Tragedy of the African Cinderella [Black Book3]✔

17.

Things were getting much more complicated than he had imagined; his dad had called. That was very rare. And he never expected an agreeable conversation as both fell into fits of word exchange.
He couldn't blame him for whatever is going on in the company, it's not like was the only son. He couldn't blame him for acting like a kid all the time when they're the reason behind it.
He couldn't blame him either for his decision on staying in Cameroon until he had had enough when they're the ones who sent him there in the first place. His dad couldn't blame him for any fucking thing, yet, he did.

"Are you asleep already?" Nora's voice lurked in the dark.

She was something. The good kind of something. For some reason, he wished he had known her all his life. She managed to make him feel things he had never felt before, regret decisions he had made, see life in many ways, and above all, she thought him how to care and nurture. It was funny even to him how he'd gotten so attached and attracted to her so fast and so bad.

"I'm not," It was as well crazy how she was surely making him fall. A sentiment he had never in his entire life felt for a girl worst of all...a girl of her kind.

"Where do you see yourself in ten years to come?" She quizzed. Her voice was still slurry and sleep charmed. She hadn't gotten over the little dose of alcohol even after a three hours sleep during which he couldn't forfeit staring at her for anything in the world.

"I don't know," that was for real. "Wherever the wind decides, maybe." There was silence, in the room since outside was naturally crazy. "You?" He wanted to hear more of her voice but she was silent. He presumed she must have fallen asleep again.

Ace felt his cover move then her polished skin against his beneath it. "What the hell are you doing?" He popped up his pillow. She didn't reply but only wormed herself into him and behaved like nothing ever occurred.

"You can't sleep here,"

"Why not?" Her voice was only a gentle muffle against his hips.

Ace sighed. "Because you just can't ok?"

"I'll only go back up there if you agree to join me,"

"Not a chance." He had tried hard enough to avoid pouncing on her like a two weeks old sex-deprived adult but if she continued in that mood he might do something both of them might forever regret.

"So I was right then. I'm not attractive."

"We're not going to talk about this again, Nora. Go to bed."

"Make me."

Ace woke up, held her hand, made her mount the bed before following in queue. He didn't want her to feel the opposite of what she is to him. Especially when she put on his damn boxers. Fuck!
She cuddled up too damn close to him that he feared she would graze his crotch by mistake and see what her presence made of him.
Each breath she fanned at the nook of his neck sent tickling chills down his spine. "Good night, Nora."

"Married; to a good and understanding husband, have a good job; I've always wanted to be a nurse, a cozy home, and four kids," she whispered with her eyes closed. He had totally forgotten about that.

"How do you define a good husband?"

"Someone who strives to make ends meet, Cherishes his family and motivates his spouse when she feels like giving up."

Ace found himself attributing the aspects to him but none of them seem to correspond; he had no planned future so how will he make ends meet? He never envisioned himself getting married, worst still having kids, talkless about cherishing them. A capricious spoilt man of his kind knew not an iota on motivational speech.

He sighed and fastened his grip on her tiny waist as if she would disappear in a minute or the other. She had began snoring a little and it sounded melodious.

Shit!

He was beginning to sound like Eloise after watching those junky Novela models.
Soon enough, he joined her in Lala land.

~••~

"Nora! Come down here. Nora! I know you are hiding in there. Noraaaa."

Ace woke up as a result of Nora's head abruptly being heaved off of his bare torso. "Jesus! She's here."

"Who that?" He squinted his eyes to adapt to the morning brightness.

"Martha of course," Ace ran his palm over his face as he watched Nora panic to death.

"Calm down ok?"

She was pacing up and down the room. "I can't."

"Nora!" The irritating voice sounded again. "You won't like it if I come up there. Tell that white boy of yours to better let you go oh else..."

"God, she barks way too much." Ace walked to the veranda and saw the security officers and receptionists holding the vibrant woman out of the gate. A crowd had formed on either side of the highway. He walked back in and threw a Tee on. "Stay here while I--"

"I'm coming down with you. I ought to. Please let me."

"You won't go with her, will you?"

"I'm afraid...If it gets to the worst."

Ace thinned his lips, held her hand and both headed downstairs.

"I thought you will not show up, stupid thing," she vocalized.

"Ma'am calm down, you're creating a scene." A receptionist pleaded.

"Don't tell me to calm down when this foolish white stranger has my daughter. Nora, Juh begin di go house as I di tok now so."*

Nora who was hiding behind Ace didn't hesitate to obey Martha but was immediately held back by Ace's strong grip. "What are you doing?"

"Keeping you away from trouble,"

"You're not leaving this place if it is to return to that old hags house,"

"It's my dad's house too,"

"Fine, but I won't let you return home as long as she's there."

Nora's eyes had turned glassy. "Ace, I have to go."

"I said no." He insisted.

He saw a thin, almost bald-headed man tear the crowd. He looked restless and worn out in a pair of black oversized pants and faded blue t-shirt buried in an oversized black jacket. He bypassed Martha and the lady instantly cooled like hot larva in a body of water.

"That's my father," Nora whispered to Ace.

"Nora," her father called. Nora left Ace's side to her father's arms where she poured a fountain of tears. "How are you doing, dear daughter?"

"I'm fine,"

"I can see that," he rubbed her back. "Are you happy here, with your friend?" She nodded.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry I neglected you this way. You have to understand that it's not easy for me too,"

"I know, I know. That's why I never blamed you for anything."

Ace who was carried away by the father-daughter bond held back a tear as he desired same with his father.
Now he feared more than ever that she would leave him to go with her dad and the hag. It was pretty obvious that she would choose her dad over him if the opportunity presented itself. And that, he couldn't stand against but if the man she called dad had to take her back home then he ought to promise to him to take good care of Nora.

"If you're happy, I'm happy. Go be with your friend." The man looked at Ace and smiled. If only he knew the joy he catapulted in his life by letting stay with him. "As long as you wish. That is if he's ok with it."

"Of course, I have not a problem with it, sir."

"I trust you."

"Julius, you don't know what you're doing." Martha yelled from the other side of the fence.

* = Nora, start heading home as I speak.

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Chapter 16 and 17 written in one day...jiz I must really be inspired.