Damien's attraction

Chapter 59

"Girl, she can understand English. I said she sounded learned." October spoke on the phone as she supervised the men who were clearing up the hall on the second floor of the hotel. It happened to be the largest one in the whole hotel and apparently, someone was having an event. She didn't know who, but Damien had just told her to make sure everything belonging to the hotel was taken out before the interior decorators arrived.

"She's lucky I've had to sleep out these past few days, if not I would have given her the interrogation of her life." Olivia's voice came from the other end of the line.

"What if she talks only to me?" October laughed. "But it's weird though, why would she talk now after we tried and gave up making her do so?"

"Hmm, that I'm still guessing. What if she is planning on using us soon? You know, for her money ritual? That should be the only explanation. Maybe she wants to be nice to us before she takes our heads."

"Olivia!" October reprimanded her.

"What? You can't deny she's clean. Look at the blood stains on her clothes at times. That's so not normal. And it seems like she doesn't know we know. Who knows what she even does when we're not home? You know, cause her own 'outings' are at night. Thank God I lock my box reeeeal tiiiight." Olivia drew her words.

"Why are you always trying to put fear in me?" October asked and Olivia laughed. "Anyways, I have gist."

"Me too!" Olivia sounded excited all of a sudden.

"I'll go first." October didn't even let her speak. She cleared her throat. "I thought my plan was working, but it seems like our guy has given someone a forbidden fruit."

"No kidding." Olivia gasped. "Damien?"

"Uh huh."

"But are you sure?"

"I haven't confirmed yet but......"

"Then what are you assuming? You won't really know until you ask him."

October sighed.
"I hope I'm wrong."

"I hope you're wrong too."

"I have to go now. We'll talk later." October said when she noticed a cleaner approaching where she stood.

"Wait, you didn't even hear my own...."
She cut the call.

"Ma."

October looked up immediately she recognized Chinwe's voice.

"Someone's asking for you."

************************

October rubbed her palms as she looked outside the car window, wondering why she didn't bring a jacket. She glanced at her herself in the rear view mirror, happy at that moment that she decided to let free her natural hair today. The breeze was making the loose strands from her bun sway about gently. She turned to look at Damien who was driving, his face devoid of any emotions whatsoever. What were they going to get in the mall? She wasn't really in the mood to hang around. She wanted to get whatever this was over with, then get back to work. Deep down, she also wanted to know why he had made her go with him. She puffed up air in her mouth and released it slowly. This was such an awkward ride. At least she had the interior of the Benz to examine.

Why was it taking longer than she had expected? She had wanted to ask Damien earlier on when they had passed a few spots she recognized, but he was so quiet and she felt too uncomfortable to speak. She swirled the ring on her pointer as she tapped one of her feet nervously.

She paused when she felt the car suddenly become warm. She looked at Damien again. His eyes were still on the road and he didn't even spare her a glance, but she knew he had figured out that she was a little bit cold.

She smiled. Something about him was different today. She examined him closely from his suede shoes, to his blue tuxedo, then his shiny black hair. It was so different. He looked so 'expensive' in her own terms. And dashing too.

"You're staring and blushing. Don't you think that whatever thoughts are running through your mind are inappropriate?" He looked at his wristwatch and then back to the road. She turned away immediately.

"I have to admit," he looked at her finally. "You look different."

"Look who's talking." She rose an eyebrow. Honestly, if they were going for anything at all, she felt underdressed now seeing Damien the way he was. Here he was wearing a cool tux, and her a cream colored off shoulder top matched with a palazzo she was not confident about anymore. She was beginning to think they were not just going to the mall.

"It's definitely the hair. I haven't seen that thick brown hair since secondary school. And somehow, I like it." He stared at her for a moment when he was sure she was not looking.

"So...." She paused. This was an opportunity for her to talk about the so called 'Amanda' who had barged in the other day. Olivia was right; she shouldn't just assume things.
"The pregnant lady from the other day, who..." she closed her eyes, feeling weird as she thought about how to rephrase her question.

"Who? Amanda?" Damien asked. She exhaled. She was happy he got the hint.

"Yeah." She slowly answered.

"You'll get to know today."

"Today?" She was puzzled. "Is she meeting us at Jabi? Is she shopping with you or something?"

"Not really."

"And am I shopping with you for anything?"

"Actually, I already did that two hours before I came to get you from the hotel." Damien said.

October turned back to him immediately.
"What? Then....."

"I lied." He said as the car slowly came to a halt in front of a traffic light. "Right now, we're headed to Virginia Mall to get you dolled up, then to Sinclair in Apo."

Her eyes widened.

"Before you say anything, let me explain. I'm having a family dinner..." Damien trailed off when October scoffed. "And Lolo told me to bring you over."

"Unbelievable." She rubbed her forehead. "So what? You're taking me to see your family?"

"Just a few of them."

"Are you crazy? Do I need to remind you that I am probably the last person your family wants to see?"

"Whatever happened was between you and I. It wasn't even your fault in my opinion. If I can forgive you, they have no other option."

"Most marriages in Nigeria involves the whole family. You marry the bride, you marry the family and the same goes for the groom. They will hate me."

"Well my mum doesn't."

"That's because she's the one that's good." October blurted out. Damien paused to process what she had just said. She sighed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. It's just that your mum and I go a long way back and I'm like a daughter to her. She too was against the arranged marriage in the first place. But your other folks, they won't let me be. I'm even surprised your grandmother wants me to be there."

"My grandmother," he bit his lip. "Lolo has dementia. She called me earlier on to get you to come. She- uh, only remembers the part of you I used to talk about in secondary school." A frown appeared on his face. "I promise you that this wasn't on purpose."

October moved her gaze to the window. She twirled her ring again.
"I'm only agreeing to this because it's your grandma." She looked at him from the corner of her eyes. "But at any point in time I feel like my emotional being is being threatened, I'm leaving."

The side of Damien's lips tilted up a little just as the traffic light turned green. He started the engine again and drove off.