Chapter 29

29 29–Hakuna Matata.

29 29- Hakuna Matata.

“You mean Amir? The one who delivered faulty furniture to our office? Kate is his fiancé?” Dean

nodded at Rafael.

“Good, God!” Joseph shuddered, “That man is a scam, but we can’t judge this woman… Kate… based on this jerk’s attitude.”

They all were sitting in Rafael’s office discussing the upcoming meeting when Dean remembered to tell them about the incident that took place last time in his

office.

“But? That was very rude of her,” Joseph scratched his jaw, “staying back at reception didn’t give her this right to attack any other employee.”

“Agree,” Rafael flipped the pen between his fingers, “Except that Marissa isn’t an employee here.”

This might not be new for Joseph, but it certainly was

a shock for Dean./

The boss doesn’t take Marissa as an employee. What’s the catch here? Ever since Marissa got called for the

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event catering, she has been given top priority in every decision. No doubt, her food had outclassed every

other participant.

“I did call her out for the rude behavior, Mr. Sinclair,” Dean stated.

Rafael shook his head with a smirk, “No, Dean. That’s not enough. Next time she bullies anyone in my office let her know that Marissa has the power to kick her out of this building.”

“What?” Dean couldn’t stop himself.

Joseph’s jaw was hung open. He knew Rafael was head over heels for Marissa, but this was intense.

“Are you for real, Rafael? You can’t kick everyone out of this office just like that!”

Rafael moved his focus to the file that was opened before him, “Oh, I can, Joseph. Try me!”

***

“You did good, Marissa. That silly woman must have learned a lesson,” Sophie said while washing the plates.

“Right? The way she tried to insult Dean and then was boasting about that ras*cal, I couldn’t stop myself.”

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29 29–Hakuna Matata.

“And then the audacity of her fiancé to assault Akari,” Sophie started rubbing the plate vigorously, “He is such a shameless prick!” Sophie rolled her eyes and placed

the forks in the sink.

It was a Sunday morning when it was usual to have this leisurely chit–chat.

“Why are you not using a dishwasher?” Marissa asked Sophia and started beating the eggs. Today her kids wanted to have a cheese omelette for breakfast.

“Oh. I find the dishwasher a hassle just for two to three plates,” Sophia placed the washed plates aside and then turned to her, “Is this all you want to tell? That’s it?”

She cocked up a brow at her friend who was trying her best to look busy in beating the eggs.

“Come on, Marissa. Drop the act and tell me!” she hurled a few water droplets from her wet hands, her way, “What about HIM! Did you two meet?” she wiggled her eyebrows when she said the word, Him.

Marissa was aware of the person, she was asking about. Rafael’s handsome image popped up in her mind when he challenged her to take the file from his

29 29–Hakuna Matata.

hands.

The incident that had been making her angry since yesterday, now for some reason seemed quite funny.

“You are blushing, girl!” Sophia chuckled and placed the pan on the burner, “Did he kiss you?” Sophia asked her in a whisper.

“What?” Marissa blinked several times to let her mind register what Sophia said.

“Are you nuts? Kissed by him?” she rolled her eyes and gulped hard. The way they were standing so close yesterday, now she thought she could easily touch his face just like she used to do when she was his wife.

He often used to turn his head into her palm and kiss

She jerked back from her daydreaming and started glazing the pan with ghee. Sophia’s eyes were still on

her.

“So, when is the eyent?” poor Sophia changed the subject when she didn’t get any response. Her friend seemed to be in a tight spot.

“After two months. Hopefully, each of us will get one

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05

long table where we can serve our masterpieces,” she winked at Sophie and started pouring the batter into

the pan.

Sophia came closer and placed three cartoon

character printed plates on the counter, “There is one thing I’m not understanding, Mar.”

“And what is that?”

“Don’t you think it’s odd? Who keeps caterers this busy for two months for their event? Come to think of it. They are a big name, and they are paying you handsomely. I do give them this much credit. But what will you get after going to them for two full months? Start cooking in their office?”

Marissa again got quiet.

“Maybe… Maybe they need to stay in touch with us for such a high–end party? I mean… they are trying new caterers… giving them a chance to prove themselves,” Marissa shrugged while trying to convince her friend.

“Stay in touch? What kind of touch is that, Mar? Nobody can expect you to start cooking months prior so that you can serve stale dishes at the party. Planning requires one or two days… or maybe one

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week…” she trailed off and switched on the coffee

machine.

“They are paying me good, Sophie. I just don’t want to give them the impression that I’m not a hard worker.”

“I understand,” Sophie patted her shoulder, “Just don’t get manipulated by them, my friend. Getting paid doesn’t mean you are their slave.”

Sophie had left the kitchen and Marissa was thinking the same thing.

This point did cross her mind several times but every time she used to tell herself that they must be paying her handsomely because they expected extra tasks

from her.

***

Marissa was watching Lion King with her kids and every time they all used to cry on the death of

Mufassa.

Marissa kept telling them how they should not give up on anything in their lives as life doesn’t offer its perks on a silver platter.

When the movie ended, Alex slid down to place his

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head on the pillow.

“Alex. Go to your bed, honey,” she slapped his bum to

make him stand.

“Mommy. What if we all sleep here tonight? All of us together like a happy family,” He gave the idea a little eagerly.

Before Marissa could say anything, Abi also plopped on her mom’s lap, “Yes, mommy. Let’s sleep here tonight.”

Marissa squeezed the little girl to her and kissed her forehead, “ok, fine. Let’s sleep here, all of us!”

“Yay!” they all whooped in excitement, Alex and Ariel started arranging pillows on the floor mattress.

The plan was to let Mommy sleep in between Ariel and Abigail.

“Mommy. What if Alex also wants to sleep with you,” Abi asked innocently wiggling in between Marissa and

Ariel.

“Don’t worry, Abi,” Alex calmed his sister and started pulling his quilt on his face.

“Mommy,” Marissa eyed Ariel taking interest in whatever they were sharing with her.

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29 29–Hakuna Matata.

“Yes, love.”

“Like Simba lost his dad. Did we also lose our dad the

same way? Did he die when we were little?” Marissa’s heart started sinking at the mention of their father in this weird sense.

“N…no… he didn’t…” She didn’t know how to tell this to

her kids. Once they know that their dad was very much alive, they might demand her to meet him or might ask her for some kind of explanation.

“Mommy. Where is my Daddy?” Abigail asked her and she felt herself in a tight spot. This was the first time they asked her these unexpected questions that weren’t that unexpected.

“Mommy. When we go to the park, we often see our friends with their dads…” Ariel told her with a small

pout.

every

Abigail also sat up to have a better look at her siblings, “My friends‘ dads buy them lollipops, candies of flavor. They watch movies with them. Why can’t our father do the same?”

Marissa didn’t know what to say.

It coomad like nature had told her kids or nut it in

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29 29–Hakuna Matata.

their hearts that their father was somewhere close.

“Mommy!” Abi spoke again.

“Hmm?”

“Can you give a message to Daddy when you meet him next?” instead of responding to that Marissa looked down on her lap.

“Please tell him that we miss him a lot and he should come back to bring those things just like our friends‘ dads. Will you do it, mommy?”

Abigail asked so innocently that Marissa’s heart went

out to her.

“Abi,” Alex’s voice came from under the quilt, “Go to sleep. Don’t you want to learn Lego tomorrow?”

Abigail was quick to hit her head back on the pillow.

Ariel also laid back and closed her eyes, “Alex don’t forget to teach me the tricks.”

Marissa observed Alex whose face was still under the

quilt. All she wanted to do was hug him and thank him for saving her.

However, this was high time to tell the kids about their

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father.

Sophie and Flint were right. If Rafael was not planning to interfere in Marissa’s life and wanted to keep it cordial, then maybe she might allow him to meet the

kids.

Tonight, the discussion had taken a toll on her mental health. They were growing up and knew they needed a father figure in their lives.

“Mom. Why don’t you go to sleep,” she heard Alexander’s voice and a wobbly smile graced her lips.

“Yeah, sure, Alex. Thank you.”

She didn’t need to tell him why she was thanking him. And he never asked her the reason. Instead, the only thing he said was,

“Don’t worry, Mommy. Hakuna Matata.”

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