Darlington glanced into the car, catching sight of Samantha's sullen expression in the backseat. She'd been quiet since they entered the airport and realized that he had played a fast one on her, but at the sound of her mother's voice, she suddenly became alert.
He looked at Mrs Magnus and then at her daughter, then his mind wandered back to the events that had led him here.
Darlington had worked for the Magnus family for years, but lately, things had gotten complicated. Samantha's advances had started as harmless flirtàtion, but they'd quickly escalated into something more.
And then there was Mrs. Magnus – Darlington had always suspected she was hiding something, but he hadn't expected what he eventually discovered.
The sound of the airport doors sliding open broke Darlington's reverie. Mrs. Magnus was still standing in front of him, but her expression had darkened considerably as she scolded him some more, asking him if he had suddenly gone dèaf and dümb.
"What is she doing here? Couldn't you have used your brain to know it was risky bringing her here?" Mrs. Magnus demanded, her voice low and even.
"Samantha wanted to come with me, ma'am" Darlington replied, trying to keep his tone neutral.
Mrs. Magnus felt like giving him a tight slàp, but she could only ball her fists and a a mental note to deal with him accordingly.
"What if she sees something? Did it not occur to you that I could have some stuffs that she's better off not seeing?" she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Do you know what would happen if she finds out about…about certain things?"
Darlington felt a surge of unease. He knew what Mrs. Magnus was hinting at – her extramarital affairs.
He instantly became worried, not knowing what he'd do if Samantha truly saw something.
"But does she always have to keep these things going on? What if it's not Samantha that sees? Doesn't she care that given her husband's political standing, so much is at stake if someone someday sees through these disguise costumes?" he thought, looking around frantically.
And indeed, there he was, lurking in the background and waiting for her to get into the car.
Darlington discovered the truth by accident, really. It was a few months ago, when he'd been tasked with delivering a package to Mrs. Magnus's favourite boutique.
The shop owner had happily collected the package from Darlington and gave him something in exchange.
He was asked to return the parcel to his boss and he assumed the parcel was for Chief Magnus.
While he made his way home that day, someone bashed the car and he was in the middle of sorting the issue with the careless driver when Mrs Magnus began to call continuously.
"Hello ma'am" he answered curtly.
"How long does it take to deliver a parcel and return home?" Mrs Magnus asked irritably.
"I already delivered the parcel ma'am. I was just on my way to hand Chief the parcel I was asked to give to him, when a careless driver hit and ruined the reer of the car" Darlington replied and nearly got his head chôpped off over the phone
He initially thought Mrs Magnus' outburst was because of the said damage on the car, but in time, it dawned on him that she got furious because of what he said.
"Let the driver go at once Darlington. You should in fact say thanks to him for halting your steps because if you had indeed delivered that parcel to my husband, then I would have truly had your bàlls" Mrs Magnus spat.
She asked him to take the car to the family mechanic and return home at once.
According to her, she needed to lay hands on the parcel before evening, or so many things will be ruined
Although Darlington couldn't understand what the hullabaloo was about, he quickly did as he had been told and was soon handing her the parcel.
He found Mrs Magnus' reaction that day really confusing, but it wasn't in his place to ask what all the fuss was all about.
Mrs Magnus looked at the content of the well packed parcel, reading a short note included in it and had a frown on her face instantly.
"When is chief returning home?" she asked him suddenly.
"I'm supposed to go pick him up by 11pm tonight. He's going to be busy with the governor till then" Darlington replied.
"Fine! Then all hope isn't lost. I can still see Baron" she said with a childish giggle.
She rushed into the house and quickly changed into a new outfit, then asked Darlington to take her somewhere in the outskirt of the town.
Darlington still didn't read any meaning to what was going on, until he saw the very same boutique owner that had given him the parcel, sitting discreetly in a corner of the bar they'd gone to.
While he drove to the venue, Mrs Magnus had worn a disguise costume, like she had been wearing for sometime now, but he didn't know it was because of where they were going.
"Keep yourself busy and await my signal" she told him before she walked over to the seat where the young man sat waiting for her.
Darlington was later to understand that the parcel the young man gave him for Mrs Magnus was the new disguise she needed for the outing, and if he had delivered the parcel on time, Mrs Magnus would have been able to sneak out and return without needing Darlington's assistance
And so, from that day, Mrs Magnus made Darlington an ally, cômpelling him to keep dark secrets about her several extra màrital affairs, and making him aid her activities
"Darlington!" Mrs Magnus yelled, making Darlington nearly jump out of his skin.
"I'm sorry ma'am" was all he could say before he quickly collected her luggage from her and made his way to the trunk of the car to deposit it.
Mrs Magnus had by this time entered the car, and was feigning surprise to see Samantha in the car.
"Seriously now? You came to the airport, yet you didn't alight from the car to give mummy a welcome?" she asked Samantha who was sitting with a long face.
"I'm sorry mummy, but I've been very sad. Dad told me uncle Darlington would let me have fun till he'd return, but uncle Darlington wouldn't even let me sit out for a minute without boring me with book talks" Samantha complained.
She was yet to understand what just happened between her mother and Darlington, but she could tell that there was something they didn't want her to hear or see.
Mrs Magnus was about to give a response when her phone beeped with a new message. She paused for a moment, glanced through the message and smiled coyly.
"Darlington, is it true what Samantha just said? Have you been boring her all day, rather than let her have the good time chief promised her?" she asked absentmindedly, still looking at her phone.
Poor Darlington stuttered in response and Samantha smiled.
"Mum, let him be. We'll just go home and stay all night in loneliness. I know dad will eventually not return tonight and you will be too busy…" Samantha complained, intentionally trailing off.
"Come on Samantha. Cheer up already. Look, I know how you feel and I understand perfectly what must be done to make you happy.
"Tomorrow, I'm going to make plans for daddy and I to take you somewhere special" Mrs Magnus said, even though she knew she had somewhere to be the next day.
She could as well just pacify Samantha momentarily and eventually assign Darlington to the task of accompanying Samantha.
An awkward silence settled over them as the three of them sat quietly, lost in their individual thoughts.
Darlington's phone buzzed at some point, breaking the unnerving silence.
It was chief, calling to inform him that he wasn't going to be able to make it home that night.
"The senate president is flying in by 1am for a very crucial meeting. I just have to tie all loose ends before his arrival, so you don't have to bother coming to pick me up
"Please do whatever you can to ensure that Samantha doesn't throw tantrums." He instructed and hung up.
Next, Mrs Magnus' phone rang with her husband's call. He was calling to inform her that he wasn't going to be home till the next day.
"Oh shit! So much for the plans I had for us this night" Mrs Magnus complained, looking as sad as she sounded.
Her husband said a few words of affection, assuring her that he was going to make it up to her, then he hung up.
"Erm Darlington, you know what? I think it's best we don't go home now. Let's take Samantha somewhere nice for the night" Mrs Magnus said, making Darlington nearly lose control of the vehicle.
He tried to let her know how much of a bad idea it was for them to take Samantha to a night club, all in the name of making her happy, but Mrs Magnus was adamant, insisting that she knew what she was doing.
Darlington understood perfectly, what Mrs Magnus was up to, but he knew that the woman had no idea why Samantha suddenly felt so thrilled about the idea.
As soon as they got to the night club, Mrs Magnus got two suites and asked Darlington to occupy one of the suites with Samantha, while she stayed in the other
"I'm sorry ma'am, but it's just not appropriate to pass the night in the room with Samantha. I'd rather sleep in the car" Darlington objected, but Mrs Magnus laughed it off, asking him when he started seeing Samantha any more than the little girl he has been taking care of since her childhood.
Darlington made efforts to explain certain things, but he was impatiently waved off.
"This is her first time in a night club, so I don't want her to be left all alone. I had a very tiring trip and need to sleep right now, hence my decision to get a separate suite for myself
"Please quit whining and take Samantha to the suite when she gets tired of dancing in the club
"And yes Darlington, it's your duty to watch and supervise the level of fun she has out there. I don't want any clubber taking advantage of her vulnerability and innocence" she told Darlington before she checked into her room
Samantha was all smiles as her mother spoke. Her heart was nearly bursting out of excitement and she was conjuring images of what she was going to do with Darlington, even before her mother stepped into her own suite, her phone clutched to her ear.
"Well, well, well! It is you and I again darling. And guess what? We have an entire night" she slurred, walking provocatively towards Darlington, who had just opened the door to the suite they were to occupy.