22/02/2024
LIFT THE CURSE
AUTHOR: Chinenye Mba
*DO NOT COPY OR REPOST*
CHAPTER 2
"What are you doing there lazing around? You would soon come demanding to be paid while you have done nothing all day. We shall see then."
Elizabeth (we would use Liz or Beth as substitute from hereon) looked up to see Mr. Collins, her boss for the day, shooting daggers at her. She often wondered why the man was always like this, heartless.
"Sir, I am feeling a bit sick today and only decided to take some rest. I will continue right away." Liz said and rose to her feet in a haste.
"Oh, please spare me those useless excuses, if you are not ready to work today, you can leave now so I don't waste my money on people who turned out to be liabilities for me here." Mr. Collins said arrogantly.
Liz had had enough of his arrogance. As much as she didn't want to lose the job, she had pride and ego.
"I am telling you honestly that I am not feeling ok and yet you accuse me of making up an excuse. I have worked for you for some time now and I never make up excuses to escape work. I wonder how your wife cope with you with the way you treat people." She retorted.
"I must say you have a sharp mouth for a beautiful low life. And now I think of it, you shouldn't be here cause it's a waste of beauty." He said eyeing her up and down," Why don't you meet me at the inn today so we could have fun. Your husband is dead so it's no big deal."
Liz could not believe her ears; how can a person be this shameless? Having little energy to banter words with him, she got up, took her bag and turned to leave. Damn the job!
"Is it about the money, we could negotiate, and you would have no reason to perform jobs like this anymore. Just be my mistress, what do you think?" Mr. Collins said smiling shamelessly.
Angered, she faced him and spat with disgust evident in her voice, "I think you an idiotic and shameless man to think of making such a ridiculous proposal. Men like you should scram." She turned once again and left hastily.
Abashed, Mr. Collins gritted his teeth. He couldn't explain what gave the low life the guts to insult him. She should thank God that he was offering her such a nice proposal, he wasn't going to let it slide. He was amongst the richest farmer in Greenwoods and he had much influence.
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Getting down the carriage Vera and Emma thanked Mr. Wilson who was generous enough to bring them to purple town. He smiled acknowledging their appreciation and went his way. Now they were here, they have to find the right house. Vera came to visit her friend, Ruth who happened to come from a rich family. Baham was a town for those in the middle class and a few poor. But it was improving day by day although it cannot be compared to Purple town, a town with mostly rich occupants. Liz's father was a merchant, should we say one of the most sought after in Baham. But just when he could acquire the 'rich merchant' title, he was hit by a strange illness things started going south. He died after selling all he had except his house. Anna worked tirelessly to provide for two before Elizabeth got married to Ben who also died at the peak of his success. How strange that they were forbidden to be successful in their careers. Liz had somehow managed to push her family to almost be classified as middle class by working her ass out on daily basis. Her hardwork was paying off. But it was unusual for the rich to mingle with the poor.
Vera and Emma walked through the streets of Purple town till they finally got to their destination. Ruth had told her to go through the backyard. They made their way to the backyard and found Ruth waiting with arms akimbo. Her face lit up when she saw them.
Ruth welcomed her friend with a warm hug her face beaming with smiles, "For a moment I thought you were not going to come, come I have something to show you." She said going into the house, no, preferably mansion and racing up the stairs. Vera and Emma followed her up till they got to her room. She opened the door of the very spacious room. Heeew, thank God they were not caught. One would wonder how one person would occupy the entire room alone. Ruth went straight to the dressing room.
"Wow," Emma exclaimed, "Sister, this looks more like a boutique."
"Hahaha..., it sure does. My parents keep buying me clothes for every event and with any slightest opportunity they get just to showcase their wealth at every event we are invited to." She said, "You know all the friends I meet at these event only talk to me because of my parents wealth, such hypocrites. And it's a good thing that no one is around except the maids and servants."
Vera smiled, she loved Ruth very much because she was not biased and could tell peoples intention towards her, she was a good friend. She recalled how they met at the market and how she saved her from bullies. No one had ever done that for her, she was astonished that the daughter of one of the richest men in Baham had gone out of her way to help her. Since then, they had become close friends.
Ruth brought out dresses from a wooden basket placing them carefully on the table.
"This is the least I can do for now. I don't like seeing you in these shabby dresses. Please take these dresses I'm sure they will suit you perfectly and your sister as well. And you don't have an option to reject, or you'll break my heart." She said smiling awkwardly and placing her hand on her chest.
Speechless, she stared at the beautiful dresses on the table blankly. What had she done to deserve such a sweet soul.
"Oh, come on, don't be like that. You should try them on. So, when you are coming to visit me again, you won't have to use the back door. I can make up excuses of who you are by then." Ruth said and happily picked a pink dress and threw it at Vera. That was right, they won't have to use the back door if they dressed fine.
Vera and her sister tried the dresses on. It was five for each of them. And they looked stunning.
"Oh my God, you two look so beautiful. Look at you, geez, I'm drooling. And oh, least I forget, my birthday party will hold in two weeks' time. You should wear one of those. Especially the blue one, and Emma the green one. I bet you will steal the show. I'm not jealous, there is nothing wrong with my friends stealing the show", Ruth continued ranting.
"You are holding a party? I don't think we will be allowed in." Vera chimed in.
"Don't say that I will send you the invitation."
Not knowing how to reject the offer, she agreed which got Ruth smiling ear to ear.
Vera packed the dresses; she and Emma couldn't stop thanking her friend for her kind gesture. They sneaked out through the back door avoiding being seen by the maids and left. Ruth was generous to give them four shillings for transport, so they boarded a carriage with it. Now that she thought of it, what was her mother going to say about attending the her friends party in two weeks time? She wondered if she will allow it since she knew how humiliating it will be if they were found out to be low lives at the party.
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