CHAPTER 15. Meeting Margaux
1912 Words
Luckily Crystal knows how to travel to where her grandfather is. But unfortunately, she doesn’t have money for the fare.
“I felt like regretting my unplanned sneak out,” she mumbles, pouting her lips while kicking her feet on the concrete ground.
It has been over three hours since she changed. Darkness covers the surroundings but the lights from the posts and establishments around the area give the place a lively aura. She is currently standing in front of an establishment not so far from the seashore while drooling at the hotdog waffle stand across the road.
“I should have taken some bill from dad’s wallet. Oh, no! That’s stealing! Don’t you ever think that again, you naughty siren! The Spirits would punish you again if you did!.” she nagged, talking to herself.
“Do you want some?” Suddenly an aged woman with a face covered by colorful thick makeup appeared from behind. Crystal is startled and only smiles timidly at her, hesitant about what she is supposed to answer. The lady smiled back and slipped her arm in her, pulling her towards the cart of the sweet-smelling waffle.
“Two ham and cheese please.” the lady told the salesperson.
“I’m sorry, madam, but I don’t have money to pay for it,” Crystal announced, trying to resist the friendly gesture from a stranger.
“But you’re famished, right? I’ve been watching you for more than an hour already and I can’t stand to just watch you till you passed out in hunger.” the lady responded, still with the grin glued on her face. Crystal felt shy and just looked down.
“What is that Margaux? A new applicant? You better hire her straight away, for sure your customer will go crazy to get her.” The salesperson suggested, looking viciously at Crystal as he handed the order to Margaux.
“Soon Charles, you better hurry and earn enough to experience her performance,” Margaux answered and winked at the man before she offered the food to Crystal, which she timidly accepted.
“Thank you.” Crystal said and took a big first bite.
“Hmm… Oh my goodness! This food is so good. I never thought that there was something like this existing in the world.” she innocently remarked, and the woman smirked, knowing how naïve Crystal was.
“Tell me, what’s your name?” the woman asked.
“My name is Crystal, Crystal Alonzo.”
“What a beautiful name you have. Anyway, just call me Margaux.” She introduces herself as she caresses Crystal’s hair.
“Margaux, thank you so much for the kind gesture. I promise to pay you back when I have money.” Crystal said as she continued munching her food.
“Always happy to help, Crystal. Anyway, are you looking for a job? You know, to make money so you can buy food like this?” Margaux tried convincing Crystal.
“I love to but I am only available at night.” Crystal stated.
“Perfect!” Margaux exclaimed, grinning widely as she also clapped her hands together with so much enthusiasm.
“So, can you start tonight?” she inquired excitedly again.
“But I have to go to my grandfather tonight,” Crystal announced and frowned.
“That’s fine, here” she handed Crystal a calling card.
“Keep this, and if you are free and ready to work, call me. Okay?” and Crystal nodded her head, staring at the small card she is holding. She moves to put the card inside her bag when accidentally she dropped it and the gold bangle came out, it rolled and dropped on the ground.
“Is this yours?” Margaux picks up the bracelet, raising it like she is examining the item.
“Yes, it was a gift from a friend.” Crystal answered.
“That’s so nice. Anyway, so, you said you are going to your grandfather, right?” Crystal nodded in response.
“And I bet you don’t have money to ride in a taxi, just like how you don’t have some to buy yourself food.” She honestly confirmed again.
“What if you let me keep it and I lend you some money? Would you agree with that?” Margaux offered, trying to convince Crystal.
“I can even give you extra so you can buy food for yourself,” Margaux proposed, but Crystal only looked down with a frown.
“Alright, what about I give you money and you let me keep this? Then, when you are ready to work with me, call me and I’ll return it to you, what say?” Margaux bid again.
“That’s all?” Crystal assured, looking up at the lady.
“Yes, dear,” Margaux responded as she showed Crystal her playful grin.
“Hmm… all right then, please take care of this. It is very important to me. I will surely take it back. I badly just need to see my grandfather tonight.”
“No problem! Here, take this.” Margaux said and handed her some bills.
“That’s enough to pay for your taxi fare and to buy food. Don’t forget to call me and in case you lost the card, just ask my name around here and they will bring you to me. Got it?”
“Yes. thank you so much, Margaux, you’re an angel!” Crystal exclaimed and smiled at the stranger lady genuinely.
Crystal started her journey to A Construction and Design building, where she believed her grandfather was staying, and the taxi driver dropped her off just in front of the entrance of the building.
“Thank you.” She said before stepping out of the car. She looked up at the prominent building and smiled.
“I can’t believe I did it!” she exclaimed as she giggles, feeling successful at achieving her goal even without her father. She walked straight to the lobby as she just passed by the guards that are on duty for the night. But before she could reach the elevator, the guards stopped her.
“Excuse me?” the guards approach her. She turned and looked at them, then showed them her smile.
“Yes?” she asked sweetly.
“Hi, beautiful. Where are you going? It’s already past eight o’clock and all the employees were out of the office already.” the guard calmly told Crystal.
“To my-” she was about to talk when suddenly her father came rushing.
“Crystal!” Christian called her.
“Mr. Alonzo.” The other guard recognized him, but he only ignored them and walked ahead to grab her daughter. Crystal was shocked to react, and let her father drag her out of the building.
“Crystal! What are you doing? You’re putting yourself in danger! Why are you being so defiant, huh?” her father hissed at her.
“I’m sorry, dad. I just wanted to see grandpa. It’s been a long time since the last time I saw him and I just wanted to say hi and send my regards. You promised me I could see him but why are you stopping me now?” she huffed while her tears welled up, but Christian didn’t utter any word and just gave his daughter a tight embrace and that's when Crystal burst into tears in his father’s chest.
“Sorry,” Christian whispers.
“I’m just trying to protect you,” he added.
“You always say that.” Crystal mumbled while whimpering.
“Crystal!” Suddenly, her mother also appeared running in their direction and embraced her daughter.
“Thank goodness you’re safe! We are so worried about you, don’t do that again, you silly siren!” Aya scolded her daughter.
“I’m sorry mom.”
“Uh, sir? Is everything fine?” the guard suddenly interrupted, curious about what’s happening.
“Get me a car.” Christian firmly demanded.
“Ye-yes, sir.” the guard responded while his eyes were stuck on Crystal.
“Didn’t you hear me?” Christian cut off his attention with a piercing look and immediately the security moved to follow his order at once.
Just a few moments later the security came back riding in a car and stepped out.
“Where are we going?” Crystal inquired when her father opened the back passenger door for her and her mother.
“You said you want to see your granddad, won’t you?” He announced.
“Of course, I want to!” Crystal excitedly cried.
“What about Gabriel? Are we also going to see him?” she hopefully added.
“No, sweetheart. Just your grandfather.” Aya answered while she positioned to brush Crystal's hair, who sat up straight with a frown on her face.
After driving away from the city for almost an hour, they arrived at a courtyard with a huge steel gate at the entrance and drove along with the tall trees. A minute later, Christian stopped in front of the mansion that was palace-like and a butler welcomed them.
“Good evening, Master Christian and Lady Aya, and to you too, Lady Crystal. It is nice seeing you again, it’s been a long time.” A middle-aged man greeted them warmly, though Crystal barely remembers him. She still smiles at the kind gesture.
“Good evening, Jack. Is my father still awake?” Christian asked and walked beside his wife to hold her hand.
“Yes sir, he is in his room,” Jack announced and gestured to the family to follow him inside.
“Dad? Whose house is this? Is this what they call a kingdom?” Crystal innocently asked, while Jack only smiled at her.
“You have grown beautifully, Lady Crystal.” Jack can’t help to compliment the young beauty.
“Thank you,” Crystal timidly responded, as she looked down to hide her blushed cheeks.
“Jack, we’re good. You don’t have to follow us, we can manage.” Christian stops the butler.
“Sure, sir. If you need anything, just let me know.” Jack answered and bent his head in respect and let the family enter the lift.
Christian pressed the floor where his father’s room is located without releasing his wife’s hand until the elevator door opened. Christian steps out first, following his wife and daughter behind. They walk through the carpeted hallway and stop when they have reached in front of a wooden door with incredible carvings on it.
“We'll go first and wait for us here,” Christian demanded before he opened the door. Crystal nodded in agreement and sat on the couch, leaning on the wall before he opened the door.
“Promise me, you’re not getting anywhere else,”
“I promised dad, I’ll stay here.”
And when Christian was convinced, he already entered inside with Aya.
- Writer
