My Precious

NINETEEN

This chapter is dedicated to OmoakinD and OlalekanOriola

Grace came down from her car and headed directly to the hall where she had always asked Precious to wait for her at after closing hours. She walked fast because she was a little bit late. She had an interview earlier which took most of the day. She saw Precious and Tina, she wondered what Tina was still doing in school at this time. Usually, her drivers come for her immediately school closes or her parents and when they can’t, Tobi steps in.

‘Mummy!’ Precious said and ran to her.

‘Aunty!’ Tina also called and ran to her.

She smiled as she hugged them both.

‘How was school today?’ Grace said as she let go of them.

‘Fine!’ they chorused.

‘Tina, your driver is not here. What do we do now? Grace asked concerned.

'My uncle is here.' She said plainly.

Grace looked at Precious, now she understands the over expressed joy to see her.

'Grace.'

Grace waited till he got to her. He held two cones of ice cream. When he got to where they were he handed the ice cream to Precious and Tina.

'How are you?' He asked.

'Good.'

'I never got the chance to ask if you had fun at the party.' He said as Precious and Tina held his left and right hand respectively.

Grace was shocked. Precious just chosed Tobi over her. He is doing a good job spreading his charms, even to little girls.

'It was not bad but honestly, it was so boring for me. I was all by myself as I did my best to avoid Theresa.' Grace admitted.

'Sorry about that. You know when duty calls, we just have to answer. I had some things to take care of.' He replied.

They walked out of the hall together as they talked about their different expierence that day. They got to the parking lot and as if they planned it, they stopped walking and turned to themselves.

'Okay. Uhm, take care.' Grace said shyly.

'Yeah. Uh, Grace.' Tobi paused.

'Yes?' Grace said in expectant of something, anything to keep on talking to him.

He looked at the girls, they were playing.
'Will you like to have dinner with me tomorrow?' He asked with his heart praying for something positive.

Grace was stunned. This was something she wasn't expecting. She was quiet for a while and Tobi hoped whatever she decides should be positive.

'I can't.'

His hopes fell.

'You can't?'

'I mean I can't leave Precious home alone.' She said hoping it would clear the different thoughts running through his mind, most importantly, hers.

He sighed with relief.
'Oh. Uhm. We can have lunch then. I mean it's nothing special, just you, me having lunch together discussing stuffs. You know? How about that?'

'I think that's better.' She said and smiled.

He smiled. 'Great. Lunch then. Do you like local dish?'

'My favorites.' She replied.

'Awesome! I know one place. It's great and you are going to love it.'

'We'll see about that. Precious, let's get going.' She said.

They bid themselves goodbye and went their separate ways. Grace beamed with smiles throughout, she was surprised at herself, she had no idea she fancied him this much. All she always thought was that he was a cool handsome rich humble guy and that was all.

The next day she greatly anticipated the lunch. She dressed very simple for it. Nothing special but like it or not, this was a date. She looked in the mirror, she smiled. When was the last time she went on a date? She hasn't been on any since Michael. Michael.

The thought of him weakened her, that player and a cheat. She sighed, she lost all her energy and the vibe she had for the lunch was gone. Men are all deceitful. What if Tobi was not any different, it was not as if she knew much about him. She felt she was putting to much attention to him, whatever she was feeling it meant nothing. She shouldn't even be excited about eating with him, it was nothing special after all. He must have asked a lot of girls like that, she was certain he has a lot of lunch dates this week and that was why it wasn't special. He just slid her into his list. Grace boiled in fury and thought she must have been foolish to think this was real or nice. Nothing in this world is real or nice. She took off her earrings and then wiped off her make-up. She changed her dress and went to the living room. She awaited the time Precious would close from school. Thirty minutes past the time she should have met Tobi, his call came in on her phone. She ignored it and then switched it off.
She won't let herself be beaten twice in this game of deceit.

By evening she switched on her phone as Precious watched the TV. She had no messages, she hissed as she was not sure of what she was expecting. She took up her laptop and went through her mail. She received a message from Mr Abba asking her to resume work the following day. She sighed and wondered why she has still not submitted her resignation letter. It wasn't even two months yet so why was he asking her to resume? She was so tired of being pushed around by people. How can they just order her to come and go as they like?
She was vexed. She  typed her resignation letter once again and this time, she was going to submit it herself. It is better if she do it that way and give them all a word of advice and for those who would receive otherwise, she smirked. They deserve it.

Her phone rang as she carried her laptop to the printer to print out the letter. She looked at the caller. Tobi.
She felt guilty. She took the phone from the table and stared at the phone as it rang. She moved her hands slowly to the pick-up button.
In that brief moment the whole world paused as she wondered what she was going to say to him. She played their conversation in her head and it ended with her apologising. She frowned. She didn't have to apologize, she's done saying sorry to everybody.

At the last seconds, she changed her mind and rejected the call.

Hi guys.
🌟
Bye guys.