Annabel returns home from work, mumbling to herself. She is still pissed from getting overworked by her boss, she wished she had someone she could complain to but she didn’t want to tell Jenny in fear of criticism. Jennifer would just remind her of the opportunity she threw away for less.
Arriving at the door, she didn’t bother to knock as she had her own pair of keys. She unlocked the door and pushed it open, immediately catching sight of Jennifer in the sitting room.
“Hey girl!” she said in a low tone before turning back to lock the door. She was too tired to speak much.
“Welcome back.” Jennifer had replied casually.
Annabel’s mind was too occupied to notice anything, but as she tossed her handbag to the couch and turned to head for the bathroom, she felt that something was wrong with Jennifer; where did the enthusiasm go? She had to take another look at Jennifer.
That was when she noticed the moody look on her friend’s face. Jennifer was usually excited to have her home after work, she had almost completely moved back in with her since she learnt of the pregnancy.
“Jen? What is wrong? Are you okay?” Anna asked curiously as she noticed the sadness on Jennifer’s face. She wasn’t looking very chatty today, but she was fine in the morning so she can't be sick.
Jennifer exhaled and sat back. Without looking at Anna, she muttered the words. “I have decided to go see my father.”
“What? Is everything alright?” Anna asked and immediately came to sit by her. Jennifer was that friend that was always by her side when she was down and depressed, she figured it was right to do the same for her; isn’t that what friends do?
“Yeah, I guess. I decided to take your advice. I called my father and asked to meet, he says he will be home this week, so I am going back to my family home to talk with him. I might spend a few days there with my mom and sister.”
“That is great. Look Jen, I know you hate him and it is totally okay if you still want to keep hating him, but don’t let that hate ruin your life. you are privileged, your father is wealthy enough, he has connections that can be useful to you. we both know you cannot continue to live your life on allowances, you are an adult now and if you don’t want to end up as a slave to a man, then you need to be financially stable, you need to be independent; that is what reuniting with your father can help you achieve.” Anna stated.
Jennifer took a deep breath and then nodded slowly. “Alright, I will keep that in mind. Thank you Anna,” she said with a small smile.
“What are friends for? Now I hope you made lunch, because I am starving and I wont feed on your depression.”
Jennifer chuckled. “I don’t know if it is the baby but I love this new you, soft at times and then feisty and cold hearted the next moment, just the Anna I have always looked forward to.”
Anna giggled evilly, she had also noticed the change in her attitude. Maybe she should just blame it on pregnancy, it could help her get away with a lot of things.
About Jennifer’s family drama, she had fallen out with her father back in her first year at college because the man never took her seriously. He had failed to bore male children as his wife had only given him six girls, Jennifer being the eldest, but he was not satisfied.
Even with his eldest daughter now an adult, he didn’t stop trying for a male child as he believed that the female children were of no value for the family name, this pissed Jennifer off so much that she cut ties with him.
Even with the rift between them, he didn’t stop paying in her monthly allowance and he even offered her a job after her graduation but Jennifer was displeased with the position he had offered her, he had rather given the top position to the son of his best friend who Jennifer despised so much because apparently, women are not supposed to hold such top positions.
But two years after graduation Jennifer is still yet to find a job, so maybe it is in her best interest to take up the position offered to her by her father. Maybe if she convinced him that women can work just as hard as men, then he might reconsider and give her the position she rightfully deserves as his daughter.
** **
Mr. Forbes sat in front of the pool on the rooftop with a glass of fine wine in his hand, absorbing the fresh breath from nature and the dying sun. He heard footsteps approaching and he turned his head to the back, his sun glasses stuck to his face.
“Sir, you called.” Ma Agnes spoke calmly. Even though highly respected in the family, the aged housekeeper was still scared of Mr. Peter Forbes at times like this.
The Forbes Mansion was situated in an isolated estate, heavily secured. It was one of the most expensive and old mansions in Las Vegas, although it had gone through a few renovations, it still had that vibes from the 70s, surrounded by pine trees and well-trimmed fields, it was a safe haven for the Forbes family.
“Yes Agnes, has my wife returned?” he asked in a deep voice. From the looks, anyone could tell that Mr. Forbes was a strikingly handsome man in his youth, although nearly sixty years old, he still looked like he was in his forties.
There was a little silence before the housekeeper gave the response. “No Sir, I am sorry but the Madame is yet to return. But I had spoken with her earlier today and she had reassured me that she was in good health and would return soon.”
“Soon…” Mr. Forbes growled, squeezing his left hand. “It has been one week already since she left to see that boy. You can leave now, Agnes.”
The lady bowed her head and then walked away. Mr. Forbes clicked his tongue in thought of what to do, Maria was really tempting him and he wouldn’t stay silent anymore.
He took out his phone immediately and put a call across to the family personal investigator. “John… I want you to find out exactly where my son stays, I think it is about time I paid the prodigal son a visit.”
TBC!!