Russell at the media.

THEODORE

Irene had been avoiding me ever since Thursday when she had a panic attack in my presence and I knew better than to speak to her during that period but I've had enough of it and I made a mental note to speak to her in the evening.

All the guys would be hanging out at TY's later in the evening and I intended to confront her. TY lived alone as his parents were based abroad. He insisted he was going to stay back to complete his secondary education. I took a quick glance at the wall clock at the center of my room. It was already some minutes past ten in the morning and the house was empty.

My parents had to attend a function and my brothers were probably chilling out at their places or hanging out with friends, and the servants were in the staff quarters as they were done with their morning chores.

I decided to find some place to hang out as boredom was eating me up. I took a walk outside the mansion and followed the clip clap sounds of the shears the gardener used to trim the flowers to the back of the house where my dog's kennel. Russell my eight months old male Siberian Husky was taken for breeding a week before resumption and was returned late the night before.

"Boss man." The gardener Sesan who was in his late twenties greeted with mock respect. "Hey dude, been a while. What's been going on?" I asked opening the small lock to the kennel.
"I've been good. I just traveled to the village to see my mother. How have you been?" He asked me dropping the shears he held earlier on the interlocked floor.

"Been good." I replied absentmindedly as I watched Russell rush out of the kennel in excitement. He wagged his tail as I squatted and ruffled his thick fur. "I missed you boy." I said and he jumped ecstatically.

"Someone's really happy to see me yeah?" I said chuckling after.

Russell wagged his tail and rushed to towards the staff quarters. I turned to Sesan as soon as Russell was out of sight. "Should in case my parents get back before I return, tell them that I took Russell out for a walk and I'll be stopping by at the beach for a while."

"Sure man. Have fu-" A loud screech reached my hearing followed by Russell's barks. I followed the sounds to the staff quarter. A feminine figure was hiding away from the dangerous looking dog. Looking closer, I saw that it was the young servant that I presumed was about my age.

"Come, boy." I beckoned to Russell and he immediately made for me still wagging his very furry tail. I glanced at the still very terrified young lady and back to the bucket of clothes a meter or two away from me. "You can get on with what you're doing, he won't hurt you."

She said nothing and didn't move an inch. I walked closer to her and Russell trailed behind. "Don't come any closer with that beast." she stuttered. How can one be so terrified of a harmless furry animal. I thought.

"He won't hurt you. Calm down." I said standing beside her and I watched her features ease a bit. "He's familiar with all the other workers. It's because you're new." She nodded in understanding.

I noticed she was studying me as though I were a book. It then occurred to me that she had that look and glint in her eyes whenever she was around me. I wasn't sure what it was, Curiosity? Admiration? Or Pity?

I immediately snapped out of it. "Who are you?" I asked. "Huh?" Was the reply I got. Could she perhaps be a spy? But who would want to spy on us? and why?

"I said who are you?". "I'm Lucy. Lucinda". Lucy? Lucinda reminded me of Lucia. Snap out of it Theodore. I shook my head and gratefully I did get out of the little trance forming in my head. "I didn't ask what your name is, I asked who are you?". She looked confused "I'm a worker here." she said with confusion still written across her face and I decided to let it go.

"Where do you work? 'Cos I haven't observed a vacancy in the last few weeks." She smiled and it reached her eyes. "Oh about that, I'm to work with you. For you rather but I haven't been told when to begin so I'll just wait till madam gives me a go ahead." she said moving to her bucket of damp fabrics and lifting them to spread them one after the other on the rope.

"Work for me? Why?" I asked totally infuriated. She shrugged turning to me with a squeezed fabric in her hands. "You should ask your mum that." she said and I grounded my teeth in anger.

I didn't need a nanny, and most certainly not someone that looks my age. Maybe she's not though.

"How old are you?" I asked searching her eyes in suspicion. "Eighteen." she replied and resumed spreading the clothes on the line. I leaned against the wall and Russell sat beside my right foot.

"Already eighteen or almost?" I asked scrutinizing the supposed eighteen year old in before me. "I'm eighteen today." she said lifting up another damp fabric to spread. "It's your birthday?". She turned to look at me. "Yeah?" She asked an arch on her perfectly shaped brows.

"Twenty sixth day of September." she said and I nodded. "Doesn't feel like it?" She asked grabbing the now empty bucket. "Yeah." I shrugged.

"You don't expect me to write it on my forehead, do you?" I saw it from her point of view. "Certainly not."

She was so free with me now but the other time we had seen, she'd have her head bowed and would even address me as 'sir' or 'boss'. "You're not being as formal as I thought you'd be." I spoke my mind. She shrugged turning on the tap by the wall to fill the bucket. "This ain't working hours." she said and I nodded.

"Don't you have somewhere to be at?" She asked dropping the black bucket by the door of one of the flats. Shoot! "Yes, I have to go now. Happy birthday." I said and rushed towards the gate with Russell not even bothering to listen to her reply. "Thank you." I heard her inaudible voice and the banging of the door following it and the anger I felt before resurfaced.

The walk to the beach was a quiet one. It seemed Russell noticed my foul mood and decided to be in his best character. I was mad at my mum, she got me a worker, why? Did I ever mention that I needed a Nanny or babysitter? And even if at all I needed one, why my age mate? Those thoughts were running through my mind that I hadn't realized that we had arrived at the beach.

I lost grip of Russell's leash as he ran in a different direction. I ran after him and watch as he jumped on a lady. She was dressed in a pair of sweatpants and a white tank top, she also wore a light scarf and dark shades. The shades flew right off her face and I winced.

"Russell stop." I ordered and he retreated and walked over to where the shades were and picked it in between his teeth. I glanced at the lady before me, Irene Coker.

I wasn't surprised to see her there. I wouldn't be surprised if I walked into my bathroom in the middle of the night and see her sitting right there in my jacuzzi. "I'm sorry about my dog. He's a naughty one." I said to her.

I sat beside Irene and watched Russell hand back her shades to her. I assumed she wore the scarf and shades to avoid paparazzi. She didn't put her shades back on and we started a conversation on an awkward note.

"You're avoiding me." I told her and that was how the conversation started. Deep secrets were shared and my heart ached for this girl.

Looking at her now, she wasn't the famous teen star, Irene Coker. She was just a simple, vulnerable and frightened girl and I wanted to help her because I could feel her pain. I knew what it meant to be in so much pain and yet appear fine.

After the heart felt confession, I heard thunder rumbling in a distance and decided it was high time we left there. We walked away from the beach hand in hand with Russell trailing behind us.

We got to the street basking ourselves in the comforting silence. "How will you be going home?" I asked her as I watched her push the shades up the bridge of her nose. "How about I come with you?" She asked at turned to me.

"Is there something wrong at home?" I asked her coming to a halt and slowly letting go of her hand. She sighed fiddling with her fingers "My mum is getting remarried and I do not want to be anywhere near her or her boyfriend." She said and I nodded and began walking with Russell by my left hand and Irene by my right hand side.

"There's no problem then, you're free to come with me." I wanted to talk to her about her mum but I was aware now isn't the right time.

The walk to my house wasn't lengthy as my house was close to the beach. Getting into the compound, I took Russell to the kennel and watched as he licked Irene's hand causing her to giggle. I was awed at what I saw, she wasn't at all disgusted with what the furry animal did and I couldn't help the curiosity brewing in me. Who is this girl? What is she?

Making our way into the house and up the stairs to my room, I watched the helpers move from one point to another and I glanced at the wall clock. It was almost time for lunch.

"What are we having for lunch?" I asked the senior chef from up the stairs. "Pasta." she replied curtly and I nodded and made my way further up the stairs.

Immediately I plopped on the coach in my room, the sound of rainfall filled my ears. It seemed like it was only waiting for us to get to a place of shelter before it began to pour.

•••••

The downpour was over and we were moving to the parking lot where my range rover was parked. I took quicker steps to the car with Irene on my trail.

I got to the car before the lady as she was walking slowly. Watching her closely, I discovered she was cold as she was shivering. It just rained anyway and the weather was cold.

I pulled off the hoodie I had on and handed it over to her. "Thank you." she mouthed and I nodded before hopping into the car and turning on the ignition.

The ride was silent. Irene looked outside through the window while I looked forward ruminating over the things she had said.

"What took you guys so long?" Zion asked as he opened the door to the condo. I looked round at the comfortable apartment we were in. It was painted white.

"It was raining." Irene stated with an eye roll and walked to one of the couches slumping on it. I took a seat on the adjacent couch beside Osaze. She turned to me with a smile "Hey Theodore." I returned her smile and responded with a hello.

"Drinks, check. Snacks, on the-" TY paused and dropped the large bottles of champagne on the coffee table at the center of the room. "Theodore and Irene are here, cool." he said taking a seat beside Kiki who had her eyes glued to the TV. I traced her sight and my gaze landed on the TV. A mathematics show was on and she had her full attention on it causing me to wonder how much more studying meant to her.

"We Africans also discriminate. You see a white man and you assume that he's like every other white man you've met." TY stated and my head snapped towards his direction. He was engrossed in a conversation with Zion. "Even biracial people are victims. It's such a pity." Zion responded shaking his head.

"You've ever encountered something like that, Theodore?" Zion asked and their gazes landed on me. Every single one of them. Even Osaze who was busy on her laptop and Kiki who seemed more interested in the TV show. Even Irene who had been typing away on her phone since we arrived.

I shrugged "Yeah, I have" I said and Zion shook his head. "This is all messed up." He mouthed. From all I've picked out from their conversation, it seemed like they were discussing discrimination and racism.

Osaze shut her laptop and turned to me, palms cupping her cheeks. "So how do you end up biracial?" She asked. "Yeah, cause your parents look African to me and your brothers look African too." Kiki added.

"My mum is half Australian" I said crossing my legs. "I look like my grandfather" I said and they all nodded in understanding.

Lifting my gaze, my eyes met Irene's coffee brown ones and she looked away immediately. My gaze still lingered on her until-

"Guys, we're home!" Ola hollered followed by the slamming of the door. Desmond walked in behind her both holding plastic bags. "Took you guys forever!" Kiki sighed dramatically and rushed to Ola. Seems like a foodie. I thought. I was beginning to know more about the guys.

Desmond dropped the plastic bag her had carried on the table beside the bottles of champagne. "What did you get?" TY asked. "Chicken and fries." Desmond responded taking a seat beside Irene and whispering something in her ear causing her to giggle.

Ola passed the treats round in take away plates and TY passed the drinks in red disposable cups. When it got to Irene, she scrunched her face in disgust. "You know I don't drink." She said and TY smiled. "My bad, I decided to give you the benefit of doubt." He said and passed the cup to Desmond instead.

"I'll go get you fruit drink from the fridge." Desmond said and stalked into the kitchen area. "Let's play a game." Ola suggested as soon as Desmond returned with a bottle of chivita pulpy orange.

"What kind?" Zion asked his mouth filled with French fries. "Since we have someone new, let's play an icebreaker game." She said and they all made sounds of agreement.

This is going to be a long night!

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A new chapter for y'all. So sorry it took so long, I was just being lazy. The next chapter should come in a bit.

And as for those of you that are wondering if there is a beach in Abuja. Nope there isn't. I just like the idea of having a beach in Abuja and it's fiction anyway so I made it work.

That aside, what do you think of this chapter?

What do you think about Lucy and role do you think she will play?

Anyways do well to vote. The comment section is always open for your suggestions.

See y'all in the next update ❤

Word count: 2490