Chapter 3 He Is Blind

I couldn't even respond, they passed by and I was left to clean up my mess. It was just 10 mins to 10 am and I was almost done.

I put everything on his serving table and waited till it was 10 am exactly while I boiled the water. I didn't even know where he was, where was I going to take this food?

There was a little bell next to me and I took it and rang it. I was shocked when some workers came immediately to the kitchen.

His bodyguard came rushing to me and he looked angry.

The tag was written by Mike.

Mike: Its okay everyone can go back to whatever they were doing. Shanty, this is not for you to use. Only Mr Zee uses these, so if you come across one again, don't use it.

He stormed out and I rang the bell again, he was so irritated.

Me: Where do I take his food?

Mike: Follow me!

I wheeled the table and it was heavy, I really struggled with pushing it and Mike moved me and did it himself while I held the hot water kettle.

Me: Thank you

Mike: Whatever

Ouch, okay he doesn't like me. I served them and then Mr Zee gave me a contract and they asked me to excuse them.

I made myself food and sat down on the porch outside and read my contract. I was getting paid R20 000 a month, just cooking for him! Wow I was happy and I signed the contract.

What alarmed me more after signing the contract was that I was on call 24/7. Even if he called me at 1am I would have to come cook for him. Such bullshit. I have a life too.

I had nothing to do till 12, lunch time. I scrolled on my phone and there was free Wi-Fi here. Yey! Best job ever.

I was on the gram when my phone rang and it was an unknown number.

Me: Hello

Voice: Come to the kitchen.

I quickly stood up and rushed to the kitchen and he was standing there with the black stick again. I haven't seen him limping or anything and he always has his shades on.

Me: You called for me Sir

Him: The name is Kelvin Zee.

Me: I'd prefer to call you Mr Zee

Kelvin: Suit yourself, breakfast was delicious. Thank you

With that said he walked away. I noticed he walked like a robot, it's like he calculates his steps and it all just seemed weird. He tapped his stick on the floor a few times and calculated his steps again. Is he a robot?

I went back outside and sat till I went back and cooked lunch. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would. Mind you, I wasn't only cooking for him this time, I was cooking for everyone in this house.

The staff here is like 20 people, plus him and Mike and myself included, so I was cooking for about 23 people.

A lady named Kimberly helped me set up his table; apparently we eat at our own table which is downstairs and he and Mike eat alone upstairs.

We prepared everything and they sat down. They don't eat until we leave. I wonder why?

I follow Kimberly and we get downstairs and I meet the other workers and everyone dishes up for themselves. I sit in the middle of Kimberly and Bonnie. People compliment my cooking and I thank them.

Me: How is it like working for Mr Zee?

Bonnie: A breeze, he's just a man of a few words. I've only spoken to him maybe twice. You work well, he pays you well.

Kim: That's true

Me: He's always with that bodyguard of his?

Kim: Bodyguard?

Me: Yes, Mike.

Bonnie: (laughs) Mike is not his bodyguard. He's more like he's right hand man, he can't see so he needs someone to assist him 24/7.

Me: What do you mean he can't see?

Kim: You didn't know? Mr Zee is blind.

Silence... Silence... Silence...

Me: Oh I didn't notice. It makes sense now, the stick isn't for walking but its for blind people. The black shades are actually he has medical spectacles. The calculated steps, everything just seems to make sense now.

Why will he let Mike read my CV and how Mike dials numbers for him on the phone? The man is blind. Oh God. I would've never thought of this. It's actually just so sad, maybe he has never even seen Mike's face yet it seems like he trusts Mike with everything.

Bonnie: He's a very intelligent man, you could never say he's blind. He does do some things himself.

My mind was not even here anymore. We cleaned up and I went outside and chilled at the garden while I read a book. I saw him walking around the garden alone, Mike was sitting on the chairs outside looking at him.

Perhaps he just wanted to be alone for a few minutes. I looked at him and as he walked so confidently in his calculated steps, he wasn't even using a stick. He folded his arms and they were so muscular. How does he do it? I don't think a blind man can lift weights.

I stopped reading and watched him. He has a nicely cut beard which does have a little grey hair and his hair is nicely cut too. He seems like a very clean man, his house says it all.

Oh gosh! He's walking towards me, how did he know I'm here?

Kelvin: Shanty

Shit! They were joking! This man can see, if he can't then how did he know it was me who was sitting here?

Kelvin: Your smell, I could tell it was you.

Argh no stop twisting my mind and making me more confused than I already am.

Me: Oh

Kelvin: May I sit next to you?

Me: Yes you may, do you need help? Okay I shouldn't have said that.

He sat down and chuckled.

Kelvin: What makes you think I need help with sitting down?

Me: I'm sorry

Kelvin: You know already, don't you?

I nodded and remembered he can't even see me nod.

Me: Yes, why didn't you tell me?

Kelvin: It's not really wise to tell people you're blind when you first meet them but it's pretty obvious. People ask me before I even say I'm blind.

Me: Oh well I didn't even notice, I did notice you were a weird man but I just didn't think you'd be blind.

Kelvin: Well I'm blind Ms Shantel, are you going to quit your job and run away?

Me: No. I'm just shocked

Kelvin: I understand. You can take the rest of the day off, don't worry about Supper, Mike and I have a meeting to attend to tonight so we won't be here.

Me: Thank you. I am exhausted so I'll go home and sleep

Kelvin: Whenever you're here, just know you have a room that belongs to you. You can sleep when you get tired.

Me: Thank you. Such a great job! I'm never leaving this job ever.

Kelvin: Enjoy the rest of the day.

Me: Should I leave you here?

Kelvin: Yes, you did steal my thinking spot.