Diamond in the Rough

Chapter Twenty Three

Dale
This meeting was fucking boring. Every minute spent in this large boardroom filled with middle-aged men discuss business, finance and expansion was seriously draining all of the energy left in me.
I hated being here so much. I was missing my pumpkin.. I missed her so much, it was driving me crazy that i couldn't see her anymore.

We were currently discussing the details of the new opening of our first hotel in the UK. My father decided to expand into the hotel business thanks to Ariana's family's franchise as they offered business deals and ideas linked towards the growth of the hotel and my dad couldn't be more happier. After being introduced as the heir to the company, my father involved me heavily in the affairs of the company. He made me in charge of overseeing the project concerning the hotel's opening and it was mind draining. I had no time for myself, I was always busy—either over at the hotel overseeing the vast changes or at the company directing various meetings and i was getting crippling anxiety with each moment.
"Mr bicroft?"
I heard my name being called snapping me out of my thoughts about wunmi, as I stared back at the curious and confused eyes of the board of directors..
We were discussing the location of the hotel right?..
"Let this meeting be adjourned , I need to run things by the chairman first before coming to conclusion. We'll discuss more in the next meeting"  I said my voice deep and confident as they all nodded packing up their things and leaving..

The board room was empty as i sat in it alone, trying to curtail my emotions.. I was missing wunmi it was killing me, I needed to talk to her. I need to explain to her that I never left her, that I still loved her..
She needs to know that i love her..
Unlocking my phone, her picture flashed on the home screen. My fingers hovered over the screen as i admired her beautiful smile wishing I could hold her.
Opening my contacts and going straight to her name as I wondered whether to call her.. I just wanted to hear her voice, to know if she was okay...
If she was missing me the way i was missing her..
I clicked on her number desperately hoping she picked up. I had already changed my number because of my father. He took away everything I ever owned forcing me to forget about my old life and focus on this new one, but I still knew her number by heart and immediately I got a new phone I saved it back.
But everyday I held myself back from calling her.. what would I say?..
She picked up, her voice snapping me out of my thoughts. "Hello? Who is this?"
Gosh I've missed her soft voice. Hearing it all over again was making my heart thud softly.. it made me remember each night she was wrapped around my arms moaning softly into my ears as i made her feel bliss..
"Hello? Can I know who this is?" She repeated over the phone..
I gathered the remaining courage i had left in me to say something.
"Hello pumpkin"
There was a moment of silence immediately before I heard her voice become softer filled with emotions and slight shock..
"Dale?..." she whispered softly
"I've missed you pumpkin.."
She immediately bursted into soft tears causing my heart to wrench in pain as I realized how much she was hurting because of me..
"Oh dale, it's you.. it's really you.." she said in between sobs making my heart feel so much sadness at how she was hurting
"I'm sorry pumpkin, I'm so so sorry.. please don't cry, please.. you know I don't like seeing you in pain.." I pleaded softly
"I just.. I missed you so much dale, you left dale.. you left me and.."
"I know baby, I know.. and I'm so sorry.. I never meant to hurt you.. I never wanted to hurt you.." I said trying to get her to understand and hoping my words will lessen her pain.
"I never left you wunmi, I desperately tried to come see you but my father's hold on me is extremely tight.. and Ariana is always on my tail.." I explained
She finally calmed down "are you okay though?"
"No pumpkin, everyday's been hell ever since I left you.. I hate everything and it's fucking hard for me to live each day.."
"I'm sorry it's like that dale, I wish everything could just go back to the way it was... just the two of us.." she said with a soft sigh making me sigh too..
"Same baby.. same.."

"Are you really going to get married to the duchess?" She asked her question making me speechless her voice sounding hurt..
I never wanted her to find out.. damn you ari!!
"I don't know pumpkin, I don't want to marry her but I don't know how to fucking get out of this stupid engagement!" I said in anger..
"I see.."

"Pumpkin please I'll keep trying, I promise you I'll keep trying.. I'm never going to marry her. You're the one I love.. I hope you realize that.. I love you wunmi, I never stopped."
"I love you too dale.. I really do" she said her words causing my heart to swell in happiness.
She still loved me. I can't afford to loose her..
"Dale..." she said sounding a bit hesitant over the phone..
"Yes pumpkin.."
"I'm.. I'm..." She stuttered sounding nervous
"Is everything okay baby? What's wrong?" I asked already getting worried..
I heard her take a deep breath before answering me.. "it's nothing.. I'm fine"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes.. am I never gonna be able to see you?"
"You will... I promise pumpkin, I'll come back to you soon and we'll be together again.. just like before.." I said with pain in my voice trying to reassure her..
This is so fucking hard, lying to her..
"Promise?" She said sounding really hopeful breaking me more and more..
"I promise my love.."

Author's note:
Sigh... this is really hard to take in but I hope it all gets better really soon..
They both love each other so much but yet..

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