Chapter 27

Getting home I noticed a small light in Annies building, I decided to park her car in her open garage. I feel exhausted and cold, it's still raining but not heavy, just drops, I walked to her doorpost so I could drop her keys and probably apologize, after ringing her bell for a while she finally came to open the door.

She noticed I was soaked with water and she did not waste any more time before letting me inside.

"What happened to you?" She asked looking worried at first I did not say anything, "so this is how it looks?" I asked

"I don't understand, what looks like what, " Annie asked curiously

"I mean your house, it's beautiful from the inside and neat too."

She let out a little smile, I am freezing, she helped me take off my jacket

"Hold on let me get a towel to wipe your body," she said leaving me in the sitting room, I decided to look round, check out the pictures on the shelve

"What are you looking at?"

I let out a little sigh "you look beautiful and Diane looks more like you when you were little"

"Please put that away, I don't like guns," Annie said, she had spotted the pistol I pocket in my pants

"Sorry! But how do I put it away?" I asked

"Just...never mind, here use this to wipe your body it will make you warm a little," she said "and I made some noodles, do you mind "

"No, I had enough already, I just what to take a hot bath and sleep, I have an emergency meeting tomorrow," I said

"Ok then just hold on let me make you some hot tea it won't take time," she said as she rushed to the dining table to make the tea, I don't take tea often but I will choose tea over coffee because I am sensitive to caffeine so I don't take coffee

After wiping my body I just stood there watching her as she hurriedly brought the tea, one sip and I got my tongue burnt.

"Ouch!"

"Sorry it's very hot, you should let it cool little" she warned I just want to get done with it then go home and sleep, she is always comforting I almost forgot I was supposed to apologize when she asked "so....how was your date? Did she show up?"

"Yeah, she did" I took another sip of tea then I continued " she is something else, as a matter of fact, I had what I will call the best part of my life today, you really need to meet her, she is lively, smart, elegant, classy, gorgeous and beautiful" Annie kept on nodding her head looking at me furiously as I continue to give her details of my evening

"Wow, that's cool," she said folding her arms together

I did not stop there " immediately she stepped in, time frozen, all eyes were on her, her smile captive everyone in the room and even the staff. I felt so special having her as my date, we had so much fun, we drank wine and I love the way she steers into my eyes " not minding if she was listening at all I went on "she said we could hang out some other time and I should make my intentions clear before we could kiss, that she does not kiss on first date and am ok with that, come to think of it, I mean it's totally wrong to just start kissing a guy you go out with on a first date, you know it tells a lot..." I did not mind stopping to catch my breath and she could see I was about to choke myself she cuts in

"So...why did you carry a gun to a dinner date with someone who is almost like Christ?" She asked and I paused for a while, I sense jealously.

"Well...hmm...the gun has nothing to do with the date, it's for security reasons, imagine I never had access to a gun early this morning, I wonder what your ex-husband's tugs would have done to..." She did not let me finish, then she said " not my ex-husband tugs, fine Matthew can be crazy but he won't let another man lay his hands on me, he won't and there is no proof or evidence that says, Matthew, sent armed men to attack me"

"I don't mean it that way, I was..." I mumbled then dropped the cup of tea, I saw a drop of tears gather in her eyes waiting for a little push of emotion to let them flow like a river, have I said anything wrong? Have I done anything wrong, why is she feeling sad? I questioned myself.

I walked close to her so I could touch her but she freed her hands from my reach then she asked again "you are wearing a bulletproof vest for what reason? I was the person they attacked this morning not you how is it then I don't have to wear a bulletproof vest too, how am I sure someone is trying to hurt me cause of you " instantly she busted into tears

I got confused, where is all this coming from. I went and hug her tightly, trying to give her comfort so she could stop crying

"Annie am not saying your ex-husband is the one behind all of these but he is the only suspect now and am sure the police department will work out something in a day or two, you don't need a bulletproof vest because if he is the one he won't hurt you, and we have been promised 24/7 surveillance by the CIA agent. I have a gun I can protect you from harm" I said but she is not ready to listen either

"Ok fine, what will happen if you are with your girlfriend and I get attacked just like you left me stranded not returning my text because you went on a date and completely forgot you were supposed to pick me up, maybe because am not important and not even half a beauty to match up with her," she said with an astonished and pissed of face, after breaking free from my tight hug.

"What... Why will you say that, we had an agreement and I never gave you any time, perhaps I had some challenges that's why"

"Ok challenges of not kissing her or what? Did you look at your time, should I still be at Khloe's place waiting for you? For God sake, it's 11:46 pm "

"Annie you are getting it all wrong, I.... Ok...am sorry for not coming to pick you and sorry for borrowing your car, all this won't have happened if my car was in good condition" I replied dismally

Annie felt bad about my response, she does not mean it the way am taking it, she is only worried about me and being ok "Fred am sorry if that came out wrongly, am just scared of any negative outcome and I was worried, I decided not to call so I don't interrupt anything. I thought something had happened to you"

"It's ok, am sorry I did not come on time and the reason is that my credit card is showing insufficient funds, I could not even pay for the food and drinks we had"

"Oh my God! You should have told me you don't have money, my credit card was inside the car, so how did you pay for the bills?" She asked but this time with a curious look

"Hmm...I was lucky enough, she came with her card, she paid the bills but I promise to refund her by tomorrow" I said

"That's bad"

"Yeah...I mean it's excruciating, I have never been embarrassed like that in my whole life, the worst part of it all is that I ran out of fuel so I decided to branch the gas station to get fuel, after filing the tank my credit card refused to work saying insufficient fund"

"You should have called me, I knew something was wrong," Annie said in relief

"I never wanted to bother you so I called Alex, he was the one who paid before heading to Khloe's house, she was mad at me then it started to rain heavily on my way coming home I saw a man who was stranded, his car refused to start I had to help him that's how I got wet"

"Wow! Am so sorry, I never knew all this happened" Annie continued apologizing and I feel better knowing she is no longer mad at me, I quickly picked up my jacket to leave but she offered that I sleep at her house but then I need a long rest and time to myself so I declined

"No maybe some other time," I said

"Ok but Diane will be coming home tomorrow, I thought about it with Khloe and she also thought it would be nice having her around me," Annie said walking me to the door

"Ok, that's not a bad idea, if you need any support of any kind I will be available especially for Diane. And I was thinking why don't we invite Matthew over so we can talk with him then grant him access to Diane once in a while" I suggested but Annie is not ok with the idea

"For now I don't what Matthew to have anything with my daughter, he is a bad influence, I will wait till Diane is old enough to make such a decision "

"Ok then, we can talk more later in the day, I need to go home now, good night, and make sure all doors are locked "

"Ok good night and sweet dreams," she said before closing the door