'This is the artist i was talking about',Josslyn said, putting heŕ arms around April's shoulders'.

'What's your name?', à guy asked, stepping forward 

'I'm April Anderson', April said.

' Anderson? 'He asked , looking at josslyn questioningly

josslyn nodded. 'She's my daughter'.

'Well, Anderson', the guy said, flashing a smile.' I'm  Raph Johnson and you're gonnA be working for me.

April's eyes widened. Raph.... Johnson. Chris' uncle. Henry Johnson's younger brother.

' Raph Johnson? 'April asked arching an eyebrow. 'i thought you were in a car accident with your nephews and brothers wife'.

'I was', Raph answered. ' But I was the only survivor'.

'Interesting', April muttered. ' so what do you want me to do?'

Raph grabbed her hand, ushering her towards a sliding glass door. He open the door and they stepped in. April's jaw dropped as she looked round the room. There were different drawings of models in different frame.

' So you want me to draw your models', April said.

'Yes' Raph said.

'So  who am I drawing first?' April asked as she caught Raph staring at her with much interest.

'Why don't you come and see' he said as he took his gaze off.

He led her to another room with double doors. Inside the room were different models dressed in different clothes and design. She didn't count them but she knew they were up to ten. 

'I'm gonna draw all these models in a day?' April asked looking at Raph questioning. 

Raph smiled and shook his head. 'I never said this was a days job'.

April's eyes widened.'I'm coming back tomorrow?'

'Yep', Raph said. ' the exibitions starts Monday. The pictures have to be ready tomorrow'.

April exhaled sharply. She glanced between Raph and the models. I'm doing this for my dad, she reminded herself

April swiped her arm against her forehead. She'd been painting for three hours. As she finished with the third model, she looked up.... A smile formed on her lips as she saw Chris leaning casually against the door, watching her. He smiled when their gaze met and winked at her. She looked across from him and her smile widened as she saw Ben leaning against the lockers. He gave her a thumbs up and she got back to work. And in no time she was through with day ones work.

****

Uncle or not, Chris wanted to punch Raph so badly when he saw the way he looked at April with so much interest. The way he held her hand made him beam with jealousy. His relief knew no bounds when April finally left the studio.

'So what do you think of my uncle', ben asked in the evening when they were all in April's room.

'He's nice and smart. He's handsome and friendly too'.

Chris' jaw hardened as he listened to April's view of Raph.  And she called him handsome . Did she like him? Was she attracted to him? Chris knew he shouldn't be jealous but he was. He couldn't deny the fact that he liked her. He couldn't give an exact definition of his feelings but he knew they existed. Besides, she was right.  Raph was strikingly handsome with long hair and hated eyes.  If only she knew.....

Ben on the other hand was fuming. How could she say that about Raph after what he did? And she called him handsome.

'If I told you that he was responsible for our accident will you still think that way about him? Ben said, his voice mixed with anger and jealousy.

'Raph?', April asked unbelievably. How? Why?

'Well', Chris began. 'Raph wanted to be the new managing director of force wind oil and gas but my father thought he was too young to fit the positon'.

'How old is he?' April asked.

'He'll be twenty one years old this year',Chris said. 'He got angry and had a fight with my dad, he was angrier when he made your dad the new MD'.

'My father' April whispered 

Chris nodded but ben spoke before he could continue. 'He became jealous of him. He was always picking fights with him . My dad got angry and told Raph to stick to his modelling company and leave his his own company alone'. He passed for a while the continued. 'On that fateful day when my mum wanted to go to the mall. Raph offered to drive her but we objected.'

'He removed the brake pedal', Chris continued,' and sat in the back seat with my mum so we didn't suspect.

'But he didn't die?' Aprix asked

'No', ben answered .' He planned the accident so he escaped before the fire could engulf him. Although he does have have a few burns and scratches.

Anger burned through April's veins. So her so called her boss was responsible for their death. How ruthless.

'Ssso he's the reason why you're dead' April stammered.

'You can put it like that too', Chris said. April could see the hurt In his eyes. she took his hand and squeezed it gently.

Rex was angry. As far as he was concerned,  April was not being fair. Chris was not the only one that died so why did she focus her absolute attention on him? Ben knew that April liked Chris more than him but she didn't have to make it so obvious. He couldn't stand it anymore so he decided to clear his throat.

April and Chris turned around to see him.

'I'm leaving', Ben said, 'I'll see you guys later'.

April opened her mouth to say something but Ben was gone before the words left her mouth.

'HHe's angry', Chris said

April nodded. ' I guess so'.

She flopped down on her bed leaving a sigh.

'How's danny ?' Chris asked 

'He's okay' April replied,'he should be in his room'.

'II've been thinking,why do you care for him sso much. He's fifteen years old. I think you should let him be for sometime.'

April sat up. 'I ...cant'.

' Why?'

'Danny has asthma', April said, 'hes had It for eight months now. my mum used to smoke as lot and it affected him'. She lowered her gaze. ' if anything happens to him am gonna go crazy'.

Chris reach out to hold her hand. He squeezed it gently and smiled at her.

'Danny is going to be okay'.

A knock sounded at the door and April got up. She walked to the door and opened.

'Wha?' She asked when she saw her mother standing at the door.

'I believe you're aware that you're going back to the studio tomorrow' Josslyn said raising her glass to her lips. It was then that April noticed that her mother was drinking. 

' You are still taking alcohol', April said. 

' That's not what am talking about', Josslyn said rolling her eyes.

" Like seriously mum , you have to stop this. It's not healthy'.

' My health is my business and non of yours young lady'.

'If your stupid act affects my baby brother , then it's my f business'.

' Danny is not a baby' Josslyn said , and it's not my fault he's ill. ' Let's just say he was destined to have asthma. No one can change destiny you know'.

'You're so wicked ', April said 

'And you my dear have work tomorrow 'Josslyn replied 

'And you better get the hell out out of my room' April retorted 

April slammed the door roughly and turned around to see Chris who was standing right behind her. Before April could say a word, she felt Chris' lips against hers. She kissed him backed and slowly the kiss came to an end.

When she calmed down, she looked up and saw  him looking down at her.

'we're just gonna pretend that never happened,'  she whispers.