"Boss, no news of her and her bestie yet," said one of the bodyguards to Lisa's Dad over a phone call. He put down his phone and decided to go see his daughter whose situation had miraculously stabilized.
"How is she?" he asked upon entering the ward.
"Sir, she's doing better now." said one of the doctors.
"Now get lost" Jack commanded and they all escaped, thankful that the child was okay once again.
Jack sat beside the unconscious Lisa and touched her right shoulder, then held her right hand. He looked at her unsure of what to say.
"Lisa, I know... that you hate me a lot. And the fact is, I really hate you too. But seeing you...what you did today, I realized that, I'm a blind man. 4 good years and I never told you or did anything nice for you. I never gave you the love you sought. You became mother-less at a month old and had to be handled by nannies. I thought that material pleasure was enough for you but... I was wrong. Lisa, I'll promise you, if you wake up and promise to behave, I'll find you the mom you chose." Jack said softly.
"Whether you have my blood flowing in your veins or not, since you choose to have my face, then I'm your daddy from now on. I promise to shower you with all the love and care I can. But you have to pardon daddy if I make mistakes. I will learn to love you from my heart" he then brought the little girl's hand closer and kissed it.
At this moment, the door opened and two ladies came in. They were Vanessa and Evelyn. Vanessa was clutching her chest and Evelyn kept comforting her as they entered the ward and saw Jack holding Lisa's right hand,
Immediately, Jack let go of Lisa's hand and crossed his legs trying to look like a ruthless man.
'What's the use of pretending after we saw you just now?' Evelyn scoffed in her heart but Vanessa's focus was however on the unconscious Lisa who was in a patient gown. Her sleeping self looked so peaceful and adorable. She immediately ran to Lisa after leaving Evelyn's hold. She touched Lisa's face and then bent low to kiss her forehead.
"I'm here now, Lisa. Mummy is here" she whispered. She felt the pain in her chest reducing greatly which meant Lisa was in very good condition. She would soon wake up.
"Ahem. Lady, who gave you permission to barge in and molest my little girl" Jack asked and Vanessa finally raised her head to see the owner of the voice.
"Hello, again Mr. Reynolds. I'm Vanessa and this is my bestie, Evelyn. I came to see your child one last time. Sorry if I upset you. Please, let us leave. We'll never bother you again" said Vanessa calmly. Jack was shocked for a moment but quickly gained his composure. Why was he shocked before? Coz information from his bodyguards was that the ugly blonde was mute. But now, it was otherwise.
"Of course, you can leave" Jack calmly said, pointing at the exit.
"Thank you, sir," Vanessa and Evelyn said in unison and were prepared to leave but in the next second, two bodyguards appeared from nowhere to block the exit.
They both turned around and Evelyn thundered.
"Mr. Reynolds, what is the meaning of this?"
"There are many reasons for this. One... you know about my daughter's secret" said Jack calmly.
"What secret? Is the fact that she's your child a secret? Mr. Reynolds, you can't bully us" Evelyn wanted to freeze this fool forever. What nonsensical excuse was he making to keep them hostage?
"Miss, Vanessa, I'm sure you clearly understand what I mean" Jack then turned to look at his child.
Vanessa sighed and telepathed to Evelyn: "BFF, now that I think about it, Lisa isn't ordinary either. She has the ability to heal very fast but only when someone she likes is there and cries"
"What?" Evelyn exclaimed telepathically.
"Mr. Jack, Lisa's secret is related to magical healing right?" Evelyn asked and Jack nodded.
"Second reason, the car tyres that the ugly blonde..."
Evelyn cut Jack short.
"Stinky man, she has a name which you know. It's Vanessa. And how can you, a big boss, a zillionaire, be so petty over tyres? How can you be sure that my bestie even touched your stupid tyres? Do you have proof?" Evelyn started yelling like a market woman and Vanessa shook her head.
"Bestie, calm down. Allow him to state all his reasons and we'll know the way forward" Vanessa mind linked a raging Evelyn.
Hearing this, Evelyn calmed down.
"State all your reasons please," she yielded as Vanessa held her hand.
That's how a good puppy should be," Jack said and continued listing more reasons not minding the fact that Evelyn's face had become twisted.
"Third reason, she incited my child to go against me and that's the reason she's here again. The fourth reason, you guys got in here and showed no manners. The fifth reason, the brown-haired duck is basket-brained. The only thing in her brain is nonsense that's why she's bent on causing me to have a heart attack" Jack finished stating and took his hone to check something on the net.
"Bestie, just a sec. Give me one sec to solve this goat incarnate" Evelyn mind linked but Vanessa shook her head.
"That will expose us to danger" Vanessa chided and Evelyn calmed down a little.
"So, Lisa's father, how do you want us to compensate you?"Vanessa finally spoke.
"Men, come" he ordered, and immediately, the bodyguards locking the exit gave way for another bodyguard to come in carrying a suitcase which he placed on the table. He then opened it carefully and brought out a paper which he handed to Evelyn.
"70 million?" Evelyn exclaimed.
"Yeah, you guys did all of these in a span of two days. I calculated all the losses in monetary terms and even gave you a discount which amounts to 30 million. Now, instead of 100 million, you just have to pay 70. Hows it? Feeling thankful for my benevolence?"
"Grateful? You... is this how you got so much money? Just go rob a bank!" Evelyn thundered again and Vanessa sighed. Her bestie never learns.
"Are you saying each reason you listed earlier is worth 20 million? Even an armed robber isn't this wicked" Evelyn raged.
"Oh, I forgot to add some. You just reminded me" Jack instructed the man who brought the small suitcase into the ward to collect the paper from Evelyn and write whatever he says.
"You called me a robber and a wicked man, after all, I've done for you, you are arrogant and unwilling to take correction. You are loud-mouthed and I nearly died from your bad breath. All that equals, 100 million." the man immediately added the new sum to the bill and Evelyn's eyes widened.
"You" Evelyn pointed at him.
"Rude, plus 20 million," Jack said and the man added it to the bill.
"Vanessa, allow me to kill him" Evelyn telepathed but Vanessa shook her head.
"Vanessa is ugly, resembles a monkfish, has bad skin like some stray dog ut in the streets, plus 50 million," Jack said and the man added it to the bill.
Vanessa's eyes widened. She was ugly? Where? Her skin was good also. This man must be the king of blindness!
"How dare you say my friend is ugly?" Evelyn raged and Jack added another 20 million to the bill.
Finally, he said: "The brunette is uglier than a gorilla. No, I think you look more like a blobfish. I'm afraid, I might have nightmares tonight. Plus 200 million"
Then he collected the bill and the pen from the bodyguard and handed it to Vanessa to sign. She had no choice but to do it. The total amount was 500 million! This was worse than a scam. How can there exist such a shameless bastard like him? No wonder Lisa called him a demon.
"I need my money tomorrow morning. Don't think of escaping. My bodyguard will escort you home and protect you two from danger free of charge. What do you say?" he asked with ridicule in his eyes. Just like Nelson Woodley, he loved to have fun at people's expense. That's why Lisa copied him. He's truly a rotten egg!
"Isn't there another way?" Vanessa asked.
"There is. You are smarter than that blobfish" Jack praised but it took Evelyn all her might to not hack him to unrecognizable bits.
"What do you want from us, sir?"Evelyn spoke through gritted teeth.
"Only the monkfish blonde can fulfill my conditions. As for you, blobfish brunette, you are simply useless"
Hearing this, Evelyn's eyes were about to change color but Vanessa hed her hand.
"Calm down dear" she telepathed " Hold on for a bit longer. He's just teasing us. Allow him to state his true terms"
"Vanny, if he curses me again, I will..." Evelyn was cut off by Jack's sudden words.
"Vanessa, my little princess seems to like you a lot. Seeing you two are very poor and even if you are sold, you can't even raise 4 million, I decided to let You, Vanessa to be my little girl's BABYSITTER"
Jack dropped the bomb and it was such a terrifying bomb!
"YOU!" Evelyn wanted to curse again but then Jack planned to add more to the big bill they already owed. This scam was too much and in the end, Vanessa could only pay by babysitting Lisa, that little Asura? Come on, this joke isn't funny at all. There must be a third option. There must be! Evelyn calmed down and exhaled.
"So, em... Mr Reynolds? Isn't there any other way? My bestie knows nothing about kids and so we have to head for another option." Evelyn tried to talk peaceably with this king of thieves. Heaven knows how hard it was to hold herself back all this time. She was just half a hairbreadth close to exploding. This dummy should better not provoke her further or else, she can't guarantee what she would do next.
Lisa's father nodded upon hearing Evelyn's question: "Yes, there is another way. In fact, there are two other options for the two of you" Jack said.
"Please state them, sir," Vanessa said, calmly waiting for him to speak. She was worried about how to get outta this predicament. Not that she didn't want to babysit Lisa. She'd be more than happy to do so considering the fact they were mysteriously connected. She just wished it wasn't under this circumstance.
"The third option is for Evelyn to babysit Lisa even though there's a chance of Lisa looking like a blobfish," Jack said and Evelyn wanted to pounce on Jack so bad. Can't he let out gracious words from his mouth even once? How hard is that for him? It's a waste for him to have red lips and a good figure. He's a rotten pig!
"Calm down, bestie" Vanessa telepathically tried to soothe her friend's ire but Evelyn would not take it.
"Vanny, why are you so soft? This scum is doing illegal stuff here and you just let him? And he keeps calling us names too. I can't take that" Evelyn thundered telepathically.
"I know you're vexed. Relax my dear. Relax" Vanessa patted Evelyn's shoulder.
Evelyn exhaled deeply, looked tired.
"Sir, what's the last option," Vanessa asked.
"It's naturally for you guys... to pay now. Easy!" Jack once again crushed their hopes totally and Evelyn flared up. Her eyes were about to change colours.
"You son of a bitch, what right have you to be so petty and hold us hostage? You want your money tonight huh? You'll get it" she rushed towards Jack almost forming an ice lotus in the process but Vanessa rushed to Evelyn and stopped her in time.
"Evelyn, what are you doing? There are bodyguards all around but despite your action, they didn't make a move. It could only mean he is strong. Don't land us in further trouble" Vanessa chided telepathically.
"Mr Jack, sorry for my friend's behaviour. It's getting late. Please allow us to leave and think about the way forward. Then we'll come to meet you tomorrow" Vanessa said, bowing her head and then practically dragged a raging Evelyn who was spewing all sort of curses from her mouth attracting the stares of others.
"If you're a real man, come out and fight me. I'll kick your third leg. You don't deserve Lisa, you piece of rotten shit" Evelyn refused to stop her curses despite Vanessa's warnings.
"Stop this childish behaviour, Evelyn. Have you no manners? You aren't the Evelyn I knew from high school. What's gotten into you BFF?" Vanessa scolded in frustration.
"You... forget it" Evelyn stormed off after leaving Vanessa's hold. Vanessa sighed and followed her slowly. The assigned bodyguard of Lisa's father followed after them. They all took a taxi back to the entrance of the Blackville district and got off because Eelyn didn't have her vehicle pass card with her. They had to reach the mansion on foot. Thankfully, none of the ladies was on heels. The bodyguard minded not. This walk was very short in his eyes.
Inside Evelyn's mansion, Evelyn marched upstairs with Vanessa following closely behind. They didn't care about the bodyguard who helped himself to be of the sofas. Everywhere was quite messy. The party girls had left long ago.
They entered Vanessa's room and shut the door.
"Evelyn, what's with you? Why couldn't you keep your cool?" Vanessa asked and Evelyn finally let out her pent-up anger.
"Vanny, what right have you to lecture me. I'm older than you"
"By a year" Vanessa chipped in.
"Yeah. Why do you keep stopping me back there? What right have you to scold me?" Evelyn yelled, her eyes already changed to green and purple respectively. "Why don't you let me freeze him and smash him to pieces? Just because he's Lisa's father?"
"Evelyn, calm down. This isn't you. Calm down. If it comes to worse, I'll just babysit Lisa. She's a little angel, alright?" Vanessa placed her hands on Evelyn's shoulders and let her sit on the bed. "I know you're angry for me. I appreciate it. But this isn't the right way to handle stuff"
"Vanny, you know it's all your fault. If you hadn't cried about going there in the first place, we'd be in a better position than the current. We didn't even enjoy the party to the full" Evelyn's eyes still didn't change to normal. " It's all your fault"
"Yes, it's my fault but if I didn't go Lisa wouldn't be in good health. There's something that connects us. I don't know much but if she falls ill I feel pain" Vanessa explained.
"Yeah, I heard that a million times already" Evelyn left Vanessa's hold and walked to the extreme.
"We are fairies. Why don't we escape?"Evelyn suggested.
"No, don't be silly. " Vanessa pushed down the idea quickly and Evelyn could only show an eerie smile. The room temperature suddenly lowered and Evelyn's eyes started glowing.
"What the hell are you doing, BFF?" Vanessa was trembling from the cold. What's entered her buddy's head today?
"Remember what you promised me earlier? You owe me a fight, baby girl" Evelyn uttered and without warning her transformation started.
Her brown hair became a golden colour and pink appeared at the edges of her hair which had grown longer by three inches and now curly in two ponytails.
Her eyelashes lengthened and her lips rosier. Her transparent wings came out; one was aqua green and the other purple. Her clothes changed to a white mini velvet gown studded with diamonds but her feet were bare of shoes. Instead, she sported pink thigh high socks on her right leg and gold knee-high sock on her left. A silver lotus tattoo appeared on her left thigh along with a small pink bracelet on her left wrist. She then stretched her hands sideways and two lotuses- green and purple respectively, appeared and slowly rotated above her hands.
Vanessa just stood there shocked.
"Your power increased so fast and it comes with a change in features" Vanessa exclaimed, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Yup. Hurry up and change dummy" Evelyn taunted but Vanessa stood her ground.
"I won't. I don't wanna fight, Evelyn. It's late. Let's sleep instead" Vanessa suggested but Evelyn only shook her head with a smile.
"I want to test my powers and you are the perfect sparring partner. Want to escape to la-la land? I won't let you" she lowered the temperature even further but Vanessa dashed towards the door only to find it frozen.
"Partner, don't run. Come and let's have fun. Don't worry, we won't fight in here. Let's go to the river in Le Wilde forest near the lake. Both of us will have an advantage over nature" Evelyn suggested and kept lowering the temperature in the room. Luckily, the cold did not leak outside the room.
But Vanessa wasn't having it easy, her teeth had already begun to chatter and she could feel herself almost getting frozen. Finally, Vanessa sighed in defeat.
"You're right. How can I lag behind while you progress? Eat my flames" Vanessa declared and her transformation began. She looked the same after changing. (i.e she looked like her first fairy self which means her power was still low.)
"Gosh, I don't even feel any heat at all" Evelyn teased and sent one of the lotuses to open the window.
"I'll go first. See if you can catch up, baby girl" with that, Evelyn took off in a flash and Vanessa followed. It was going to be a fun night for the two ladies.
Meanwhile, the bodyguard assigned by Lisa's dad had been ushered into a guest room by the servants. He took a bath and went to bed. He wasn't here to prevent them from escaping but to know their place. Ah, he really wanted to laugh again thinking of how evil his boss became just to tie that beautiful blonde to his side. He never received the short end of the stick. As for the brunette, she's quite fiery. Whatever, he better sleep early. Tomorrow, he's to return to the boss' side.
Hella, sorry for the late update. I have no excuses to give so let me bow to you and drink three invisible shots of wine as an apology, alright? And I wanna thank you all for helping this imperfect book reach this far. Thank you, everybody. I love you so much. Hope I can do better this week. Accept my kisses!