Situationship

fighting for love

EPISODE 13
Lizzy woke up around six, as she was used to, and sighed happily when she noticed that Jessica was still asleep. She had given Jessie some drugs, which she usually used after a really stressful day, and seeing Jessie sleep peacefully told her that the drugs were effective. She was not used to bathing so early, so she just washed her face and brushed her teeth. Moving about quietly in order not to rouse the sleeping Jessie, she went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. She checked the rice she had cooked the previous night and was happy that it was enough for two; the stress of cooking another meal was gone. She heated up the rice and stew but also boiled water to use for tea. The weather was very cold, considering the heavy rain that fell throughout the night.
While she waited for the food to steam up, she went to the sink and started washing the plates from the previous night. She was happy that she was on her own and not with her parents. If not, they would be ranting about sweeping the entire house, and she would not be able to ask for food until she had worked her bones sore. Some liberties come with living alone!
*****
"Tunji, I believe you should be able to handle the office without my assistance," Andy said as he conversed rather reluctantly with Tunji, his best friend, over the phone, driving at the same time.
Well, thank God you finally noticed that. I hope there is no problem. I mean, you never miss a day at the office, but today would make it three days. "
"Well, that is the difference between a married man and a single man."
"Don’t tell me that. Did you just get married? You even came running to the office during your honeymoon, so cut it out. Andy, are you on the road? "
"I don't have time for this now, Tunji; I have to go," Andy said, hanging up before Tunji could respond.He dropped the phone and swallowed. He knew it was too early, but he could not stay in the house for another minute. The thought of Jessica was almost driving him mad, and he needed to make her believe him. He just could not sit back and do nothing.
He encountered a little traffic and was instantly angry that he lived in Lagos. Lagos was a state that he had always known for its overcrowded nature. Though Lagos was a beautiful place, he was not happy that today of all days he was being delayed by traffic so early in the morning.
*****
"You should have woken me up, Lizzy. I am not a baby," Jessica said. Even though her head was still pounding, she did not like being the last person to wake up, only to find all the work already done.
Lizzy smiled. "You are my baby for today, sweetheart." Just wait, Paulina will be here soon. "
"Oh no," Jessica groaned. "I don’t need a motherly intervention right now." Jessica stared at the food in front of her. She had no appetite whatsoever and her head ached terribly. She drank the tea slowly.
"I am all ears, Jessica." Jessica did not need a long speech to know what Lizzy was referring to.
Jessie sighed and decided it was best to talk about it. "Andy is a womanizing cheat."
"Wow Jessie, that is a really strong statement. I assumed that Andy was the subject matter but needed confirmation. Andy does not strike me as a womanizer, though I can’t dispute that he looks seriously like a ladies’ man. Women would always be attracted to him. There is no stopping it, but I don’t think Andy is someone who "jumps from skirt to skirt."
It hurt Jessica that Lizzy was defending Andy. "Well, he turned out to be a womanizer."
"I don’t like people feeding you with lies. You are married to one of the most famous men in this country; people want to take your place. Should you be bothered by this?I mean, you don’t have feelings for him, do you? " Lizzy knew that she was intentionally goading her friend.
For some seconds, Jessie swallowed and glared at Lizzy. Would she even let her land? "Of course I don’t, and it does not bother me."
Lizzy’s knowing smile annoyed Jessica. "I'm serious Liz, the only thing that bothers me is what happened," she said after a brief pause.Talking about it seems much worse. Now that she thought of it, she could not imagine Andy raping anyone, but common sense never makes sense to people when faced with a situation like this, does it? He almost raped Sonia. "
Lizzy choked on the tea she was drinking and started coughing. She coughed and coughed for some time, then breathed in deeply. "Ok, Jessie," she coughed. "I think you are imagining things." Are you sure you don’t feel dizzy? The drugs I gave you last night are strong and you should still be asleep by now. "
"Cut it out Liz, I am not crazy. I got a call from Sonia yesterday evening, and she asked what I was doing. I told her that I was home with Andy and was going to make my hair. She then told me that she was coming over and should get to the house in about two hours. I decided to go over to the saloon and leave Andy at home, since everything I needed to do there would just take about an hour. On getting home, I saw Andy and Sonia struggling with each other on the chair. The sight was... she trailed off.
Lizzy was looking with wide eyes and an open mouth, and for almost a minute, nobody talked. Lizzy stood up and paced thoughtfully. Jesus, I can’t believe this! "Andy," you say.full memory of the past evening returned with full force, clouding Jessica’s senses, and she swallowed as pain overshadowed her. "What did they both say?"
"What else would Andy say?" She chuckled slightly."Sonia claimed he was attempting to rape her.so disheartening, Liz. My friend almost got raped because she visited me.
She remembered something. "That was when Sonia surprised me by mentioning the one-year contract between Andy and me," Sonia paused.
"Yes," I was terribly shocked. She said "a whole load of crap." Jessica went ahead to narrate everything that was said the previous night, even including Andy’s bewildered responses. Lizzy sat down and looked thoughtful.
"Something is fishing." I am not sure I trust Sonia. "
"What can you say about it, Lizzy?"that? She is our friend, for heaven’s sake! Not to mention my best friend!
"It is true Jessie, I don’t trust quiet people too much. "Come to think of it, she said she would be in your home in two hours’ time and you got back after one hour only to meet her there."
"It happens all the time, Lizzy." "She might have anticipated traffic when she said that but met with a clear road," Jessica defended.
"But she knew you were at the saloon and could have gone earlier to meet Andy." Lizzy looked thoughtful.
"Why would she want to do that?"
Everyone loves a rich man.
"Stop it, Lizzy. I can’t believe you doubt your own friend." Jessica was surprised.
I am just trying to be the reasonable person here. I mean, if you can doubt your husband, I see no reason why a friend cannot be doubted." Besides, I repeat: I cannot fully trust someone who is too quiet, just like Sonia. I can still remember how much she lamented the beauty of your house and how much you must be enjoying it.
"Everyone did that, even you." I can surely doubt my husband, or contract husband, but I have known you girls for a long time now. I trust you. "
"The same way you trusted that best friend of yours and she stole your first man?" Let’s face the facts, honey, not all friends can be trusted. You can deny it, but deep down, you know that what is between you and Andy is beyond just a mere contract, "Lizzy countered.
Jessica did not have time to answer when they heard a knock. Jessica was still processing everything when, all of a sudden, Andy was standing before her. She did not know when Lizzy opened the door. All she saw was Andy, standing at the entrance, looking directly at her. As usual, his presence was so powerful, she could almost touch it, but she still noticed his anxiety.
"I would leave you two alone," Lizzy said.
"No Lizzy, don’t you dare!" Jessica yelled.
Lizzy had never been accused of being an obedient child; she went outside and closed the door. Jessica breathed deeply. "What do you want?" She folded her arms across her chest.
I just want you to hear me out, Jess. "Don't sentence me without giving me a fair hearing," Andy said.
"What do you have to say?" More lies? "
"The truth." "Jess, Sonia was forcing herself on me," Jessica laughed. "I was sitting shirtless in the sitting room when I heard a knock. I felt it was you, so I did not bother putting on the shirt. Sonia came in when I opened the door, so I went for my shirt but she flung it. She came up with a story that she did not know what I saw in her S.U. friend and that I should have come for someone like her. She jumped on me before I could even think, and we both fell onto the chair. "It was while I was trying to detach myself from her that you entered." Andy landed.
Then, Jessica smiled and laughed. She slowly clapped her hands.
"Bravo! Did you spend the entire night coming up with that story? "
And Andy groaned. "Come on Jessica, I know we just became intimate and that it must be hard for you to believe me, but trust me Jess, I can’t hurt you." He paused. "I love you."
Jessica swallowed. "Wow..." she breathed, barely audibly. "The three magic words!" Is that what you tell every woman you sleep with? "
Andy swallowed. It had taken being in that traffic to finally admit that he was madly in love with Jessica. It was something he had known for some time but never admitted to himself, much less someone else.
"I have only told Wendy that."
"Oh, the woman at the Convy Hotel?"
And Andy hated the way Jessica goaded him. "No, it's my ex." He paused. "She was my fiancée," she swallowed. He sat at the dining table for a few minutes without saying anything.Jessica was done goading.
She saw the pain that raked through him and was deeply touched. "She is the reason why I could not love any other woman." She was my first love. "
"What did she do?" Jessica’s voice softened.
"She died," Jessica gasped. "A day before our wedding," Andy swallowed. "She was asthmatic. I knew that and made sure I always got her inhaler." I was not rich then, and getting the pump at times was difficult. She was caring and understanding. When her pump was finished, she did not tell me; heck, she should have. She was so damn stubborn, wanting to buy things by herself. " He breathed in. "She got an asthma attack and the people in the house found an empty pump." They rushed her to the hospital, but before they got there, she was already... already dead. "
Jessica swallowed hard and breathed deeply. Jessica could not move a muscle; she could not begin to imagine his pain. I was busy expecting the next day so that I could be joined with my wife. I was at the bachelors’ night that was organized by my friends when some of my friends called me. They were told to tactically deliver the news to me. How well can they deliver that? Tell me"
Jessica went and hugged him tightly, her eyes getting moist. "It is OK, Drew." She wanted to take away the pain she saw in his eyes. Andy was not the extremely emotional type, but he needed that hug.
"That's why I went to work."paid off because I am successful today, but I didn’t have time for women. I had some women after that, but it was not anything serious. The feeling of Jessica drove his pain away. He pulled back and stared into her eyes. "I would never hurt you, Jessie." You were the reason why I became obsessed with work. I thought about you every time I used work to substitute you in my mind. It didn’t work. What happened between us is practically the best thing that has happened to me. I never meant to hurt you, Jess, "he kissed her head." "Do you have feelings for me, Jess?"
Silence reigned in the room. "Andy, I..."
"Please, don’t say no. I might just go crazy, "he paused. "You know what? I will be back. "Please think about it." He kissed her cheek gently and lingeringly, stood up, and, after one final glance, walked out slowly.