An unexpected angel

"What?" Val thought she'd heard him wrong.

"You said you're going to start work soon so I'm offering you a job," he explained.

"Kelly doesn't go to school?" She asked looking at him.

"Not anymore, there was a small incident in his school, it kind of scared him so he doesn't want to go back to any schoo for now." Liam answered surprising Val.

Although Val had heard cases of children being homeschooled, she never expected that one will come knocking on her door.

"Oh, unfortunately I already got a job besides I teach high school students I don't think I can manage a second grade learner." She declined his offer not only because it was not her area of specialization but also because she needed a well paying job.  She did not believe that teaching a lower level learner will earn her much.

"Come on we both know that you don't really have to go there besides, don't you want to have a good looking boss like me?" Liam said shamelessly praising himself. He needed a teacher for Kelly and bringing one from C City wasn't convenient.

He also felt that Val was someone he can trust with his nephew. Although he was here now with him, he wasn't certain about the future.

"Excessive pride sure suits you Liam," Val said laughing. "However, I don't think I'm the right person for the job, besides I'm very expensive," she added.

"I believe I can afford you madam, just name your price," he said looking at her hopefully. If Valarie accept to be Kelly's teacher, then she would save him the hassle of having to look for one.

"How about 80,000 shillings," Val knew that the price was too high. Most highschools pay new teachers 20,000 - 50,000 shillings. She was hoping that Jayden will pay her sh.50,000 so the price she named was too high talk less of the fact that Kelly was only in second grade.

"That's fine with me," Liam said not batting an eye.

Again, Val was amazed by the man's wealth. He was easily accepting her price without a bargain.

"You're kidding right," she asked just to be sure.

"I'm not, I can't really say that what you are asking for is too high, his school fees in pre-school was sh.1.5 million per term," Kelly was in an international school offering an international curriculum so it was normal that his fees was high.

Val just looked at him unbelievably. Rich people really are spend drifts, ain't they? Adam's school fees was only sh.50,000 per term and the quality of education was good.

"Well sh. 80,000 is tempting but my answer is still no," she said dismissively.

"Just think about it, you don't have to give me an answer right now," Liam insisted.

Val sighed at his persistence. She simply didn't want the job, did he have to be so difficult?

"Why are you even being nice to me?" She asked sounding harsh. He offered her a ride home last weekend despite her resistance and now, he wanted to give her a job. For someone she'd met twice, not counting the day at the park, he was being too good to her and he wasn't even asking for anything in return.

Liam, hearing her question fell silent, rendered speechless by her question. Was it really about the job? He felt like she was being distant with him for some reason.

"Did I do something to upset you?" He asked still facing her.

"No you didn't do anything it's just that we've met for only a few times and yet you are giving me things without asking for them, it's weird." She didn't want to sound harsh but she didn't know any other way to express herself. He was behaving like an angel, coming to her aid during her times of need. His behavior was a bit unsettling to her. Or was she the one who was not used to people being good to her for no reason? She had to admit that the recent events has made her feel detached from the world around her.

Liam felt hurt by her statement. He just wanted to be here with her was that too much to ask? Perhaps he has been rushed and thus scared her. With this thought in mind, he decided to leave her alone for the time being.

"Valarie, I admit that I want to get close to you but I mean no harm." He told her before making his way out of the kitchen.

Valarie felt regretful. Liam had been nothing but good to her but here she was trying to drive him away.

When lunch was ready, she went outside to call everyone for lunch. Seeing Liam, she decided to go apologize to him.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to sound offensive," she apologized.

"Valarie, you don't have to guard against me, I won't hurt you or Adam in any way. I just want to help so please stop trying to push me away."

"Okay I will try," she said smiling.

"If you say so and my offer still stand, work for me I promise not to mistreat you," he, for some reason, trusted her.

"Look Liam, it's not that I don't want to take your offer, it's just that I have a request to my employer," she paused before continuing, "My father is sick and urgently needs a surgery but I don't have money for it so I would like my boss to give me a loan so that he could directly deduct it from my salary."

"How much?" Liam asked. If what she needed was money, then all she needed to do was ask.

"1.5 million shillings," she answered him. The amount was huge so she expected him to back off. Unexpectedly he said, "since that's what you need, then I'll give it to you," leaving Val dumbstruck. Wasn't he afraid of being conned? He didn't even ask for evidence.

"Are you serious?" She was tempted. The surgery fees was the heaviest load on her shoulders. Although she was planning to request the loan from Jayden, she wasn't certain if he will give it to her after all the amount was not small.

"Yes, I am," he said, his voice firm.

"Let me think about it," she told him. She wanted to keep her mind open.

"Then call me when you've made up your mind," he said giving her his contacts.

Just then his phone rang. Taking that as her cue to leave, she informed him that lunch was ready before walking back inside.

"Speak," Liam said to the caller, his previously gentle expression had disappeared leaving a stern face.

"Boss, Old lady Mary just called, she wants you to go home for dinner tonight," the person at the other end of the line said. Afraid his boss will refuse, he added, "she said that if you don't come back, she will not take her medicine."

Liam fell silent. His grandmother was trying to make things difficult for him again yet he can do nothing about it.

"Tell her that I'll be there," his cold voice entered the ears of the person at the other end of the line. From his tone, he could tell that his boss was still angry. Before he could say anything else, he heard his phone beep, the call had been disconnected.

After lunch, Liam and Kelly made their way back.

"Do you want to visit your great grandmother?" Liam asked Kelly, his eyes focused on the road.

Kelly could sense the tension surrounding his uncle so he wisely asked, "do you want me to?" He understood his uncle quite well.

Although he didn't want to go to school anymore, he never said he wanted to leave the capital but since his uncle wanted him here, then he will stay with him.

"Don't go," Liam answered him. He had to delay his grandmother's plans for as long as he can.

"I've asked Valarie to be your teacher," he added shortly glancing at his nephew. He still didn't understand why this nephew was so obedient to him. He treated him better than he treated his parents.

"What did she say?" He asked expressionlessly. He considered Adam as his friend but he didn't have much impression of his sister.

"She will accept it, eventually," although he didn't get a definite answer from her, he believed that she won't turn him down. At least he won't let her.

"That's fine by me," Kelly said.

"Okay, I'll visit grandma in the evening you will stay with housekeeper Williams tonight, I'll be back tomorrow," he told him pulling up at the front gate of his villa.

The gates automatically openned to reveal an expansive field of about ten hactres. Right ahead, stood a three story villa surrounded by a beautiful flower garden. After parking the car, Liam alighted and directly headed to his home office at the second floor. There are some things he needed to sort out.