Chapter 31 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

Celsie stared at Benne with a slightly raised brow when she opened her door and saw him standing there, dressed in a pair of blue jeans trousers and a black polo t-shirt that showed off his muscled arms, “You’re going somewhere?”

“Not just me. We are going out. I want us to hang out,” Benne said with a harmless smile as he let his eyes roam over her body. She was barefooted, and unlike most ladies he knew, her toenails were not painted. She was wearing an oversized long-sleeved top on black leggings trousers. And as usual, her hair was tied in a bun and her glasses were sitting on the bridge of her nose.

Seeing the way he was looking at her now, Celsie was glad she was properly dressed. She made a mental note to always put on decent clothes so he wouldn’t have to catch her unaware.

“But we only just got in two hours ago. Why do you want to go out again?” Celsie asked wearily as she adjusted her glasses. She didn’t want to leave the comfort of her bed or drop the book she just started reading.

“Because I’m bored, and I want to hang out with you. Come on, go in and get dressed so we can leave. Remember you promised to hang out with me and give me tips on how to win my lady’s heart?” Benne asked, cocking his head to the side.

“Can’t we just do that tomorrow?” She asked, and when she saw his frown she shook her head quickly, “How about you just come in instead, and we talk? We don’t have to go out. You could tell me everything I need to know about her and then I can give you every tip you need to win her. Let’s just stay indoors, okay? I even have snacks and beer,” Celsie offered.

“No. Besides, you need to go out. You are new around here and don’t know many places around so I think it’s best I take you out so you can see some cool places. That is what a nice friend and neighbor should do. So go inside and get dressed. Don’t keep me waiting,” Benne said using his fingers to indicate for her to go ahead.

Celsie felt like stomping her feet and yelling in frustration, but she knew she couldn’t afford to do that in front of him since she had given him her word earlier, and they had an agreement. Instead, she gave him a stiff smile before holding out her door for him to get inside, “Make yourself comfortable. I will join you soon,” she said after shutting the door and then headed for her bedroom.

Benne lowered himself on one of the sofas as he looked around the house with interest. He noticed how neat and organized everything was. Even the books on her bookshelf were well arranged in such a way that none was sticking out. The black wooden center table was shining, and the china flower vase on it was sparkling. She seemed like a very meticulous person and judging by all he had seen thus far, he could tell her personality trait was melancholy.

“I’m ready,” Celsie announced without enthusiasm as she stepped out of her bedroom, dressed in a red turtleneck shirt and a pair of blue jeans trouser, with black loafers.

“I’m not sure. You should let down your hair. You look more beautiful when you wear it down,” Benne said as he looked her over.

“I prefer it this way,” Celsie said with a stiff smile.

Benne sighed as he stood up from where he was seated on the couch and walked towards her. Celsie raised a curious brow as she watched him, and her heartbeat doubled when he stopped in front of her.

Benne looked at her for a while as though he was contemplating something, “Is there a reason you love wearing glasses instead of contact lenses?” He asked as he held on to both edges of her glasses and slowly took them off so he could look into her face.

“I suppose I’m used to them. I feel more comfortable wearing glasses,” Celsie said with a self-conscious smile as she extended her hand for him to hand over her glasses.

Benne let his eyes linger on her face for a while, “I see,” Benne said with a nod as he handed the glasses to her. He had wanted to tamper with her hair and let it loose but had changed his mind at the last minute.

Rushing things wouldn’t work with someone like her, and using force would not work either. He needed to take things slow and easy while also finding the right strategy to get her to do the things he wanted, and he knew just how to go about it now.

“Let’s leave then,” Benne said as he headed for the door, leaving her to follow him.

Celsie let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, as she put on her glasses. He had been standing too close for comfort, and for a moment she had thought he was going to do something…

She shook her head to get rid of the silly thought and quickly picked up her phone, purse, and house keys from the table. She locked the door before quickening her pace to catch up with him. She needed to get started on helping him win his lady. The earlier she helped him get this lady in question, the better for her. At least he would pay her less attention once he got a girlfriend. That would make things between them less awkward, and she would finally be able to breathe freely around him.

“So what is her name?” Celsie asked when she caught up with him close to the car.

“Her name? Whose name?” He asked in false confusion as he tried to come up with a fancy name.

“The lady you like of course. Or don’t you know her name?” Celsie asked, looking at him suspiciously.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, “Well, I don’t know her name yet…” Benne gave her a sheepish smile like he had just been caught. Maybe it was better this way. She would believe him more if she thought he was clueless about the lady he had feelings for.

Celsie gave him a look of disbelief, “You don’t? How can you be doing all this to impress a lady whose name you don’t even know? Do you even know if she is married or single?” She asked incredulously. “Wait, how did you even meet her if you don’t know her name? Does she even know you exist?” Celsie asked as she stood by the front passenger door and placed her elbows on the roof of the car so she could look at him.

Benne took in a deep breath, “Let’s just stop talking about it,” Benne suggested as he opened the car and got in. He needed time to think and come up with something reasonable.

Celsie got into the car and looked at him, “You don’t want to talk about it? How can I help you if you don’t tell me all the basic things I need to know? Go on, tell me how you met her,” Celsie urged him, making the corners of his lips twitch in amusement.

She seemed more relaxed and talkative with him now that she believed he was interested in someone else. He knew he would have to come up with a really good and believable story.. Benne reasoned as he turned on the car’s ignition and drove off.

“I’m still waiting,” Celsie reminded him after some time.

Benne turned to spare her a glance before clearing his throat, “Okay. About two weeks ago someone referred me to her for a plumbing job. That was how I met her for the first time. I helped her fix her kitchen sink which was clogged. I don’t think she is married,” Benne said confidently.

“Oh! But shouldn’t you know her name if you visited her home and worked for her?” Celsie asked thoughtfully.

“I suppose I was too smitten by her beauty to remember to ask for her name… Or maybe she mentioned it, but I wasn’t listening. I know where she works though,” Benne added, making Celsie’s ears perk up.

“You do?” She asked with interest, and then cocked her head to one side as she narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously, “Don’t tell me you have been stalking her.”

“Not exactly. Although, she was the reason I applied for a job at the company. She works there, but I don’t know what department she works in so…” Benne let the rest of his words trail off and shrugged.

“Really?” Celsie asked, clearly surprised.

So he had taken a job at the company because of a woman after all, but not because of her. It made sense. Why would he want to work as her driver if he was interested in her? And there was no way he could have applied for the job of a driver overnight in such a firm. Sonia was right. She had been too full of herself to the point of paranoia. His being her neighbor and driver was all coincidence, and he was just being good to her, while she on the other hand was being a stuck-up bitch. She not only needed to be more open-minded, but she also needed to relax around him and accept his friendship.

“I feel so embarrassed telling you this right now. You can’t tell anyone else about it though. This has to remain between the both of us,” Benne said, turning to flash her what looked like an embarrassed smile.

---