Mine After Office Hours

Chapter ten

Evelyn sat in her office, sulking. It was Friday already and Julian hadn't called. She had tried reaching him countless times but, he had not picked. Not even once. Was he okay? Was he sick?

     She rubbed her eyes in tiredness just as Bernice walked in.

     "Hey, you okay?" she asked in concern.

     "I guess I am." Evelyn answered.

     "You guess? I know this has something to do with Julian." She said.

     "He hasn't called, ever since he left." She was worried, but hurt at the same time.

Had he changed his mind about her? Maybe he didn't want her anymore. Evelyn couldn't help the nagetive thoughts that burned through her.

     "Maybe.....he is just a little bit busy." Bernice tried to assure her.

     "Yeah, right." She said with a tone lace with sarcasm. "He has been busy all week."

     "At least he's coming back tomorrow." Bernice began to help her gather her things. "C'mon, let's go home. It's late already." Bernice had opted to crash at her place so she could help her get ready for the gala. Evelyn was grateful she wasn't spending another night tossing and turning alone, on her bed.

     "What movie would you like to watch?" Bernice asked, holding the remote control.

     "Anything." She said flatly.

     "Do you want some popcorn, tigernuts, juice?"

     "Sure." She forced herself to say.

     Bernice looked at her in annoyance. At this point, Evelyn knew she had reached Bernice's limit for patience. "That's it. I'm just about done with you." She said, flinging a pillow at Evelyn.

     Evelyn watched her friend walk towards the kitchen, without sparing her a glance. She knew Joan was only looking out for her, but she couldn't help the way she felt. She missed him.

     It was 2am and Evelyn was about closing her eyes when the phone rang. It was Julian. Evelyn brought the phone to her ears. "Hello?"

     She heard him release a sigh at the other end of the receiver. "Evelyn? Baby, I'm so sorry I didn't call all these while. Something came up and I've been really busy over here."

     Evelyn felt her heart squeeze at the term of endearment. She shut her eyes, grateful he couldn't see her. "Really? How busy were you that you couldn't even send a text too?"

     "Evelyn, please." He sounded tired. "Something big came up. Besides, I'm back."

     What?

     Evelyn felt her heart begin to beat very fast. " Back? I thought you weren't coming in till tomorrow." She remembered the time. "....well, later today.

     "Yes baby, I couldn't bear staying away from you." He said something else, but she couldn't hear him. "I want to see you. Now."

     "Now? Are you crazy? Do you know what time it is?" she whispered loudly, not wanting to wake Bernice.

     Julian just groaned. "It's 2am, I know."

    "If there is one thing I have learnt from my short time in this country, it is that people do not roam about at night!" She scolded.

    "Yea, it's a good thing you are learning. But this is Lekki, it's practically a mini version of London." He sighed again. "Just come, joor."

She rolled her eyes at the slang at the end of his sentence. "But, what about the gala this evening? I haven't even gotten anything to wear." She was beginning to get excited at the prospect of seeing him again.