Getting A Good Offer

 CHAPTER THIRTY

 GETTING A GOOD OFFER

 Michelle couldn't hide her awe when she stepped into the living room. It was simple yet exquisite and luxurious. Michael had to hold her hand and lead her to one of the sofas. Alfred Watts has been watching her reactions from the rearview mirror while they were in the car. Especially when they entered the driveway through the Watts Estate.

 Michelle noticed a very petite woman walk in with a huge smile on her face. 

 "Is she Michelle?!" Miss Hena asked, looking at her.

 "Yes," Michael nodded.

 "Oh! My!" She laughed softly. "Come and give me a sweet hug. My darling told me all about you." 

 Michelle couldn't help but smile as she stood up, and Miss Hena hugged her.

 "I've always wanted to meet you in person. I know Kelvin and Sylvester. And now I've met you. What would you like... Or don't worry, I'll prepare something," the woman smiled and walked out. Alfred Watts had already taken a seat on another sofa. For some reason, Michelle felt somewhat comfortable. 

 "Michelle, what happened? You're traveling? Where?" Michael asked her.

 "I...wasn't traveling," she looked from Mr. Alfred to Michael. She had her head bent when she said, 

 "My aunt sent me out of her house last night when I came back."

 "What?!!" Michael and Mr. Alfred chorused.

 "She said I wasn't home for almost three days. She said I should go back to wherever I was, since without informing her,"

 "So...you slept on the streets last night?" Mr. Alfred asked, deeply concerned.

 "No! Our gate security officer offered me a space in his quarters. Well..."

 Michael interrupts her. "You could have called me!"

 "Why did your aunt do that? I could sue her for this!" Mr. Alfred put in immediately.

 Michelle wanted to laugh but held it in. Their rage was alike, and so cute altogether.

 "In between, she's always wanted me to leave. I think she saw this as a good opportunity. I was going to a friend's place when you saw me." 

 "Whose?! Kelvin or Vester?" Michael asked. He was frowning, and Michelle saw it.

 She blinked. "Vester. I called him last night."

 "What about your parents?" Mr. Alfred asked.

 "My mom died when I was eight. My dad left. I don't know where he is now."

 "Do you know what your father looks like?" 

 "No, I can't remember him very clearly, but he has a very unique scar on his jaw line. A very obvious one"

 "There are a lot of people with such scars in this world. Like Oscar, for example. Michael, you remember him?" 

 Michael nods, "That's true."

 "I would still know him. My mom described it as a knife cut in her old diary. There's even an old picture, but it's kinda blurry."

 There was a little moment of silence before she heard Mr. Alfred clear his throat.

 "Michelle!" He called her, sitting up properly. "I don't want to force you to do this, mmmh! But would you stay here with us? Maybe until your dad comes back for you?" Mr. Alfred said.

 Michael smiled and turned to Michelle.

 "Please, don't say no!" He pleaded. "Please!"

 Alfred Watts raises an eyebrow. His son was saying Please. He hasn't heard that from Michael for a while now. He gave a small smile.

 "Are you okay with it, Sir?" Michelle asked softly. She wasn't expecting this whole thing.

 "Miss Hena's already preparing a room for you..."

 "Prepared!!" Miss Hena said from behind as she entered in with a tray, which she placed on the table, and went to sit beside Alfred.

 "Her room is next to Michael's room. I pray she accepts this offer," Miss Hena said, looking at Alfred, almost as if she didn't notice Michelle was still in the room with them.

 Michelle, on the other hand, was overwhelmed as she bit her lips. 

 "This would make Michael happy. Me too. I'd be relieved whenever you're with him. So are you accepting my offer, or would you like to sign a contract with me? The terms and conditions would be based on your preferred choices, please."

 Everyone in the room was laughing. Michael wasn't. He was just staring at her. Michelle chuckled quietly. And then nodded slowly.

 "Okay, Sir. Thank you so much," she looked at Michael. She wondered what he was thinking.

 "She's not gonna be my sibling, right?" Michael suddenly asked. Everyone paused.

 Mr. Alfred chuckled, "No, she won't."

 Everyone laughed, but Michael only smiled.

 "Come, let me take you to your room," Miss Hena said. She took Michelle's hand and led her upstairs.

 **** 

 When Miss Hena opened her room door, she gasped and then sighed. She couldn't believe her eyes. She stepped inside. The room was beautiful and girlish.

 "They are still adding a lot of things, so just be patient with us, okay?" 

 "Okay. But this is enough. I just need a study table." 

 "There's a study room downstairs. But I'll make sure you get a study table tonight. You know what...give me the list of everything you want. If you don't, then I'll be glad to know that you've chosen me to make decisions for the things you want, mmmh!" Miss Hena said.

 Michelle nods. "Thank you so much, Miss Hena." Tears were already brimming in her eyes.

 Miss Hena holds her hands. "Mmmh! Mmmh! Don't cry. We are so happy to have you here. It's also beautiful that Michael now has an extra person to talk to at home. So now clean your eyes and blend in as quickly as you can, okay?" 

 Michelle nods. 

 "Come here, you little child," Miss Hena hugs her.

 ****

 While she was arranging her clothes in the walk-in closet, she just discovered that she had heard a knock on the door, so she went out to open it.

 "Can I come in?" Michael asked.

 "Oh! Sure," she stepped aside for him to enter.

 "Did you tell Kelvin and Sylvester?" He asked, sitting on the bed.

 Michelle also sits beside him on the bed.

 "I'll call them later. I'm still guessing what their reaction would be." 

 "Hope you're comfortable here?"

 "I'm slightly tense for now. But I'll be okay." 

 "My Dad did this...not out of pity. I also wanted you to stay here. I'm not very sure of the whole story, but I'm not letting you go back to your aunt's place." 

 " I know. I don't want to go back either. Besides, I'll be twenty soon. I'm not in a hurry. I also know that I'm gonna love it here."

 "Mmmh! Dad and I are visiting a foundation opening now. I came to say bye. I'll see you when I get back, okay."

 "Okay," she nodded and watched him leave. 

 She returned to the walk-in closet. After a while, she dropped the cloth she was holding and picked up her phone on a table below a huge aesthetic mirror. She checked her phone, he aunt hadn't even called. Not even a text. She sighed.

 She checked her call log and saw that Kelvin and Sylvester had called her several times. To avoid a long story, she called them in a video group call, and they answered on the first ring.

 "Michelle, what's up?!"

 "Where have you been, Mich?! We've been calling you?!"

 "Hope you weren't kidnapped again?" 

 "We called Michael, too. He isn't answering?"

 "What happened? Please tell me nothing happened."

 "Where are you, Mich? That place looks different. Are you in your aunt's room?"

 The last one was Sylvester.

 She started laughing, and they paused. 

 "Guys!!" 

 She sat cross-legged on the rugged floor as she held the phone in front of her face.

 "Don't scream when I say this?"

 "Say it already, Mich!" Kelvin said impatiently.

 "I'm at Watts Estate."

 There was silence for a while. When it registered, the two screamed simultaneously.

 "What?!!!"

 "Guys!!! Stop!" She shouted back, laughing.

 "Tell us, please. What happened?"

 "Okay. Promise to be calm until I'm through."

 They nodded quickly.

 She explained everything to them.

 "You know, when they say blessings come in disguise. I think I found my own. Right where I want it. Cos what in the world's name am I doing in Watts Estate?" She said.

 "Mich! Should I say you're one luckiest girl I know? I'm so happy. You're not going back to your aunt's house, you know," Kelvin said.

 "Michael already said that to me. She hasn't called or texted. I wonder how she's coping?" 

 "I also hope she's breathing fine now," Sylvester rolled his eyes.

 "Man! You guys didn't fully describe the elegance in this place. I'm almost scared of touching anything."

 Sylvester chuckles. "That's not the end until you tour. Where's Michael?" 

 "He went to the company with his dad. Some minutes ago"

 "Okay. You've met Miss Hena?" 

 "M! G! She's totally the best. Haven't had a motherly kind of hug in a while now. This is plus plus-plus-plus package."

 "Don't worry, Mich. You'll be fine. Okay?" Kelvin said to her.

 She nods.

 "And we're rooting for you. Now and always. Mmmh!" Sylvester adds.

 "Thanks, gu

ys. I'll see you later, bye."

 She waved before hanging up. Looking around her, she sighed. Again.