Chapter Eight

Fiona watched the kids in the ballet studio as they took each step carefully watching their new ballet teacher taking them on new steps. She saw the excitement on their faces as they were so eager to learn each new step, which made her so much happier. Fiona's dreams were finally coming through all thanks to Maxwell, it's been six months now and Maxwell had been consistent in visiting the ballet and gymnastics academy. They even got more sponsorship due to Maxwell's great connection and the children also grew fond of him.

“Take 1, everybody.” Daisy, the new teacher said. She was profusely sweating and needed to get water.

Daisy was a beautiful woman, just Fiona's age. She had been a ballet dancer since childhood and had wanted to teach kids how to dance like her.

“How is it going with the kids?” Fiona asked.

“They're catching up fast, especially Irene. She's doing great.”

Remember Irene, the little girl with pneumonia; well… She had had her surgery done and was feeling much better than before. Fiona had made her join the ballet team seeing how much the little girl had in her.

“Yeah, I know right?” She smiles as she stares at Irene who was already coming to her.

“Fiona, did you see me? I'm doing better, ain't I?” Irene said with a big wild smile on her face. She was always the happy one, guess that's what got everyone attracted to her.

“Yes, you are and I'm so proud of you.” She said as she pats her hair gently.

“Mr Harold hasn't been going to the studio, is he okay?” A child asked curiously. About that Fiona had been worried too, it was over a week and she had heard nothing from him, that was unlike him.

“I miss him already.” Another said.

“I'm sure he's doing okay, guess he has a lot of work to do at his office.” She made up an excuse.

“Why don't you go check up on him, Fiona?” Irene said.

“Ummm… I don't think that's a good idea, Irene. He might not like it.”

“One visit wouldn't hurt.” Irene said, demonstrating her hands in the air.

---

“Come on. Grandpa. Can we stop talking about Fiona already?” Maxwell said frustrated, his grandparents would not let him off the hook talking about him courting Fiona.

“You need to stop avoiding her.” Beatrice trooped in. “She is such a fine young lady with big ambitions, so what's stopping you?”

“Yes, she is a fine young lady but with expectations too from a fine young man who can live up to her expectations. And besides I tell you now and then that I'm not ready for commitment, I just want my privacy all to myself.” He stated. “Fiona, is not a bad person, she's not just cut out for me.”

“Whatever you say, young man. Don't let it get too long before you realise what you are losing.” His Grandpa said, ending the conversation.

“Yet, you have been visiting her studio for the past few months. You can't tell me there's nothing in her that wouldn't interest you.” Beatrice was still adamant about letting him off the hook.

“That was an agreement we had before we started the project and she was okay with that.” Yeah, he was right but he lied about not being interested in her a bit. She was becoming too irresistible for him, he wasn't just sure about what he was feeling for her.

“If that is the case, then why are you avoiding her?” She said again.

“Grandma! I'm not avoiding her, I just have lots of work to do.” He was already tired of answering her questions and wanted to leave. “I'm going upstairs, I have a zoom meeting by 4pm.” He stood up taking his leave.

“You know you shouldn't bother him about his choice on whom to be with.” His grandpa defended him.

“I know, but he has been alone ever since I've known him.”

“He's a grown up and can decide what he wants for himself, I just hope he realises it fast.”

The following day, Maxwell was in his office and was finding it hard to concentrate on the lot of documents and files on his table as he kept pondering what his grandparents said to him yesterday. He just stared at the screen of the laptop on his table, contemplating if he should call Fiona or not; then he looked at the telephone beside the laptop like he was expecting a call suddenly then just Anna walked in interrupting his thoughts.

“Hello, Boss.” She calls him, he looks up at her his face telling her “what is it?” “You have a visitor, Sir.”

“Do I have an appointment with the person?” His face looked a little surprised as he wasn't expecting anyone.

“Exactly what I told her, Sir. But she insisted on seeing you, that she was Fiona from an oakwood community, whatever.” She said casually.

“Fiona?” He was dumbstruck.

“Yes Sir, she's at the reception.”

“Fiona is here?” He thought in his mind. Suddenly the urge to see her came from nowhere, he suddenly missed her beautiful smile and the way she always looked beautiful always caught his eyes. These past few months with her were really amazing. He had cold feet. “She could be here for business'' he then cut himself off from his fantasy towards her. He felt a voice echoing in his head and came to the reality that Anna had been talking to him.

“Should I let her in?” She said again this time on top of her voice but calmly. She was amazed as she had never seen her boss this lost in thought.

“Yeah… Yeah, I mean, yes.” He stammered, Immediately she left the office he stood up quickly to adjust himself, adjusting his curls. He just suddenly felt stupid of a sudden. He couldn't believe he was doing this for a lady, it has never happened to him before. Fiona walks in the office as beautiful as ever, she is wearing a purple dress holding onto her clutch bag as she walks gently up to him smiling shyly. He just stared at her in wonder, speechless and didn't know what to say.

“Fiona! What a surprise!” He managed to say.