Nadia watched as the chauffeur parked the car in front of the little cottage down town. She couldn't think straight, not with everything going on. Not with her father at the other side of the car throwing 'are you fine' gaze her way each time she looked back at him.
"Get a grip of yourself Nadia." her mother whispered before alighting. Neo followed, he didn't know what to say or who to speak to. He never had time to know Rachael but still, her death was a sad thing.
"You don't have to worry. I'll make sure her family does not suffer. She was a good kid, one of the best." her father patted her laps and smiled. "Are you okay honey? You look a little pale."
"I'm fine Dad. She just didn't deserve to die."
"Nobody deserves it, but they do. Death is inevitable. Come on, we need to give our condolences to the family of the deceased."
"Dad." Nadia called softly when he reached for the door.
"Don't die on me. Promise me." she sniffled, staring straight into his eyes. Mr Chordis blinked and dragged her into a hug.
"I'll never leave you my darling. We could die together." that made her laugh.
"I would love that."
"Honey."
"Just a moment. I feel too comfortable in this hug."
"Five minutes." he said and kissed her neck. Nadia breathed in the softness of his fragrance. She didn't know what she'd do if her father died. She couldn't think of it.
~~~
Nadia walked into the house, hands wrapped around her father's arm. Her mother was seated in a armchair, Neo stood right behind her like her bodyguard. Rachael's mother occupied a stool by the end of the house. When they got in, she stood and bowed. Nadia looked around what supposed to be the living room, an old portrait of Rachael, Rani and their mother hung on an old nail, alongside Rachael's graduation pictures. Nadia felt sorry for them. She examined Rachael's mother for a while. She looked old and hagged, and she wore faded clothes. She immediately felt bad for them, all over again. She assumed Rachael was their survival line, the one that footed all their bills with her job at the Chordis. Now she was gone, what a wicked world.
"To what do I owe this visit?" she asked and sat after them.
"Neo." Neo bent to listen. "Can you tell the chauffeur to bring the gifts in." she said softly. Neo nodded and walked out.
Nadia sighed, her hands still wrapped around her father.
"How are you?" Mr Chordis asked. She smiled and adjusted herself on the stool. It wasn't comfortable for her but she couldn't complain, after all it was her house and the Chordis were in her house. The Almighty Chordis.
"I'm doing okay. Thank you for all your care and help. We really appreciate." she smiled, revealing her broken tooth.
"Where is Rani?" Mrs Chordis asked.
"School. She'll be back by weekend." she answered and smoothed her knee. The suspense was killing her.
"That's lovely."
"Why are you here?" she asked, panic shooting out her chest. The Chordis never visited unless something big happened. The gift started rolling in, scaring her the more. Nadia folded her lips and looked at her Dad. He cleared his throat and started;
"Rachael. I'm sorry."
"What happened?" she shut her eyes and exhaled. What she feared had finally happened. "She's dead?" she sniffled and tipped her head a little.
"Yes." came Nadia's shaky response.
"I'm sorry. She was cleaning this morning and she slumped." it was Mrs Chordis that spoke this time.
"Was she sick?"
"Not that I know of. She looked agile this morning. They'll do an autopsy on her to know what really happened." Mr Chordis said.
"No." she shook her head and opened her eyes, dragging her tears away with the back of her palm.
"No?" Mrs Chordis asked.
"Yes, No. There will be no autopsy. I want my daughter's corpse."
"Mrs-"
"Thank you for your help. I'll take it from here. She's dead right? I don't need anybody touching or testing her. We'll bury her. Today." she said and stood, adjusted her dress and sighed.
"Is that not too quick. Won't you wait for her sister? It's a lot to take in."
"Thank you Mrs Chordis but that's what I've decided. Can you take me to the mortuary, please." she pleaded, almost on her knee. Mr Chordis stood, Nadia with him.
"Alright then, we'll take you there. We're sorry for your loss." she nodded and walked out slowly.
~~~
Neo held both coffee cups as he walked into the gazebo to meet Nadia. It had been a very busy day; the death, family meeting, and most especially the burial. Everything just felt so unreal. Is this how shaky the Chordis was when death came? Was this how they were when Elizabeth died? Was this death an accident or an homicidal case scenario? Even if it was the latter, how would they know now? Rachael is six feet under. No autopsy, no nothing. Neo wanted to ask questions, check for evidence. He wanted to know if she died naturally but he was preoccupied with the events that surrounded the death. When they came back, everyone was back to normal; the house bustled with great energy, it was too clean, the other girls acted like nothing happened. When he had asked to see Rachael's room, he was told 'it's restricted'. This wasn't why he was here, he had told himself several times that day when his sniffy nose wanted to dig itself in Rachael's death.
"Hey." He said and pushed the cup mid air to her. She smiled and took it, then placed it on the ground. Coffee wasn't the thing on her mind but she appreciated the effort. She saw him, she knew that he cared. Throughout today's process, he had been sending caring gaze her way. Something you don't do for someone you want nothing but sex from.
"I've always wondered if the poor got to dream." she said and laughed bitterly.
"They do." he said and turned his side towards her. She looked like a mess, her hair packed into a messy bun on the top of her head. She wore her shirt backward.
"Everyone gets to dream but not every have the power, money, connection, determination, and grace go actualize their dreams."
"Not everyone…" her voice cracked as she said it, she nodded and sighed then took a sip from the coffee. Both hands wrapped around the mug.
"We don't have to talk about today." he said softly when she went quiet. She was staring too long into space and he was starting to worry. What thoughts occupied that beautiful head?
"It's not the talk that worries me. I can't help but think that history repeated itself." she swallowed and let out shaky breaths then looked at him, she had said too much.
"History?" he shifted, his veins dragging his chin. "Did something like this happen in the past? To who?"
"It's nothing." she looked away and pressed her lips together. She wasn't supposed to talk about Elizabeth, especially not with a stranger. He was new to town, telling him about her would only make him hate her family, and she didn't want that. Not when her heart is beginning to have a soft spot for the young man seated close to her.
She heard him breath, he was curious, that was for sure. "I'm here if you need someone to talk to." he said softly. Her face twitched into a grin. She turned her face to meet his.
"You need to know about this new project I'm working on." she said and shifted closer to him.
"What's it about? Don't tell me children." he said, she gave a quick laugh and grabbed both his hands.
"It's for women this time. I think that's why Rachael's death bothered me a little." she nodded into the garden and turned back to him with a big smile. "It's called project hope. I spoke with some of my allies and they've agreed to sponsor the project."
"Sponsor?"
"Yes, it's a project that solely focuses on women and their struggles."
"Wait…why look for sponsors when you could easily meet your dad for the money."
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I don't need him for projects like this. His help will come in handy…in a few years time." she rubbed his hands and they both smiled.
"Continue…I enjoy stories that talks about empowerment." he said, Nadia stoned him with a genuine smile.
"We'll help every woman that reaches out to us, give them a voice, and help them stand on their own feet. The girl child, we'll focus on them. They will bring change, they will make the world a better place. We'll have people in the hospital, in schools, every damn place that women are looked down on, we'll have people there to make things easy for them. To let them know that their loved and valued. I want them to know that they don't only have to dream, they can actualize that dream, and that we'll be with them every. Step. Of. The. Way." she said and smiled satisfactorily. "And that's not even the best part." she looked at him and smirked. "I'll save the best for the press. What do you think?" Neo stared at her and smiled. He was impressed. He always has been. The excitement she had when she downloaded it to him felt contagious. He didn't know the word to use to qualify her or the thingy feeling bubbling in his chest.
"It's very impressive. When does it get to the press?"
"Soon enough, you're the first person I'm telling." She winked at him and tugged a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Thank you for doing me the honors." he pressed her soft hands back