CHAPTER 17: EDITED VERSION.

" I won't stop until you talk to me."

"Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

"Esther!"

"That's it! I'm coming over."

" You still aren't going to respond? "

Esther was seated in her study while her phone beeps continuously. She occasionally stopped taking her records to update herself on the next string of messages from Daniel.

Somehow, he got hold of her number and made it a habit to torture her with multiple strings of messages all demanding for her to talk.

At some point, the whole thing became funny, she couldn't deny that the attention was something and she unconsciously found herself looking forward to the next string of messages.

Today, she wasn't in the mood. She was having some setbacks in business which made her wound up in her little study, calculating the profits and losses of the past month. So far, results proved she's been slacking and it wasn't good news.

Daniel's unrelenting messages weren't helping either. At least at the moment.

She read the last batch of messages, wondering if she was stalling the inevitable or just didn't want to see him. Her mind reminded her of the fact she was supposed to get him off her case as quickly as possible but she shut off that side of her.

Deloise wasn't returning for the breaks and there was still ample time to get him permanently out of the way. Right now, she just had to focus on doing the needful and reeling in more customers in order to maintain a good living.

Meanwhile, Daniel was at Elvis's office. Since his travel to the state, the friends duo had grown closer than ever. Whenever they met, there was always a bottomless pit of conversations ready to be had.

It was like they were on a mission to cover every bit of action the other missed while away. Time and time again, they went out for drinks and hung out. They were their own boss and could afford the extra time.

Today, Daniel's schedule was cleared up as a result of some alleged unforeseen circumstances. He decided to visit his friend's office once again.

" I know I said I needed a minute but you've been on your phone the whole time. Are you sure you aren't the busy one? " Elvis spoke after watching his friend type furiously on his phone for over two minutes.

He was done with the document he was working on for sometime and realized maybe Daniel wasn't actually as free as he'd announced upon entry.

" What? Are you looking for my attention now?" Daniel replied without bothering to look up. " You didn't expect me to mope around waiting for your busy ass when the world's at my fingertips, right? I'm a world star. I'm busy even when I'm not busy." He said with faux arrogance.

" Easy, airhead. What are you doing though? Where are we headed today?" Elvis shut his laptop and stretched his limbs.

" I don't know. I don't really feel like going out right now. The weather isn't so pleasant."

Daniel kept checking his phone which didn't go unnoticed by Elvis.

" I know right? The weather's been fluctuating recently. Whatever's keeping you in the state must be serious." He said , "There's nothing I wouldn't give to be in New York right now. "

" I'm done with the most important things I have to do here. I just like the feel of this state. I'm thinking of getting myself a place. Somewhere I could call my own instead of living off a hotel. "

" Living off a five star hotel you mean?" Elvis interjected with a smile. "I don't get it though. What's with the sudden desire to have a place here? Does it have something to do with the fact that a certain someone may or may not be living in the city?" He asked with a knowing smirk.

" I don't know what you're saying man. I'm comfortable with the calm here and that's it. You can imagine whatever you like but that's on you."

Daniel didn't feel like entertaining his friend's suggestive questions. Heck, he was beginning to get angry himself. He kept on checking his phone to see if maybe, just maybe he lucked out but still… nothing.

She ignored him as usual.

The most hurtful part of it was the fact that he was sure she'd read them. She just chooses to ignore them - to ignore him. He was beginning to lose it. He wasn't a patient man. He'd been so patient that now, he thought of taking matters into his own hands.

Maybe make do on one of his promises. Make her understand that he wasn't bluffing after all.

Daniel jolted up and Elvis wondered if he lost his mind.

" I suddenly have something to do. I'll call you!" He said and immediately left the office in fast strides. He was going to confront her. He was going to be heard. He'd make sure of that.

Elvis watched his friend with fascinated eyes as he muttered to himself while leaving his office. His mind could only come up with one fact. Whatever's got him still in the city, got a choke hold on him.

*****

Esther was done with the tedious side of her business. She wasn't the biggest fan of the calculative side of it and was honestly happy to be done with it.

She enjoyed baking from a very young age and when she decided to try out her hand as a professional baker, she never looked back since.

Baking was second nature to her. At a very young age, she realized her love for the kitchen and the process of creating delicious meals. Her mother was a great cook too and sometimes, she led herself to believe it was from her.

Esther walked out of her home with a key in hand. She needed to quickly grab some things for the chocolate cake order she received. An order which came with a strict deadline and good money.

She was born for it.

The moment she stalked out her door steps, she was met with the very familiar and hovering presence of a delicious smelling man.

The scent of his masculine assemblage was one capable of bringing every woman down to a feverish convulsion of attraction. An Attraction she so fiercely felt but determined not to allow him the joy of seeing her whither in immense attraction to him.

" What do you want?"

Her tone was razor sharp and her eyes morphed into an icy cold glare. She needed to get this over with as quickly as possible. She wondered just how long she could keep off the facade of being irritated before he finally decided he was going to leave.

" You."

Daniel said in a sensual tone, his lips tilted to the right in a lax smirk. He stood still, unaffected by her not so joyful reception and happy to finally hear something from her. It's been a while.

" Don't mock yourself, Daniel. I'm in no mood for your childish behavior. Don't you have something to do? " She asked with exasperation.

" I have nothing else to do. Not to be a perv but you have refused to reply to my messages and calls, what else can I do?"

" Leave me alone."

She said it like it was simple math.

" No. Where are you off to? I can give you a lift. We can talk on the way, just… Please don't walk away. "

Before Daniel could finish his rant, Esther was off and in her car. She threw him a glance which clearly warned him not to follow after her and started her car to life and left him standing on her front porch.

Daniel stood for a while. A million and one thoughts ran through his mind. He was losing hope on ever getting to talk to her. With slumped s

houlders, he beelined for his car and immediately headed for his hotel.

He needed some alone time.

*******

Deloise got up with a broad smile. she somehow managed to beat time in itself and woke up before her alarm could do its job.

It was surprising as she wasn't a morning person, but at the same time, it was expected. Today was the last get together before the filming of the movie and she was determined not to show up late.

The meeting was scheduled for nine but she took it upon herself to be up at least two hours before. She wasn't taking chances. With happy steps, Deloise got to preparing for the day.

As usual, Layla wasn't her biggest fan and grumbled ceaselessly of how she needed some quiet as it was still too early in the morning. Deloise dulled her humming, something she didn't realize she was doing at the time.

One would think she hit the lottery with how good she was feeling. She wondered if it was a dopamine rush and took intentional steps to control herself in order to avoid getting moody in the later times.

She learned the hard way that too much of everything wasn't good.

Soon enough, Deloise was ready to hit the streets. This time around, she got her breakfast order to go and headed to the venue of the meeting. Due to the size of the people expected, the meeting was moved to the very hall where she did her first live audition.

She couldn't predict if it was a good or bad thing but she leaned to the former. It was in this very hall she got the role so she figured today was going to be a good day.

So far, she managed to rewrite her history with this meeting. She wasn't late, neither was she being screamed at or threatened. Yeah, it was a good day.

In due time, people poured into the place. No doubt ready to meet their colleagues for the filming. Deloise greeted as many that would have her and subconsciously waited for the arrival of a certain person with eager eyes.

Not that there was anything special about him but she couldn't help checking the doors at the entrance of a new person. Call it an instinctive reaction.

When everyone else got into the hall, she was left wondering if he was about to miss a meeting he'd so graciously and personally invited her to. In the congregation of people were the entirety of the production personnel. Every single detail was represented by the adequate person as planned.

It was like a sea of people gathered together to make the script a reality and Deloise couldn't be anymore happier.

She was finally doing this!

While Deloise made mental notes of the personalities gathered, the door suddenly swung open. The force of it drew the attention of so many, If not everyone to the door area, momentarily stopping every sort of communication.

Aaron walked in, looking a shadow of himself and sporting a stormy weather countenance. Noticing the big black cloud over his head, they all watched him enter and take a seat away from the chaos and wandering eyes.

Aaron's dramatic entrance was cut short by the arrival of Mr Austin. With sharpened senses, he began the meeting, explaining why the main director was yet to be seen and the fact that they would be commencing filming without him for the meantime.

Deloise listened with rapt attention, making sure to grasp as much as she could while somehow giving attention to the grumpy guy seated far behind in solitude.

You know who that grumpy guy was.

After about an hour and thirty minutes, the meeting was done with and everyone was more enlightened on the different roles they were to play for the success of the filming. All they had to do was prepare themselves for the job which was set to commence in a week's time.

The meeting hall was crowded and noisy after the meeting and everyone familiarized themselves, wanting to create a good working relationship with as many people as possible.

Deloise wasn't left out. She spoke with some people and soon enough, she was tearing her way towards the direction of Aaron. Somehow, she felt something was up with him and the fact that he remained unmoving even after the meeting only told her she wasn't far from the truth.

When she got to him, she took a stance without a word in front of him. Almost urging him to break the silence and say something.

A grueling minute passed and there was still no word. The only difference was the whispers going around with eyes trained on them. Two of which Aaron didn't care about but that wasn't the case of Deloise.

" So what? You're just going to ignore me even when I'm right in front of you?" She spoke, her tone almost daring.

Still… nothing.

" For someone who told me the actual time this meeting was taking place, why were you late?" Deloise spoke again after a sharp minute.

She was talking to a brick wall. Aaron didn't say anything and after a few seconds, he got up with a huff and made to leave his spot but Deloise caught him by his arm.

It was an involuntary reaction which caused her face to redden at the sudden contact with his oh so masculine arm.

The almost euphoric reaction of Deloise was cut off when Aaron yanked his arm like one touched by a scalding hot iron.

" What is wrong with you?! Can't you read the fucking room?! Oh damn it! Don't tell me you are getting all over me because of one stupid Dance!" Aaron bellowed to the hearing of everyone and the bewilderment of Deloise.

" N–No… I j-just–"

" Just listen to me, girl." Aaron interrupted her attempts at explaining. " Whatever happened then was meaningless. Get that into your head and leave me the fuck alone! The rest of you too!"

Upon hearing the last statement, the many people who were spectators of the drama averted their eyes, no one wanted to get snapped at.

Aaron proceeded walking out but was once again caught by Deloise. This time around, by his shirt. Her face portrayed the humiliation and embarrassment she felt at his little stunt.

" Apologize."

It was the only word she was able to get out. This time around, she wasn't going to let him walk all over her in front of an audience. Her stance was determined and resilient.

With one swift and effective pull, Aaron's shirt was out of the hands of Deloise and without as much of a glance back, he left the hall, leaving her to hang dry in front of the colleagues.

Deloise couldn't explain what had transpired and struggled to keep her tears at bay. She had somehow managed to make a fool of herself once again.

The bitter taste of regret immediately engulfed her. Why did she have to talk to him in the first place? Thanks to another mistake on her part, she had become an object of ridicule.

Meanwhile, Aaron headed straight to his car from the meeting hall. He was supposed to head over to his grandma's when he realized that he needed to attend that meeting.

It killed him not knowing how she was at every passing second which made him distracted and temperamental. Inside his car, he placed a call to the family doctor asking about her predicament and was told she was discharged and relegated to some home treatments.

A news that didn't quite go down well with him but there was only much he could do when it came to his Ma's decisions. Mrs Blackman was always a woman of herself.

Barely escaping being ticketed, Aaron finally got to his ma's home. He dashed into the house calling out to know where she was as he headed into her room.

Upon entry, he was met with a large muscular back in a black suit. The presence of the familiar yet unfamiliar person filled the room and simultaneously worsened Aaron's countenance.

" Hello, Brother."

The bass voice of the supposed intruder said with an arrogant smile. One that wasn't visible as a result of the fact he didn't bother to reveal himself to Aaron.

" Where is ma?" Aaron replied, cutting straight to the point. His tone grotusque and curt.

" Now that's no way to talk to your brother, is it, Aaron?" He asked, turning around with his hands deep in his suit pants.

" Moses." Aaron said in acknowledgement, his hands firmly placed by his sides as a result of the sport shorts he had on. He never anticipated meeting him, else he would have dressed the part.

" How is it going with whatever you're doing? Still enjoy selling your pretty face to indulgent girls? " He asked with a mocking laugh.

" How about you? Still sucking the frail dick of –"

Before Aaron could finish his statement, Moses headed for his throat, strangling him with anger.

" Don't you dare use that bastard mouth of yours to–"

" ENOUGH! " The frail voice of Mrs Blackman bellowed, causing the men duo to fall apart from the other with eyes focused on her. "Both of you, Leave." She ordered, her hand placed on her head.

" Ma– "

" Grandma–"

" I don't want to hear it! "

Knowing that Mrs Blackman wasn't one to be taken lightly, they both headed out of the room, suppressing emotions and glaring at the other.

After a while, Aaron headed back into the room and met his Grandma fast asleep. He couldn't believe he'd been robbed of an opportunity because of him! The most infuriating part of it was that he'd let him have the last words.

Like an unending cycle, the words of his step brother kept running in his headspace.

" You'll surely come begging, boy. Like the mistake you are, you'd realize you made a big mistake. "