Few days before the school incident
The orphanage had a tradition where when a boy enters high school 🏫 is gifted a suit and a girl upon reaching maturity is gifted with a gown. Then the boys👧🏻 and girls👩🏻were called to the estate and for a day were treated as gentlemen and ladies of society dressed as one. Thomas started this tradition in memory of his wife, Olivia who smiled the brightest on the day she wore her gown 👗 for her coming-of-age party and told him she now felt like she has really become a lady of society. Thus, he wanted all the girls to feel the same. Thomas and Olivia were childhood sweethearts. Growing together as neighbours, going to the same school and university they lived all their together until Olivia departed.
Generally, each batch had twenty or more children or at the very least five to ten, but this time Yves was the only one of her batch and also the youngest of all. Today was the day, it was her first time visiting the valor villa. She was escorted to the estate by a driver, she couldn't help but gasp at the size of the villa. It was her first time meeting her sponsor, she was nervous and happy 😊 that her heart was beating rapidly as if it would jump out of the chest any time soon. Yves was escorted to the living room by a servant there she found a blonde middle-aged man with greyish blonde hair and grey- blue eyes sitting on the head chair, he had a tall build, wearing a white polo paired with blue jeans and a classic patek Philippe watch strapped on his hand. Yves walked near to him and greeted him Good morning Mr Valor! it is a pleasure meeting you! with a deep courtesy bow and a polite smile🙂.
Upon not receiving the reply Yves looked at him only to see that Thomas was looking at her as if he was surprised. Then a servant who stood by his side whispered 'Master' to get him out of his trance. Thomas composed himself and replied 'Good morning, pleasure meeting you too!' and asked her to take seat. She settled on a seat to his right, seeing her sitting comfortably he began :
What's your name young lady?
Yves sir! she said to which he exclaimed what a beautiful name!
Yves, what grade are you in?
8th grade sir
Good! Yves what is your future goal?
Yves looked at him with determination and replied: 'I want to became a person like you Mr Valor'
Thomas was taken aback then smiled at Yves and told her 'I look forward to it'
They talked for some more time about academics, business, market, trends, politics and more hours passed by, soon it was time for lunch a servant came and informed them, so they moved to the dining room. The table was filled with many delicious cuisines and sweet dishes, the sight of all the delicious food made her mouth watery as she gulped on her saliva. Seeing her reaction he smiled in satisfaction and let out a soundless chuckle at her cute form. He then ordered for the food to be served and they began eating. As they were having their food Thomas started a light conversation
Yves, what are your parents name?
She told him she never got to meet them as they passed away early but the orphanage director informed her mother was Emilia Smith and her father was Peter Smith and showed him their photo which she received from the director today as her mother told the director to gift it to her, when she reached the age of maturity. Thomas kept looking at the photo for two good minutes then gave back the photo to he, telling how she looked exactly like her mom.
After lunch they visited the garden where they made flower wreaths, rings and bouquets for each other then moved to the library where they read a few books 📚 then to the piano 🎹 room, Thomas played a few pieces, when a servant came to inform it was time for dinner 🍽️ so they walked to the dining room ending their activities.
During dinner they had a little conversation. Yves expressed how she really liked her gown👗 and was thankful for all the things he provided to her, how she wanted to meet him one day, how he had been an inspiration to her.
After dinner it was time Yves bid goodbye 👋🏻 to Thomas, she once again thanked him and gave a gift she made for him. It was a blue paper weight macaron made with clay, she made it in the past few days during her leave of absence from school. Before leaving she spoke: 'Mr Valor today I really felt like a noble lady of high society, I'll never forget this day and once again it was a pleasure meeting you' with that she bid goodbye and walked towards the door when she was about to exit; Thomas called Yves! she turned around to answer, but to her surprise, Thomas embraced her in a warm hug and spoke in a tremulous voice, afraid of letting her go,"the valor estate is like a family to me, their happiness is my happiness, their pain is my pain and that she could come to him whenever she is lost" and pulled apart, Yves could feel the pain in his voice and sadness on his face while she didn't fully him in that moment still, she smiled and told 'I will for sure' she once again bid him goodbye and was driven back to orphanage by the chauffeur. Back at the orphanage, she got changed and lied on the bed rewinding the day she spent at the villa. Her heart filled with love, mind with good memories and stomach with warm, delicious food drove her to sleep and off to the dreamland. It was one of the happiest days of her life.