Icing on the Cake

Chapter Sixteen

A loyal friend is like a medicine that keeps you in good health.
The book of Sirach.

The next day at noon, Jaden was at the conference hall. He was having a meeting with the members of the board and the staff, talking about the upcoming launching of the new products. Later on, when he was at his office, his phone rang. He looked at the caller’s ID and smiled before picking it up.
“Y’ello.”
Keith smiled too. “Yo, Jade. What’s up?”
“Nothing much. Just got out of a meeting.”
“How’s the business going?”
“It’s better. We’re done with the productions, just thinking about the launching now.”
“Whoa. Just don’t let it pull your neck down.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t.”
“So... are you free tomorrow?”
“Mm, I don’t think so. Why?”
“What about the day after?” He asked, ignoring Jaden’s question.
Jaden frowned. “What’s this about?”
“I want you to meet up with someone.”
“Someone,” he repeated. “Like?”
“Y’know, a pretty someone.”
“Someone I know?”
“You’ll have to see her for yourself.”
“K, I told you I’m no longer interested in all these.”
“All what?”
“K, I can’t meet her. Cancel it.”
“You haven’t even seen her.”
“I don’t have to.”
“Jade, you have to see her first.”
He paused. There was a pleading note in Keith’s voice. “K, please, I don’t want to argue this with you anymore. I don’t have time for that.”
Keith paused. “Since when?”
“Keith.”
“Yeah, bro?”
“This is no laughing matter.”
“And I don’t need any other excuse. Meet me up at Sun Down by seven tomorrow.”
“Keith...”
“When was the last time you smiled, Jade? Like really smiled?” Keith cut in. “You need to loosen up Jade. You need to heal. And I think I have the solution to that. You wouldn’t want to miss it for anything, I promise you.”
“No, Keith, wait...”
But Keith had ended the call. Jaden groaned. There was no reason for him to call Keith back since he knew he wouldn’t pick. He went to Message on his phone and typed:
‘K. I can’t come tomorrow. I have another appointment by that time.’
He sent it and few minutes later, he received a text from Keith.
‘You can always reschedule it. Or better still, have it cancelled. But don’t fail to come,’ Keith wrote.
Jaden groaned. This man was not going to listen to him but he wasn’t going to either. It was an important appointment, a very important one which he had already rescheduled and couldn't do so again. Immediately, Sylvia flashed through his mind again and he sunk farther into his chair, groaning. He wished he could talk to her, see her smile, and hear her voice and her laughter. Urgh! Even if she were just sitting beside him now, he would be very glad.
He instinctively reached for his phone to call her but he stopped. Hearing her voice now would certainly bring back all the memories; the time they laughed together, the times they had when either he or she was down, the kiss they shared... He sighed. He wanted to tell her about the plan he was thinking of carrying out – getting married to Adam Johnson’s daughter – he wanted to hear something in her voice, telling him she cared about him so he would cancel the plan but...
He picked up his phone and messaged her, sending it before he lost the nerve. He waiting till he received a notification saying it was delivered before dropping the phone and closing his eyes, a bit at peace.

SYLVIA WALKED down the departure lounge at the airport after going through baggage reclaim, customs and passport control. John, the man Keith had sent, was wheeling her luggage bag behind her while she was with her handbag. She was dressed in an orange shirt with a pair of blue jeans and a pair of black fancy boots.
Her eyes roved beneath her dark sunglasses, looking for Keith. Then, she sighted a young man approaching her. He was so good-looking that she knew right off that he was Keith Roberts. He flashed a wide grin and she returned it with a little smile. The two friends were really alike.
“Thank God you made it,” Keith said when he got to where she was. He extended his right hand for a handshake and said, “Keith Roberts.”
She took off her glasses, accepting his hand. “Sylvia.”
His mouth tilted slightly upwards and he turned for them to go. They started walking. “Your parents didn’t teach you to be formal with everyone you meet?”
“That was the very first thing they taught me,” she replied, putting on her glasses back. She didn’t want any lingering journalist to recognize her.
“So?”
“What?”
“Your surname.”
Her eyes narrowed beneath her sunglasses. “I thought you said you knew most things about me. My surname could’ve been the first... or the second.” Right up till now, she hadn’t realized how dangerous this was. She didn’t even know how Keith looked like but she had agreed to come. And how was she even sure this was Keith?
“You think too much. Here, let me help you with your bag,” he said, reaching for her handbag.
“I can hold it.”
“You need not to,” he said, taking the handle from her. “And you need to loosen up a little. It seems like you don’t trust me.”
“I don’t even know you. I’m not even sure you’re Keith. What’s there to trust about you?”
Keith flinched. “Was that an insult?”
They got outside. “Why?”
“Because I took it as one.”
She smiled wryly. “Then it is.”
“You really are one strong character.”
“Anyway you see it.”
“Must you have a thing to answer for everything I say?”
They got to the awaiting car. Sylvia shrugged. “I must counter your opinions and elucidate too.”
Keith smiled while the driver opened the boot of the Chevrolet Corvette. John put her luggage bag into the boot and went to sit at the front. Keith opened the door for Sylvia. “I guess you never have been beaten.”
She got in and he sat beside her.
“Now that you talk about it, I’ve never really had a competition.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, and I could start with you.”
The driver got in and started the car. Then, he drove away.
“Oh, you better don’t.”
“Why?”
“I’ve lost already so what’s the need.”
“There’s always one.” She paused. “Remember you owe me something.”
He looked at her. “Which is?”
She shrugged. “I’m doing you a favour by coming all the way here, aren’t I? So, I’m hoping you’ll at least do me one in return whenever the need arises.”
Keith rolled his eyes. He hated being in someone’s debt. He preferred it when they were in his debt, made the manipulating easier. “I’ll at least?”
“Of course, that should also at least make me trust you.”
“Hey, hey, I’m Keith Roberts.”
“How do you want me to be sure about that?”
“You’re crazy.”
“Did you just notice?”
“Urgh!” he groaned. “Just how did Jade ever get to you?”
She raised an eyebrow at him as if asking if he didn’t know how. He got the message anyway.
“Oh! I forgot,” he said, nodding. “You both are crazy. I should’ve known."
She smiled at him. “You must have a good memory, then.”
“Yes. If I didn’t, the women I’ve gone out with would’ve killed me by now.”
Sylvia laughed. “You remember things, right?”
“Yes.”
“I want to ask you a question.”
“I thought you don’t ask for permission before saying anything on your mind.”
She ignored that. “How many women have you dated?”
“That’s not a good way to start a questionnaire. You could’ve started with...” Sylvia’s glare cut him short. “Okay, okay. I’ve dated so many I can’t count them and I certainly can’t remember all of them, but... I was in love sometime. Though, that’s been years ago.”
She noticed the pause. “I didn’t ask you that.”
“I just felt that was what you wanted to know.”
She didn’t reply immediately. “You both are the same then.”
“Who? I can never be the same with Jade.”
“Who cares?”
Keith closed his eyes for a while. “That hurts.”
Sylvia glanced at him. ‘Sorry’ was at the tip of her tongue to say but she swallowed it back. “That was exactly my intention,” she said instead.
Keith glanced at her. “Y’know, we could make a good couple.”
“In your dreams,” she said.
“Hey,” he said, sounding offended.
She looked at him for a while. “No. I’d rather prefer Jade.”
He snorted. “Hey. Don’t tell me I’m worse.”
She shrugged, smiling. “Okay. I won’t.”
He stared at her. “Wait a minute. Am I?”
She looked at him again for a while. “No.”
“Whew!” he exhaled, relaxing back in the seat. “Thank God.”
She laughed and shook her head before turning to look out the window. “This place is nice.”
“Yeah, do you love it?”
She looked at him, frowning. “Why?”
“Because you might live here after all.”
Sylvia felt like hitting his head. She didn’t want anybody giving her hope even if it was from his ‘best buddy’. She sneered at him and turned back to face the window. She sighed silently and unknowingly reached for the necklace on her neck. She hadn’t taken the necklace off after everything. She could not. She had postponed removing it but eventually never did. She sighed again. She was hopeless, wasn’t she?
“Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“Why?”
“You always want to counter my opinions.”
She didn’t reply immediately. She didn’t really feel like talking anymore. “I guess I’ve finally lost. You won this time around.”
But Keith didn’t smile. He knew something was wrong. He could hear it in her voice. So, he just plastered a wan smile on his face. “Yay, I finally won.”
She smiled dryly and turned once again to look out the window. “Are you sure Jade doesn’t know I’m coming?”
“No. Why?”
“He texted me yesterday,” she said, remembering everything he had written.
Keith paused. “Oh! And you said he hadn’t called nor texted you since he left, right?”
She nodded, “Yeah.”
Keith exhaled. “Well, can I ask what he wrote?” She glanced at him and he immediately raised his hands. “I know its private stuff; just want to... clarify the issue,” he said defensively which prompted a chuckle out of Sylvia.
“You’re funny, Keith,” she said, bringing out her phone from her bag.
He smiled. “There’s more to that, gurl.” He collected the phone from her and read the message:
Hey Sylvie, it’s Jade. How are you doing? Didn’t have the nerve to call so I decided to text. How are your parents and how is the business? I know I shouldn’t have sent this cause you’d be mad ‘bout the way I acted since I left but I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I miss you and I truly wish I am with you presently, even if it could be for a day so I could hear your voice and see your smile. I’d want to visit after the launching Saturday. Take care. Be safe.
Keith twisted his mouth this way and that and whistled. “Jade was always honest though.” He gave Sylvia the phone and shrugged. “He doesn’t know. I think he’s about to make some big plans in his life and he needs you, is all.”
“You sure?”
“I’ve known him all his life, gurl. I’m sure of that.”
She nodded and exhaled silently. The message had been both a shock and a good sign when it had gotten to her the previous day, and though she had been angry reading it, she had also been happy he had not forgotten her. And that had left sweet warmth in her stomach. She only hoped now he would be happy to see her when he did.
She put the phone into her bag and continued looking out the window and was soon lost in her thoughts; thinking of what to say to him when she saw him and if he’d be looking sick and dull or healthy and dull or happy or...
The driver then took a left bend into another road. Keith noticed she was quiet and wanted to say something, anything to get her talking again but he didn’t know what to say.
“We’ll soon be at the hotel,” he said instead.
She nodded and continued looking out. She found herself wondering where Jaden was, who he was with, and what he was doing. Was he still sober as Keith had painted or was he not? She caught herself and stopped. She should just be happy she would see him again, after so many weeks.
The car finally entered a large hotel and slowed down. The driver parked and they got out. John took out her luggage bag and wheeled it along with her and Keith as they entered the hotel. Sylvia was checked in and was assigned to an en suite bedroom. After giving her his number and having lunch with her, Keith left. He smiled to himself as he left. Now, he just hoped everything would go as he imagined. All he wanted was for Jaden to be a happy man again, and he guessed Sylvia would do that for him.
His driver reversed and took him home.