A friend to remember

23: The Bellrich Scholarship.

****
Denise wasn't happy about not returning to school immediately. She was fine and her parents were not happy about her moving around. She looked around the large room in the family wing of the house that was more like a museum than an actual house.

Bimpe was also sitting in the room, she promised Denise to help in the decoration of the room. The room wasn't as large as Daniella's own but it was larger than the room Denise was staying in the guest wing. It had been three days since she was admitted to the office. She had to stay in bed because Dr Frank recommended it, which annoyed her to no end. She had to go back to school, she didn't like missing class because she would have to make up for it by writing all the notes that she missed.

After three days, she begged Bimpe to convince Sheila to allow her to go back to school but Sheila refused, she wasn't happy that Denise was still talking about Queens College but what could Denise do? That was her school. Sheila didn't want to hear any of it. She agreed to allow Denise roam about and even start designing her room.

Denise never imagined that her life Would turn to this. Designing rooms large enough to occupy seven people. Her closet alone was the size of her room back in Grace's rented apartment. It was just all too much, the money, the wealth.

"Ma'am, would you like a purple design or pink?" Denise frowned. She didn't like that she was giving only two options. The designer seemed to be in her own head and was not considering Denise's opinion much.

"Green actually, I like green." Denise corrected. The designer looked up from her iPad, she stared Denise before looking back down. "Hum... okay," she said slowly. "We will put that in mind."

Bimpe dropped two cups of ice-tea for them. Denise smiled and thanked Bimpe who returned the smile and informed her that she would be in the kitchen if she was needed.

Denise turned back to the designer who went over everything Denise chose for her room. Cutails, bed frames, colour theme, they were all ready and they were getting to work. The designer shut the pouch of her iPad and stood up.

"It is a pleasure, Miss Denise," she stretched out her hands. "Likewise." Denise nodded and shook the hands.

She walked back into the kitchen to find Moni, Promise, and Bimpe discussing.

"Hi everyone," she announced and the workers turned to her with a smile. For the past three days, she spent her days in sneaking out of bed into the kitchen, to eat and gossip with the workers. The workers were reclutant at first knowing that if their boss found out, they would get in trouble.

"You cannot just think putting small salt in it will make it worse." Moni said. Bimpe shrugged and turn to Denise, who held the tray that Bimpe used to serve ice-tea. She dropped it in the sink and turned back to them.

"What are you doing here? Is that woman gone?" Bimpe looked at entrance of the kitchen as if she could see her from there, which was impossible. Denise nodded and flopped herself on one of the kitchen's island.

"Thank God," Bimpe sighed and joined her. "That woman is something," she muttered under her breath. Denise couldn't angry that the designer wasn't nice but she seen some of her designs and knew she was good. Besides Shettima and Sheila employed her, they were doing her a huge favour, she just couldn't say anything about the designers overbearing nature.

"I think it is unfair you are getting a smaller room than Miss Ella, you are also their child now." Bimpe started.

Denise chuckled. "I really don't care honestly. I think the room is big enough to house a small community, it is enough that I have a roof over my head." Denise answered. She knew what it was like living in terror. Her community back in the mainland had been terrorize by street gangs and bandits. It was so much of a relief to come a much quiet and peaceful environment.