His Identity

“Honey, is that you?”, Mrs Anderson said.

“Hi mum, yes”, Rita said as she walked into the living room.

Her mother was watching a rerun of her favorite movie show, one that never seemed to grow old on her.

“Hey sugar, how was your day?”, she beamed.

“Fine mum, I’m glad it’s over for today. Edmumdo came over then Theresa arrived much later”, Rita said, slumping on the large couch.

The living room was adorned with a sparkling chandelier that rested in the middle. The tiles on the floor were black but they sparkled when the powerful rays of the chandelier gleamed on it. This was the Anderson’s Mansion, a building boasting of so many facilities and equipment one could hardly value the house.

“Oh how is Theresa? I saw her mum yesterday at the fundraising”, May Anderson said.

Her mother’s name was one they usually talked about often. True, she was born in the month of May but asides that, her parents thought it wise to give her that name based on how fair and beautiful she was as a kid.

Rita took her mother’s jet black hair but now, since she was ageing, it had some grey undertones which made her all the more beautiful. Her greenish eyes sparkled whenever she was happy and they dulled when she got sad or irritated.

“She’s fine. Edmundo invited me for a dinner party with some expatriates in his Mansion tomorrow”, Rita said.

“Oh that’s lovely. It would cement your relationship with him. That’s really lovely my dear”, her mother beamed.

“Mum, I’m sorry to burst you and dad’s bubble but I don’t think I will marry Edmundo”, she said.

For several minutes, her mother remained quiet, staring at her daughter like she had grown a second head.

“But darling, you know why we’re doing this. For future collaborations and opportunities, anyone associated with Senator Brabra is already made”.

“Mum, aren’t we already made. We can boast of so many investments all over the world. For Christ sake mum, I’m the President of the Anderson group. I really don’t know what you and Dad want anymore”, Rita seethed, rising to her feet.

“You will marry Edmundo and no one else. There’s nothing you can do about it”, her mother said.

“I see you want to play this game mother but bet it with me, I will emerge the victor. I’m never going to marry Edmundo and that’s final”, Rita said, walking away.

“You dare walk out on me Rita. I didn’t raise you this way, come back here”, May screamed.

Rita paid deaf ears to her mother’s calls as she made her way out of the building. Her chaffeur, Rodrigo was already on standby. He opened the door to allow her in as he quickly entered the vehicle ready to drive off.

“To the private place”, Rita said, quietly.

“Yes ma’am”, he said, driving off.

Tears streamed down her eyes on the journey to the one place her parents wouldn’t find her. She bought the house secretly when she was just twenty years of age and ever since then, it has been her fortress, a quiet place where she could think and relax. She employed no butler or maid for fear of them ratting out to her parents on the location of the building.

The only person that knew about the building was Rodrigo. Even her best friend, Theresa didn’t know about it. Rita wanted to keep it a secret and a secret it had been for over six years now.

Rodrigo drove slowly into the winding gates, parking the car in front of the double doors. Rita left the car, making her way into the building. She decided to stay here for the weekend, she would ditch the dinner, ditch her parents and everyone else for this weekend. She just wanted to be alone.

“Is there anything else I can do ma’am?”, Rodrigo said, politely.

Rita stared at him for some minutes, marveling at his handsomeness. She blushed when he gave her a small smile. For some days now, she couldn’t understand the feelings she developed for him. Though he was just a chaffeur, Rita had the feeling that he was something much more. He had this air of confidence and bravery around him. He was everything she needed in a man. Her mother would rather die than watch her marry a common chaffeur.

“No… Not really. Thank you, you may go. I’ll call you if I need anything”, Rita said, sadly.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Rodrigo gave her a quizzical look. He knew there was something going on, he had the mind to ask her if he could stay but she had already given her orders that she wanted to be left alone. He also had something doing too which was one of the main things that prompted him from airing his mind.

He had to take care of his sick mother and he was the only one she depended on. He couldn’t leave her alone but he promised to come back here once he certified that she would be alright.

“Alright ma’am, I would be leaving now. Please call me the minute you need anything”, he said.

Rita nodded as she watched him walk away. She was on the verge of calling him back but she stopped herself. She reasoned that he probably had a family, a wife and kids who would be waiting for him. Though she didn’t notice any ring on his finger, she knew that most men didn’t fancy wearing a ring especially when they were working.

She sighed yet again as she made her way into the building. She went upstairs, straight to her room. She wasn’t in the mood to eat anything. All her appetite had gone the minute she argued with her mum. She decided to settle for a cup of coffee since her stomach began protesting.

Later on, as she prepared to sleep, in one brazen moment she imagined what would happen if she introduced Rodrigo as the man she wanted to marry. No doubt her parents would have a heart attack and she would get kicked off the board faster than she could say her name. Apparently, their name and reputation was much more important to them than her happiness. She cried silently, wishing that she could run away, run away from everything and everyone around her but she couldn’t because she had a duty to her parents. She was the heir to the Anderson fortune and everything she does would be watched.

As the first drop of rain hit the roof, so did her tears. They came pouring down in torrents, too fast for her to stop. She slept fitfully that night wishing that when she woke up, she would have an answer to her predicament.

**************************

The next morning, she was rudely woken up by a loud knocking at the front door. She tied her robes securely as she made her way downstairs to check who it was. She wasn’t expecting anyone only Rodrigo but he could have called before coming. As a precautionary measure, she took a kitchen knife as she slowly made her way to the door.

On getting there, she looked through the peephole and discovered that it was Rodrigo carrying a huge package. She smiled, opening the door to allow him in.

“Wow, good morning ma’am. I see you were prepared for any eventualities”, he said upon seeing the knife.

“I’m sorry, I just wasn’t sure who was at the door. Please come in”, she said.

Rodrigo laughed, placing the package on a nearby table. Rita discovered that it contained various food and she was secretly glad at his thoughtfulness because at that moment, she was starved.

“Thanks for all these, you really didn’t need to bother”, she chuckled.

“It’s nothing ma’am”, he said, staring at her.

Rita looked away as her cheeks took on a rosy colour. She had a feeling that today was going to be an interesting one.