Chapter 6 A NEW HOME

Chapter 6: A New Home

As the car pulled up in front of the sprawling mansion, Tasha's eyes widened with wonder. She couldn't help but smile to herself, taking in the grandeur of their new home.

Her son's excited voice broke into her thoughts, "Mom, is this our new home?" Tasha turned to him, beaming with pride. "Yes, baby, what do you think?" she asked. The little boy's face lit up, "I love it! It's so big and spacious!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement.

As the driver stepped out of the cab, Tasha let out a sigh of relief, her exhaustion evident on her face. She had been traveling with her kids for hours, and the thought of finally settling into their new home was a welcome respite. The driver, a kind-eyed man with a warm smile, began to unload their luggage from the trunk, his movements efficient and swift.

Tasha stood by the corner of the mansion's entrance, her kids flanking her on either side, their eyes fixed on the driver as he worked. She raised a hand, directing him to place the suitcases and bags in specific spots, her voice barely above a whisper due to her fatigue. "Please, put the kids' bags over there, by the stairs... and mine can go in the living room... thank you."

As the driver finished unpacking, Tasha dug into her purse for her wallet, her fingers fumbling for the right bills to pay him. She handed him a generous tip, smiling weakly, "Thank you so much for your help... we really appreciate it." The driver smiled back, tipping his hat, "No problem, ma'am. Welcome to your new home."

With a final nod, he climbed back into the cab and drove away, leaving Tasha and her kids to continue the journey into their new life. Each of them grasped the handle of their respective luggage, trudging along the winding path to the front door. The kids chattered excitedly, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten, while Tasha trailed behind, her eyes fixed on the mansion's grand entrance, her heart filled with a mix of emotions – relief, hope, and a hint of uncertainty.

Tasha had finished setting up her new home and was now taking a moment to relax. She seated herself in the parlour couch, surrounded by her two children, who were dancing around her with joy.

Feeling happy and fulfilled, she smiled to herself, thinking, "I am finally here to fulfill your dreams, mother." She felt a sense of pride and accomplishment in having created a new home for her family.

While still basking in the glow of her achievements, her phone vibrated, pulling her back to reality. She picked up the phone, which was lying next to her, and swiped the green button to answer.

Tasha placed the phone against her ear and greeted the caller with a calm, welcoming tone, "Hello." Her secretary's voice responded, "Good morning, ma." The secretary's enthusiasm was palpable as she continued, "We have some great news, ma."

Tasha's interest was piqued, and she mentally prepared herself for the announcement. Her curiosity was heightened, and she felt a surge of anticipation.

Her secretary's words had created a sense of suspense, leaving Tasha eager to hear the news. She remained silent, waiting for her secretary to reveal the details.

"Can you just go on?" Tasha asked, her patience wearing thin as her secretary's words seemed to drag on forever.

Finally, the secretary revealed the news, "We've secured our first major client, ma. They're requesting our team to inspect a plot of land for a potential building project, and they're willing to pay 10 million for the service."

Tasha's mind went blank as she struggled to process the information. She remained silent for a moment, attempting to absorb the enormity of the news. It seemed almost too good to be true, and she found herself questioning the reality of the situation. .

"Ma, are you still there?" her secretary asked, concern etched in her voice.

Tasha responded, still trying to contain her excitement, "Oh, yes, I'm here! I'm just... wow!" She couldn't help but laugh, her face still frozen in a smile.

Regaining her composure, she asked, "When do they need us to inspect the land?" Her secretary replied, "This evening, ma. They're eager to move forward with the project and want to begin using the land as soon as possible."

"Okay, that sounds great. Please text me the location of the land and we'll head out with our specialist this evening to conduct the inspection," Tasha said, concluding the call with a satisfied smile.

Her secretary's faint reply, "Ok, ma," was the last thing she heard before the line went dead. Tasha hung up the phone, still beaming with excitement.

She couldn't help but feel a sense of optimism, thinking that things were already falling into place. She was eager to see what other opportunities lay ahead, and she looked forward to the evening's inspection with anticipation.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation and the importance of presenting herself professionally, Tasha excused herself from her children. She needed to refresh and prepare for the meeting, ensuring she wouldn't keep her client waiting.

In her room, she swiftly took a shower and dressed in attire suitable for the occasion. As she applied the final touches of makeup, her gaze fell upon the wall clock, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, how time flies!" The clock read 5:00 pm, and the meeting was scheduled for 5:30 pm, leaving her with just 30 minutes to spare.

Without further delay, Tasha grabbed her bag from the bed and applied a final spritz of perfume before heading out. As she reached the parlor, her daughter Kendell asked, "Where are you going, Mom?" She smiled and replied, "We have a land inspection to attend to."

Her children, bursting with excitement, jumped around her, their faces alight with joy. Tasha watched them, amused, thinking to herself that they would indeed make great explorers one day.

"Are we going to change into something else?" her son asked, looking up at her with curiosity.

Tasha smiled and reassured him, "Not at all, you both look perfect just the way you are."

She pulls her son into a warm embrace and gently kissed his forehead

"Alright, let's get going now, so we can arrive at the location on schedule," she said, standing up from the couch and heading towards the door.

Her children followed closely behind her, eager to accompany their mother on the land inspection adventure.

Tasha approached her vehicle, ensured her children were comfortably seated in the backseat, and secured their seatbelts before settling into the driver's seat.

As she navigated out of the compound and onto the street, she retrieved her phone and made a quick call.

Her land engineer answered promptly, and Tasha asked, "Are you and the team already at the site? We must ensure a professional presence and avoid any delays."

"Yes, ma, we're already on site, and our client has just arrived," her land engineer replied, his deep voice firm.

Tasha's eyes widened in surprise, and she felt a twinge of embarrassment. "What?! So soon? It seems I'm the one who's being unprofessional now," she exclaimed, chastising herself.

She quickly ended the call and placed her phone back in its holder, then accelerated the vehicle, determined to arrive as soon as possible. "I'll be there in a jiffy," she muttered to herself, stepping on the gas.

.........

Desmond paced beside his car, growing increasingly agitated as the minutes ticked by. "Five minutes have passed already," he muttered to himself, his patience wearing thin.

His frustration boiling over, he directed his ire at Tasha's secretary, who stood nearby. "How much longer will your boss keep me waiting? Does she believe I have an infinite amount of time to spare?" Desmond's voice dripped with disdain, his words laced with arrogance.

His tone conveyed a sense of superiority, as if he were entitled to prompt attention.

"I apologize, sir, and assure you that my boss will arrive promptly," Joy, Tasha's secretary, said in a soothing tone, attempting to placate the irate client.

She was determined to prevent him from leaving, recognizing the significance of this client to their company. "I..." Her words were cut short by the sound of Tasha's car screeching to a halt.

Seizing the opportunity, Joy hastily excused herself and rushed towards Tasha's vehicle, eager to brief her on the situation and ensure a smooth meeting.

Tasha swiftly parked her car and jumped out, her urgency evident in her rapid movements. "Where is the client? I'm deeply sorry for the delay," she exclaimed, rushing towards Joy.

Joy pointed towards Desmond, who stood by his car, his face red with anger. "He's been waiting," Joy said, her voice low. Tasha nodded, then turned to Joy and said, "Please take care of the kids, I'll handle this from here." With a reassuring pat on Joy's back, Tasha strode confidently towards Desmond, who stood with his eyes closed, his face tense, and his expression dark.

She approached him calmly, prepared to diffuse the situation and salvage the meeting.

As Tasha approached Desmond, she offered a sincere apology, "I'm deeply sorry for keeping you waiting, sir. The traffic was unbearable."

Desmond's head snapped up, his eyes blazing with indignation. "Apologies are meaningless in this case," he growled, his voice firm. "They can't compensate for your incompetence and unprofessionalism."

Tasha's eyes narrowed, her frown deepening as she realized who she was facing. A spark of recognition ignited within her, and she thought to herself, "I knew there was something familiar about him." Suddenly, the pieces fell into place, and she realized exactly who Desmond was.