CHAPTER 19

April and Martin both walked to his study and disappeared inside, as they did, Rachel's eyes hadn't left them. She wanted to know what was happening but she had no reason to follow them. She felt her control over the household slip and she clenched her fists tight in resentment.

Just then Lucy came down the stairs and ran to her mother and sitting beside her, "Mother, what am I going to do now? I need that money for my clothes, shoes and handbags. One card isn't enough, what will people think if I have to watch how much money I spend when I am shopping. It will be humiliating."

As Lucy cried on her mother's shoulder, her mother stroked her back reassuringly, "Not to worry leave it to your mother. Don't I always think of something? She may have had the upper hand today but she still has nothing."

Lucy leaned away from her mother and wiped her tears, "That b*tch what is she up to? I watched her wearing a different set of expensive branded clothes the other day, she then got out of an Audi A7 Sportback and even walked into Cerulean Condominium. Has she a backer we aren't aware of? If she has it's bad news for us."

Lucy informed her mother of every little detail of what she had noticed that day. Though she left out why she was there and who she was with.

Her mother wouldn't agree with her using her body to get ahead in life. But she had no choice but to use those old men for now until she could get closer to someone with influence and money who was worthy of her.

"We need to find out what she is saying to Martin upstairs. Leave that to me I still have him in my grasp." She soothed Lucy.

Rachel sat back and processed the information Lucy had mentioned. She then stood up and walked to the front door at a leisurely pace. She then opened the front door and saw the black Audi A7 Sportback. She gritted her teeth in frustration. This b*tch was just like her mother, she must have gotten ahead by using some man.

**Flashback**

Twenty years ago Racheal and Kathleen became close friends. Kathleen was loved by many, she was so kind and sweet. In school, Kathleen was great at studying and won awards plus passed all her exams with honours.

As they got older Kathleen's paintings and designer dresses went for millions. Then later she married a CEO and had a baby.

Kathleen had had it all in life, she was gifted and nothing seemed to come hard for her. Whereas it was different for Rachel.

Rachel had grown up poor just like Kathleen. But her grades were abysmal, she liked to hang out with friends rather than study. She thought studying was a waste of time and tried building connections early.

When it came to working she was given a job by Kathleen to run her Boutique while Kathleen did the designs. She started to resent her friend, who was beautiful and everything seemed to come easy to her, she had it all.

When Kathleen had announced that she was marrying CEO Martin Green. Rachel could only give her friend a fake smile in return. Her resentment grew into loathing at this stage.

Rachel tried to land a businessman of her own by going out to unsavoury bars and clubs. In the end, she could only get a Director of finance for a company. So she settled for him, he had money and a house along with expensive cars. She could be proud to show him off and live a comfortable life.

But the Director wanted her only for a couple of nights and then he had moved on to another young prettier girl. Rachel was outraged and so she managed to sleep with him one last time and her plan worked she got pregnant.

But when she told the director he was anything but happy. He accused her of trapping him. Which she did but she would never admit to it. He ordered her to abort the baby and she refused thinking that he would come around.

It was at that time Kathleen got pregnant too. But she had a supportive, loving husband by her side. This became a constant thorn in Rachels side and made her bitter.

It was after that she had decided to take every last thing from Kathleen for herself. After all, Kathleen had had a good life and now it was her turn.

**Flashback ended**

Coming back from her memories Rachel turned and walked back to the sofa where her young daughter sat sniffling. She gazed at her daughter thoughtfully, Lucy was the younger version of herself and she didnt want April to get ahead of what should be Lucy's.

"Leave it to me, she mat have her bank card back but who is to say that Martin will put money on it. I will speak to him later, your job is to clean yourself up and remain the good daughter out of the two of you. Your grades may not be the best but you are beautiful and could easily land a CEO. Martin will, I am sure agree to the benefits." Rachel comforted her daughter further, they had no time to cry.

"Okay, I will do my best. Mum... I want Dean Davis. He is handsome, powerful and rich. He is perfect for me, how can I meet him?" Lucy fixed her dress while asking.

Rachel was taken back, yes she wanted the best for her daughter and CEO Dean Davis was the best but he was unreachable and didn't allow women near him. It would be hard to fulfil her daughter's request.

But to make Lucy happy she smiled back and nodded in agreement, "I will get Martin to take us both to the next banquet or ball and hopefully you can meet him there."

Lucy beamed up at her mother cheerfully, "Okay ill go fix myself up for dinner." She then rushed upstairs leaving Rachel alone in the living room.

_____

Inside of Martin's study, April sat down on one of the brown leather sofas and her father sat on the other. He leaned back rubbed his temples and sighed.

Feeling guilt and overwhelming grief he could do nothing but blame himself for what was happening now. He found it hard to face his daughter or look at his wife's paintings. He had dove into his work and had hoped his wife's best friend Rachel would look after April. Was he wrong in the end? He wasn't sure yet.

He wanted to bury his head in work so he wouldn't miss his wife Kathleen but it had never worked out that way. He still loved and missed her more than ever, it was as if it was only yesterday that she died. The same overwhelming grief and sorrow he felt then he still feels now.

April watched as her father sat in front of her with his eyes closed. She stood up and went to his mini kitchenette in the corner of the study room.

She took out two cups and boiled the kettle, she looked through the tea and picked up chamomile for herself and green tea for her father. Chamomile calms anxiety and stress whereas the green tea she was making for her father, studies she had read suggest that the consumption of green tea increases dopamine and serotonin, which has been linked to reducing symptoms of depression.

She had an idea that her father was still grieving. After making the tea she brought the two cups over to the coffee table and set them down before sitting herself. Her father then opened his eyes and his lips slightly curled.

"Your mother used to make me tea..." Saying this he then stood up and went to his desk drawer he took out three small glass pill jars and emptied some tablets in his hand before taking them then putting them away again.

April furrowed her eyebrows, her father was never sick even in her past life he had never mentioned the need to take tablets. As he sat back down in front of her she asked, "What tablets are you taking?"

He took the teacup in his hands as sat back and answered, "They are just some herbal supplements for headaches and blood pressure."

April thought before asking, "Where did you get them?"

He took a sip of tea before replying, "Rachel gave me then as I was complaining of headaches so she went to some all natural herbal specialist."

April thought for a while before asking, "Do they seem to help?"

Martin laughed softly, "I am getting older so nothing works the same as it used to anymore. Anyway enough about this old man, what have you got to discuss with me?"

April decided to stop her questions for now but she wanted to take a pill from each pill bottle just to check it, she wouldn't put anything past Rachel. For now, she smiled and drank her tea with her father, "I just wanted to tell you that I got a job and I started today."

"Congratulations daughter, what kind of job?" He was genuinely happy for April. He wanted her to eventually join his business but it was struggling and he didn't want her to join him at this point.

Plus she had creative and artistic mind like her mother and she couldn't express herself artistically in his company.

"I am working in Walker Interiors as an interior designer. I have a few friends there already and the perks are great." April enjoyed seeing her fathers expression and sharing the good news with him.This was their first proper father daughter talk in both lifetimes. They had missed so much and misunderstood so much about each other.

"Thats great just great though I expected you to soar just like your mother did. You are both so talented... She...she would be so proud of you." Martin felt sad that his wife would not see their daughter grow up and spread her wings.

"Thanks, Father, the perks though I wanted to tell you about them. I didn't want Lucy to cloud your mind with inaccurate and vulgar..."

Before April could say any more he stopped his daughter, "I would never believe anything like that I know you, you are just like your mother. You are capable of so much that you have barely scratched the surface.

"Thanks, father. They gave me a car and a condo as part of my employment so I will be moving out. But I don't want you to feel that I'm leaving you, I'm leaving the house I can't..."

Martin rubbed his temples and sighed as he interrupted her, "I get it I was wrong, very wrong on so many things in life and I can't go back. I don't know how to fix it."

"It's okay, you don't have to say any more. Mum wants you to be happy father don't do things you don't want anymore." April sat forward and placed her cup down. April then stood and walked to her father she wrapped her arms around his tired shoulders.

He patted her back and sighed his daughter was all grown up and now and that reassured him.

"Go make a home and a life for yourself don't worry about me."

"Father don't say that I will not be far away and you can come to visit my place, but here is..." April didn't know how to finish that sentence.

Martin withdrew his hug and patted her hand, "It's okay let me walk you out."

April smiled at her father and walked out the door with him, she looked back at the study desk. She had to come back for a sample of those tablets.

They both walked down the stairs and saw Lucy and Rachel waiting for them in the living room. Lucy was changed into a floral yellow dress which made her look so pure and sweet, it made April internally cringe. But she had more or less done what she came here for.

April turned to her father at the bottom of the stairs, "I'll go check my room before I go."

Lucy stood up and approached April, "Sister about earlier I am sorry I didn't mean it and about the card..."