“NO”
“NO!, Mum you can't be serious” Delfina stared at her mother, she couldn't place her feelings, if she was disappointed or angry.
“Do I look like I'm joking, you should know me by now Del, I don’t joke around with stuff” Xiomara kept a straight face.
“Perché?, Mum ever since I was born everything I have done you made the decisions for me, I have never for once done something I like, do you even care to ask me what is it that I want to be, all you did was make me follow up with the scripted life you created for me”
“And thanks to that scripted life, you are doing just fine, you are at the top of your school academic chart and soon you would be off to college,” Xiomara said with a sense of pride, for all she know she was being a good mother to her daughter.
“Mum, I'm seventeen, not five, you can't keep making decisions for me and expect me to be all happy and excited with him, Do you even know if I want to go to college huh”
Xiomara raised a brow at her “What?”.
“Everyone in school is going to be there, it's just a birthday party, it's not as if I'm going to a club like Sorella Rosalia, please mum please, I'm tired of being alone without any friends, no boyfriend nothing, I haven't even had my first alcohol or s*x”
The coldness of Xiomara's eyes gradually deepened “Boyfriend, S*x” Xiomara couldn't believe those words were actually coming from her daughter, she must have been lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear when Delfina mentioned liking a boy who was going to be present at the party.
“Delfina, I understand you are in your puberty stage and it's normal for you to feel wired about your body but I hope you aren't not making Rosalia your role model because I'm going deal with you and any boy involved” Xiomara threatened
“I said haven't, I haven't done anything yet”
“Well, to avoid such, you should stay at home and study, you need to prepare your senior year and get ready to go to Yale, money won't buy you an admission letter,” Xiomara said.
Delfina snorted “Seriously mum, stay at home and study, you said it yourself that I have been at the top of the academic chart, the second person is even far behind me so even if I don't study next weekend, I will still be at the top,” Delfina said.
“I already said no, and nothing is going to change my mind on that, trust me when I say I'm doing this for your sake, I'm trying not to be a bad mother and protect you Bambina, don't make it hard for me, please” Xiomara spoke staring at her daughter.
“Don't confuse yourself, mum, you aren't doing this to protect me, you are doing it for your selfish self, Sorella was right, after all, everything you do is always in favor of you and no one else” Delfina said, Xiomara didn't blink an eye staring at her, never had Delfina spoke so disrespectful at her.
She raised her hand and slapped her, Delfina looked stock, she never expected Xiomara to slap her.
“You don't speak to me like that, young girl” her voice was hoarse and it made Delfina scared even though she didn't show it.
“I'm still your mother regardless and you should respect me for giving you life”
Delfina opened her mouth to talk but no words came out, rather tears rolled down her eyes, and her right hand was touching the cheek her mum slapped
“You are not going to that party, and I don't want to see any boy close to you, If I do, trust me, Delfina, you will not like what I'm going to do,” Xiomara said with a tone of finality.
Delfina knew better than to keep pushing the matter, Xiomara was someone that stands on her words.
She sniffed and ran out of the room slamming the door behind her.
Xiomara exhaled deeply after Delfina left the room, “She must have started associating herself with hoodlums to think such” Xiomara said looking at the door Delfina ran out from.
She picked up her phone and dialed a number.
“Send two of your professionals to me tomorrow morning, at Me-touch beauty lounge, I already book a first class reservation, 9am, don't be late”
Xiomara didn't give room for an exchange of greeting.
“Okay ma'am, will make sure of that,” the voice on the other side said.
Xiomara didn't say anything and ended the call, she dropped her phone looking at the bound papers in front of her “Aish, I have a lot to deal with already and Delfina is adding to the headache” she said.
**
Serena sat in the big waiting room impatiently, she had arrived a few hours ago meeting the blonde secretary that told her that her meeting was shifted to two hours after because of some other event.
She was initially angry and placed a call across to her HR who gave her no good excuse, using being in church to end the call, she didn't even go to church because of the meeting only to meet with a time shift bad news.
Serena fanned herself using the back of her hand, “Such a terrible place, not even an air conditioner” she sneered.
She stood up removing her blazar which left her with a skimpy singlet hand-white gown that had a slit.
She was styling her hair, packing it in a hot bun style when a man walked up to her, he wore a fine suit that made him look dashing and more handsome, and he had armed security behind him.
“Looks like a dress code was in the email” Morris pointed out their dress color, he was putting on a white suit with black pants while Serena was putting on a white color and a black blazar.
Serena smiled “Do I know you sir”
“I take it that you are Ms. Serena Testa from Dawn Bancorp” Morris smiled at her.
“Yes, Sir, you must be Mr. Morris Fox” Serena was relieved, her wait was over.
“Yes, you look tired, have you been waiting for a long time,” Morris asked, he noticed she was uncomfortable and looked stressed out.
“Yes, if we could just start_”
“It's fine a better venue, more comfortable, this place seems to have technical problems,” Morris said looking around.
“That's if you don't mind” he added looking at her.
It didn't matter if Serena minded or not, it was business and Morris was the client here so things should be working out in his favor to increase the chances of him, investing in Serena’s company.
“That would be nice”
They walked out of the building, Serena wowed at Morris's car, he had come with the latest 2022 BMW and had two other cars meant for his security guards.
One of the security opened the passenger door for them and they entered driving to a better place.
“So tell me, what do I stand to gain investing in Dawn Bancorp,” Morris asked, they were still inside the car.
“A lot Sir, Dawn Bancorp is a conglomerate that has other companies under it, including a network-providing company and an online bitcoin wallet app, according to our last month's statistics, our app in both play and Google store gets a minimum of 200 thousand new downloads and in a year, we get nothing less than a million, the views are very attractive and its a pay to use apps, so buying our stocks would make you one of the revenue beneficiary and other bonuses associated to being a stockholder”
Morris looked at her, impressed by her outspokenness, she didn't miss a single word and was more than brave.
“For how long have you been working with Dawn Bancorp”
“Is that necessary, just sign the goddamn paper I'm tired”
“Five years, started as their temporary online messenger, I got hired as an intern a year after working as an intern online marketer, two years later, I got promoted and was given a permanent seat,” Serena said.
“You are very educated, I'm sure they are glad to have you as their employee” Morris complimented.
“Thank you, Sir,” Serena said feeling indifferent, she was good in all her six jobs, and getting compliments was something she was used to.
“I will sign the documents after lunch, I'm famished and I don't sign papers on an empty stomach,” Morris said as the car pulled up in a fancy restaurant.
Morris and Serena got down from the car and walked in, straight into the VIP private session.
“What would you want to have pretty?” Morris asked making Serena raise a brow at him “Pretty”
“Actually, I do have somewhere to be after here so I seriously don't want to feel heavy” Serena said, that was a lie, she would be heading home after lunch but Serena was just smart, she knew Morris and the likes of him, even though she wasn't married, she still just didn't want him to the opportunity to relax and hit on her.
“Really? you can go with some takeaways?” Morris suggested.
“I'm fine sir, you don't have to worry about me, just enjoy your meal and do the needful, I'm already running late” Serena said and Morris nodded.
The waiter walked to them a few minutes later with Morris's order and a glass of water for Serena.
After eating, Morris went through the documents highlighting the important parts.
“I need to study this carefully, not that I wouldn't post but I want to review it myself,” Morris said, he was indirectly buying another time to see Serena.
“Our company address is there, just send it to the company after review” Serena said grabbing her blazar and bag.
“Are you going because I'm not signing now?” Morris asked.
“Sir, I mentioned I had another meeting” Morris stared at her.
“Since you are not with your car, I would be a good gentleman and drive you back to the first location.”
“Would highly appreciate that” Serena smiled, and Morris grinned happily.