CHAPTER FOURTY SIX 46
HIRE A MAN!
Rita’s POV
“What? Mommy??? Ugh!!” I exclaimed.
“Yes dear. We wanna meet your man this weekend!”
“Eh! How is that gonna be possible?”
“What’s impossible about it?”
“Everything! Err… nothing, nothing mom. I mean, it is too early”I whined, faltering.
“Early? Isn’t it past a month now that you have been dating him? It’s not too early baby girl, I’m sure he would love to have dinner with us, Evelyn told me how humble he is” Her voice laced up with anticipation.
“Yeah, uhm right.. I .. erm, mmm… I … err” I stuttered all sorts of nonsense.
“So dear, saturday it is; we can’t wait to see your beautiful face, we’ve missed you so much and to meet the love of your life” My mom said. “So bye dear, till then” She hung up the call.
My mind was blank at that moment, quiet to think the least.
Zane’s call came in just in time.
“Hey dear” He said.
“I have just finished speaking with mom” I uttered calmly.
“In laws call” He stated. “Hope you told your mom your man says Hi"
“Zane, actually my parents wants to meet you already” I sounded so low.
“What?” He exclaimed like I expected.
“This weekend precisely. I don’t know what to do and I know my mom too well, she’s looking forward to the day already” I said.
“Oops” I heard him sigh.
“Could you please make it over here by weekend? Maybe you should book an emergency flight or something” I pleaded, kind of.
“It’s not possible Rita” He huffed confusedly.
“I’m sorry, I cannot come over to United State, not just yet” He replied.
“I understand, your face” I muttered.
“Did you say something about my face?” he heard me.
“Ugh! Nah, Nevermind. I … I guess I will cancel the meeting somehow, maybe urge my mom to postpone it right?”
“Yes, postpone. I will meet your parents in four months”
“All right" I managed to say.
“Also, I never told them we’ve been dating on the internet, else they’ll never ever be approve of it”
“I get it. I suggest you should find a way to convince them probably”
“Recieved, I will" I spoke reluctantly because I didn’t know what exactly to do.
There was no valid reason or solid excuse to give to my mom for not bringing Zane over on Saturday.
******
At the office the following day,
Evelyn spoke excitedly that she barely noticed I wasn't in a good frame of mind.
“So I met with the event planners. They suggested that it’s best to surprise Adam at his place, instead of a hall and then the party should commence right after that” She rushed the words “It’s gonna be lit!!!” She beamed delightedly.
“Rita!”
I was so engrossed in my thought.
“Rita” She waved and snapped her fingers at my face.
“Evelyn, what is it?” I asked coldly when she caught my attention.
“What is wrong you Rita?” She examined my mood and I sighed deeply.
“My parents want me to bring Zane to their place during the weekend, they are ready to meet my man but it cannot work, Zane cannot travel down here just yet” I divulged the plight without even hesitating.
“Oh My God! Oh! This is so bad” She remarked thoughtfully.
“So what are you gonna do?” She asked and I shot at her an awkward look.
“Evelyn, if I had a solution, I wouldn't be so worried”
“Oops! Right! Sorry” She said.
I heaved another deep sigh, staring into the space which turned blue then blank, as I was about to process the situation or zone out again.
“You need to hire someone to pretend to be Zane for a day” Evelyn suggested all of a sudden.
“Huh!” I squeaked.
“I can help you discuss the matter with Adam!” She said
“Evelyn, this idea is…” I paused for a moment while contemplating the suggestion, then I continued; “Adam cannot pretend to be Zane, My mom knows Adam, she knows we are friends and I… uhm kinda already told her that Adam is your boyfriend”
“Oh! “ She seemed a bit taken back by my response though “Then you need to find someone else, a substitute is the only way out”
“I think I like your idea Evelyn but..but there should be a better alternative, if there’s still none, I'll buy your idea, hire a man but what man? Who?” I shrieked in distress, burying my face into my palm.
“Let’s put that aside, will you please help submit these files to Finn; he’s expecting it, I forgot” I told her.
She glared at me emphatically before picking up the files and went to deliver them to Finn. When she had left, Instead of me to attend to other assignments, my current situation kept bothering me, it was as if reality had abruptly come crashing in and I soon zone out in thought that I didn't notice when Evelyn returned until she knocked on the desk, jolting me back to real life.
“What about Finn?” Evelyn asked me.
“What about Finn, what?” I asked, confused and startled.
“Tell him to be your pretend boyfriend, he will play the role even better" Evelyn suggested.
“What?” I exclaimed; my heart heavy on the weight and glimpse of what it’ll be.
******
To Be Continued