DEBBY IN TROUBLE

When Debby is in a  trouble, you can bet it is a very big, major trouble as her fiance just happens to be her step-child!! Ha!ha!ha! That is pretty messed up for her don't you think?

Now lets continue from where we stopped.

 

CHAPTER 19

DEBBY

She had no idea how she was able get back to her room in once piece without being carried. She had literally walked like a blinded zombie. It was a miracle how she hadn’t tripped.

She slammed the door behind her, collapsing on the bed as her chest was rising and falling rapidly.

This cannot be happening! No ,no, this was a terrible nightmare. One she needed to wake up from.

OH God! Could it be true! Did she just see Francis or were her eyes deceiving her?

The same Francis whom she had promised to wait for instead, she had lost his ring that very day he travelled. Stupid Ring! She had even changed her number so that he wouldn’t be able to reach her. Has he come back here to torment her?

Had he died in Haiti and had turned into a ghost or  shape shifter who was now in the house?

Did everyone see what she was saw or was the whole thing just her hallucination? Could Francis really be…him?

She really wished she hadn’t gone behind John to call the Press. She knew half of the country must have seen her expression on the screen!

She bit her lips in regret. What if her mother had seen that? Or Vera?

She could imagine the triumphant look on her mother’s face.

“God! Damn It!” She cried.

Fate is really a bitch! A total bitch with a capital B.

She gave an exasperated sigh as she managed to sit up. Just then a knock sounded on the door. She looked towards the door expectantly.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Ella Ma’am. Are you okay?” Said the voice behind the door.

Debby hissed angrily. “Go away and get me Rosa immediately?”

There was silence afterwards..then a murmur later, the door swung open and Rosa sped in. rushing towards her to give her a hug.

She had never felt so thankful and relieved to see Rosa, she sobbed while she hugged her tightly.

“What happened?” Rosa asked, gently pulling away from her. “I saw the whole thing on TV, I couldn’t even believe it.”

Debby sighed yet again. Her hand in her hands.

“What do I do Rosa? This is torture. Its not fair. I’m not even married to the father yet?”

“What do you want to do? They will soon call you to join at the table. I saw that the welcome party is started already?”

“Did he see you?”

“No. I didn’t see him either”

“I cannot leave this place. Not with the effort I’ve put in this. I had to leave my mother, would I go back empty handed? That will be a total shame and disgrace. I’d rather die”

“Did he see you?”

Debby shook her head slightly.

“I’m not sure, the press men were too much and the guards while he was avoiding the camera, he couldn’t have seen me”

A gentle knock sounded on the door.

“Who is it?” Debby asked loudly.

“Sir Frank said to bring you Miss Debby.”

It was one of the guards, Steve.

“Everyone is waiting for you Debby.” Rosa  stated

Debby sighed more loudly, she managed to stand up.

“What will you do?” Rosa asked, dabbing at Debby’s face with an handkerchief. “Your face is pretty messed up”

“I will wait for his reaction first. Meanwhile, You should start getting our things ready” She replied sadly, before walking out of the room.

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

The hall was filled with guests from different parts of the country. Most of them whom Debby could recognize were big politicians of the country as well as popular philanthropists.

The place was beautifully adorned with colorful balloons, ribbons  and several ornaments. There was a big display of “WELCOME HOME SON”  coming from the cluster of little diamond lights which  was hanging  close to the chandelier. It seemed to bedazzle the whole dance floor.

This was one of those days where she could have walked proudly wit her neck high as she passed the table of women who were  gorgeously dressed and  busy gossiping about their husbands, the politicians, some of whom were standing around Frannicky, holding a glass of drink each on their hands.

Debby’s throat got tightened as she realized Frank was standing with Francis. Holding his hand proudly as they joked with the rest of the big men. They hadn’t spotted her. She was slowly walking behind Steve.

As she walked closer, it seemed the air around was beginning to choke her, she could hardly breathe. This was her day of reckoning. Her damnation..

As they were few inches apart, Frank spotted her and said something to the group of men, just then, they all turned so they could take proper look at her. Then he turned too and spotted her..

The music that was playing seemed to fade slowly as he looked at her..her chest was beating so fast she was afraid everyone in the room could hear it. she had never seen him looking so relaxed and dapper in his fine tailored Armani suit.Hold on, did he curl his hair! Why was he looking so handsome than he actually used to be.Was this part of more torture?  She would really appreciate if she could faint right now..or have a stroke or a seizure!

The look he gave her wasn’t that of surprise..he was smiling..he was …..amused.

She looked down instantly as Frank held her hand, drawing her closer to him, she faked a smile.

“Everyone, meet Debby, my beautiful baby who has been taking care of me since I got into this countr”. Frank introduced her proudly as the men raised their glasses to her. Somehow, she caught the sight of the women at the other corner, gawking at her,  sending daggers of hatred and envy towards her with their looks.

“She is really beautiful” One of the men said. “You made a good choice Frank. Young blood is good for the body”

The rest laughed. Francis didn’t. He turned to the passing waiter to ask for a refill.

“Before I introduce the two of you, I would need to do something.” Frank started, facing the both of them.

“This beautiful lady has helped me in getting over the fear of the media and the camera and so many other things I loathed then. I never was a man that loved publicity. She just came and turned the whole thing around. She is the face of the FRANNICKY’S INVESTMENTS and she is my wife. Thanks to her I feel so young and vibrant”

There was a loud cheer from the room once more. Francis grinned widely. He was obviously enjoying this. He steeped closer to her.

“Debby,meet Francis, my son,Francis, this is Debby my wife”

Debby almost wished the floor could swallow her..this was too embarrassing for her.

“It is a great pleasure to meet you Madam. I hope we will get to know each other more. ”

She could hardly reply before he embraced her warmly but he could hear him chuckle under his breath. “Nice to meet you step-mother.” He said quickly with a grin before pulling away from her.

It took all Debby’s power not to break down and cry. The shame was too much for her.

“Why don’t we all go take a seat and eat our first lunch together, as a family. By the way, Debby, please assign someone to take care of my son. To attend to him I mean. Shall we?”

They all nodded as they advanced towards their seat. Debby could only wish for an appetite to come.

   

 

CHAPTER 20

FRANCIS’ POV

Today had been the best part of his life yet. Not as a result of the whole drama with his  Ex-fiance-turned-step mother..oh well..that joke may have probably contributed to iit. He had not been more greatly amused in his life than the last couple of hours he had spent with his ‘new family’.

All through the meal, she had stayed glued to her seat, at a time he wondered if she was barely breathing and he had tapped his father to see to his young wife, she seemed to be at a great discomfort.

He smiled, that had even worsened the scenario for her.  She kept shifting and turning in her seat and barely touched her food. She tried so hard to avoid his gaze, but it was just so impossible for he was seated right opposite her

That had been the amusement part but the feeling he had when he met his father for the first time was the best part of his life. Tall and fair, his hair was a rich gray and black, both on the head as well as his moustache.  A personality that commands respect and awe for a life well-spent.  He couldn’t explain it but the man seemed so familiar, even though he was sure he had never seen him before. There was just this feeling of familiarity that hung around them as if they had seen some years back and this was just a reunion. The warmth of emotion that rushed in his entire being  when he held him in his arms was indescribable and when he had called him “SON”, Francis knew the reason he had never felt delighted about knowing that his father was alive before was because he had never truly known the true happiness of having a father until now.

Sometimes later, he and his father had left the hall room to take a stroll down around the compound; he wasn’t surprised when he noticed Debby rushing upstairs when they had barely made it to the door.

Now, he was taking a walk with his father,  around the compound of his mansion, he had so many thoughts in his mind, so many questions to ask but he just couldn’t,  this moment was the sweetest moment he had ever had with his actual parent and he just didn’t want to ruin it. He was being shown the areas in the compound, the  garage that occupied fleet of cars brought in by their guests and their private garage for all Frannicky’s cars.

They were walking toward sthe ppol which was just behind the house. It was really pleasing to the eyes. Sparkling blue water, eye-catching decorative tiles, naturalistic water falls and a perfect landscaping. Some ladies were sitting by the sides of the pool, about four of them, all in their bikinis and all starring seductively at him while waving to his father.

“Who are they?” He asked.

“Those, my son are some of the ladies that came for the party , you have no idea how ladies have been trying to seduce me since I got into this country and now that you are here, I can see things are changing soon.”

Francis couldn’t understand what that meant but he was pretty sure it didn’t mean well for him.

They took a right turn and passed through a gate which seemed to subdivide the compound. They were in an open field.

“Dad, do you have your own football field?” Francis asked curiously.

His father laughed. “No son, this is where I play golf” He replied proudly.”You see those place?”  he pointed towards the distance.

“What are those?” Francis asked.

“Those are mountains. The field leads to the mountains.

Francis gasped. “You have your own mountains?”

His father laughed carefully, holding his side. “No silly, the mountains came with the land. I just wanted a land whereby anytime I am in my room and I look out the window, I see lake, mountains, blue clouds. It calms me and makes me really happy”

Francis was dazed, this was friggin’ impossible.  

“Come son, let’s take a seat”

They moved to a seat close by.

“You remind me so much of my father.” Began Frannicky as they sat down. “Seeing you standing in front of me reminded me of him. You have the same height which we three share, the tallness, but the way you walk is all him, he was a doctor too before he switched to business only. My mother and I never went to the hospital throughout the time he was alive. We had our own private ward in the house.”

Francis smiled. “I’m glad I share something with grandfather. Tell me how you found out about me sir”

“My late wife did.” Frank replied, bitterly.

“How?”Francis asked.

“You see, Frannicky’s investments used to be Nicholas And Gregs Investments. Nicholas was my father’s name. His partner was Greg and my late wife was his daughter. Greg  got tired of the business and sold his share and the business became Nicholas Investments. We came to this country many years ago to buy some properties and to find some limestone, some iron and salt I think.

Your mother was one of the women that volunteered to supply water to our workers to drink. She was educated and quite resourceful, she was really beautiful. We had a connection and a day before I left, we were both sad and drunk and we made love. It wasn’t supposed to be a big deal relationship because she told me she wasn’t ready for commitment this was why I didn’t tell her I was engaged. I however, gave her my mail address at Georgia.

That year, I was made the president of the board of directors on getting back to Georgia and I needed to go to Hungary for a meeting. I guess she wrote couple of letters to tell me about the pregnancy but the letters got to my fiancé who read it and hid it from me.

After we got married, we couldn’t get a child. Then my father died and my mother was sick and she refused to be admitted. She kept on asking me to give her a child, a grandchild but my wife had fibroid and it affected her womb. We didn’t know on time.  During her operation five years ago, she told me I have a son in Nigeria. You should have seen how mad I was that day. She was weak so I couldn’t really get angry. She wanted to tell me the truth, in case she dies. She told me she had monitored you ever since she got the letter, she had hired some private detectives to track you and your mother down, your mother died while you were a baby and your aunt moved you to Lagos state. Do you remember the scholarship you won when you were in college?”

Francis nodded, it was the scholarship that had made him a doctor today and he still never knew how he got it. His Aunt had said it was his mother taking care of him from the ghost land.

“That scholarship was from her, for you, though it was disguised under another name. Shortly after you got admitted to study medicine at The University of Pretoria, your aunt died and you have been on your own.

After you came back to Nigeria, one of the detectives got sick and died while the other wanted to leave the country with his newly wedded wife so Rose, my late wife, lost track of you and she begged for forgiveness, gave me a picture of you when you won the scholarship and asked me to bring you home.

It took me a while before I could forgive her..”

His tone trailed off as he used a thumb to clean the tear at the corner of his eye.

“She died before I could forgive her. I became so angry and sad, I opened my seventeenth company then at South Africa and then I decided to find you. I showed my mother the picture. You should have seen her face. She smiled and called you Nicholas, then she asked me to bring you home . She died with the picture lying on her chest..she died smiling, satisfied. It took John and his crew about five months to find you, I was really hoping you would receive me warmly like you did. I love you son. You are my blood, all I have is yours. I bought this land for you, everything. I want to die in your arms, happily. You are my pride, I have a reason to live now, you have no idea how much sunshine you have brought into my life.”

Francis was touched, he held his father’s arm strongly. “I love you too father. I am very proud of you,..I mean, who wouldn’t?”

They both chuckled.

“I want to spend the rest of the little time I have happily with my son and newly wedded chic.” He chuckled.

Francis knew this was his chance. “By the way, how did you two meet?”

Frank shrugged. “It was quite funny, she ran into me just as I got down from the plane, she spilled her drink on me and she was wearing this sexy dress and the way she was trying to show her sincere apologies..I guess it even got the guards turned on.”

Francis laughed. Debby was really the greatest slut.

“I expected something like that, attention from ladies. I am after all a rich fine old man” Frank teased.

“But, seriously, she was the first and she seemed nice and hardworking and passionate about her career as a model. I m just impressed that she could do anything to get what she wants. I have a little time to live son, I just want to be happy without any worries.”

“What do you mean Dad?”

“I have terminal cancer son and it has no cure. This is why I need to be happy with my son and whoever I choose to be my bride. I only had one wife and she is dead, I had one baby mama and she died too. Trust me , that lady in my house is just for show, she is only here for what she wants from this marriage and she is not getting it. you are my son, my heir, my joy and I want to spend the little time I have to be happy with you”

Francis slammed his eyes shut. His father was dying, a father he was just beginning to know.

“How long do you have?” He asked sadly.

“Four to five months son.”
“We need to fight it dad.”

‘No fighting son, not anymore, I did that and it gave me that much time, I will be happy to go like this, I am contented. By the way, I am not dying yet so snap out of it, we have lots to catch up on and five months are just more than enough.”

Francis sighed.

“Let’s go back to the house. Help me up son”

Francis held his father steady as he stood up slowly and they walked together the same way they had come.

He was deep in thought as they walked back, he wouldn’t tell his father anything about Debby, his father seemed to know her for who she really is, a gold digger and a slut. Guess the joke‘s on her anyways. It would really be amusing to make her feel comfortable while making her feel discomfort at the same time. He could do anything now, after all this was his father’s house. Making her suffer wouldn’t chase Debby away from what she wants, but it would be amusing to watch for the next five months.

If he could meet Debby one on one, I bet this is the look he will give her.!

Hope you are enjoying the novel. To all Wattpadders please I am up for a  'Writers Debut' award contest. I really want to get this award please once you read on watppad, kindly vote. I will really appreciate this. 

Do have a wonderful day as I post the next chapter today or tomorrow.

Ciao!