Chapter 18 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

Benne on the other hand said nothing as he drove the car. He knew she was being cautious because of what she believed had happened between them, and he couldn’t exactly blame her. He just didn’t like that she didn’t seem to think she owed him an apology for keeping him waiting without giving him prior notice. And he also didn’t like that she kept trying to ask him to quit every little opportunity she got.

“I’m sorry.” Celsie said after fidgeting in her seat for sometime. Even if he resigned from her job, there was no way she could ask him to move out of the apartment next to hers. She was going to have to face him everyday, and if that was going to be the case, it was better they run into each other as friends rather than enemies.

Benne met her gaze through the rearview mirror, wondering why she was apologizing all of a sudden when she had been acting like a boss lady just a moment ago in her office.

She wasn’t the type of person to delay the inevitable, so it was best she did this and got it out of the way, “I know you must think I’m a mean bitch.” Celsie said with a self deprecating smile, and waited for him to assure her he didn’t think so.

But when he said nothing after a sometime, she decided to continue, “I actually do close late most of the time. I get carried away with work, and since I don’t have friends around to hang out with or better put, since I just don’t like hanging out I try to spend the time working so that I will be exhausted by the time I get home, and then sleep off.” Celsie explained.

“I’m not saying this as an excuse. I’m just trying to say I didn’t keep you waiting intentionally.”

“How boring.” Benne murmured.

“What? I beg your pardon?” Celsie asked, sounding partially confused and offended at the same time.

“I mean your life. It must be very boring.”

“It isn’t. That is just how I love it.” Celsie said defensively.

“Or maybe that is because that is the only way you know to live.” Benne suggested in a challenging tone.

“I can have fun when I want to.” Celsie snapped at him.

“Really? Like your little checklist?” Benne asked dryly.

A rosy blush flushed her cheeks at that, “Do you always have to keep referring to the past?”

“There is no future without the past. We have to make reference to it at some point.” Benne said in a matter of fact tone, without taking his eyes off the road.

Celsie took in a deep breath, “Anyway, that wasn’t the point I was trying to make. I was trying to say maybe I’ve not been fair. It was a two way thing after all, and you were kind enough to offer yourself, so I shouldn’t…”

“Really? One minute you don’t want me to talk about our fling and then the next you bring it up? You can bring it up at will whenever you like but I can’t?” Benne asked incredulously making Celsie grit her teeth.

Why was she beginning to feel like he was in charge of the conversation? Sitting at the back seat now was making her feel like she was a child being scolded by her father, “I was only trying to make a point.” Celsie defended weakly.

“Which is?” Benne asked cocking a brow at her through the rearview mirror.

“Let’s just start all over.” Celsie suggested.

Benne resisted the urge to chuckle, “Do you realize that would mean it’s the fourth time we’ve met for the first time?”

“Huh?” Celsie asked in confusion.

“The first was at the club. The second was at your apartment while you were pretending not to know who I was because you somehow happened to believe I won’t recognize you because of your glasses, and the third was you pretending not to know me when your boss was introducing me to you earlier. All within a space of forty-eight hours.” Benne said sounding amused.

Celsie didn’t miss the humor in his tone, so she smiled, “I know you must think I’m weird.” And a little scatterbrained, she added to herself.

“Weird doesn’t even cut it.” Benne said honestly making her giggle.

What lady doesn’t like a fine looking man with a good sense of humor? “The fourth time could be the charm.”

“That was supposed to be the third time. But are you sure you want us to start afresh for the fourth time?”

“Yes. That’s the only way this can work. Let’s start all over. But as friends this time.” Celsie offered.

“If I’m your friend I’m going to want to hang out with you every chance I get. I’m going to break every wall you set up and be in your space until you want to spend all your spare time with me. Are you sure you still want us to be friends?” Benne asked as he parked the car in front of the apartment block and turned to look at her.

“I don’t think you or anyone else can make me do that. Even my best friend who is very outgoing couldn’t accomplish that.” Celsie said with a confident air as she opened the door and got out of the car with her hand bag in one hand.

“Is that a challenge I hear in your tone?” Benne asked as he got out of the car and locked it.

“Make of it what you will..” Celsie called out with a shrug as she turned around and started heading for her apartment.

Contrary to popular opinion, Benne didn’t become the CEO of such a powerful first-class multinational company like OmniGlobal by chance nor by luck. Several times he had read articles where people tried to guess his business secrets and strategies and he smiled each time they failed.

All his life he had been guided by four basic character traits. He liked to believe his success was a product of all four in equal percents. Twenty-five percent impatience, twenty-five percent decisiveness, twenty-five percent planning, and twenty-five percent had to do with his appearance.

These were the secrets to his success. He didn’t believe in wasting time thinking about things when he should be working hard at it to get it done and over with, so his impatience always spurred him to look for every possible ways to get things done quickly.

Right from when he was a kid, he had always been known as someone who always knew what he wanted. Once he saw what he wanted, he threw everything he had into getting it, unless he didn’t really want it.

Once he saw what he wanted, he never pursued it without thinking it through. He always spent his time making plans and writing out every possible way he could achieve his goals. And finally because he was good looking he always found his way around. Everyone loved a good looking person of course.

Lying down on the recliner in his new apartment, Benne tapped a pen on his forehead as he tried to come up with ways to get Celsie. He was very certain she expected him to make his first move on her tonight, but he wasn’t going to do that. He needed to come up with a good plan on how to get under her skin without her even knowing it. He wanted her to feel so relaxed around him that she would let her guard down without knowing what was happening.

She was a virgin so there was no need trying to seduce her… Not that he wouldn’t do that later though, but right now he wanted to become a close friend and confidant first… But he didn’t intend to remain in the friend zone for too long either.

He sat up and picked up his phone, this was one of those times he needed his sister’s wit, so he dialed Jade’s number. A moment later he heard his sister’s voice, “To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure twice within twenty-four hours?” She asked checking the time on her wristwatch. He had called quite late the previous evening but it was kind of early now.

“I just wanted to know how you were doing.” Benne lied.

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