chapter 2

She was amazed by the way the houses around her were big with breathtaking designs. It felt like she was in paradise. She was enjoying the atmosphere with the sun becoming a little bit hot already. She brought out her phone and checked the time and it was a quarter past two.

Before she could put the phone back in her pocket it began to ring and she was surprised. Who could have this her new number? She was frightened a little bit and did not answer the phone. She then turned back to head back home when the phone started ringing again.

This time she answered the call but she did not utter any word as she was waiting for the person to talk first. Suddenly she had a voice sounding very worried. She listened carefully and it was James. She sighed with relief and responded.

"Please don't tell me you have gone back." He said with a very low and worried voice.

"What? No!" She responded immediately.

"Thank God," James said as he placed his hands on his head.

"Where are you now?" He asked again.

"I'm not far from your apartment at all. I'm still within the estate and I am already on my way back home."

"Within the estate? Don't move, just stay where you are. I am coming to pick you up now." James responded with haste as he hurriedly hopped in the car and ignited the engine before the driver could get there, he had already zoomed off.

"I am…" He hung up too before she could finish.

She stood there and started smiling like a baby with no worries. After a few minutes of standing, she saw his black Sedan car and waved as the car halted. James alighted from the car and hugged her immediately. She was surprised but did not hesitate.

"I thought you left." He whispered to her ears as he hugged her.

"I just came out to…"

"No no no, it's alright I understand." He said cutting her off and he smiled. He walked her to the car and opened the door for her.

"Oh thank you, James." She said, smiling at him.

"You came back early, I hope there's no problem at work?" She asked and he nodded.

"No, I was just thinking about y-o-u-your…" He stuttered as he could feel her gaze. He couldn't continue and there was silence all through the ride till they got back home.

He gave the flower to her and she was so happy. They went back inside the house together, after a few minutes James called her out and she sat down with him in the sitting room with the room a little bit dark.

The television was on and the sound was not too loud the room was filled with flowers with different scents and colours. It was the type of atmosphere Christine liked.

"You think you can tell me more about yourself huh?" James said, breaking the silence and Christine's heart skipped.

"What would you like to know?" She asked and forced a smile. James sat up well and faced her smiling.

"It's alright I don't mean to spoil your mood, you can just tell me the fun parts only." He let out and Christine smiled.

Christine was about to start when James stood up and was roaming around in the sitting room where Christine sat down to watch the TV.

"Are you looking for something?" Her lovely and thin voice cut his attention and he smiled.

James smiled and then sat beside her. "Alright, you can continue now." He said and she swallowed hard.

"Can we talk about it another time?" Christine asked with a grim expression.

"Yes of course it's alright." James let out almost immediately.

"Uhmm, I am going to visit my mum at the other end of the estate. Do you mind coming with me?" He asked with his face squeezed

"Yeah of course!" She responded and jumped up immediately.

"Wow great!" James yelled.

He took her to a boutique and she changed her clothes. When she came out of the dressing room James couldn't hold the shock of how beautiful she was.

"You look like a princess!" He yelled with one of his hands tightly covering his mouth.

Not quite long after they zoomed off straight to his mother's house. At first, she was shy but James made her comfortable.

Immediately Mrs Ann entered the sitting room, Christine stood up to greet her and with happiness, she embraced her and welcomed her.

After some moments the dinner was served and James broke the silence.

"Mum, this is Christine." He said and faced his mum.

"Christine, this is my mum." He announced and they all smiled.

"Thank you for making me happy today, my son. You did the right thing today. I am so proud of you." Ann said as she patted James on his shoulder.

"No mama, it's not what you think. Christine is just my friend." James let out and Ann squeezed her face almost immediately, Christine noticed this too and her smile wiped off that instant.

"Just a friend?" Ann asked half yelling. James nodded and she hissed.

"Meet me in my room now." She said as she stood up and walked away looking at Christine irritatedly.

"Mum, what is it?" James yelled as he entered, smashing the door behind him as hard as he could.

"I don't want her." She retorted.

"Want?" James asked, looking surprised as he found it hard to control his already fuming anger.

"I just introduced her to you now as a friend and nothing else!" He yelled.

"Yeah, that's exactly why I don't want her!" She yelled back at him.

James scoffed and walked out of the room smashing the door again. He looked around in the sitting room but Christine was not there. His heart skipped a little bit and he dashed it immediately.

He was relieved when he got outside and saw her standing by his car. He opened the car for her to enter and they zoomed off.

"I am so sorry about that Christine."

"Can we just forget about it please!" She retorted immediately and it ran down his spine like he was shot.

After a few minutes' ride it was already dark outside. James pulled over on a very expensive night club and he persuaded Christine to follow him inside and have some drinks.

"Come on." He said with a smile trying to cheer her up.

"No, I'm not going in there with you

." Christine let out and James was shocked.

"Come on, why not?" James asked calmly with his face squeezed.

Christine kept mute and he swallowed hard. He was already getting tired of the whole caring thing but he just had to satisfy her and make her feel comfortable as he had never felt this way for any lady till he met Christine.

"Come on I promise we won't stay long and you will enjoy your time here trust me." James let out again and she glared at him.

She agreed and followed him as they walked into the bar holding their hands together tightly. It was all rocking inside the club with a red light background, immediately they entered strippers were already waving at James but he was all focused on Christine and did not even blink nor take his eyes off of her.

They walked into the lounge and ordered some drinks not quite long after James stood up and went to urinate. Christine was gently sipping her drink when one of the male strippers walked up to her.

"Do you mind if I give you a lap dance?" He asked and advanced his movement towards her.

She dropped her glass of wine and looked at him irritatedly and shook her head to decline.

"No!" He yelled as he was already moving very close to her making her feel uncomfortable.

Suddenly a handsome, tall, dark-skinned guy also in his mid-twenties grabbed the stripper from behind and pushed him away.

"She said NO!" He yelled and the stripper recognised him immediately and he apologized and walked away.

"Thank you," Christine said, smiling at him.

"It's alright." He responded.

"My name is Daren." He said stretching out his hand for a handshake.

"I'm Christine." She responded as the smile on her face was already booming. Daren held her hand still and did not let go.

Not quite long after James got back and met both of them smiling at each other with their hands still glued together. He started fuming with anger boiling inside of him.

He walked up to Christine and grabbed her hands. "Time to go." He said dragging her out of the club and Daren followed them.

When they got out before she could enter the car Daren grabbed her hands too and they halted. He brought out his phone and stretched it out to Christine.

"Can I have your contact and call you later." He said calmly without making eye contact with James at all.

"No!" James yelled.

"I am talking to her and not you libertine!" Daren yelled at him rudely.

James advanced with a swift movement to hit him.