“Just give me thirty minutes and I will join you. Remind me when I come that I want to discuss something important concerning the well-being of the staff at the company.” Benne said, and hung up immediately he saw Celsie hurrying out of the pharmacy with a paper bag in hand.
“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting for too long?” Celsie asked as she got into the car.
“You didn’t show this much concern about keeping me waiting at work… Or sorry, I forgot I was your driver then, and now I’m just your neighbor.” Benne said, wanting to see her response.
“Well, the Bible did say love your neighbor as yourself. Nothing was written there concerning drivers.” Celsie retorted, making him chuckle. She also had a good sense of humor. The day wasn’t wasted after all. He had learnt a couple things about her sooner than he expected.
“We should find a grocery shop…”
“No. I’d hate to take up any more of your time, so I got snacks. Maybe tomorrow I will do that whole delivery stuff you spoke about, or maybe I could just go grocery shopping during lunch break.” She assured him, and he just looked at her for a while before giving a brief nod.
Immediately he parked the car in front of the house he handed her the car key, but she quickly declined, “You should go out in it so you meet up with your date. There is no point in leaving it parked here while you wait for a cab. Thanks for your help. Goodnight. Enjoy your date.” She added with a wave as she headed for her apartment leaving him staring at her.
Date? Was she thinking he was going out to meet with a lady? If he remembered correctly he had only said he has ‘Plans’. When did plans become synonymous with date? He was tempted to call her back and correct the impression, but decided against it.. Good girls liked bad boys.
Bryan had never felt so irritated or ill-tempered as he felt right now as he sat by his penthouse balcony, with a glass of whiskey in his hand while he just looked ahead of him. They had returned from Heden after his shoot earlier that day, so he was back to his home in Sogal, another part of the country. He couldn’t understand why Sonia had disappeared without a trace, without even giving him a chance to end things officially.
He couldn’t believe the number of congratulatory calls he had received already from most of his colleagues in the industry. A crazy fan had gone ahead to upload the engagement photo on the comment session of his fan page, and by the time they arrived at the airport, they had met some of his fans who were upset, protesting at the airport, while some others stood there bearing congratulatory gifts.
How was he supposed to get out of this mess without her? He couldn’t even step out of his house at the moment because journalists were gathered at the front of his house waiting to see him and ask questions about his engagement and supposed scandal with Sophia.
He rubbed his hand over his face and gritted his teeth in annoyance when his phone started ringing again. If he so much as laid his eyes on Sonia, he was going to strangle the life out of her for putting him in such a difficult position.
He picked up his phone, ready to snap at the next person to congratulate him, and groaned when he realized it was Jade his baby sister. It was difficult lying to her because she was like a human lie detector. How she managed to always spot a lie be it in person or over the phone was still a mystery to him. He contemplated ignoring the call, but decided to just talk to her and get it over with, so he accepted it.
“Hey!”
“Hey? Why don’t you don’t sound like a man who just got engaged to the love of his life as the gossip articles say?” She asked as he knew she would.
“I’m just exhausted. It’s been a long week, and an even longer day.”
“So shouldn’t my soon to be sister-in-law be massaging you or something?” Jade asked in amusement.
“She isn’t here. I already traveled back to Sogal. She lives and works in Heden, and couldn’t leave her job…”
“Cut the crap Bryan. We both know that’s bullshit. Tell me what’s honestly up with you and why you did something like that,” Jade said, cutting him off.
“Something like what? What is so wrong in wanting to settle down?” Bryan asked with a scowl.
“That’s something someone like Benne does and I won’t be surprised. Not someone like you. Last time we spoke you weren’t even ready to have a serious girlfriend, so how come you flew from being the mingling single not wanting a committed relationship, to being the lover boy who suddenly wants forever?” Jade asked in a tone he suspected she used a lot in the courtroom.
“Well, things change. PeopIe change.” Bryan insisted.
“To the best of my knowledge peopIe like you don’t change so easily. Anyway, I can see you’re bent on carrying on with the lie. I will let you be and get back to work.” Jade said in a resigned tone.
“You’re always so busy with work. Don’t you ever do anything else?” Bryan asked with a worried frown.
“Maybe I will do other things after I start my own law firm. I’m counting on you and Benne as my first major clients.”
“No boyfriend yet?” Bryan asked curiously.
“Nope.”
“Still mourning Todd?” He asked even though he knew she probably was going to deny it.
“I don’t have time to think about anything outside work.” She said with a sharp edge in her voice which told him it was still very much a sore subject.
“Take things easy on yourself. I love you.”
“I love you too. Goodnight.” Jade said before disconnecting the call.
Done with the call now Bryan thought about what Jade had said about people like him being unable to change easily, and he remembered Sonia saying he was shallow. Am I really shallow? He wondered.
***********
Sitting down across from Harry at the lounge bar, Benne nursed a glass of wine as he listened to his friend talk about the stock market and cryptocurrency.
“By the way what was it you said you wanted to tell me about the staff?” Harry asked, changing the subject.
“First of all I want all the offices closed and the building shut down once it is closing hours. And no one is permitted to take any paperwork home.” Benne said, making Harry raise a brow.
“Why?”
“I don’t want them overworking themselves when I’m not.”
Harry looked like he was going to argue, but he gave a nod, “I will do that tomorrow.”
“Thanks. Also, I’m thinking about providing lunch for the staff in all the branches.” Benne explained.
“We are already doing that. Isn’t that why there is a canteen where they can easily get their free lunch?” Harry pointed out.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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