect the older O’Heir to go into your office and threatened you too.” I assured Kim and hugged her back in return. An hour later, Keith returned to the office with Bob. He called the staff to the reception desk, apologized to them and gave them the permission to leave the office early. Bob walked into my office and greeted me cheerfully. “Miss Watsons, Bob said. Your boss has given you the permission to leave the office. Situation is not good and I would leave if I were you.” I looked at Bob, quickly sprang up from my chair, off my computer, sling my bag on my shoulder and left the office without a second glance. I heard Bob’s loud laughter in the corridor as I waited for the elevator.

I called for a cab and was glad I did not bump into Keith. I was very troubled by what Keith had said to his dad. I needed to get rid off from my system. I was sick to the core. My lover was talking about my death and my unknown grave. There were no remorse or guilt feelings from the old man’s voice. He talked as if I did not exist at all or matters to his son. I started wondering what kind of life has Keith live with his father. I remembered Keith keeping quiet about his private and personal life. I also recalled Keith being sick when I rejected his love and how happy he was when I confessed my deep love for him too. I recalled Keith kissing, embracing and hugging me whenever we were alone, claiming that he had missed me and only me. All these brought tears to my eyes. My lover is still in love with me, just like I am in love with him. I dare not reveal myself to my lover for I now had a different face, have a family with good background and education. But deep down this stranger was the same old Rose from the orphanage with wild streak now hidden and tucked away. The dream of the eighteen years old orphan was badly shattered and battered.

My cab arrived and told the driver to hurry home. When the cab turned into the driveway, I saw Mr. Brown who was about to leave the house to pick me. On seeing me alighting, Mr. Brown stopped and opened the wooden door for and told me that father was in his study room. I thank Mr. Brown and ran to the study. I quickly opened the study room door with my trembling hands. Before I could say, “Father”, I vomited the content in my stomach all over the wooden floor. Father immediately stood up on seeing my pale face and me bending over to vomit fiercely. Father called for Mrs. Smith and quickly came over to bring me up to the sofa. I was clutching to father’s shirt so tightly. “Daffodil my child, what happened?” I was shedding silent tears and could only shake my head at father. Mrs. Smith came over to clean the wooden floor and pass a warm towel and a glass of water to father to rinse and clean my mouth. I sat on the sofa, bringing my knees to my chest as my legs were trembling and the shaking of my body was very visible to father. I started to rock myself to control my trembling feelings.

Father sat next to me and engulfed me in his warmth. He kept assuring me that I was safe in his haven and no one could harm me again. I kept rocking myself in father’s warm embrace. When my emotions were under controlled, I turned to father and narrated to father what had transpired in the office. I told father about Keith’s father attitude, Keith’s anger and behaviour, and Keith talking painfully about my death and my unknown grave. I also revealed to father what Keith said about murdering his father in an unknown grave too. I stopped and took in a few deep breaths and told father that Keith claimed to have died the day I died too. “Father, I said. “Keith is still in love with me just as much I am in love with him. But I can’t reveal myself to him, father. I have a total different face. Father, the old man ordered my murder. He passed the death sentence to me for loving his son and now his son is suffering too.” With these words spoken in deep agony and heartache, fresh tears started to roll down my cheeks. Father sat in silent holding me in his embrace. He let me cried my heart out for Keith and for myself. I was so worn out from crying and before I closed my exhausted eyes I heard father saying, “my poor baby, suffering so much that it’s breaking my heart.”

I did not report to work the next day as I was running a temperature. Father called Miss. Kim to report my sick leave. Father kept a vigilant eye on me the whole night, worried that he might lose me again to the other world. Barry my faithful saviour lay by my side the whole night and had refused to sleep in his own doggy bed. It was mid-afternoon when my fever broke. Barry’s wet nose was buried deeply at my waist and sensing me being awake, quickly jumped over me and started licking my face and neck. I started laughing at Barry’s playful affection and I rolled over to pin him down. But Barry was too quick for me and jumped out of my bed and started barking loudly. Mrs. Smith opened my door to let Barry out and asked me if I would like to have some English porridge or English Muffins with jam and butter. I shook my head and apologized to Mrs. Smith for vomiting on the wooden floor and thank her for cleaning up my mess. She smiled and nodded her head. I asked for father and was told he was still resting in bed. I tip toed to father’s room and slowly opened his door. He was lying down on his bed and on seeing me, gestured me to come in.

I lie next to father and hug him. I thank father again and apologise for being a nuisance and a troublesome daughter to him. Father laughed at me and said, “Daffodil, that’s what daughters to do their fathers. They worried their fathers to their early death and you are no exception.” Having said this, father kissed my forehead and laughed so loudly. “Daffodil, father said, I rang your office and told Miss Kim about your sick leave and to inform Mr. O’Heir. I nodded my head and thanks father again. There was a knock on the door and father got up to open his door. It was Mr. Brown and he informed father that a Mr. O’Heir was on the line. I continue to lie in the bed and leave it to father to answer Keith’s call. About fifteen minutes later, father walked in and said, “Daffodil, my child, your Keith is worried about you. I told him you were running a fever and assured him that you would return to work once you are well. I further state that what had happened in his office has traumatized you and he kept apologizing for the unfortunate event.” I looked at father so flabbergasted. Seeing the look on my face, father laugh loudly and said, “It is good to know how the lover feels about his new love.” I was so embarrassed and buried my face in the pillow. On seeing my reaction father laugh so loudly and heartily.

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