• • • Sheila’s POV • • •
I'm asphyxiated and my mind goes blank.
“I came here to see what's stopping my best and only friend from having lunch with me. Anyway I'm here to help in case what you have to do is tough” she gets apprehensive about my behaviour and she battles to sneak inside.
I step out closing the door behind me “Thank you very much but I'm fine.” I say thoughtful then I add “What if we meet in the evening for dinner or tomorrow morning for breakfast. For now, I just want to be alone.” I whimper
“Why?” she looks at me straight into my eyes as if she can read into my mind. I fling my stare away “Are you with someone?” she gets excited practically jumping on her two feet.
“Yea, not really. We can meet later” I beg. “Okay, fine!” she turns to leave. I puff in relief. As soon as I open the door to get in she barges from nowhere pushing and she gets in.
“Nat!” I frown as I stumble luckily I don't fall. “I want to know who is here with you. Why didn't you tell me?” she says. “That's not right” I frown.
“I'm sorry, but I had to know” she pouts then she turns around and sees “You?” she scowls. “I knew something fishy was going on” she furrows her brows with wrath.
“And you even cooked for him?. You've never done this for me.” she seriously whimpers as she moves closer to him. “Will you leave my friend alone?. She's not one of those cheap girls you always buy with your money” she yells at his face.
“Nat, Nat, it's fine. I'm fine, he won't hurt me. I promise. Just let me do” I beg. “Humm… Sheila, you can't promise that, this man is unpredictable and he’s not good for you” she pouts.
“I know but please, let me do” I beg. “It's fine. I give up it's your life and I don't have the right to make decisions for you.” she lifts her hands in defeat.
“Just for her sake, I will stay quiet. But I'm watching you?” she points her fingers at him in a threatening posture but it's clear that he isn't worried at all.
“Please, can you leave?” I beg with a sorry doggy face. “Just for you. But please be wise.” she kisses me on the forehead then she turns to leave. She turns back “I'm going with this!” she takes the two dishes and she leaves.
“Nat, I haven't eaten yet!” I cry. I'm damn hungry plus the alcohol of yesterday night. I'm dying of hunger.
“Freddy can take you to a restaurant, he can even buy you the world” she screams while going with the food. “Shit!” I fall into bed, furiously. To think I took all my time to cook something which I won't even eat.
“I can get you something to eat, or we can go out.” his voice breaks through the silence dwelling.
“This is nice of you but I want to eat my food” I cry while seating up. “What do you want from me, why are you here?. This is all your fault” I chide.
“I don't know. You were the only location I had in my mind at that time, maybe it's because you are constantly in my mind.” he says. I know he doesn't mean it so I won't mind.
“So that's why you showed up, to disturb my peace?… You even asked me to marry you. What was that for” I pout. “What?” he screams in awe then he adds “Never mind I was drunk”
“I know right!. How did you manage to drive yourself here?. Humm…”he says nothing “You know what?. I don't even care, I just want you to leave, now” I holler.
“I have heard all that you want now listen to what I want. List any restaurant of your choice and let's have dinner. I want us to discuss” he says with some much arrogance that it makes me sick.
“Hahah… This is a first and you must be crazy to think that you can come to my house and order me what to do.” I yell.
In my country there is a proverb which states that “A hungry man is and an angry man” indeed I was hungry and angry.
“You call this tiny square box a house?” he slurs while pointing around with disdain. “Yes, it's my box. You criticize this meanwhile you reside in a hotel which isn't yours. So you aren't as rich as you claim” without thinking, words foolishly escapes my mind.
“I don’t need it. I can get one anytime I need and in less than a second,” he brags and it's then I realised that what I said was stupid “Funny, in less than a second?. I will like to see that” I taunt.
“If that is what you want, then fine.” he picks up his phone, makes a quick call and a link is sent to his phone in less than a minute. “Take this” he hands over the phone to me “Click on any house of your choice and it will be yours” he glares at me.
A freeze chill quickly move down my spine as I scroll a few images. Wow, Indeed the houses are glamorous and they look spacious.
What if I just click on the link with the most beautiful house, does this means that the house will be mine?. OMG, so I will own a house in the USA. Mum will be so proud of me. She will be so happy when I will invite her to come to the USA.
So this is how rich men behave when they want a lady?. Am I this expensively?. Perhaps is a prank. All these thoughts fled my mind. “This is a lifetime opportunity.” I tell myself.
“It's fine Freddy, I don't need it. All this wasn't necessary you just had to excuse yourself for your wrong choice of words. You call my house a box and when I reprimand you want to by me a house. It's insulting. I've not still heard excuses from you.” I reject the office.
“I insist, it's a gift” he says.
But I will lie if I say that I wasn't tempted, intact I wasn't ready to click on the fucken link and finally own a beautiful house. Nevertheless, my mum use to tell me that no man gives out something for free. So at what cost, is the question I've been asking myself.
“No, it's not my birthday yet” I tell. I don't want him to insist if not I might take it. “Okay, on your birthday then,” he pockets the phone and “Ouff!” I breathe out of relief the temptation is gone.
“Get ready, we are leaving now!” he says. “Where to?” I wonder in shock. “Just do what I say” he says. “Ok, fine” I moves to the bathroom, put on a the simple white gown. I walk out of the bathroom, he looks at me so keenly that I begin to feel uncomfortable.
We move into the car and he drives out. He stops in front of a very tall building. I read the signboard and it's said that it's a restaurant. Indeed it is, I realise it when we walk in and take our seats.
“Damn, why is this place so quiet?” they off the light as I whisper “Creepy!” I grumble because it's as if they offed the light because of my question.
Then they on candles, several candles that light the room, this is when I notice the rose petals on the table and then on the floor.
“Waiter!” Freddy calls and others.
Back in Cameroon people who use candles are people with no source of electricity in their region. Some times we used it at night when we had electrical failures. Trust me, it was not fun at all.
These candles smell good and everything is different even though I have bad memories of candles, still, I enjoy this moment. The instrumentalist start playing their instrument. The melody is so appealing.
Damn, the melody is so nice that even Freddy looks cuter. Haha… I know I'm crazy. “Why are looking at me this way?” he asks. Omg, it's so embarrassing.
“Are you aware that you asked me to marry you?” I glare at him. “Are you sure that's the only reason you were staring at me?” he says. “Yea, I'm asking myself why me?” I say.
“Anyway don't mind that” he tries to end the conversation. “Okay, I won't mind that, understand that you were drunk.” I tell.
The waiter comes with our drinks “Food will be served in a short while. Do you need anything” he asks, he has a polished tone. “No, you can remove yourself,” Adams says and he moves away.
“I know this won't replace the food that was taken away but I want you to have a nice time” he tugs my hand from the table and kiss. “Okay…” I drag my words in awe.
“Why all this?” I get apprehensive.
“Sheila, we ain't children you can clearly understand my desire for you. However, I don't want us to talk about that now. I just want to have a quiet time with you and tomorrow we will discuss during dinner at any restaurant of your choice.” he clarifies.
“Okay… any restaurant, and please just reserve a table, not the whole restaurant. I love seeing people, hearing sounds from their cutleries, etc... Look around it's only me and you and it's boring” I cry.
He stares at me without saying a word. “Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being here but it's too quiet for me”
“Noted!” he nods still with his stares fixed on me.
Suddenly, he gets up, pulling me out of the chair. He grabs my waist and he pulls me closer to him.
We dance….