9 chapter nine

He smiled at the priest as he called he and the god mother to stand by the child and her mother and he was happy, when he held Amber's hand; he missed touching her, feeling her skin and he could see from where he stood the dark color she had placed on her lashes, and her brows were curved perfectly; he could smell her vanilla perfume;

The divorce was all she cared about; he thought as they moved apart.

She wanted to divorce him; was she pregnant with Jake's child or was he proposing to marry her?

He had asked for them to talk; but he didn't want to just talk. ..he had spoken to Maxwell and he has helped him figured out how to reach her but now, he just didn't know.

He had said they should talk about the divorce he didn't want. ....

Yes, he had an idea.

If she wanted to divorce, she just have to show him that she didn't need him and he knew exactly what to do.

He smiled at the ladies that looked his way. He still had effect on the ladies and most of all he had a great effect on Amber as she did on him;

He had noticed how shy, she would become when he came to her unexpected, he had seen her look his way a few times, he had seen the way she lowered her eyes, whenever he passed or was close by, although he knew sometimes; she wanted to block him out but no matter what she did he was just too close. 

Which gave him a upper hand and he wasn't going to let that divorce happen; he would show her how much she missed him and how they were like being together.

He looked round; the living room was packed with people who he had heard were mostly their neighbors and a fine gentleman; Carla called her friend; Ethan.

He brought his plates into the kitchen to drop it when he saw Amber talking to Carla and her mother about something, when he saw her; her voice was now audible. 

'We should leave.' She told them; wiping her hands on the napkin.

'It is just four, I was thinking you could stay for dinner.' Becker said warmly.

'I am sorry, Becker. I have work in the morning.'

'But that doesn't mean, you will go empty handed.' She said rushing out of the kitchen.

Carla moved to her and held her hands. 'Do you have to go?'

Amber nodded smiling.

'I know you are a very busy woman but can I call you often?'

Amber gently stroke her cheeks; 'Of course, anytime. Just make sure to take care of yourself and take care of Amber and be good.'

She nodded and hugged her, as if fighting back tears; Amber pressed her hand loosely round her body because her body hadn't healed completely yet; but she allowed the woman to pressed her body round her.

'Thank you for everything.'

'I am happy to know you, so there are no gratitudes between us, we are more than acquaintance.....you are like a younger sister to me, so do not forget that.' Amber said patting her back and gently rubbed the back of her hair.

'I won't forget, Amber. You are my older sister now, I have always wanted one.'

When she released her; she saw that Carla had been crying; she shake her head and wiped the tears away from her cheeks.

'No more teary eyes, Carla. You have to be strong for Amber and for your family.'

'It isn't easy but I will try.' She said as she sniffed back the tears.

She hugged her again. 'Call me, when you need anything, anytime.'

Carla nodded cleaning her tears.

While Carla hugged Nicholas; Mrs Becker came into the kitchen with a large piece of cake on the saucer.

Amber laughed softly, letting Becker put it down before talking.

'You didn't have to cut half of the cake.' Amber said with a smile on her face.

'Jessica, wouldn't even let me until Jeffery told her down. But you deserve this and so much more.' She said wrapping the cake up.

When she was done, she hesitated before moving to Amber. 'I know we don't have a lot but appreciate this as a token, as a gift is promising relationship between us in future.'

'I welcome that. Thank you...'

'No, thank you everything, for Carla and Amber. Thank you for everything.'

She smiled as she pulled her into her arms for a hug. 'I will not forget this.'

'There is no need to.'

She hugged Nicholas as well and then she helped her carry the cake and some food, she pack which Amber insisted was absolutely unnecessary but she carried it along not to hurt the woman's feelings, they went out of the kitchen, bade Jeffery goodbye but Jeffrey told them; he wasn't going to say goodbye, that he would be seeing them again, sooner than they expect.

After giving a kiss to Amber, they found Brian outside with his friends, he said he would call them often; which Amber just laughed off, because it was absolutely unnecessary since they had no connection.

She was on road, the cake filled the car, even with the window winged down; she sighed; happy all ended well and then she looked at man sitting beside her, looking down at his phone; the activities of the day, did not diminish how dashing he looked. He said they should talk about the divorce, she didn't see any need. She had noticed peering eyes looking at him; Carla's friends watching him and Becker's friends chessely looking at him and he smiled at them, allowing their advances as they moved to him sometimes for a small talk.

He said they were together in that house, did he have to flirt with other people in her absence, what would Carla's neighbors think; her husband was a cheat, a Casanova...which she could say was true after what she witnessed.

'Amber?' She heard her name.

She turned to look at him, he was smiling...he still had that wonderful smile that made her heart beat fast everytime he looked at her.

'Amber, I have been talking to you for the past two minutes, you were not listening; what were you thinking?'

You. she didn't and couldn't tell him that. She found it difficult to lie to him; before they dated and after and now she couldn't bring herself to lie.

'Two minutes is not such a long time, if you are patient enough, you wouldn't have had to complain.' Which was the truth. If he had just waited that night, they would still be together.

'What did you ask me?'

He looked at her; he wondered how she could switch modes, so quickly. Is because she didn't want him to see her vulnerable side? He had seen her at that side before and it had been to his advantage.

'I asked if you know a place, we can eat.'

She started to nod as her gaze dropped to her wrist; she missed the incoming car and turned and then she quickly stopped at the red sign behind another car. She checked the time on her watch; 5:30.

When did time passed so quickly?

Then she saw green and pressed the brakes.

'What is it?' He asked seeing her expression....worried.

She didn't want to tell him but what other options, does she have? She have to cancel dinner with him, even though she made a promise.

'We can't talk tonight.'

'Why not?' She heard the disappointment in his voice.....or did she imagine it.

'I have to be at my parents house, in the next few minutes.'

He nod. He understood; Mrs Elisabeth liked having the family over for dinner, especially on Sunday evenings; when everyone was less busy; and he had noticed her parents had lived three miles from their house, before they moved in. It would be nice to have dinner with her family again. An a good opportunity to win over Amber.

'I don't mind, joining in. I love your mother's cooking.' He said with a smile making sure; Amber didn't miss it.

She looked away as she step on the gas then she heard when she thought in his mind, he totally reschedule.

'Then we will talk after dinner.' She heard.

****

She arrived at the gate and pressed the honk of the car twice and when she saw the gate, open the first thing she noticed was Jake's blue SUV.

Her mouth gaped opened, how could she forget he was coming, she closed her mouth when she noticed eyes on her; the guard opened the gate, but her car did not drive in.

She was supposed to be getting divorced from this man sitting beside her and instead she was bringing him to a family dinner where her boyfriend was going to be at.

God!

'Amber, why aren't we going in?'

She ignored him. Maybe she should just go back, call her mother, tell her, she wasn't doing okay, to avoid a confrontation between the two men.

Just as she was about to turn the wheel. Her phone rang; she stopped and answered it, hoping it was something Lucy needed or Tricia..... anything to take excuse from this dinner.

'Hello.'

'Baby, I can see your car, do not think about turning.' She heard her mother's authoritative voice.

'I was.....'

'Even though your windows are tinted, I know it is you... and Nicholas. So come in for dinner. This is your house too.' With that she hung up.

She looked at Nicholas before starting the car, hoping he didn't hear a thing.

'Any problem?'

Yes, a big one. And she couldn't tell him, because they would wonder what was she hiding Nicholas for? Not like they did anything wrong.

She shook her head and drove into the compound; preparing herself for Jake's confrontation and whoa! The gates closed; Jessie too; her twin was inside her room and her light was on.

How did she get entangled into such web?

She stopped the car and walked out; dear God, she couldn't wait for the end of dinner.

'Nick!' The house keeper saw him first.

'Nick?' She heard Jessie's voice from the stairs.

'Nicholas!' 

The calling of his name in different ways; made her to wonder if all those times she told them not to talk about Nicholas Mitchell; they actually did talk about him. 

'Nicholas Mitchell!' She heard her mother's voice from the kitchen.

Nicholas moved to her side and hugged her, he literally raised her up on her feet; her mother laughed when he dropped her down and kissed her on her cheek.

She looked at them; her mother had seen him in her car; why was she acting all friendly and Nicholas had seen her just last week; why was he acting like he missed her and haven't see her for a whole year.

'I missed you.' She heard him.

She heard her mother answered as she kissed his cheek back. 

'Where is the CEO?'

'In his study.' She told him, as he released her.

'I'll be back.' He said before turning left to the study. He still remembered everything in the house.

'I told you, it was nice to bring him.' She heard her mother.

'You are the only one saying it now.'

'Amber, come help me in the kitchen.' Her mother called her.

'A minute, mom.' She said heading towards the study; she needed to make sure everything stays at it is....and where is Jake; she had seen his car outside; where did he go?

She moved towards the opened study and stopped; Nicholas was her dad's arms, hugging him, she saw Jake look at her, she gave him a small smile.

'I feel like, it has been a while.' Her dad hugged him again.

'I agree it has. Can I help? We wouldn't want you to be caught with work and upset mom by missing dinner.' Nicholas offered.

Mr Williams was delighted. 'Yes, you are right. Yes, yes.' He said moving back to his seat. Nicholas waited until he gave him a particular document. They were still talking about how they were going to make this faster that they had forgotten she and Jake were in the room?

Mr Williams looked up and saw him. 'Oh, Jake....you can go ahead, Nicholas and I will finish, he knows the work better than you.'

Way to undermine his worth, dad....he was just trying to help. She wanted to say something, anything but she didn't know what exactly.

'Alright, sir. I will go down stairs and help Mrs Pade.'

Her dad didn't even look at him, he just nodded. Just before he walked away; the phone in the study rang; usually her dad would have answered it but Nicholas stretched his hand to pick the cordless phone from the receiver.

'Hello.' How could this man, be so full of himself. He knew everyone so what?

Well, Amber it is your fault for bringing him, now deal with it.

'Yes, ma'am.' He said over the phone and put it back on the receiver. 

'Was that Liz?' Her dad asked his eyes on the paper.

Nicholas with a smile; he nod his head. 'She says; we have thirty minutes to round up.....that anyone who doesn't have dinner, can his own food in the kitchen and wash the dishes.'

She saw her dad look at Nicholas with an admirable smile; 'I don't have much time, and mind you, she was specifically talking to me.'

Who else would she be talking to, dad? She wanted to ask him.

'Then let's get to it.' He said as he was back on his paperwork again.

Jake walked towards her about to kiss her cheeks for a greeting when she heard as if on cue;

'Amber, your mom asked you to come to the kitchen, now!' He put more emphasis in the last word the way; her mom would have said it.

She rolled her eyes and she looked at Jake; who had anger in his face; Nicholas just smiled. 

Could this day be over already?

She stepped out of the study closely behind was Jake.

'Why is he here?'

She didn't even know how to answer that question; she didn't tell Jake that she was going out with Nicholas; she had just said that she would be going with a friend to see a pregnant young lady who just delivered. 

'I met him outside.' She came up with.

He didn't ask again. Knowing since he was her soon to be ex-husband and had a good relationship with her parents, he would come visit them; that was inevitable.

'He should learn to stay away.'

Which was the problem; Nicholas wasn't the one to stay away, especially from the things he wanted.... like her for instance.

'Mom and Dad seem to want him here.'

'That is the problem.' He said before he moved to the living room.

She looked at him; her mother liked him but not as much as she likes Nicholas now. Her dad have always liked Nicholas but he is trying so hard to like Jake; Jake had a bad temper and Nicholas wasn't hot tempered, he could control his anger, when he wanted to and he loved her parents like his own but Jake had felt as far as she loved him, her parents were not going to be an issue.

She moved towards the kitchen, to keep her hands busy rather than think about her soon to be ex-husband and boyfriend.

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