Seventeen

HENRY THRONES

“Gloria, is there anything else as important as this concluded meeting and if not, move everything till on Monday. I have someone special waiting for me at home and I'm already late as it is” I told my PA as I checked my wristwatch. It was 5 PM and Katherine would be home already. I wanted to surprise her today by taking her out for a movie date with me and Rachel.

I knew she was anxious about what happened to me and her mum but I'm scared, I'm afraid if she finds out the truth it would break her. I don't want to see her get hurt; I don't know how to take care of someone when they are sad and broken. I couldn't even take care of myself, if it wasn't for Rachel, I would have been in the same pit, probably a monster who is hated by all.

Rachel was able to show me a new world, a place of love and peace. I knew I was partly at fault for what happened, I allowed my busy life and business to take away my time that I didn't have time for the people who were important to me, I thought money was the important thing to build a home. Mia keeps telling me to always be financially buoyant so that our kids don't lack anything and I had taken her words to heart and have allowed it to eat deep into me that I didn't know I was drifting away until I realized it too late.

I thought if I could adjust and mend my ways or would bring back our family but I guess it was too late for me to mend it up again. The deed has been done and I was left with nothing, no wife and no child. She got custody of our child and refused me from seeing her with the conception that I will train her to be someone like me.

But things changed, Katherine came to me without her mother's knowledge, her questions of wanting to know what happened and I know I would tell her soon but not now.

“Sir!!" Gloria tapped the desk, bringing me back from my reverie.

“I'm sorry Gloria, what were you saying?”

“You are meant to have a dinner meeting with the managers from La Forme"

“Can it be postponed?” I asked and she nodded.

“It seems we are in luck, I just got a message from them while going through your schedules, it seems something came up and they would like to move it to Monday.”

“Excellent, that's absolutely perfect. Is that the only important meeting I would be having?”

“Yes sir, the rest doesn't seem that important and we can schedule them till when you are ready sir" Gloria answered.

“Good then cancel everything and call the driver to meet me at the front of the building, have a nice weekend Gloria. Do have fun and sorry once again for pulling you in on a Saturday which is meant to be a rest day for you.”

“It's nothing, sir, I agreed to work with the company, and so this is part of my life” she answered smartly and I smiled. That was one thing I loved about her, she was good at her job and she doesn't complain when work calls.

I needed to give her some holiday which is long due. She needs to have some quality time away from here and live her life. She was in her late twenties which means she has to enjoy what being twenties feels like.

“Next week starting from Wednesday you are relieved from all duties for two weeks, you haven't done on a break, use this to enjoy yourself and do what makes you happy” I informed her.

“But sir, the company ne-”

“The company can handle itself; I have other people to put it in place. It's a gift from me to you and all expenses are paid by me. All you need to do is tell me the place you want to travel to and just have fun. Don't think about me or the company, we will be fine. Enjoy yourself and live your life.”

“Thank you sir, I'm grateful”

“You are welcome, now call the driver. I don't want to keep my princess waiting anymore," I said with a smile on my face as I was out of the office, and by the time I got out of the company building the driver was waiting for me downstairs.

When he saw me approaching, he quickly got out of the car to open the door for me, and I got in.

During the drive, I kept on wondering what to get for Katherine. I didn't know what she likes and I didn't want to give her something that she wouldn't appreciate, I wanted to make her happy and make up for the times I have missed in her life. Although I know it wasn't the same as growing up without a father, I was willing to try to fill up the empty space I have left.

“Mr. Smith I would like to ask a question," I said to the driver and I had gotten his attention, I proceed to ask him the questions I needed, “What do you think a twenty-year-old girl would like as a gift, I have been trying to come up with one but nothing seems to be coming up”

“Hum sir… it depends on what she likes. What's the favorite thing she loves doing or what she dreams of having?” Me. Smith asked.

“I - I don't know… you see she didn't actually grow up with me, I just got reunited with her and I wanted to make her happy and feel the empty space that I have left by giving her everything I didn't give to her while she was growing up"

“You know Mr. Thrones; things like this are not solved with gifts.”

“What do you mean?"

“If you want to fill the void you left, it's not by buying gifts for her; it's by bonding with her. Get to know her; get to know how she feels physically and emotionally. You have to understand her and then slowly the void which you created will be filled. Material things wouldn't solve it, it will only satisfy her for some time but the void is still there, and she will still fill empty. The only way to fill it up is by giving her all the love and attention she misses” Mr. Smith advised.

“I don't know how to, I don't know if she is willing to welcome me in yet. She feels close but yet distant to me. I just don't know what to do” I admitted.

“Start by giving her your attention, be there for her more often, make her feel love, and ask her what her growing up was like and then from there you will get to know how to bond with her”

“Thank you, Mr. Smith, I'm glad I have this conversation with you,” I told him, he was a better father than I would ever be. I was glad I spoke to him because I have always adored his relationship with his three children. Two were the same age as Katherine, they were twins and the last one was seventeen I think.

I have always wanted to have lunch with him and plead with him to teach me how to be a good father but I guess this week has been rough for me with work, hearing his advice right now made me want to have lunch with him very soon.

The rest of the drive home was quiet and when I got to my destination, I bade him farewell and went into the house, the whole place felt awfully quiet that I had thought they must have gone out to their lady's outing like always, I was about heading to my room when I heard the sound of someone crying and I quickly rushed over there.

It was my little girl having a heart-to-heart discussion with Rachel about how she felt and it broke my heart that she was in so much pain while all this time I thought she was happy.

I hated myself for not fighting hard for her, for not opening the case over and over again till I got custody of her, I thought it would be best to grow up with her mother, I never knew it would cost her so much pain.

I watched as she broke down in tears while Rachel consoled her, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing down my eyes too.

Soon it was all quiet, she was fast asleep, she must have cried herself to sleep while Rachel listened and bore it in. I unheard her footsteps approaching the door and I quickly dried my eyes.

“You are back,” she said in a cracked voice

“Yeah”

“You heard right?”

“Yes I did, how is she?” I asked.

“She isn't doing well dear, you should tell her everything, she is broken and she needs to be fixed. Maybe just maybe if you tell her the truth she will get to set her life straight because the way she is heading would make her regret her life choices" Rachel advised.

“I know but if I tell her everything she will be broken”

“She is already broken, her life is already shattered. Tell her once and for all so she can patch her life back again”

“I will"

“When is the soon?”

“I don't know yet but very soon" I answered.

“I will give you till the month's end which is in two weeks and if you don't tell her I will do it for you. I want her to be in good shape and not miss out on her youth which she has already started. Think about it love, do you want to eat, I made her favorite food?”

“No, I lost my appetite while watching her cry. I will be in the room” I told before heading up.

I didn't want to feel weak anymore in the presence of Rachel; I didn't want her to see me this way because it would break her and make her feel sad.

I needed to relieve the pent-up emotions I was holding in, staggering into the bathroom m, I quickly turned on the shower and soaked my body with my clothes on while I crumbled on the floor and allowed the tears to flow down.

I really hoped Katherine will be able to forgive me when the time comes because I don't know what will become of me if I lose her again