Chapter 25: Michael
Chapter 25: Michael
I walk out of the study laughing loudly with my father. We have been discussing Mr. Leonardo's
embezzlement of the company's fund. And he was extremely happy when I told him how I disciplined
him according to the law.
My heart skips a beat when I notice that Nina was not on the seat. Maybe she went to the washroom. I
relax a bit, as I walk down the stairs with my dad.
"Deborah?" My dad said, with surprise as my eyes flew to the woman in question who was standing at
the door staring up at me with a smile.
"Hello, Daniel" She greeted my father smiling, dad walks up to her and hugs her" How are you? How is
my old friend, Melton?" He said.
"He's fine, I was just passing by and decided to stop by. I'm surprised to see you here, Michael" She
said as she came to hook her hands around me.
I step out of her hands as I went in search of Nina. I look in the washroom and outside, at the garden
but she was not in any of those places. On my way to the sitting room, I met my mom.
"Mom, have you seen Nina?"I ask her, watching her face closely.
" Yes," she replied shrugging" She left a while ago after receiving a call. Who was it again?” Mom said
looking up trying to recall the person's name.
"Yes. Austin" She said after she had remembered looking at me before walking away. I stood frozen at
the spot unable to move as I wonder why Nina will be meeting Austin even though she knew that we
were at my parents'.
I took out my phone to call her number, It rings continuously but she just wouldn't pick. Frustrated with
myself and everything, I walk out of the hallway annoyed to meet my mom chatting happily With
Deborah. I ignore them as I walk past them to pick my car key before going to the door about to leave.
"Michael, where are you going?" Mom's voice stops me on my track as I turn to face her slowly.
"I'm going home, mom," I said to her as I ran my hands tiredly through my hair.
"Home?" She asked, shocked" What do you mean by you are going home. You just arrived not long
ago moreover, you haven't taken lunch yet, "she said as she walks closer to me and holds me on my
shoulder.
"Mom! I'm not hungry” I protested angrily, but she still dragged my hands to the dining. My dad and
Deborah were already seated while Maria was dishing out their food.
I sat down grumbling, besides my mom as she started dishing out my food. Just thinking about Austin
with Nina right now is doing things to me as I clenched my fist annoyed but for the sake of my family, I
chose to control my anger.
" Michael, me and Deborah are planning to spend the day out, I will be very happy if you could join us,"
My mom said as she looks at me smiling. I knew what she's trying to do.
"Mom, but I'm busy" I protested, if anything I don't want to spend my day with Deborah, she disgusts
me even eating with her right now.
"But you were not busy a while back, what Change now," My mom said, taunting me “ or is it because
of that_________”
"OK, mom. I will hang out with you and Deborah" I answer defeatedly cutting her off, I don't want dad to
remind me of losing my inheritance, If I don't marry Deborah to think that they were already warming up
to Nina but they only like her because she's good for lush beauty.
I rushed through my food and stood up when I was done to wait for my mom and Deborah in the car.
“She has gone to dress up while I was still eating then what is taking them too long?” I mumble as I
look at my gold Rolex watch at the back of my wrist getting impatient.
Mom and Deborah step out of the house laughing excitedly together. Dad was helping mom into the
back seat of the car while Deborah came to sit in the front.
“Michael drives safe, I care for my queen,” Dad said playfully as he looks at mom with love in his eyes.
“Go back into the house you two, you are corrupting my virgin mind,” I said at him as he smiles and
waves to us, I back out of the garage and take the route to the spa mom always frequent.
Parking the car in their parking lot an hour later, mom and Deborah rush inside to get their massage
while I walk slowly into the lobby looking for a secluded place to sit while I wait for them.
I sat down in the lobby leafing through the company magazine while my mom and Deborah were
having a massage. I don't even know why I agree to follow them here.
I pick up my phone to dial Nina's number again.
It rings and went into voice mail. I couldn't shake away this feeling that she's avoiding me but why?, I'm
the one who ought to be angry with her right now after all she left me at my parents' just to be with
Austin knowing fully well how much I hate him.
I took my phone to dial Danny's number. He picks it up after the third ring "Hey, whassup bro" Danny
called into the phone
"I'm good” I replied wondering how to ask him if Nina was with Lillian or not. Knowing Danny he will
probably make fun of me forever.
"So, what is going on with you. You sound dull" Danny said as he focuses his attention on me, the fact
that we grew up together had him knowing me, even more than I know myself. He was the one who
first points out to me that I was in love with Nina. Left to me alone, I'll probably I've never found out.
"I need your help, but promise me you won't make fun of me," I said, after concluding that I will ask him
about it.
"What is it," Danny said, his voice sounding concerned. This is why I love him. We don't take each
other as friends but brothers ever since we were young.
"OK,” I said breathlessly, I wonder how he is going to take this“ I can't get through to Nina, Do you have
any idea if she is with Lillian?”
"No. Lilian is here with me right now, and why can't you get through to her, her phone is on"
Yes, I know"I reply frustrated" but she just won't pick my call" I don't know what to do anymore. Should
I go and check her at home?.
"Why? Did you guys fight again?” Danny ask I heard Lilian's voice in the background as she asked
Danny" Who fought? "
She collected the phone from Danny, immediately he said I and Nina" Do you guys have another fight?
"She asked slowly getting scared for her friend.
" Not really, we went over to my parents' and we were good but before I could come back after
speaking to my father, I couldn't find her again. My mom said she left after receiving a call from Austin.
I've been trying her number and she just wouldn't pick my calls" I rushed the words out as I try to calm
my over-beating heart.
Now that I think about it, non of this made sense. What if Austin called her out to kidnapped her? or
had her kill her?. No Austin can't do that, Michael stops imagining dangerous thought.
Lilian's voice broke me out of my dangerous thoughts as I struggle to catch what she was saying "Calm
down, Michael, I'm sure she's alright maybe she's busy. Moreover, I just spoke with her a while back
and she sounded OK" Lilian said trying to reassure me.
I raise my eyes to see my mom and Deborah descending the stairs "Lilian, thank you very much, I've
got to go!” I said as I hung up the call. Mom and Deborah walk up to me smiling.
" Wow!, that's was so intense," Mom said, stretching her body"it's been long have come over here ever
since your father retired" She smiles with a faraway look on her eyes. I felt guilty for not spending time
with her.
"I'm happy, you've enjoyed your day. Now, can I go home" I said as I look at her with no expression.
She's trying to push me and Deborah together and don't even know why.
"No, my two sons are not with me and now you want to make yourself scarce to me,” She said on the
verge of tears. That one of the things I don't like “a woman tears". She knows I don't like it that's why
she is using it to blackmail me.
" Mom, it's OK, please don't cry, "I said hugging her close "OK, let's go to wherever you want" She
nodded as I guide her to the car after paying for her session with Deborah's.
"Michael, take us to Lush beauty," She said immediately I got into the driver seat. She was sitting down
at the back while Deborah sat beside me.
I turn to look at her shocked, why will she want to go to lush beauty? "Why mom?" I ask her still looking
at her. She is not much of make- up person and there's no party she will want to attend then why did
she need lush beauty service.
"Stop looking at me that way Michael," She said as she turns to look outside the window smiling as the
air blew on her face "I'm not that old, so I could get a makeover if I so deem want"
"But why?, you don't have any function to attend," I said persistently raising my eyebrow at her slightly
amused. My mom can be all shades of surprise sometimes always got one unaware.
“Fine. I want to look good for your dad, happy now” She said smiling I scoff playfully at her as I resume
my seat on the steering, I back the car out of the driveway and take the direction to Lush beauty.
“When I'm having my makeover Michael, you can take Deborah out for shopping or wherever you
young couples of nowadays,” She said as she and Deborah exchange a secret smile.
“Ok mom, ” I said glancing at her through the mirror “ quickly get your makeover done on time, I need
to get home to rest I have a hectic day at work tomorrow,” I said as I pulled into the Lush beauty
parking lot.
We all walk into the company as the sales ladies bow to welcome us. The smiling face of Nina greeted
me as we walk into Lush beauty. All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
”Wow!, this is beautiful,” I said smiling to myself, I didn't know the pictures were out already. I need to
get one for the company's magazine as soon as I get to the office tomorrow.
“You!” My mom signal to one of the salesladies who usher us to our seat.
“Yes ma'am,” She said rushing to meet mom. She was putting on the company's uniform with the logo
embedded in her breast pocket underneath it was her name tag.
“I need a makeover,” Mom said as soon as the lady was in front of her.
“Ok” The lady smile“ please come with me,” She said ushering my mom to the makeover floor.
“Michael, make sure you take Deborah shopping don't wait for me, this is surely going to take long, I'll
call your dad to come to pick me up when I'm done, ” She said hugging one last time before she turns
to Deborah to hug her too.
“Deborah darling, don't give my Michael a tough time OK?” She said smiling as Deborah hug her back
before she turns on her heel to follow the lady into the elevator that will take her to the makeover floor.
I turn to look at Deborah but not seeing her after mom has left “ Excuse me for a minute, I'll like a word
with Andrea ” I said striding into Andrea's office floor without waiting for her response. She smiles and
walks into the direction of the washroom probably to retouch her makeup.
"Good afternoon, sir" Lexa blush as soon as I walk into Andrea's office floor, probably surprised to see
me on a Sunday.
"I want to see Andrea, is he in?" I ask her as I stroll in the direction of his office without waiting for her
response.
"I'm sorry sir, but he's not around," She said as I turn back to regard her annoyingly.
"Then you should have said so" I snap at her" Nonsense, I don't know what's wrong with you girls of
nowadays," I said as I rush out of the office annoyed.
I walk into the lobby to see that Deborah was not yet back, where the hell did she go to?!
I walk out to the car and sat down waiting for her. I'm a man of my word I keep my principle but I've
never hate those principles than I do today.
I just wish could drive off to my house to rest and probably look for Nina without having to spend two
hours in the company of Deborah. But I've given mom my words and I just have to do it. I sat down in
the car and wait for her after sending someone to look for Deborah.