CHAPTER 263: DIFFERENT AURA

Paul waited until Ivana and the boys entered the house. He then tiptoed from his hiding, he hurriedly walked towards the gate. He was not looking at where he was going so he ended up bumping into someone.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" she exclaimed as she moved some hair behind her ear. "Holy shit, what are you doing here?" Mish asked when he looked at the person that pumped into her

"If you came to hurt my sister again these time l will skin you alive"... she said through gritted teeth. "Get out of my way you bastard!"

Paul didn't answer her, he was just surprised why Ivana and Mish were talking to him with anger surged in their hearts. He looked at her for almost 3 minutes when he decides to walk outside the gate. He picked out his phone to make a call.

He was so confused that he didn't remember that he hadn't informed anyone about him coming in back to the country. He scrolled through his phone contact as he called his driver.

"Come pick me at Alika Apartment gate C!" He commanded.

He was fortunate because his driver was in town, he was surprised that his boss was calling him at that time. To be picked at an apartment.

'When did he get back in the country?' he thought as he reversed the car. 'if he wanted me to pick him it should be at the airport, not an apartment. I wonder if the boss Madam knows about this.'

After a short minute of waiting at the gate, Paul spotted a black Mercedes Benz C classic pulling over near him. His driver alighted then opened the back door for him. Paul walked to the car and sat in.

Back to Ivana's house, she was bathing the boys then helping them write their assignments before going to the kitchen. Mish was refreshing before they could cook dinner together. After Mish was done she walked to the sitting room to find Ivana helping the boys with their assignment.

She sat on the couch in front of Ivana. The boys were done with their assignment as they left to keep their books. So Ivana looked at Mish and asked.

"Mish, what are we having for dinner? I am a famished girl," She said but got no reply that's when she realized that Mish have spaced out.

"Hey Mish back to earth!" Ivana snapped a finger in front of her.

"Huh? uh l don't know, but I think Ugali -Nyama Choma is fine with me," she replied.

"Is something the matter Mish?, You can talk to me, you know we have each other's back like we have no one else in this world," she said worriedly.

"No Ivana, I am fine am just tired," she replied.

"Okay girl you don't have to worry yourself l got your back," She said as stood up and left for the kitchen. "You can rest as you watch the news, l will cook dinner for you."

The boys were back in the sitting room, so Mukhwana the supper active one decided to ask his mother.

"Mama can l help you cook?,l have missed Nyama Choma you know it's my favorite," Mukhwana said as he walked towards the kitchen.

Ivana just nodded to him, she knows that she won't win an argument with him. 

"Mama, can l also come?" Mulongo asked with puppy eyes. He was the shy type between the two, they are twins with different abilities and characters. Mukhwana was bold and talkative while Mulongo was shy and reserved. No matter the differences they have in characters, Ivana loved them equally.

The two of them accompanied their mother to the kitchen leaving their Aunt watching television in the sitting room. The rest of the cooking was enjoyable as the boys kept on requesting their mother to show them how to grill Nyama Choma. The boys prepared kachumbari as their mother cooked Ugali(a stiff meal).

"Go and prepare the table as l finish up," Ivana told the boys.

They walked back to the sitting room and found their Aunt napping on the couch. They woke her up and made fun of her before they told her to prepare the table.

Ivana carried the food to the table, dished them on the four plates. They started digging in as they enjoyed the tasty Nyama Choma. The rest of dinner was enjoyable as Mish praised the boy for making delicious Nyama Choma but in a real sense, she knows that their mother was the one who did everything.

After dinner, Mukhwana and Mulongo went to sleep leaving their mother and Aunt to clean the utensils.

Ivana kept on looking at Mish, she knew that something was bothering her she didn't know what it was. Mish cleared her throat the decided against all odds to start a conversation about Ivana's past.

"Hey, sis you just look like a perfect wife cleaning after eating dinner with her family" she chuckled.

What Ivana did was sigh and look at her before saying, "By the way Mish l don't bother thinking about it! I already accepted my fate that marriage is not my thing."

"Why Ivana? don't you think it's a high time you forgive him," she said while making funny faces.

Ivana stopped washing the utensils as she glanced at them, her glace was fixed before saying, "What do you mean l should forgive him Mish? are you out of your mind. I mean are you listening to yourself?." She asked with her hands akimbo.

Ivana chuckled then continued, "Do you know how many sleepless nights l spent crying over a man who doesn't consider my feeling? A man who has hurt me over and over without a care in this world. Mish, you don't know him, you are being deceived by his looks Mish."

Ivana looked at her apologetically as she wiped away her tears and said, "Mish you are more than a sister to me l thought you should be on my side about these, but l was wrong."

Ivana sighed then said, "I hope this is the last time you will talk to me about Paul. Wait a minute Mish, did you see paul outside when you came in?, She asked then before Mish could reply she said, "never mind!, Goodnight size..."

She stormed out of the kitchen without looking at Mish. Mish gaped at her as she watched Ivana walk out of the kitchen towards her room.

Mish was astonished at how Ivana reacted, it was unlikely of her, it was strange, so strange that Ivana answered hurriedly like that.

Mish had no choice but to finish tidying up the kitchen before moving to her bedroom.

*****

On the way to his hotel room, Paul regretted everything, everything that he didn't realize that they have arrived. The driver was holding the door for him to get outside.

"Boss we are here," the driver said.

Paul comes outside without saying a word to him. He walked to his hotel and pressed the elevator to take him to the floor where his room was in Luhya intercontinental hotel it was one of the numerous hotels under his Company Luhyahood Acting Company. Not his company but Ivana's family company.

He took a quick shower again, he had no mood and appetite to order food. So he called his friend Mike Oga back in Nigeria.

The phone ringed and Mike picked up on the third ring. He was not surprised that Paul was calling him at that time. He had promised to do when he landed.

 "Oga how are you Mehn?" Paul said upon Mike receiving the call.

"This is the first time you addressed me with my second name. I am cool Mehn, how are you?"Mike said.

"Mike I am devastated, You won't believe it. She refused to listen to me,l feel guilty about everything mike,l wish l listened to you."

 Mike was quiet for some time before he said, "What do you mean she refused...

"Ivana didn't allow me to talk to her, She doesn't live in the mansion. She has rented an apartment and she is a mother of twins now," he sighed then said, "Two cute boys mike,l do regret it l wish l can reverse time, l will not cheat on her."

"Don't worry Paul I will help you solve everything with her. Be patient okay, relax for now and go to bed. Good night my friend," Mike said as he hung up.

He knew that Paul was angry and stressed so they would have talked the whole night. So he didn't wait for his reply as he hung up and turned off his mobile phone.

Mike was Paul's childhood friend and best friend. They understand each other very well and rely on each one's advice.

Paul forced himself to sleep because he has a busy schedule the next day. He was tired but not sleepy, Ivana's face kept appearing in his mind. He kept on thinking of Ivana had moved on and decided to bear kids for another man.

He couldn't believe how Ivana moved on that easily. She loved him dearly, he remembered how he had cheated on her and she forgave him.

'When I left her for Nigeria she was not pregnant, are those boys adopted?. I wish I had seen their face l could have known. She was scared of the kids finding me in the house. Does it mean that they are my kids or someone else's blood? I will have to find out one of these fine days,' he thought as he turned on the bed.

The next morning, Paul was wakened up by his alarm. He murmured a short prayer before jumping out of bed to the bathroom. Although he didn't tell his mother that he will be present during auditioning, he didn't want to be late. He thought that he will take Ivana for a honeymoon or spend time with her but he was wrong. He will have to attend the auditioning of new actors and actresses.

Although the auditioning was happening in the hotel he was in. Luhya intercontinental hotel's Ballroom, he didn't want to be late.

After dressing up in a Black suit, Paul had breakfast while glazing at his wristwatch. A quarter to nine Paul moved to his elevator going straight to the ballroom the audition had to start at exactly nine.

Back to Alika Apartment, Ivana woke up very early to prepare her boys for school, prepare breakfast, and packed lunch for them before taking them to the gate to be picked up by a school bus. She comes back to prepare herself to work.

She found Mish already dressed up ready for work when Ivana paused to look at her ." By the way, Mish is sorry,l should not have talked to you like that yesterday it's just that l had high adrenaline when you mentioned his name."

"You don't have to worry siz l understand you, no need to apologize," Mish said.

"Now hurry up so that we can go together to work l will drop you on the way to the hotel," Mish said.

"Hotel you said?" Ivana asked. "Are you not going to the company today?"

"I forgot to tell you, sorry my dear. l was selected to be one of the judges during Luhyahood auditions," she replied.

'Luhyahood? that's why Paul is in the country?' Ivana thought.

"Wow, that's great don't be hard on those new actors and actresses okay, be lenient," Ivana said as she picked her Gucci bag and accompanied Mish to the parking lot.

Their drive to their different destination was enjoyable as they kept on listening and singing along Sauti's sol album the Midnight train. Mish dropped Ivana at her fashion store as she drove to Luhya intercontinental hotel to Audition.

Ivana entered the Fashion store and planned her schedule for the day before the girls could arrive. She also wanted to finish the previous work she was assigned by her tutor/ trainer boss- designing of acting costume. She wanted to be perfect in both designing and sewing.

She was visioning on opening a big fashion house in the country now that she had already conquered the county market.

Mish arrived at the hotel and entered the ballroom. She was startled at the scene, she had to compose herself before she proceeded to the assigned place where the other two Judges were seated.

Paul was emitting a different aura of superiority while looking at Mish.