Chapter Four

Twenty five girls all between the age of 15 and 17 sat attentively listening to Eva talk. She was wearing her navy blue knee high skirt that hugged her curves like a glove and a white silk top with ruffles at the neckline. She had complimented it with her black wedges and pearl earrings. She had never been the makeup kind, so a simple nude gloss was on her lips. Her dreadlocks were in a ponytail that everyone had come to know her for. She had strictly two classes a week at the shelter on Friday and Saturday all in Baking. But once in a while she substituted for Connie as she had done today in hospitality management since the former had run off to go meet her husband.

As she talked her eyes drifted off in the window where she could see two men walking in the compound. One of the men was White with a deep tan. He was very tall and had broad shoulders. From her vantage point she could she his eyes wondering all over the place. She hoped he was a donor because something seemed to put a smile on his face. Looking at the clock she noticed that the lesson had 26 more minutes to go. She sighed hoping Rachel, the administrator would attend to the gentlemen

 Eva sat in her office reading through her emails, Rachel knocked on her office door.

"Excuse me, Madam but there's a gentleman that would like to have a word with you."

Eva wore her most professional look and prepared herself to woo the gentleman. She was sure it was one of the gentlemen she had seen earlier during her class. As a rule everything at the shelter was always in impeccable state and Rachel showed the visitors around before anything else. They had fishing, herding, catering, mechanics, fashion and design, crafts, computer and entrepreneurship programs. 

The atmosphere changed. The once humid weather became hot all of a sudden. Eva's heart beat increased, her figures became clammy. Her intuition kicked in, her flight instinct demanded she makes a run for it. Had the ripper finally decided to come collect her soul. "Jesus! Calm down Eva, you've met several clients before. So buckle up. " Her conscious chanted. Although she wanted to run off and hide for a reason unbeknownst to her, she smiled and looked at Rachel and nodded in approval for the  clients to come in.

For Eva, time slowed. The door squeaked,  a man walked in wearing blue jeans and  a white shirt. His hair was silk black. His eyes were brown, too brown. His tan was extremely visible. She wondered if he had been under the sun for far too long. As he walked towards her desk he looked like a panther. Like he was a predator and she the prey. That explained why she had wanted to run. He actually looked familiar. He looked out of place in her office. He sucked the oxygen out of the small crammed office space. He made her wish she had taken her brother's advice to get a bigger room as an office.

" Ms. Evangeline Kata?" it was a question. The sound of her name from his mouth sent shivers down her spine. She found herself clenching her thighs. He definitely sounded familiar but she couldn't place him. Her brain seemed fuzzy. 

"Y-y-yes. Th- tha-that's me. " She stammered, something she had never done a day in her life. She felt extremely nervous. 

The man's eyes widened. He looked skeptical as though he couldn't believe her.

" You must be kidding! You can't be her. You are too tiny! How old a year? Do you eat? Don't tell me you're anearoxic " He said voice raising.

That outburst was enough to snap her out of whatever spell that had taken over her body. She couldn't believe the guy had the nerve to call her tiny. She couldn't understand why bigger creatures thought it was fine to insult her. Now that she noticed he had  a hint of an accent. Something from those old Western movies with cowboys.. Damian Dunbar! How could she not have recognized him immediately? What was he doing here? In Uganda? At the shelter moreover ?

"D-Damian. I mean Mr. Dunbar. What are you do-doing here?

"Can you please answer my question?" he implored. Question, which question? Oh yeah

"Mr. Dunbar, I am 26 years old and I'm of average build. Yes, I do eat food and no I'm not ANEAROXIC." She said with a fake smile that could be seen miles away 

"You could I've fooled me." He sneered.

Eva took a deep breath and counted to…..or did she recite the alphabet? At this rate her brain was slow to process anything in detail.

"Mr. Dunbar, what brings you all the way to this continent. I wasn't expecting you. You could have informed us so that we give you the proper welcome you deserve." Fake enthusiasm and all.

"Enough with the pleasantries." Damian found himself displeased by her fake action. She would make a terrible poker player. The chit's emotions were evident on her face. Had no one ever told her that. He could read her easily. She looked panicked and very angry. 

"Mr. Dunbar, would you please have a sit and let me know how I maybe of service."

Damian looked at the woman before him. He had flown all those hours to come and meet  the woman that had made sleep elude him for the last few years and he had found this? She was too tiny. He could crush her in one go. She looked like a teenager, a 15 year old to be precise. She was definitely not his type. He dated blond long legged women, not orange colored short tiny females. She didn't look like she recognized him at first. He admitted her face looked comical as realization kicked in. Her big owlish brown eyes widened.  Her perfectly trimmed eyebrows arched. He mouth opened like a fish then closed. She blushed furiously. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.