More than a game episode 19

More than a game
→→→ Beyond jilting ←←←
🎴🎴 By Kemmy B. Gabriel (BB) 🎴🎴
🀄 Book nineteen 🀄
💜 Iris’s standpoint 💜
I looked around the airport with a smile, I was finally here after days. I didn’t run away from my therapist, I told her everything and she assisted me, she was actually the therapist of my grandfather himself and had a section with him, she carried me along so I could get the opportunity to prove what I told her. I wasn’t bothered by Violet, Joe or Sweet, they weren’t my problem anymore because I had bigger problems. I suddenly hated Violet and father the exact way I loved them, they sickened me. I would ruin my father if it’s the last thing I do.
‘Miss Naeemi,’ the driver of the limo that was to take us greeted with a bow. Miss Naeemi bowed back a little. ‘Mr. McMillan is expecting you,’
‘I know,’
‘And who is the young girl? The sections ought to be private,’
‘I am aware, but she is with me,’
‘Sir won’t…’
‘Enough,’ she snapped. ‘Know your place.’ She added calmly.
‘Oh, I’m sorry Miss,’
‘And it’s Ms,’ I corrected. He looked at me wryly and rolled his eyes to our bags.
‘I will take your bags,’
‘Thank you Immanuel,’
‘Dataniel,’ he corrected.
‘Whatever you say,’ Ms. Naeemi said with a dismissive wave. The ride was smooth, I stared out of the window admiring the beautiful city. If Lee was here, she would be scre-ming and shouting at the top of her voice in exciting. I miss them so much, especially them, they always made me laugh.
‘We are here Iris,’ Ms. Naeemi said softly, tapping my shoulder. I turned my head over to her and smiled, we were entering a beautiful estate, a every lovely and expensive ones. The estate was silver and stones to the core with the pavement a bright wood color. It was amazing, did grandfather really own this?
‘Does he own this wh0le estate?’
‘Every single building here is his, all his. Most are under rent, pay him once or thrice a year, depending on how much they pay. Some here have been bought but not the land, under contract to stay for a limited time. I don’t even know much, if you are indeed who you say you are, then he’ll explain more.’
‘Thank you Naeemi,’
‘Anything to make a patient feel better, if this is the cure, then I will do it.’ She said with a sincere smile. I turned my head back to the window to admire the street, the beauty of the estate was amazing me. It was as beautiful as Hans’ parents’ home.
The biggest castle like house there with golden gates opened, the exterior of the building was a-ma-zing, so beautiful. The house was painted and designed like a pretty mini castle, the windows, balconies, flowers, the guards, even the maids running around had royal like uniform. I could get use to a life like this. One of the guard opened the door for us, I stepped out of the car, starting a mental prayer that everything doesn’t slap me in the face. I drummed my fingers on my th-gh nervously, my palms becoming sweaty. Ms. Naeemi took my other hand to assure me that she was here for me, assure me that everything would be alright even if he doesn’t believe me. It’s not everyday someone shows up at your doorstep claiming to be your great granddaughter with no evidence. We were led into the house, straight to a very massive living room. I was awestruck by the arrangement, it was so outstanding. My mouth fell open as I gawked at the place, I didn’t notice Ms. Naeemi already left to talk to the old man sitting on the chair.
As I roamed my eyes around, my eyes landed on a portrait of me on the wall above the expensive and well arranged electronic sets. I looked older and more beautiful, dressed like a queen with my exact hair color and light brown eyes. My jaw hung lower, I looked so much like her! Wait, is that me? How did I get here? I never knew I had a picture here or did he know along that I was his granddaughter? Many questions ran through my mind, shock still stiffened me where I stood close to the door. I snapped out of it when someone touched my cheek, a little flinch before looking at who touched me, the old man. His hair had completely gone grey, wrinkles baptizing his face and skin. His neck was so folded I feared they would fall off. His eyes were deep blue and shielded my glasses and I could detect a hearing aid in there, his ears that is. His hand was cold, shaky and squeezed, he was old. Even though he was old, he was still strong enough to stand on his two feet with only the support of a walking stick. He smiled at me, his teeth were still immaculate… Almost, few were missing but it was his real teeth.
‘I told myself after the death of my wife that if any of my great grandchildren doesn’t look like her, my wealth would be transferred to orphanages, to widows, not one penny would touch their hands. It might sound like a selfish promise, but Hildegard was my everything, my home and life. if it wasn’t for her advice, encouragement and assistant, I wouldn’t have built my empire to this stage, I would have lavished it, wasted everything my father spent years building, what my generational fathers spent their lives building. At first when I was forced to marry her, I hated her, the obstacle to my free living but I never knew that the obstacle was my saviour. She saved me from waywardness, made me a better person and the least I could do was pass on everything to the one that deserves it. It pains me to know that out of my children, none is good enough. It is a long practice to give it to the one who carries the family mark, but if that person is also wise and behave like one of us. I wanted that, but also someone who would look like my Hilde, someone who would talk and behave like the crazy wacko I married, my darling…’ He looked at the portrait and smiled. ‘I wished I wasn’t still alive, but I already told myself and God that until my wealth is passed on to someone who wouldn’t misuse it, I would not die. I can’t give it to someone who would maltreat others, use my power for the wrong reasons. It was also a promise to Hilde. Now I’m over aged, do you know how old I am?’
‘Seventy?’ I asked unsurely. He averted his eyes to me.
He chuckled. ‘I birthed the man that bore your father who bore you, would I really be seventy? I am far older than that, can you guess again?’
‘Hundred?’
‘Close,’ he chuckled. ‘A hundred and twelve,’
‘That’s impossible, and you are still walking and talking fine?’
‘We age according to blood and what we take into our body, how we treat it. I learnt that from Hildegard and I learnt to live by that. I can show you my secret if you wish, and the fact that I haven’t found my successor added to my will to stay strong… Well, hadn’t found her but now I have. You look exactly like her, what is your name?’
‘Iris,’
‘Iris? Iris who?’
‘Iris Hathaway,’
‘Whom amongst my grandson bore you?’ He asked as I assisted him back to his chair.
‘Philip, the scientist who bore Violet,’
‘How come? He had another child?’
‘I’m Violet’s younger twin, the one they claimed died, I never died, they hated me because they thought I was mentally unstable and for the longest time, I believed that. I wasn’t treated well, insulted, scorned, maltreated, I suffered and was abandoned for the same reason.’
‘Then how did you find me?’
‘Alisdair Kendrick’s first son, he is somehow my boyfriend and his sisters are my best friends,’ I blushed at that, I have friends. ‘He helped me, it’s a long story.’
‘Well,’ he said loudly, shifting back on his chair. ‘I don’t have anything to do so I am all ears, sit down child.’ I sat beside him nervously, I was nervous. I explained everything I had been through from childhood until I met Hans, the personality disorder, the lies I was made to believe, everything including Ms. Naeemi’s help. It wasn’t that hærd to believe, I looked like his wife, that was probably why Hailey’s mother connected the dots.
Expect me to cry, I cried. From there he told me that Violet also looked like Hildegard but not exactly, there was a lot of difference, you’ll probably think they are sisters or slightly related cousins. But I, I looked exactly like her, like her younger identical twin. He told me he wasn’t going to call on Violet anyways, she was too arrogant and her lifestyle went against everything he stood for. At the end of our three hours conversation, he hugged me and said:
‘Welcome home Hildegarde Syris McMillan, your new name.’
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I rolled on my bed laughingly and joyfully, it was another beautiful day. Ms. Naeemi was taken to a hotel while I slept in one of the guest room set up for me to temporarily stay. Grandpappy – like he insisted I call him – wanted me to live in a room I would comfortably live in, one I would love. He wanted to spoil me rotten since I never had a good and comfortable past. My present room was peach, I love the color but not enough to live in. Grandpappy wasn’t dumb, he took my saliva and blood for a DNA test, I was sure he wasn’t home.
‘Miss, are you in there?’ Someone asked as she knocked.
‘Who’s that?’
‘It’s your personal maids,’
‘Maids?’
‘Yes, can we come in?’
‘Sure,’ I sat up and sat in a crisscross position. I placed my hands on my toes and swayed back to forth, watching the door open. Two ladies walked in, they were identical twins. Same honey blonde hair in ringlet curls, same chestnut eyes and pearl like skin. Same smile, same voice, same height. The only way to identify them was that one had slightly longer hair and was wearing a laurel green dress while the other went for flax yellow.
‘Good morning Miss Hildegarde,’ they greeted in unison, bowing their heads in respect. ‘Hope you slept well?’
‘More than I ever did,’ I giggled. ‘You are both odd,’
‘Special is what we will call it,’ they said again, a smile never leaving their faces.
‘What are your names?’
‘Moira and Montana,’
‘Who’s is Moira and who is Montana?’
‘I am,’
‘She is,’ they said simultaneously.
‘Do you always talk at the same time?’
‘Not always, but we tend to do it a lot,’ they said again. They sighed and smiled w¡der. ‘Sorry,’
‘How do I know who is who?’ I asked, looking at both of them.
‘Moira loves wearing green and blue related colors, like what she is wearing now,’ Montana explained, looking at her sister. ‘I wear anything wearable but you can never see me without my lucky beads and hairpin,’ she shook her left hand which was buried by beads and then pointed to her yellow star hairpin. ‘That is how you tell who is Montana and who is Moira. Moira doesn’t speak much except when we are doing the talking together thing or when we are apart from each other. My voice is filled with excitement, like someone who ate too much cotton candies but Moira’s is calm and gentle. Moira also loves nodding, I prefer wiggling my head and plus, I tend to talk a lot as bonus.’
‘Okay, got it, nice meeting you both but what is this about a maid?’
‘Mr. McMillan insist we serve you until you know your way around,’ they answered again.
‘Where is he?’
‘Meeting.’
‘What are you suppose to help me with?’ Montana covered her mouth so Moira would speak alone.
‘After making sure your bath is to your liking, we have been giving instruction to wash off that red dye…’ I dyed my hair to red and darker black before I left New York. ‘Treat the hair, spa your skin and then get you ready to go shopping and buy whatever you will like, phones and all. Before that, you will speak to the man that would decorate your room at the upper floor, tell him exactly what you want your room to look like, if possible even pick from his book of designs. After shopping, he would need you to meet all the workers in this house to get use to them. Also, there are numerous cars in the garage, pick your choice but if you don’t like any, we are to take you to get one of your choice…’
‘It’s okay, one at a time. First, let’s get the bath ready and please, call me Iris.’
‘He stridently warned that the name should never be mentioned in this house, you are either to be called Miss Hildegarde or Lady Hildegarde.’
‘Then call me Hilde, can you do that?’ They looked at each other unsurely. ‘Please?’
‘Okay, as you wish Miss… Hilde.’
When Montana said she talks, she meant talk, over talk. It reminded me of Lee. Unlike Hailey and Lee, they didn’t fight, it was lame and made me miss my best friends. Once I get a phone, I will call them. After getting the best treatment of my life, I chose how I wanted my room to be like and went shopping. I actually started thinking, how would I be with my friends if we were so far away from each other? Their lives were based in US, mine was in UK. How would it work? Anyways, I returned home, introduced myself to the workers and went back to my room to rest. After my phone finished charging, I went through the numbers I saved in my head and saved it in my phone. The first person I called was Lee, she would tell me everything that is going on without knowing.
‘Hello my fellow human beings!’ She shrieked, I moved the phone from my ear with a chuckle. I switched it to loudspeaker and dropped it on the bed.
‘Who answers a stranger’s call with such statement?’
‘Me!… Hold on, who’s this?’
‘Lee, what have you done to my beautiful tennis uniform!’ I heard a guy yell.
‘I dyed it pink, it’s lovely!’ Lee shouted back.
‘You have ruined me Lee, ruined me!’ Is that Phoenix?
‘Hello,’ I called chucklingly. ‘Lee, it’s me…’
‘Iris!!!!!!!!’ I flinched.
‘Where?!’ Hailey shouted. ‘Let me see!’
‘It’s talk you idiot,’ Lee scoffed.
‘Shut up, let’s switch to video call, I want to see your face Iris,’
‘Alright,’ I switched the call, putting on my best puppy face. Lee shrieked.
‘You look so beautiful!’
‘You took off the dye, I’m impressed,’ Hailey said smilingly.
‘You are impress, and what if you are not impressed? What will you do?’
‘Lee, mind your own business for once, can’t you do that?’
‘No.’
‘I’ve missed you both,’ I laughed. ‘This, I miss this.’
‘Awwwn, she missed me,’ Lee cooed.
‘Did she mention your name?’
‘Did she mention yours?’
‘She missed us,’ Hailey flared.
‘Who is you? Are you alive?’
‘Hey guys! I found my great grandfather!’
‘You did? How?’ Hailey asked quizzically. Lee face palmed herself.
‘Moron, you ought to ask first if she had one.’
‘She said I asked, how is it wrong?’
‘It’s not actually,’ Lee shrugged. ‘So you have a grandfather?’
‘Yes, great grandfather,’
‘That dust is still alive?’ Hailey blunted out.
‘Hailey, that was rude,’ Lee whispered yelled. ‘You ought to say that old walking ash is still alive? People aren’t dust, they are ash or sand.’
‘Sand is the same as dust,’
‘Who taught you that rubbish? Go back to playschool Hailey, gosh! You are so dumb!’
‘Speak for yourself blockhead,’
‘Hans helped me know that. Should I explain to you how it all happened?’ I cut them off. No one can ever replace them, none. Hailey and Lee are one of a kind.
‘Urgh,’ Hailey gro-ned, throwing her head back. ‘Homework,’
‘And she said I’m a blockhead,’ Lee said drily. Hailey eyed her but said nothing. ‘Is he rich?’ Lee asked excitedly. ‘Can buy you anything you want?’
‘Tobias McMillan…’
‘Godfather?’
‘Godfather?’ I asked confusedly. ‘He is your godfather?’
‘Pretty much,’ Hailey smiled. ‘Our direct godfather.’
‘But Hans didn’t have his number,’ I argued.
‘He is our godfather, Hailey’s and I, not Hans’, they quarrel like every single time they are together. Godfather always teases him about him being a girl, that is why they quarrel. How is he your godfather?’
‘Yeah, how?’ Again, I explained everything to them in a quick summary, they were beyond mad. ‘Is that why Violet is so certain that she will be a richer person in the future?!’ Hailey shouted.
‘I so much hate her,’ Lee said irritably. ‘So annoying and pompous and keeps throwing herself on Hans!’ I heard my breath, that hurt. ‘Hans is trying to get what you sent him but I’m mad at him, he didn’t have to sleep with her whether or not it was accidentally or intentionally…’
‘Lee,’ Hailey gasped. ‘You didn’t have to tell her that!’ I whimpered sadly.
‘Hans slept with her?’
‘Accidentally, he didn’t mean to,’ I clutched my pillow. ‘Iris, please, don’t let it get to you, I beg you…’
‘Even if we aren’t really dating, he shouldn’t have done that when he knows how much I hate her, all she has done to me.’ I sobbed.
‘He didn’t…’
‘Did you know that after mother died, father came to carry me home with him because he knew I had no one, but Violet was the one who cried there that I either be taken to a lunatic asylum or thrown into a river? My father decided leaving me there in the basement, locked up to wait until I die of either starvation or loneliness. He shouldn’t have done that!’
‘Iris, listen to me…’
‘No, I’m not going to listen, goodnight.’ I hung up and angrily switched it off, how dare he insult me with that. Let’s throw anger away, crying first. I buried my face into the feather pillow and cried, it broke my heart badly that he could easily sleep with her.
‘Hilde,’
‘Go away,’ I cried. I forgot it was Grandpappy calling. He walked into the room, his walking stick hitting the tiled floor slowly. I put the pillow over my head to hide my face. He sat on the bed and tapped my back with the stick.
‘Tell me, what’s wrong?’
‘No, you’ll call me stupid,’ I cried.
‘Better stupid than make me die of heart attack, what’s wrong?’
‘Promise you won’t laugh?’
‘Ever heard of the saying old people are too old to laugh?’ He asked jokingly. I chuckled despite myself and slowly sat up, put the pillow on my laps and hugged it. ‘Now, what is it?’
‘Remember how I told you in the story that Hans and I met because he wanted to payback his friend?’ He nodded. ‘That we never really dated?’ I asked sheepishly. He nodded again. ‘How I told you I asked him to help me find out if my mother was murdered?’ He nodded positively again. ‘Hans slept with Violet, he forgot about me and slept with Violet. Just like everyone else, he has chosen her over me. I thought he was different but he is just the same, just like everyone else.’ I cried.
‘So he is the same because he intentionally slept with her to get close to her like you wanted?’
‘No, they said accidentally but I know nothing can ever happen accidentally when it comes to Violet, she always gets what she wants and she already has him wrapped around her little fingers.’
‘How sure are you? How did you know?’
‘Lee blunted it out, his sister,’ I buried my face in the pillow again. ‘It hurts so much.’
‘Do you know why I was very shocked when you mentioned that he was the one who helped you? The one you like?’ I raised my head and sniffed, my face was drenched with sweat and tears. ‘Because when he was four, right before Meghan, my very dear friend died, she made me promise that Hans would be betrothed to my future great granddaughter. Of course that was after you were born, after I rejected Violet and told them that I would come for her if I hadn’t found who I was looking for by the time Violet turned eighteen. Meghan told me that I would find you before then, that when I do, you and Hans should get married in the future. The betrothment to my invincible heiress was funny, but it was her last wish and myself and Alisdair honoured it. In a way now, I see that everything that happened is for a reason or so, you didn’t meet Hans and his sisters by mistake, you met them because it was through them you found me.’
‘So what you are trying to say is that Hans and I are betrothed to each other?’ I asked expectantly.
‘Yes, it has been like that since you were both small even if your existence wasn’t known, and it will forever be like that. Whatever is going on, see it as an obstacle in the way, a threat to your happiness. As long as you like him and I’m sure he likes you, what have been joined for such a long time, will remain joined together. I didn’t introduce you to him as your betrothed, you met him yourself, you both met each other yourselves and that alone is enough evidence that you are two sides of a coin. Do not let the cause of your problem tear you both apart, okay?’ I nodded smilingly.
‘Is Hans aware that we are betrothed to each other?’
‘His sisters knows, but he is unaware,’ I threw myself back on the bed as I laughed, so I wasn’t crazy liking him. ‘Do you want to go back?’
‘Back?’ I sat up again. ‘Like back to them? Yes but what about you? I need to…’
‘Now I have found you, I intend to make sure you are okay. I already have all my properties signed under Hildegarde Syris McMillan, just like I named you. All you need to do for me is sign every single doc-ments, stay with me so I can introduce you to my business associates by throwing a gala. I would formally introduce you and then you can go back there to finish highschool.’
‘Wouldn’t that take months?’
‘One week is enough to get everything done.’
‘Can you just throw the party and not let them know the reason? I want father and Violet to be invited, so they would get the shock of their lives.’
He chuckled. ‘If that is what you want, then that I would do, you can plan the gala if you want.’
‘Yes!’ I carefully jumped on him. ‘Thank you Pappy,’
‘Anything for my special angel.’ I sat down, almost bouncing.
‘Can I invite Hailey and Lee over before then, so they would be with me? I miss them.’ I pleaded poutingly.
‘You will have to make that in three days after the doc-ments is ready and you are legally signed in. I also need to speak with their parents.’
‘Yay!’ I hugged him again, I finally had someone to whine to and he would do what I say. Do you know how that feels? It’s Amazing. ‘One more thing, your cousin Knight would be coming over, he is a wizard, don’t know how he found out about you so fast but the conclusion is that he has packed his bags and is coming here to pester you.’
‘His name is Knight?’
‘A very stubborn pest of a boy, can be really annoying and over enthusiastic. Out of all my great grandchildren, himself and his younger sister is who I keep close. They are both so respectful, kind and faithful but Knight is stubborn, he is the reason my hair turned grey so fast. I dye it black, he comes and the dye runs off for it dear life, Knight is very bothersome. He will make your stay here wonderful, that is if he doesn’t remove ten percent out of your life.’
He sounds amazing.
‘How old is he?’
‘Eighteen, you might know him since you are a teenage girl like every other, all those shrieking girls that crush over every single one of these loud noise makers you call musicians. Those people are annoying with their frustrating music and Knight is worse, awfully loud hærd rock if I must say. He shakes this house to it foundation whenever he is around, hope you have some earplugs or poison to kill him, I’ve tried.’
I laughed and hugged him tighter, he was trying his best to make me feel better. ‘I’ll love to meet him, thank you Grandpappy.’
‘You’re going to regret saying that,’ he said drily. Knight couldn’t be as bad as Phoenix or his sisters, or even Jet, there is nothing bad.
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I scre-med as I jumped out of the bed, the house was shaking, loud music ripping through the walls. I look at the time, freaking five in the morning. Who is that lunatic?! I angrily wore my jacket and stomped out, following the sound of the brain bursting music. I traced it to the studio, opened the door and clamped my hands to my ears. In the studio was a young guy jumping around as he played a guitar, shaking his melon head and wiggling his legs. He was the definition of mad man in the building. His outfit alone would make you question his sanity, his hairstyle would make you ask God why he created him. Pale white skin shinning brightly, heavy eyeliner beautifying his closed eyes as he displayed his madness with red l-ips parted.
What other confirmation did I need to know that this was Knight?
He stopped the guitar abruptly as his eyes snapped open, revealing a set of to die for Olympic blue and shadow grey glass like eyes. He smiled boyishly, the kind of smile that said ‘welcome to trouble.’
To be continued.
Remember to like people!
🌺🍃 Authoress Kemmy B. Gabriel 🍃🌺