Tick tick says the clock
Sophie’s POV
My phone beeped as I stood up to open the door, but the knock persisted, so I decided to go see who was knocking.
When I reached the door, I sighed heavily, praying it was not Karl. I needed sometime to figure out how to salvage the situation. I did not want to accept his proposal and that would hurt Selene since she was already quite fond of him.
I needed a flawless cover story for why the marriage would fail, and I wanted him to be on my side to persuade Selene.
“How was I supposed to handle this?” the persistent knock on the door prompted me to ask myself this question. When I opened the door, I was surprised to see an unexpected visitor.
It was a young man, too elegantly dressed to be a delivery man, carrying a package. It was a lot going on in one day, and I prayed for the best. I glanced at him, without concealing my concern about what he wanted. I looked at the parcel warily, wondering who it was for.
“Good day, ma’am, I was instructed to bring this.” The man at my door with the package stated, grinning broadly as he headed the parcel to me.
He appeared to be rather sophisticated for a deliveryman. I was certain I did not know someone of such importance, and I was not expect any deliveries either. I glanced at him in amazement, wondering who would have sent a box for me, and assumed he was at the incorrect address.
” Are you sure this is the flat, you should check the others to be sure you are not mistaken.” I gestured for him to check and make sure he was delivering to the correct location by checking the other apartments.
” It’s here ma’am, I am sure of it. You should have this.” He stated this as he reached out his hands to give me the parcel. I wondered about who would have sent him as I collected it.
” Who would have asked him to deliver a parcel to my house?” I muttered to myself. Confused and unable to conceal my unease, I blurted out, asking who the box was from.
“Who is this from? I questioned him as he handed me the package, my gaze unwavering.
“Karl Rutherford!!!” He said abruptly and took his leave. I had more questions, but he did not give me time because he was in a hurry to to leave.
Karl Rutherford was the most well-known figure in town; he owned one of the city’s fastest expanding businesses, and I wondered what he had to do with me. When I finally opened the package, I saw that it was the doll that Selene had always desired. I could not acquire it for her due to budgetary concerns. I worked as a sales representative at a small mall, and the money was barely enough to cover the bills at home.
I had promised Selene I would get it for her next birthday and here it was from Rutherford.
The Rutherford!!! As I glanced at the doll, the name kept coming to mind. A startling realisation struck me, and I raced to check my phone. I knew I had heard of him, but I had not paid great attention to how he appeared.
As the search came up, I saw an elderly man in his sixties based in the Philippines I wondered what I had to do with me but as I was about to close the search something caught my attention.
I noticed the image of the young man who had visited me earlier and proposed marriage to me.
” A Rutherford wanting to marry me?” I giggled at the concept, then spotted a card in the package. I took it up and read what was written on it aloud.
“Tick tock says the clock, you have a few hours left to make your decision as I would not be waiting for long. Give this to Selene, she told me of how much she wanted it and I decided to get it for her. I guess you would make the right decision. Here is the deal have it signed too.” My heart crushed a million times while reading the message. I examined the package and saw the document I was meant to sign, agreeing to the marriage. Karl believed he could force me to marry him because I could not afford my daughter’s requests, and I found his message insulting. But what else could I do, I didn’t have the means to grant all of my daughter’s wishes.
“I could not get her a befitting gift after all, I might as well just grant her wish.” I moaned and mumbled in contemplation as I gripped the contract, but Selene’s words snapped me back into reality.
“Mummy, who was at the door?” I heard Selene’s voice and instantly attempted to conceal the parcel, but she had seen it and I knew I was in for a lot of questions.
“Why are you here, Selene; you should be completing your homework?” I questioned her as she gazed into my eyes, hoping to deflect her from asking about the box.
“It is all done, Mum; did you get a gift?” Selene approached me, and I knew I had to respond or else she would bother me throughout the day.
“Yes, I did. I stated as I handed her the doll, and her eyes instantly gleamed with excitement as she saw it.
” Barbie!!” She giggled gleefully as she embraced it repeatedly. I was glad the doll brightened her day and thankful for Karl.
“Ka… rl Ruth.. erfold, Mummy did Uncle Karl send this? He promised he was going to get me this doll for my birthday.” She inquired as she read the name on the card.
I snatched the card hastily as I did not want her to read the content of the message and wondered at the reason she called him Uncle repeatedly when she only just knew him few hours ago.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
“Give me that” I mouthed as I collected the card, she turned to face me wanting a reply for her question.
“Yes, he did, my darling.” I replied while attempting to conceal my irritation at Karl’s devotion to my daughter. I had planned to tell her the present was from me, but Karl had already informed her about it, ruining my chances. I decided that his plan to use my daughter to get me to accept his proposal was not going to work.
” Mummy are you marrying Uncle Karl? He said he was going to give me this gift when you agreed to let him be your prince charming.” She asked again this time tapping me repeatedly to get my attention, as I turned to gaze at her I thought of the perfect excuse to avoid the conversation.
” Let have some food, we would talk about Uncle Karl later.” I said as I stood up headed for the dinning table as I pondered on what just happened wondering the other things Karl would have said to her.
” But mummy” Selene grunted and walked following me as we headed to the table together.
“No buts!!!, We would talk after eating.” I said finally as I served the food so we could eat.
” I have to come up with a plan or end up agreeing to this deal.” I muttered as I served the meal.