Second chances

Chapter Twenty : Cold and Butterfly

Hey everyone!!

I missed those little sessions that Victoria had with Mr Ajayi. I'm becoming attached to his character.

Do hope you enjoy this chapter.
Oh and thank you for following us to this point, so glad you're enjoying this story.

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While the driver drove, Charles, Christy and I to our respective locations,i couldn't help but think about everything that' happened the previous day.

Christian and I had picked Charles up from Grace's home, but while we drove back home he didn't utter a word. He must have had his bath there because he wasn't wearing his pajamas.

Christian left us in the living room and went away. I wanted to say something but Charles sauntered to our room. I went into the kitchen and started preparing food. I made fried yam with egg sauce, I also made vegetable sauce for my brother who despised egg sauce.

While I was frying the yam my thoughts kept wandering, Grace sounded too comfortable. I know something happened between them in the past, how was I to know that Charles didn't do anything with her while he was in zombie mode.

I forgot the pan was too hot and when I tried to put it down from the cooker, the heat burned my hand. It was so painful that I had to bite my lip to avoid sniffing.

I  turned on the tap and allowed the water rush over my hands. It was an easy way of suppressing blisters that came with burns. The pain did not subside so I got a chilled bottle of water and poured it all over my hands.I placed my hand in the bowl and closed my eyes. The cold water was more effective than the tap water and I sense a reduction in pain.

Flashback***
This water is fucking cold Victoria, it is cold!!

We're out of hot water, I'd tell Christy to get you from the flasks"

You know I don't like bathing with cold water at night, Vicky I am talking to you!! What are you doing with that damn phone.

Charles had his towel wrapped around his torso, with a very big scowl on his face.

"Charles would you just stop yelling, I'm not a child. How was I to know of the hot water shortage? I always bathe with cold water. I am texting Christy she'll get the water to this room."

"How would you know Victoria? You are the woman here, my wife you should know these things!!" his voice was even louder than before

"Charles what I don't understand is why you're disturbing the peace in this house because of something as insignificant as hot water. I'm tired I need to rest, I have a job to attend to tomorrow"

"This is exactly why I get so upset with you. You act like you don't care!  What is wrong with you? Why are you so fucking cold!!! Your stupid work is what you care about, not what I'm telling you. That work place of yours where you flirt with all the man in the building"

I had placed my head on the pillow, managed to shut my eyes before my husband accused me of flirting. There was no way I was going to swallow that

"what the heck did you just say Charles? You're an insensitive asshole! You went to work today, came back by what's the time? 11pm almost drunk, then you yell at me because somehow the hot water had finished. Are you even listening to yourself? Now you accuse of flirting Charles I am sick and tired of you. "

"Don't you dare call me names Vicky! I stopped by your work place. Someone has been telling me of your little escapades, today I saw you with my own eyes. Flirting with that colleague of yours. No wonder you've been so cold lately, when was the last time you even let me touch you"

" I would have been really angry with you if I cared about the things coming out of your mouth but I don't, someone told you, you saw me.. Now you're watching me. I don't let you touch me because you disgust me. You are nothing but a manwhore!! A lying cheating bastard!!!

"Victoria I told you to calling stop
me names!!

Our daughter opened the door to our room, and was startled by what she saw. Somehow Charles' hands were on my neck and I was pinned to the wall.

***
I slipped my hands out of the cold water and walked out of the kitchen. Charles had gone out before I could get to the room, Christian had a few things to tidy up so he left after eating.

I managed to summon up courage, took my car keys and left the house. I drove to Mr Ajayi's office and I was scared from the minute I drove, till the minute I got there.

The office had changed since the last time i came, the dragon lady who spat fire had been replaced with a young butterfly who had come out of a cracked caterpillar
The painting was much more peaceful and beautiful than the former. Mr Ajayi's office smelled like vanilla as always and I found myself smiling

"I love the new painting Mr Ajayi"
I sat and observed his countenance.

"Well my wife had put the previous one to scare away young women, it was her way of protecting her man"
He gave something that looked like a smile. Mr Ajayi was someone who the word smile was foreign in his book.

"I guess she was the dragon lady, your wife. So what changed? Why did she remove the painting?"

" I think she's finally realized that the dragon was not what she needed, I believe the butterfly is stronger than woman breathing fire"

"why would you say so? The woman can burn the butterfly to death."

"Do you believe hate is stronger than love? Patricia"

I smiled because he called me Patricia, I had told him my middle name because I forgot my first name the first day I came to him.

"honestly I don't know, maybe love is stronger, but we are talking about you"

"It's the butterfly that tames the beast not the dragon. This vulnerable, sensitive, loving side of my wife is the reason I am faithful."

"Not the dragon lady, how funny" I stated. Mr Ajayi Do you think I'm cold? "

" you don't look cold Patricia, are you? "

" Why do you still call me Patricia? "

" Why do you think you are cold? "

You answering a question with another question Mr Ajayi, that isn't right?"

"Victoria, you enjoy watching me scribble things, I want you to do the same. Tell me what you think about your new self and your old self. I want you to help me discover how to answer your question and I would tell you why I call you Patricia"

I didn't get to tell him why I came, but I felt I could get him to show me what he scribbles.

"How about I do what you requested and you give me your book to read"
I was expecting him to say no but he agreed to it

I left his office slightly better, I had wanted to talk to him about Grace and my husband but I felt that I needed to discover a bit about myself first.
I had the butterfly image stuck in my mind throughout the day.

Charles didn't come back home, but he texted me. I wonder where he had been.

Christy's laughter pulled me out of my thoughts, I had instructed the driver to drop me at work first before the kids and when I got out of the car I saw Grace and a very young lady standing beside her talking to Jude.

There wasn't need to pretend now, the butterflies are forming.