"Is it Mr Marcus' real ghost this time Mom?"
Ava looked at her son, her breaths heavy in between. She held her breasts firmly as though they could stop her heart from beating wildly. "Alfred, get me some water please?"
Alfred watched her mom gulp down two warm glasses. Seeing her face flush with color, he knew he should be worried. He helped her lean her back against the wall.
"Mom, it's ok if you don't want him in. Maybe next time."
Ava smiled. Her pulse was becoming less rapid, and slowly getting back to its usual beats.
"Alfred, how many people did you tell about your birthday party?"
"One?"
"Who?"
"Mr Marcus?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes Mother!"
"Come, take a look here!" Ava led him by the hand and carried him high enough to peep through the security hole in her door. Alfred gasped, turning towards Ava.
"It's Mr Fodd—your Boss!"
"Oh Alfred, there is a reason we moved close to the island, no one must know where we live."
Alfred looked at his mom, then the door. He saw his mom face fall. She had worked really hard to make this day so special for him.
"Mom, you mustn't let him in if you don't want to. If neither of us invited him, then he must have come for something else." Alfred reasoned, trying his best to cheer his mom.
Ten minutes had passed since Frodd first knocked. It worried Alfred, he was still standing outside.
"How long do you intend to keep him waiting Mom? Except you don't mind being fired."
Ava said nothing.
He was right. Mr Fodd's been standing for ten minutes,long enough to get him upset, but how did heknow where l live? Ava thought inwardly.
"Do l look messy Alfred?"
"You look tired , but very beautiful Mom." Ava smiled. She believed Alfred cos he has always been her number one cheerleader, telling her mood from the way she looks.
Briskly, she walked to the door, opening it wide enough for Alfred too.
"I apologize for keeping you outside Mr Frodd. I wasn't expecting anyone."
Fodd nodded.
Even if he had to wait an hour longer, he would—very patiently.
Ava was too beautiful for a man's peace of mind and if she knew the turmoil he went through to get here, she would think he was crazy. It's been three years since she became his employee, but he had never seen any woman as beautiful and hardworking as she. His company rewards resourcefulness very quickly. It was part of his strategy to retain the best hands in Baltimore, so whatever he needed to do to keep them, he would, even if he had to travel to hinterlands like this.
Frodd looked intently at Ava who just stared blankly at him, as if she were waiting for him to pick his order from a menu she handed to him.
His legs were becoming weary.
He coughed. Ava got the message and leaped into action.
"Oh!Oh!,Sorry Mr Frodd, please come in. I didn't know you wanted to be invited in."
Fodd chuckled. It wasn't the first time, he noticed her good sense of humor. The room smelt of food so savory and fruity,he was tempted to sit and ask for some, but he was a Chief Executive and he needed to act like one.
"You have a beautiful home Ava. How did you find this place?" Ava said nothing. There were questions she considered too personal to ask. This was one of them. Frodd knew her too well, to understand she only relates professionally with him and everyone in Froddstar.
"I don't remember giving this address to the HR Sir, may l know how you found this place?"
Frodd grimaced. He could feel Ava was irritated and he was sorry,—inwardly.
"I tracked you here! I saw the sticky notes you pasted around your office, reminding you to try out a recipe for Alfred's birthday, and..."
"It could have been a client Sir, how did you know it was my son l refered to?"
Ava couldn't pretend.
She was visibly irritated and it was clear he had crossed boundaries . He knew it. She took a deep breath and bit her lips. She was livid, but she wasn't going to ruin Alfred's day by snapping back at her Boss. She had to distract herself tactically.
Frodd wasn't moved.
He had come for something, and he wasn't leaving until he had made the announcement.
"Alfred." Ava began to say. "Come meet the CEO of Froddstar."
Alfred was before Frodd in no minute. He held out his hand for a shake. Frodd took it and smiled. He scanned the little boy quickly.
Nothing like Ava on him, but he's as bold as his mother.
"My mom said you invent cool stuff, and design really interesting video games." Alfred's innocence and excitement, made him laugh.
"She's right Alfred. And instinctively, l thought to give you one."
Frodd searched for something in a bag he's been carrying, and handed it to Alfred.
Alfred couldn't contain his joy. He squealed even more when he saw the date it bore and its design.
"This is too much Sir, but l'll keep it." Alfred said,
too jumpy and excited about his gift to refuse it.
"Happy birthday Alfred."
"Thank you Mr Frodd."
Ava watched.
She wasn't surprised people were drawn to Alfred at their first meeting with him. If they would give him a whole world as a gift, she still wouldn't be surprised.
"Would you like some cakes?" Alfred offered. It was his birthday and there was food enough to last the whole week.
"No Alfred." Frodd lied, biting his lips softly to hide his disappointment.
" Ava will cook something delicious for our trip tomorrow. I'll save my stomach for that!"
"W-What did you just say Sir?" Ava asked, her voice raised in frustration.
"I tried calling you all weekend Ava, but your phone's network was really poor. That was why l had to track you down. A tech conference will be held in New York in two
weeks. l'm sure we will sell in the NewYork market. "
"So where and why are we going tomorrow?"
"Los Angeles, to be trained. I don't want to take chances with our pitch presentation in NewYork."
"But l am Chef Sir, not a tech guru? Why would you have me join your team to LA?"
"You will be trained too Ava, your expertise will be scrutinized in NewYork as well. The culinary aspect is the latest addition to their criteria."
Ava nodded in complete understanding. She had prayed for riches for years,especially during the days she just had Alfred. Anything to do to keep her away from suffering as long as it was noble, she was in. Now, she had just enough to keep her and Alfred going for a long long time, but she had never thought it would come with so much inconvenience.
Her stomach tightened.
She knew hunger when it came. Alfred's day was already being filled with drama , and she didn't like that her plans were being interrupted. Frodd had to leave.
"If that's all Sir, do you mind leaving, l'd like to rest."
"Yes" Frodd replied, smiling inwardly at how long his weary legs had carried him in Ava's living room. She didn't even offer him a seat.
Alfred and Ava saw him to the door and down her pouch. Alfred had said to her once, that it was rude to see off people who took time to visit, to the door alone. She was tired, but anything to lift Alfred's spirit was non-negiotiable.
"Good night Mr Frodd." Ava and Alfred choroused together and just as they turned to walk up the stairs, someone whose voice she remembered too well called out.
"Heeey Ava!!!"
"