Chapter 12
Felix
I returned to the house, earlier than usual, having already sent the chauffeur to collect Mom from the airport. Cici and Anne and the other staff in the house were all surprised to see me. I gave Anne her instructions for readying the house and preparing a lavish dinner, and to Cici I said nothing, just like Mom had told me to.
I wasn’t sure why exactly I’d invited Nora. I hadn’t really invited her; it was more like I had commanded her to come. Like she had no other choice. I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t know what I wanted her to do once she got here.
When the doorbell rang at six, Anne rushed to open it. I was in the study with the door shut, while Cici was running around the house, making a lot of noise. Through the door, I could hear the surprised exchanges outside. Anne was welcoming Nora in, Cici was bubbling with excitement, and then Anne was ushering Nora into my study.
There was a knock and then the door opened. Nora wasn’t alone; Anne was with her and so was Cici. My daughter had once again attached herself to Nora, refusing to let her go.
Flashes of what happened in the elevator returned to me. I had touched her inappropriately, I had stood too close to her. She was my employee!
“Mr. Stone, Nora said that you wanted to see her?” Anne asked and I nodded. I was sitting behind my desk, trying to work.
“Yes, she will be joining us for dinner tonight,” I said and Anne nodded curtly before she left the room.
“Really?” Cici squealed, looking up at Nora’s surprised face, who looked like she was still in shock.
I looked her up and down. She was in a neat coral-colored cotton dress with a thin red cardigan on top, which accentuated the shape and heaviness of her breasts. There was a slim red leather belt on her narrow waist and her bare legs looked long and smooth. She had a pair of flat sandals on. Why was I looking at her body? Why was I staring at her breasts? I jumped up from my chair, telling myself that I was only inspecting her attire to make sure that Mom would approve.
“Yes, she’s staying for dinner, and I have another surprise for you,” I said to Cici, walking towards them.
“Another surprise? What is it, Daddy? Please, tell me!” Cici squealed, clapping her hands frantically.
“It will just have to wait. Run along to your nanny, baby girl,” I said, ruffling Cici’s hair.
“Nanny left a few hours ago!” she retorted, crossing her brows. I had no idea about the staff’s schedule; I was taken aback.
“Why don’t you go see if you can help Anne in the kitchen?” Nora interjected, hugging Cici tightly. Cici looked dejected but she obeyed Nora’s request and left the room, skipping and still excited.
I went over and shut the door behind her. Nora was standing quietly in the room, with her hands clasped to the front.
“I’m staying for dinner?” she asked when I finally walked past her and back to my desk.
“Yes, my mother is joining us tonight. It’s a surprise visit. I don’t like surprises,” I said and sat down. Nora remained standing. I could feel her eyes on me as I clicked a few keys on my computer. I could sense that she wanted an explanation for what was going on, but I had none to give her.
“And why am I here for your mother’s visit?” she asked and I looked up at her sharply. “This isn’t a part of my hotel duties,” she added.
“No, this is not. My mother is disappointed in me, in the way I’m raising Cici and for the lack of warmth in our household. I was hoping that you might be able to change that,” I said and Nora crossed her brows and took a few steps in my direction.
“Change that how? What do you want me to do?” she asked, with her blue eyes looking quizzical.
“I’m not sure,” I said, and she pursed her lips together tightly like she was frustrated with me.
“Okay, for starters, how are you going to introduce me to her?” she asked. I hadn’t thought that far ahead.
“I’m not sure…”
“A member of your household staff? An employee at the hotel?” she suggested and I shook my head.
“That would be weird, for you to have dinner with us,” I said.
“Well, I could go now. We don’t have to do this if you’re not sure,” Nora said and made to turn, but I stood up from my chair with a jerk.
“No! Stay!” I barked and she stopped in her tracks.
Her eyes had gone soft when she looked at me now; there was actually a hint of a smile on her face. I knew she could see the nervousness on my face.
“We could say that I’m a friend?” she asked, and I sat back down in my chair again. I smoothened my tie and cleared my throat.
“Yes, that could work,” I told her and didn’t meet her eyes.
“Okay, good. I could be your friend for one night,” she said and there was a laugh in her voice. When I looked up at her, Nora was smiling.
“I’ll go help Anne and Cici in the kitchen, make sure the house is to your mother’s liking,” she said, and I watched her walking to the door. “And in the meantime, maybe you should think about changing out of that suit and into something more casual, warmer…it’s a homely dinner with your family, after all,” she added with a smile and then she was gone from the study.
I felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach. I didn’t know why I kept letting her talk to me like that, and why I kept going back for seconds.