The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea - Literature (6) - Nairaland
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| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Culin(f): 7:59am On Mar 05, 2020 |
Chapter Eleven - One last time “Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worst kind of suffering.” ― Paulo Coelho Song- 'Lie to me' by 5 Seconds of Summer ENITAN I curled up on the bed as I dabbed my wet eyes for what seemed to be the 100th time since last night, I threw the tissue on the small heap of used ones on the ground. My head replayed our last conversation over and over again. I want Annabelle, you're only here for my child. I loved you once. Though I'd known the situation of things for a while, my heart wasn't ready when he finally accepted the truth- to my face. Clutching my chest from the pain that squeezed my heart, I tapped it at intervals to comfort myself. I had to be strong for me. Stifling the next round of cry, I glanced at my phone and sighed; three A.M. The night felt excruciatingly long. The thoughts of being in his house for three or more hours, unbearable. I tried to distract myself with the explore page of my Instagram and replying pending WhatsApp messages but, none of them worked. Maybe a warm bath would help me catch three hours of sleep before he drops me off. I thought out loud before sliding out of the soft bed. I dragged myself to the bathroom and ran a bath, while I waited for the tub to fill up, I gripped the sky-blue ceramic wash basin and stared hard at my reflection in the mirror. Dark circles and puffed lids now surrounded my sunken eyes, I had to do something about them or I'd end up looking like a character from a horror movie by morning. I lazily stripped and stepped into the tub, sitting comfortably on the anti-slip mat and wedging myself with some towels. The feel of warm scented water swallowing up my body felt like haven. I laid my head on the head pad and hoped the water would wash away my fatigue and pain. *** My eyes fluttered open to hands roughly tugging at my shoulders. "Jesus, Enitan! You scared the hell out of me." I tried to sit up but my movement was slowed by water around me. It was then I realized, I'd fallen asleep in the tub. I rubbed my eyes and looked at the figure crouching before me. Nathan! "Oh my God!" I scrambled for the towel on the ring above my head. "What are you doing in here?" I asked, my intended scream coming off as weak. "You weren't answering the door, so I Iet myself in. I freaked out when I saw the bathroom door open and you laying still." "I'm ok. I just slept off while having a bath," I replied, not hiding the anger in my voice. He rubbed his temple and grimaced. "Why do you always put yourself in dangerous situations?" "Stop yelling! I didn't mean to sleep off. What do you want?" His eyes lingered over my body and he gulped. I lowered my gaze, hoping he'd stand up from crouching so close to me. "Well It's eight already and I'm hungry." My skin burned under his gaze and I stupidly deepened the towel into the water to cover myself. "We're having breakfast at ‘Mees cafe’." "We? I'm not hungry. I just want to go home." "So you can starve my kid? Get dressed, you're going to eat. I'll be waiting outside." He stood straight, then walked out of the bathroom without looking back. *** I walked downstairs wearing a knee-length peach gown with a pair of Birkenstock slippers. I looked around the living room and dinning area, silently saying my last goodbye to the apartment. Shielding my eyes from the bright rays of sunlight that hit my face when I opened the front door, I found him in the driveway propped against the front bumper of his car. "I'm set," I said. His eyes leisurely travelled from my head to just below my hips, as if recalling the events of minutes ago. I tore my eyes away, embarrassed. Obviously I was the only one still affected. He didn't act awkward like anything had happened, instead he looked bolder. "You're so beautiful," he said. His husky voice sending shivers to my spine, I mentally slapped away any stupidity that was about to control me. Did he expect me to say 'thank you'? After the unbelievable things he said to me last night? I frowned and turned my face away, distracting myself with the view of a young couple on the balcony next door, watching their kids play on the swing. Soon I'll have mine running around too. For the first time, my heart swelled with motherly love for my baby. I'd focused so much on the negatives, I failed to appreciate the joy he or she would bring to my life. Watching the kids enjoy their Saturday morning and their parents fawn over them, I made up my mind to enjoy this period of my life too. Nothing and no one would take away of the joy of motherhood, not even the reminder of being a single mother. My hands impulsively caressed my flat belly, smiling at the thought of growing a bump soon. I jerked out of my thoughts when I felt his hands on my belly too, I didn't realise he had moved from the car and was now standing inches from me. "She's going to be a pretty little one," he whispered. "Like her Momma." 2 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Culin(f): 8:00am On Mar 05, 2020 |
Chapter Eleven Contd. His closeness and the feel of his hands on my tummy sent tingles all over my body and I fought to stay focused. "She?" I asked, my throat suddenly dry. The tension and excitement from his statement, bubbling in my stomach. "Yeah, she." Oh God, stop whispering. Focus Enitan, focus. He left you. He's getting married. He doesn't even love you any more. He's only interested in his baby. "We'll see," I managed to say. He continued stroking my belly, making it tighten into a knot. "It's so hard to keep my hands off you. Especially after-" he whispered, yet again. His lips hovering above my ears I don't want them off me. Don't be stupid Enitan. He's just a man with blood running through his veins. Every vein. My subconscious screamed at me. He seemed to be in conflict with himself, yet, he made no attempt to step back. Instead his solid hands slipped behind my back, dragging me closer to himself. I didn't resist. "Some one may be watching. Just let go. Let's forget about this morning," I said, in a weak tone, not convincing even myself. My thoughtful subconscious was knocked senseless when his head bent forward, his slightly parted lips lingering over mine. My heart skipped a beat. I lost track of my surrounding as his soft lips captured mine, slow and sensual. The taste of wine and smell of his cologne invaded my senses. Every anger I felt slowly dissipated to want. My knees turned to jelly and my hands instantly went to his chest for support. "You have no idea how much I missed you," he said, between each delicate brush. A soft moan escaped my lips and he took it as encouragement to continue. Easing one hand behind my neck and the other wrapped around my waist, his tongue savoured my mouth with fresh demand and hunger. Heat rose in the pit of my stomach as his hand began to wander to my upper body. Faint alarm bells went off in my head, but I didn't care if it would end in regret. I wanted this moment. Standing on my toes and pulling him even closer, I responded, every kiss matching the intensity of his. He gasped, not expecting my reaction but loving it nonetheless. He slight pulled away, cupping my face with both hands and placing his forehead on mine. "I just realized I lost my appetite for breakfast," he said, voice lowered and breath ragged. This was my chance to flee and save myself, but did I really want saving- from him. I shamefully admitted, he was hard drugs and I, a hopeless addict. Just one last dose, just one and that would be all. I parted my lips to speak but the voice that came up wasn't mine. "Nathan?" We pulled apart, both breathless. Turning to see the source of the voice, my heart fell. Annabelle. She looked even more beautiful than the pictures I'd seen online. Her skin unblemished, golden like the sun. Her creased eyebrows and death glare did not tamper with her angelic face. The short blue romper showed off her straight slender legs. Everything about her reeked of high class- from her bone straight wig, diamond earrings to the flat ankle heels that adorned her feet. I had to admit, she was a true African beauty. Little wonder. No sane man would pick me over her. "Shit," Nathan muttered, moving farther away from me. We'd been so caught up in the heat of the moment, we didn't notice the white Range Rover evoque pull up by the short gate, or see her walk toward us. "Is this why you've been avoiding me?" Her British accent filtered effortlessly through the air. "Ignoring my mails and text messages? I thought you were done with her." "I am." But just minutes ago he talked about wanting a daughter. A minute ago he was ravaging my lips. Stupid! Stupid! I'd been stupid again, too stupid to accept he was nothing but a compulsive liar. "I told you we were going to talk at the right time. You didn't have to show up here." "Right time? After the beautiful moments we shared weeks back? Everyday is now the right time!" Oh! He swept his hand over his head and turned to me, not a trace of guilt on his face. How could he not even feel guilty that he lied. I believed him when he said nothing serious had happened. He lied to me- again. "Enitan please get in the car, I need time alone with her," he said, slightly nudging me to walk away. "Enitan. The pathetic looser who can't seem to let go. We've heard a lot about you." She turned to me and laughed hysterically. The laugh felt odd, a wrong match for her innocent face. "We?" I asked, confused. "That's enough Annabelle!" Nathan bellowed beside me. She ignored him and drew closer to me. "You just had to stick to him like a tick didn't you? No matter how many times you offer yourself cheaply to him, he'll never end up with you." "I said that's enough!" "Years later and he still falls back to me," she continued. I felt suffocated. They were once lovers. Was I so much a bother that he had to lie about a marriage deal between their parents? "You know why? Because you're worthless to him. Haven't you dug enough gold to cater for you and your pathetic family?" "Annabelle if you don't shut the hell up this minute- Enitan get in the car now." I heard him but my legs remained glued to the spot. Too weak- and embarrassed to move. My eyes began to pool. I bit my lips to fight back the tears. "In four weeks, he'll be legally mine- for ever. And you, you'll just be at the bottom of the long list of whores he experimented with." "She's carrying my child, you'll speak to her with respect." "What?" She asked, her mouth hanging agape. "This is a joke, right?" Overwhelmed, I gasped for air. I became lightheaded, my vision went fuzzy. *** Disoriented, I accessed the extremely comfortable bed and exquisitely furnished room I woke up in. It definitely wasn't my father's house or mine, wasn't Nathan's either. The last thing I remember was falling and Nathans arms catching me. I placed my feet on the ground and attempted to stand. Lightheaded again, I sat back on the bed, clutching my head. Not letting my present state discourage me, I picked my bag from the nightstand with the intention of finding my way out, but the door opened to reveal a beautiful ebony woman who I guessed to be in her early or mid-fifty's, dressed in an Arabian gown and gold accessories. She looked oddly familiar. "My darling! So glad you're awake!" Her hands spread open for an embrace as she sauntered to the bed. Oh my God! Mrs. Margaret Adakole? A common face on TV and her picture Nathan's permanent lock screen, that explained why she looked familiar. How in God's name did I end up in a room with Nathan's mum? Author's Note : phew 2000 words. Lol I slept off trying to post on NL last night. Thanks guys for the support, y'all are amazing. I just edited and formatted this chapter (two hours after updating), you can reread for better understanding. Much love from me. Kindly send your reviews and suggestions to thewallbetweenus1@gmail.com Please and please, only reviews or things that are related to this book, stop spamming my mails with professional training/oil and gas jobs/ cyber security mails, please I'm begging you in God's name.  Here's a link to this story on Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/story/208917546-the-wall-between-us You can read on your broswer, but to vote you'd have to open an account and it takes just a minute or so. Please read, vote and comment. My Wattpadd updates come with fun media, so you have a clearer picture of everything. It could be the location where a scene takes place or cars/shoes/whatever. 1 Like 1 Share |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Opeade939(f): 6:31pm On Mar 12, 2020 |
Culin:I love the story already......Keep it up op, Well done. |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by tot(f): 10:25am On Mar 14, 2020 |
Great update, thanks. Folks, can you please stop quoting the entire chapter to drop a comment? It makes it hard for others by having to scroll down. I believe Culin reads all comments so she would still see your comment. Thanks. |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by adeboizy11(m): 10:25pm On Mar 17, 2020 |
Time have not reach for update koi[qquote author=Culin post=87179339] Chapter Eleven - One last time “Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worst kind of suffering.” ― Paulo Coelho Song- 'Lie to me' by 5 Seconds of Summer ENITAN I curled up on the bed as I dabbed my wet eyes for what seemed to be the 100th time since last night, I threw the tissue on the small heap of used ones on the ground. My head replayed our last conversation over and over again. I want Annabelle, you're only here for my child. I loved you once. Though I'd known the situation of things for a while, my heart wasn't ready when he finally accepted the truth- to my face. Clutching my chest from the pain that squeezed my heart, I tapped it at intervals to comfort myself. I had to be strong for me. Stifling the next round of cry, I glanced at my phone and sighed; three A.M. The night felt excruciatingly long. The thoughts of being in his house for three or more hours, unbearable. I tried to distract myself with the explore page of my Instagram and replying pending WhatsApp messages but, none of them worked. Maybe a warm bath would help me catch three hours of sleep before he drops me off. I thought out loud before sliding out of the soft bed. I dragged myself to the bathroom and ran a bath, while I waited for the tub to fill up, I gripped the sky-blue ceramic wash basin and stared hard at my reflection in the mirror. Dark circles and puffed lids now surrounded my sunken eyes, I had to do something about them or I'd end up looking like a character from a horror movie by morning. I lazily stripped and stepped into the tub, sitting comfortably on the anti-slip mat and wedging myself with some towels. The feel of warm scented water swallowing up my body felt like haven. I laid my head on the head pad and hoped the water would wash away my fatigue and pain. *** My eyes fluttered open to hands roughly tugging at my shoulders. "Jesus, Enitan! You scared the hell out of me." I tried to sit up but my movement was slowed by water around me. It was then I realized, I'd fallen asleep in the tub. I rubbed my eyes and looked at the figure crouching before me. Nathan! "Oh my God!" I scrambled for the towel on the ring above my head. "What are you doing in here?" I asked, my intended scream coming off as weak. "You weren't answering the door, so I Iet myself in. I freaked out when I saw the bathroom door open and you laying still." "I'm ok. I just slept off while having a bath," I replied, not hiding the anger in my voice. He rubbed his temple and grimaced. "Why do you always put yourself in dangerous situations?" "Stop yelling! I didn't mean to sleep off. What do you want?" His eyes lingered over my body and he gulped. I lowered my gaze, hoping he'd stand up from crouching so close to me. "Well It's eight already and I'm hungry." My skin burned under his gaze and I stupidly deepened the towel into the water to cover myself. "We're having breakfast at ‘Mees cafe’." "We? I'm not hungry. I just want to go home." "So you can starve my kid? Get dressed, you're going to eat. I'll be waiting outside." He stood straight, then walked out of the bathroom without looking back. *** I walked downstairs wearing a knee-length peach gown with a pair of Birkenstock slippers. I looked around the living room and dinning area, silently saying my last goodbye to the apartment. Shielding my eyes from the bright rays of sunlight that hit my face when I opened the front door, I found him in the driveway propped against the front bumper of his car. "I'm set," I said. His eyes leisurely travelled from my head to just below my hips, as if recalling the events of minutes ago. I tore my eyes away, embarrassed. Obviously I was the only one still affected. He didn't act awkward like anything had happened, instead he looked bolder. "You're so beautiful," he said. His husky voice sending shivers to my spine, I mentally slapped away any stupidity that was about to control me. Did he expect me to say 'thank you'? After the unbelievable things he said to me last night? I frowned and turned my face away, distracting myself with the view of a young couple on the balcony next door, watching their kids play on the swing. Soon I'll have mine running around too. For the first time, my heart swelled with motherly love for my baby. I'd focused so much on the negatives, I failed to appreciate the joy he or she would bring to my life. Watching the kids enjoy their Saturday morning and their parents fawn over them, I made up my mind to enjoy this period of my life too. Nothing and no one would take away of the joy of motherhood, not even the reminder of being a single mother. My hands impulsively caressed my flat belly, smiling at the thought of growing a bump soon. I jerked out of my thoughts when I felt his hands on my belly too, I didn't realise he had moved from the car and was now standing inches from me. "She's going to be a pretty little one," he whispered. "Like her Momma."[/quote] |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Palmerbarry: 1:20am On Mar 18, 2020 |
[quote author=adeboizy11 post=87533449] Nice update Chairman. Weldone eehn. 2 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Khriztarl(f): 2:39am On Mar 18, 2020 |
Ehmmmm what's up here?? 1 Like |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by tot(f): 7:18am On Mar 21, 2020 |
[quote author=Palmerbarry post=87535828][/quote] He still carries on quoting the whole update. Sigh |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by ifiokjohn(m): 8:31pm On Mar 21, 2020 |
adeboizy11:Must you Quote the whole story? Haba na 1 Like |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by ifiokjohn(m): 8:32pm On Mar 21, 2020 |
adeboizy11:Must you Quote the whole story? Haba na! 1 Like |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Ann2012(f): 9:39am On Mar 22, 2020 |
Well done OP 2 Likes |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Palmerbarry: 10:43am On Mar 22, 2020 |
ifiokjohn:Oga please stop quoting the whole page too naw, Haba!! 1 Like |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by adeboizy11(m): 7:58am On Apr 07, 2020 |
Culin how are you? Hope you're safe...  Just asking after you thoCulin: 1 Like |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Nobody: 1:24pm On Apr 08, 2020 |
Interesting
Keep it up dear. Thanks 1 Like |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Culin(f): 3:27pm On Apr 15, 2020 |
Hey guys  Long time no post. I've missed you guys. How are you guys dealing with the pandemic and lockdown? Unfortunately (for me), lockdown no reach my state o so it's just life as usual for me. Stay safe guys.*clears throat* I want to apologize for the pause, I didn't intentionally disappear. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable bringing my personal life on here so I'll just say, I had good reasons for disapearing. I have an edited chapter (more like a filler chapter) ready, and four unedited chapters that I plan to edit and post next week Wednesday (all four). I think that should cover up for the Wednesdays I missed. Then for those quoting the whole chapter, please stop o. Don't know exactly how to stop? When you tap 'quote', you can clear up the existing text in the box before 'submitting'. OR you can just tap the 'reply' ontop or below the page to reply to this story. Lastly, I made a tiny adjustment in chapter 1, "Her hair, wet from the August rain that pelted the ground since the early mornings." So chapter one starts in August. Sorry for missing out that detail. 2 Likes |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Culin(f): 3:29pm On Apr 15, 2020 |
adeboizy11: Thanks darling. I'm safe, just some medical emergency again. How are you? |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Culin(f): 7:05pm On Apr 15, 2020 |
CHAPTER TWELVE - Trouble "The end came as silent as the leaves falling in autumn. There was no deciding moment; one day the leaves were falling then the next, the trees were bare. Our time has run out." ―Kari Minobe Song- 'Radioactivity' by Imagine Dragons NATHAN With the way our conversation had taken a downturn last night and the awkward incident in the bathroom this morning, I never expected she'd let me hold her again. But here she was, right in my arms, kissing me back with more fervour than I could hope for. Her lips like cherries, drowned me in their sweetness -just like I remembered them. All my senses yearned for her, seconds away from throwing caution to the wind, Annabelle's voice interrupted. "Nathan?" She said in almost a whisper, her voice quivering. Standing few feet away in a blue jumpsuit that stylishly displayed the 'Belle' logo of her fashion brand on the large collar, she spread her exposed legs in an angry stance and stared daggers at me. It felt like I'd been caught in a pool of blood with a dead body and a bloody knife. She found me kissing the same woman I'd sworn to leave. Just great! What else could go wrong? Knowing Annabelle, this was going to end only one way. "Shit," I muttered. Switching off my phone last night was a terrible mistake that only made her more desperate. "Is this why you've been avoiding me? Ignoring my mails and text messages? I thought you were done with her?" she asked without pausing. "I am." The words tasted bitter on my tongue. My palms clenched into a fist when Enitan's expression fell. It was the worst thing I could say with her next to me, but it was my best shot to quelling Annabelle's outburst. "I said we were going to talk at the right time. You didn't have to show up here." If I thought a simple WhatsApp message would keep her away, I'd played myself. Her arms rose and fell weakly. "Talk at the right time? You expect me to hold back after the beautiful time we shared last week?" she asked, biting her lips. Oh come on! Did she really take that night serious knowing how drunk I was? *** I'd spent the evening of last Friday mopping and drowning in a Cîroc after I returned from the introduction party at her parent's. She drove into my house at ten P.M, with a neatly packed sleepover bag and claimed to be returning the sunshades I'd forgotten at her family's apartment. Since it was already late, she stayed back and we reminisced about the past. I may have mentioned missing the way things were between us years ago, only because things were presently unbearable. We talked more, kissed, and I passed out before it went any further. I woke up feeling terrible the next morning, but couldn't ask her to leave. She looked happy and I'd been too hard on her, so I let her stay the whole weekend, with excuses to avoid her. *** Now she thought we fixed things and have a special thing going on. "I was drunk!" I half screamed, turning to Enitan for some kind of assurance that she wasn't thinking of this the wrong way. 'Nothing happened!' I almost yelled. The pain and betrayal in Enitan's eyes made my chest constrict. What had my life become? A confusing mess of defending a weekend with my wife-to-be before my pregnant ex. Why did I care so much? Why did it matter if Enitan believed me or not? We are done after all. Done. Done. Rubbing my forehead, I repeated the word in my mind. Maybe if I tried harder to convince myself, I'd care less if she was hurting. "Enitan please get in the car, I need time alone with her." I lied. I wanted her out before Annabelle erupted. Instead she stood like a tree rooted to the ground. "Enitan. The pathetic looser who can't seem to let go. We've heard a lot about you." Annabelle's voice, rising as she walked towards her. "That's enough Annabelle," I cautioned. The last thing I needed was Enitan knowing the details of this union or worse, getting hurt by my fiancée whose words were sharper than a Samurai sword. She rambled on without a care in the world. Dragging her back to her car was my next move but I became aware of the neighbours in the next apartment who were staring at us from their balcony. "Annabelle if you don't shut the hell up this minute― Enitan get in the car now." 'Please just get into the car' I pleaded with my eyes when her eyes began to tear up. "In exactly four weeks, he'll be legally mine― for ever. And you, you'll just be at the bottom of the long list of whores he experimented with." It took every ounce of my self-control not to drag Annabelle across the driveway. I tapped my foot impatiently, weighing my next words carefully. "That's where you're wrong. She's far more worth than that, she's carrying my child." Turning pale like one who'd seen a ghost, Annabelle looked at Enitan, then back at me. "What?" she asked. I took short strides towards her until I was the only thing separating her from Enitan. "You heard me. You would treat her with nothing but respect! If you ever― " Enitan's falling frame snapped me out of my tirade. I stretched towards her swiftly, in a flash, she was in my arms. Her limb body made my breathe hitch. This was all my fault! I'd expose her to so much stress, her body gave in. I inhaled deeply and tried to calm myself. "Enitan!" All my calm slowly dissipated. "She's just going to fake passing out to avoid this conversation?" Annabelle's voice blared above my head, her question, directed to no one in particular. "Can't you see it! She's faking it! Nathan, she's taking advantage of you! She just wants your pity." Her voice became louder and sterner. She leaned forward, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Please babe, don't fall for her trick. Just leave her here and she'll get up. You'll see." "Are you out of your mind? Get out!" I said, emphasising on each word through clenched teeth. "I can't believe you'll treat me like this. You should be the one running after me! My family is doing yours a huge favour! Is this how you pay us back?" Her words, like a fire, heated my blood to boiling point. Shifting her gaze to Enitan and putting on a straight face like nothing had happened, she said, "I hope you crack your skull and bleed to death the next time you fall." "Get the hell out of my house, now!" I said. Sniffing and tossing her hair backwards, she fetched her phone from her handbag and began to walk towards the gate. I didn't wait to find out who she was trying to call, I picked up Enitan, one hand supporting her back and the other under her knees. Turning sideways to access the car's back door handle, I opened it and gently laid her on the seat. Rushing to the driver's side, I threw myself in. Glancing at Annabelle from the side mirror, I drove out of the compound, the automated gate flying open as if sensing my urgency. Zion's Private hospital, Ikoyi was my best option, being just fifteen minutes drive from my house and one of the best in Lagos. I drove out of the estate's giant gates and towards the intersection that would lead East to the hospital. My phone lying face up on the car's centre console started to ring, displaying a picture of my mum in sunhat and Rayban shades. A picture she took on one of her vacations in Seychelles. How did she get my new number? Right! Same way Annabelle got it. My sister, Ivan who'd trusted enough to respect my decision to have some unbothered time carelessly gave my number away like it meant nothing. I looked at the phone again and contemplated answering. A part of me wanted to pick up, but after lying about her heart attack, she was the last person I intended to speak with. So I let the phone ring continuously while I focused on the road. My phone chimed. Unlocking it, I read the text that popped up at the top of the screen and almost chuckled. 'Ignore my calls and you'll regret it.' She was resorting to threats now? The thought, laughable. What next in her sack of tricks― emotional blackmail? I dropped the phone and it chimed again. 'Please Natty, do not take her to a hospital, she is not safe." Wait. How did she― "Annabelle," I groaned. She must have been the one Annabelle was calling when I left the house. But I still wondered what my mother meant by "not safe". Was Annabelle up to something or could she have been privy to any ill intentions towards Enitan? My palm suddenly became sweaty from thoughts that she could've known the elevator accident was an attempt on Enitan's life and worse, being a part of the plan. No, not possible. Though a bit abrasive on the outside, she was soft on the inside. But then again, she loved my father to a fault, and that made her an easy pawn for his games. So many questions ran through my mind as I dailed her number and connected the call to the car's Bluetooth receiver. "You finally decide you want to talk." Her low-pitched voice resonated on the other end. "Mah, Just go straight to the point, what does your text mean?" I asked, impatiently. "What does my text mean?" Her voice, laced with anger. "You should know your father won't take it easy on the both of you after seeing that embarrassing video." "What video?" I asked, taking the last turn that led to Zion's hospital. "Dear God! Where are you right now? Pullover." I could sense a new wave of panic in her voice. "You're not making any sense right now, Mah. What is going on?" "Look, someone streamed a live video of you on Instagram kissing that girl, fighting with your fianceè― driving out of the compound. Now Instavlog has it on their page with at least fifty thousand views in about ten minutes." If I hadn't felt the weight of my actions when Annabelle had found us, I felt it now. The cheating scandal would trend on social media for weeks and even after our wedding. The rumours about a forced and unwanted marriage would rock both our lives to it's core. The implication on our family business― on my business. The effect on the deal between our families. Worse, my father getting wind that I saw Enitan again even after everything he'd done to make his point clear. I felt it now. Like an angry ocean wave crashing against the shore, the implications of my actions crashed over me. 2 Likes |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Nobody: 7:29am On Apr 16, 2020 |
Culin: |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Ann2012(f): 7:43am On Apr 16, 2020 |
Thanks for the update OP Pls, stay safe oooo |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Culin(f): 9:11am On Apr 16, 2020 |
Ann2012: Thanks Annnnnn. Stay safe too girl. 1 Like |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Nobody: 11:52am On Apr 17, 2020 |
Thanks for the update |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by adeboizy11(m): 8:29pm On Apr 18, 2020 |
I'm glad you are OK. Just be cool and try be healthy in every sense. Plenty love from here Culin: |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Culin(f): 12:32am On Apr 21, 2020 |
Humbleness: Thank you! So guys, I finished editing the chapters early, instead of waiting till tomorrow to update, I'll start updating today. See you later. 1 Like |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Culin(f): 12:24pm On Apr 21, 2020 |
Chapter Thirteen - Reflection I didn't want to kiss you goodbye — that was the trouble — I wanted to kiss you good night — and there's a lot of difference. — Ernest Hemingway Trampoline —by SHAED AND ZAYN NATHAN My head spun as I pulled over— beside a pavement. The young couple who were staring from their balcony were my best guess as to who could have made the video. I groaned just thinking about how hard their thirst for social media popularity would make my life— and Enitan's. My memory revisited a fight we had the summer of last year, over something similar. *** Flashback "This is stunning, you look like a model on the cover of Vogue." I smiled showing her the picture I'd taken of her in front of the Notre-Dame Cathédral. "Babe, stop!" She laughed heartily. "You're one for flattery." She tugged the edge of my brown leather jacket and peered into the camera in my hand. Her wide contagious smile triggering a smile from me. "I like this one better, I'm posting it on my Instagram, like ASAP," I said, as I'd stopped scrolling sideways and was admiring a particular picture. She suddenly let go of my jacket. "No. Why would you do that?" I'd never seen her so edgy. "Because you're my girlfriend?" I turned to her and gestured my confusion with my hands. "No Nathan. I don't want my face out there." "What do you mean you don't want your face out there?" I yelled. "Your face is all over your Instagram page!" She bit her lips and shifted from one foot to the other. "Enitan, We've been dating for a year and we still don't have any picture of us on social media. Are you seeing someone else? Is that why you don't want us to go public?" "What? No!" It's just— the narratives won't favour someone like me. The daughter of a man nobody knows, dating a self-made billionaire and son of Africa's richest man. Do you know how that would turn out for me? The press would hound me, 'Gold digger' they'd say." She face palmed and paced the little concrete bench beside us. "They may even say I used Voodoo on you. God! And let's not even talk about your family." "But you know I don't care about all of that!" "Because it's not your life that'll become shitty! My life is complicated enough, Nathan. Please. Don't do anything." The ride back home was a silent one. We never talked about the subject again, partly because I knew she was right. *** flashback ends Now her worst fears had come true, and in the most controversial circumstance. It was only a matter of time before her real identify and Instagram handle was found and her page flooded with mean comments. To the public, she was the home wrecker, an obstacle to their dream romance story— and celebrity couple crush. I just had to accept it, Enitan would hate me even more and maybe forever this time. "You can't take her to a hospital." My mother's voice jolted me out of my reverie. I'd zoned out and forgotten she was still on the other end of the phone. "She needs proper medical attention," I replied weakly. "Natty. The last thing we need, is people taking more videos of you two. The press will maul you both. Not to mention your father, he already made calls to 'take care of things'. I don't even know what that means, but I'm sure it's not welcoming you back with open arms." She heaved a deep breath. Just great. The devil is involved now. "I'm leaving the house now, I'll text you a House address, I want you to bring her there. I'll have a doctor waiting." "How do I even know this is not a trap? What if you're helping him out? Just like you helped him out to keep me at home?" I shot back. "I'll never hurt someone you care about. I'm your mother for God's sake!" "And he's my father," I answered flatly. "He's my father, yet-" I left the words hanging. "I'm not the enemy here." She sighed, I could tell the whole conversation was stressing her out. "I promise, she'll be safe and well hidden from your father— and the public." *** Thirty minutes later, I drove into one of the neighbourhoods situated along the shoreline. The weather was relatively cool and I could hear the splashing of water against the highly stacked rocks to my left. There were few houses scattered around on the right side. I followed my car's GPS and drove up the steep and curved tarred road. At the end of the road, stood a house in the middle. I pulled up into the large compound with a white semi-glass story building in its centre. It was larger than the other houses. My mother, dressed in a casual flowing gown waited at the concrete paved driveway, alongside a dark bulky man with an afro and oversized jean pants. I recognised him to be Dr Rufus, her personal physician. I'd always wondered what she needed him for when we already had a family doctor. "You made it." She hugged me tightly the second I alighted the car. I untangled myself from the hug and nodded at Dr Rufus. Circling back to open the back seat, I hauled Enitan over my shoulder and followed my mum's direction to a large room upstairs, all the while with one question in mind. Why and how did she secure a large property without anyone, especially my father's knowledge? Minutes after Enitan was rested on the bed, Dr Rufus walked up to where my mother I were standing by the door. "She's fatigued and dehydrated, the I.V infusion will serve. Her pulse rate and heartbeat is also below normal but she should regain consciousness in a while. You should have placed her on her back and tilted her legs backwards to improve venous return, her brain didn't get enough oxygen supply with her curled up in the car," he said. Yeah, thanks for reminding me I should have paid more attention in biology or whatever class in junior high school. "Thanks for your help." I took his hand in a firm handshake. "Let me know when there's a new development." His mouth curled in a smile that didn't reached his tired eyes. From the look of things, he was called in the middle of an activity and showed up in impeccable time. "Thank you Rufus." My mum patted his back and led him out of the room, chatting about something. I plopped myself down on the bed, holding my head, knees supporting my elbows. Not wanting the face of the man who put her in this position to be the first thing she woke up to, I exited the room, shut the door quietly and walked downstairs. Looking outside through one of the glass walls, I spotted Dr Rufus saying something to my mum from the driver's seat of his car, I didn't miss the shocked expression on her face. His car's engine revved and she waved him till his car was out of the compound. Their relationship looked personal, too personal for my comfort. "You didn't mention she was expecting a child," Her expression turned to an unreadable one the moment she walked back into the house and joined me at the small coffee table. "We've been here for like what? Twenty minutes? But you've had months, possibly years and didn't mention a particular property in Lagos." "Touché!" She smiled and waved at me noncommittally. "I've had it for a while now. A woman needs her space sometimes. And, just in case things go to shit, I have a property to fall back on." "In case things go to shit?" I let out a short sardonic laugh. "This is your plan b if the marriage deal does not go through? Hiding a property from your husband, and the government? You know you could go to jail for it." "I'm glad you're here, son. You barely spoke to me during your introduction party." I wasn't falling for her weak attempt to deflect from the topic. "I'm here only because of Enitan. Can we not do this now?" I asked, my right index finger gently tapping the coffee table. She nodded and mouthed 'ok'. "So, have you watched it? The video, I mean." "I have no plans to." "How are you going to know who set you up then?" "It wasn't a setup. Just a bunch of clueless people taking advantage of a careless moment. I'll take care of it." "Good." Her lips twitched and she nodded again. "Good. So has your father called yet?" "He doesn't have this number," I said in a final tone. She scoffed. What was that for? As if on cue, my phone began to ring. I looked at the caller ID. "Mum," I muttered under my breath as my head snapped up from the phone. Her eyes widened and she raised both hands in defence. "What? What was I supposed to do when he asked for it?" "Got to go. Be back in a short while." I snatched the car keys from the coffee table and headed out of the door. I answered his call immediately I stepped out of the house. "We have a lot to talk about, son. Let's meet at the boat club." His only statement before dropping the call. Classic Williams Agaba Adakole. I drove back to Ikoyi where the members-only boat club was located. Housed in a white colonial-era building, it boasted a view of the serene lagoon and a nautical themed wood-panelled bar for relaxation, a fleet of motor boats, three open tennis courts, holiday homes and other recreational facilities. The place was usually filled with government officials and business top-shots in the evenings and weekends. Because it was still morning of a weekend, it was quiet with just the attendants and a few members. After checking in at the front desk, I strolled into the outdoor area. I hated being in the place at this time, especially for the sole purpose of discussing with my father, but that didn't stop me from smiling and waving at Starkè's petroleum founder and his son playing tennis on one of the courts across from me. If they had watched the video, there was no reaction. I wasn't exactly expecting one, since Starkè's wife had been found cheating the previous week. Sure, they'd know a lot about not shaming the scandalous. The lounge, a large patio with a clear view of the water, had sets of private sitting areas that each consisted of a glass table and three joint white sofas around it. I spotted my father sitting alone on one of the sofas, but I knew his personal bodyguard—chauffer, Hakeem was somewhere close hiding in plain sight. Quietly, I sat beside him. Making good use of the few precious seconds of calm before our talk, I enjoyed the beautiful view of docked boats dancing on the shimmering water and seagulls circling the bright blue sky. 2 Likes |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Culin(f): 9:58pm On Apr 22, 2020 |
Chapter Fourteen - Consequences and Repercussions And sometimes being in love is not enough to make it work. Dominic Riccitello Song - Before you go - by Lewis Capaldi NATHAN A minute of us sitting in silence passed. "Not to seem partial to my other children, I never openly admitted you were my favourite child." He spoke out of the blue. "Soft and yet, brutal. Every time I looked at you, it was like looking at myself in a mirror, so I could never bring myself to discipline you." Well that explains why you were less harsh to me. Gee, thanks dad. "Even at the age of four, I knew it had to be you who'd take over the reins of Avalon from me. Your resilience and defiance amused me." I guessed this to be one of those times I just listened and let him get to his point. So I remained silent and enjoyed the view. "It's funny that the things that amused me back then, are the same things frustrating me now. You'd think a man would drop old behaviours and adjust- make sacrifices for family. Because that's what families do." I remained silent. "I'm highly disappointed in your actions earlier. I thought my message would was clear enough. Should I have clipped your wings at a young age?" He asked himself and looked deep in thoughts. "Then you would have only turned out like your coward brother." His face tightened in a deep frown. "You've been fired from the Chief executive officer's seat. The CO will make the announcement on Monday. You're expected to handover all documents to your replacement. I can't expel you from the board of directors since I gifted you those shares myself," he laughed bitterly. "But I strongly advice you sell your shares back to the family or get a director to represent you on the board." "What?" I asked, faintly, not sure I wanted him to repeat himself - not that he would. He stayed silent and stared at the water. My fist clenched and my legs stood up on their own accord. "You can't make that announcement. I'll be signing the most important deal of my life at FoxTrap on Monday. Do you know how much damage that announcement would cause? They'll stall the deal, then renegotiate for an awfully lower price, worse, call it off. We've put in so much work into this project we can't afford to lose this deal." Or Avalon. My subconscious reminded. That was my ultimate goal after all - the reason for leaving Enitan in the first place. Not his freedom or reputation. "Every action has a consequence," he calmly replied. "How was I supposed to know someone would take advantage of my weak moment?" "Men like us, can't afford to have weak moments!" He stood up briskly, eyes burning with full intensity. "Men like us, are still just men!" He let out a sardonic laugh. "If that is what you think, go back to your lover and be just a man. You think love is that stupid fluttering in your chest? You'll hate her when you realise you are just an ordinary man, with no Avalon Legacy. You'll hate her even more when you realise she has nothing but meals, her body and mediocre love poems to offer," he yelled and trashed his arms. "Love is power. Wanting someone who can give and share in that feeling, is love." He moved away from the sitting area and began to match down the docks. "What is between Enitan and I is now beyond love." He stopped dead in his tracks. "And what does that mean?" He turned in a swift moment, his brows furrowed. He studied my expression, in a knowing look he shook his head and whispered, "no. Tell me you didn't-" "Yes. And I will not abandon her now." I feared the next thing I was going to say, the chance that it would work was slim. "You want to fire me? Fine go ahead." By the way he stilled, I knew I'd gotten his attention. It looked like my chance to lay down my terms and I grabbed it like a drowning man. "You don't actually think I'll be foolish enough to go ahead with the wedding with just your freedom at stake, do you?" The statement alone drained his face of every emotion and wiped off the annoying smirk he had on earlier. But I wasn't done just yet. "You want to trust the justice system to decide your fate, fine. But imagine how insulted Mr Martins, the one man whose position in the anti-graft commission could make everything go away, would feel about cancelling the wedding, disgracing his daughter and entire family and going back on a deal to offer his daughter a seat at the board." I paused, letting my words sink in. I continued, cutting deeper into an already torn pride. "I also don't have to remind you how the present governor detests you. If this case goes to court, they'll tear you apart like Wolves! Strip you of everything you own. I'll bounce back with Foxtrap. What about you?" My heart hammered in my chest as I waited for him to say a word. His pride and arrogance were likely to make him say he'd take his chances in court, but we both knew it was more than a court case. It was a witch-hunt. The only reason he went to extreme lengths to clear any obstacle on his way. He flashed me a smile and shook his head, his pride and arrogance sipping through. But behind the smile I could see the desperation, the willingness to concede defeat. He'd never admit it, but I wasn't the only desperate one. We needed each other to survive, but he needed me more. The earlier he realized that, the quicker we ended this stalemate. "And I thought you wanted your girlfriend so bad," he mocked. "In the end, you're just like me. You'd choose power over anything -anyone." Even though we were both trapped in a symbiotic relationship, I realized I'd played right into his hands. Somewhere in his large round eyes, beyond the medicated glass frames, I could see admiration. "Well it looks like we're stuck with each other. I believe we should come to a compromise. What do you say?" "We should," I replied, totally in control of the situation. If my life was going to be ruined, it better be on my own terms. "So?" He walked back to the sitting area, but didn't sit. "You offer a public apology about today's incident. Marry the anti-graft chairman's daughter. We make her a board member and her children heirs to Avalon. Every evidence against me disappears. I get to keep my freedom and Legacy. You get to keep your job and get the chairmanship in three years. Every one stays happy." "And-" he wasn't going to fool me by leaving out the most vital part. "Your girlfriend keeps your child, discreetly," he scoffed. "And you don't get to go after her or the child." "You don't think I'll go after my own grandchild do you?" He loved Monic and Kelvin's children greatly, but then, they and their parents weren't standing in his way. "Son, whatever you have with her should be about your child. Don't let your emotions jeopardize us for the second time." "I think I'm capable of handling my own affairs. I'll keep to my part of the deal. You keep to us and stay out of my business." "Fair enough. But there's one person you should speak with, to confirm if she's still in line." "There'll be no need for that. She has so much to gain in this, she'll never call off the wedding even if I had all body parts amputated." I walked past him and out of the lounge. Too drained to have a proper conversation with Enitan, and conscious not to be followed to my mother's secret apartment, I opted for a drive to a restaurant instead. After my meal, I composed the most romantic apology a man caught cheating could offer to a fiancée he supposedly couldn't live without. I uploaded it on Instagram, tagging Annabelle's handle. Soon enough the post generated thousands of likes and comments. One of the comments was Annabelle's. 'Awn babe. You're only human. I love you no matter what.' I almost puked after reading it. I shook my head and left the restaurant. It was nearly three in the afternoon when I arrived back at my mother's secret home. I stayed back in the car to brace up for my chat with Enitan. Minutes later, I entered the house and found my mother at the dining table, where she was typing at her MacBook. "Saw your car come in, how are you?" she asked, actual concern written over her face. She'd been of great help today, it was pointless to give her the cold shoulder, so I flashed the little smile my tired face could come up with. "Tired, mentally," I answered honestly. I had my chance to call of the wedding, with little retaliation from my father. But I chose the opposite. I couldn't stop the self-loathe that was gnawing at me. "How is she?" I asked referring to Enitan. "Awake, she's a bit shaken. But she's handling the whole thing well." "Thanks mum, for everything." "You can thank me by forgiving me." Her eyes looked at me expectedly. "Fine," I nodded and began to walk towards the staircase. "She's not in the room, she went for a walk down the beach." "You let her go out there alone?" I panicked. I turned back to look at my mother but she only shook her head in disbelief. "You really underestimate me, boy. 'Out there alone' is as safe as can be." Whatever that meant, I didn't bother to ask. I headed for the front door, but she gently reached out for my hand. "Your father, what did he say to you?" "Mum, nothing you should be worried about. It's taken care of." "Deep down he's a good man, but these are desperate times. And your father, he's quite-" "Ruthless?" "Resolute," she corrected. "And that is why I'm getting her a safe apartment." She smiled and nodded. I headed out, in search of Enitan. Walking out of the compound, I strolled down the tarred road till I was few feet from the stacked granite sea wall. Crossing over, I walked down the slopey wall, carefully placing one foot after another on each piece of stone. Before reaching the bottom of the wall, I found her by the water side. I watched her as she sat still on the sand, her shoulders sagged and hands intertwined as she stared into the blue water. "Hey," I called out as I approached her. Startled, she turned to look at me. AN: Hey Guys, hope you're good and staying safe. What do you think about this chapter? Honestly. 2 Likes |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Ann2012(f): 11:08pm On Apr 22, 2020 |
I just hope Nathan's Dad doesn't have another plan up his sleeve.... Thanks for the update |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Culin(f): 8:35am On Apr 23, 2020 |
Ann2012: I really hope so too. Thank you Ann...You're heaven sent. 1 Like |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Nobody: 7:10pm On Apr 23, 2020 |
This lovers are going through hard times .
thanks for the update |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Capaldi: 8:33am On Apr 24, 2020 |
Culin:Stop calling me 1 Like |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Khriztarl(f): 10:31am On Apr 25, 2020 |
Capaldi:Nawa o. Stop misbehaving naw.. 2 Likes |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Culin(f): 11:50pm On Apr 28, 2020 |
This chapter is dedicated to my sister, Gloria. For her endless support and..well her birthday. Happy birthday Sisto. Chapter Fifteen — Emotional Complications Loving you is complicated. — Kendrick Lamar Song - Older by Sasha Sloan ENITAN How did I end up in a room with Nathan's mum? She plopped down the bed beside me and gently placed her soft hands on mine. "How do you feel?" "G—Good?" I answered, but it came out rather as a question. "Oh. Dear. I must have you confused. I'm Nathan's mum. Call me Margaret." I know who you are! My heart was beating so fast and I was lost for words. What was I supposed to say? "M—Mrs Adakole." I stuttered again. "This is—" "Unexpected," she completed. I was going to say uncomfortable, but that would work too. "I get it. You're confused. You're in my guest's house. Nathan brought you here to get proper rest, after you lost consciousness. I'm sorry you had to go through all that drama with Anna. She can be a handful sometimes." Nathan told her about the incident? Embarrassment washed over me. "And what about Nathan?" I asked, looking down at my hands. "He's—" she hesitated, "having a meeting with his father. He'll back in no time." I nodded in understanding. The room became awkwardly silent and I fidgeted with my hands. Behind her smile, I knew she had something on her mind. I bet she's thinking, 'what an opportunist'. A desperate opportunist. "I should go. I feel better now." Feeling uneasy, I clutched my handbag and made to stand. "Nonsense.” She waved off. “Why don't you have your bath while I call for food?" she asked as she pulled me back to sit. "I'll have fresh clothes brought to you in a bit. I'd also love for you to join me downstairs when you're through." I knew it! She had things to get off her chest. I nodded in agreement. With that, she stood up and left the room with so much grace that intimidated me even more. Curiosity got the best of me as I moved to the large drapes and pulled them apart, to reveal a wide sliding glass door and balcony. My jaw dropped at the view that welcomed me. I slid the door open, the windy cool air hitting me, a contrast to the mid September weather in other parts of Lagos. I breathed an unintentional sigh of relief as I stepped onto the balcony. Not so far ahead, on the other side of a short stone barrier, the blue ocean spread endlessly. There were smaller colourful roofed houses spread around at the bottom of the steep, making the place look like a resort. For the first in a long time I smiled, a satisfying and relaxing smile. All I wanted at the moment was to walk along the shores. I hastily got dressed in the loose-fitting midi yellow dress that Nathan's mum had brought up when I was in the bathroom, then slipped my legs into my slippers. I rummaged my handbag in search of my phone and pulled it out to see a few messages. I quickly replied to the ones from Jameel and my sister, Tolani—and Ignoring Tanya’s. Out of habit, I delved into Instagram and headed out of the room. Something on my feed—posted by one of the blogs I followed caught my attention. I stared at my phone screen in open mouthed horror. 'Soon to be married tycoon caught kissing a mysterious woman.' Wait! What? That's Nathan's house! And that's me, Nathan— kissing. The video didn't show my face clearly as I had my back to the camera. But I could recognise myself any day lustfully kissing another woman's man. My hands began to shake. Was this the reason Mrs Adakole wanted to talk to me? She must think I'm bad news. Going to the settings on my account, I put my page on my private, shoved my hands into my dress pockets and descended down the stairs. If I wasn't already in a sullen mood, I'd have gawked at the simple modern themed interior of the house. Nathan's Mum met me at the foot of the staircase and guided me to the simple and almost empty dining area. Even with the set of packed food and dinner set placed on it, the white table still looked like a work station with a few scattered papers and a closed laptop resting on it. "Sit, please." She gestured to one of the chairs. I sat, upright and shoulders squared, I braced myself for the worst. The aroma of the food made my mouth water and reminded me of how hungry I was. The time on my phone read two P.M, and I'd still not taken my first meal of the day. I was supposed to— with Nathan, until Annabelle happened. My mood soured at the reminder. "So, I understand you're having a child for Nathan?" She blurted out, halfway into our meal. "Nathan is going through a hard time right now. He loves you, obviously. I know you feel the same way too. You're not just out to take advantage of him—like Anna." My head snapped up at Annabelle's name. She didn't sound like a fan of Annabelle. Was Nathan telling the truth when he said their marriage was a deal? "And that's why I need you to make this easier for him, and yourself," she said, taking a swig from the glass of red wine. "How, Ma?" "This thing between the both of you—can you keep it simple—to avoid emotional complications." Her eyes scanned my face for some sort of reaction then she continued, "for what it's worth, I'm on your side—and my latest grandchild's. But I hate messy situations, especially with Anna. Things are bound to get messy if you don't keep things formal." She smiled warmly. "Ma, I think you're mistaken. Nathan has moved on. And I'm just doing this for my child." She chuckled and bobbled her head in amusement. "Yeah, I clearly saw that in the video." My gaze instantly fell to the pasta on the table, if only the earth would open up and swallow me. She laughed hard and dug into her meal. Seconds of peaceful silence passed and I took it as my chance to make my request. "I spotted a beach not far from here, if you don't mind, ma. I'll love to visit, before Nathan returns to take me home." "Sure! Why not? And—you don't have to leave. You're welcome to stay here for as long as you want." "Thank you, Ma. But I intend to stay with my family during the pregnancy. I'll need their help." "At least tell me you'll consider my offer. For privacy, you'll need lots of it. Your family can stay here with you." She dropped the glass of wine on the table. "It can get lonely some times," she whispered, like I wasn't supposed to hear it. "I'll think about it," I replied, giving her a polite smile. She smiled in return and gave me a run-down of how to get to the beach without going over the stone wall. *** Sitting by the beach, I tried not to think of Nathan, the video, his mum, or anything that happened recently. But the thoughts kept forcing themselves back. If only there was a button I could press to reset my life. Maybe I'd go back to ninth June, 2017, the first day I met him at the Mill. I'd rather have flouted his orders to meet him at the office, then I wouldn't have been tempted by his captivating eyes and richly deep voice. Or maybe I’d go back to the night when I let him kiss me for the first time in front of my father's restaurant, and not see him out to his car. Unfortunately, drawing strength to face the future was all I could do now. "Hey," a voice said over the roaring sounds of crashing waves. I whipped my head to see the man responsible for my life and heart aches trudging toward me in all his glory. It felt surreal to think that he was once mine and his baby was growing inside of me. "Hey," I replied, not making any effort to stand. Stealing a glance at his face, I noticed his eyes had lost their sheen and now replaced with a weariness I couldn't place. Maybe his mum was right. Maybe this was hard on him too. I turned my gaze back to the water. To my surprise, he slouched beside me on the sand and sat with legs crossed under him. "Today has been total disaster," he said after a while of watching some men pull out a canoe from the water. "Yeah," I whispered, wrapping my hands around my folded knees. He heaved a deep sigh. "I'm sorry—" "Don't—" I cut him off. From the side of my eye I could see him studying my face. "Don't apologise, it's not your fault. Shit has happened and there's nothing we can do to change it. I'm tired of the back and forth Nathan, all this—" I threw my hand in the air, "is taking its toll on me. I'm tired." "You're right, we can't change it—" My heart sank for the one-millionth time. Of course, I'd known this for over five weeks now, but it just hurt every time he said it. "But we can make the future better and less hostile," he continued, "I'll resolve the video issue then we can start afresh—for our child's sake." "Yeah," I nodded absentmindedly. "But I want the news of this baby to remain between us and our families. I—" "You want to keep it a secret I get it. But do you actually think I'll be proud to announce my pregnancy for another woman's man to the whole world? What do I stand to gain?" I huffed in annoyance and scrambled to my feet. Dusting off the remnant of sand from my gown, I picked up my slippers from the side and tottered off. "Enitan! Eni, I'm sorry," Nathan shouted while trying to catch up with me. Tears starting to burn my eyes, I increased my pace. He caught up with me and grabbed my wrist, whisking me around to face him. I wasn't hurt by the fact that he didn't trust me enough to keep our secret. What hurt me was that he wanted my child—our child hidden. "I'm not trying to ruin your life Nathan, I want the best for you and your wife," I spat out the last word like it was a five day old stale food. "Does that mean I have your blessings?" he asked with concern. Wow. He really wants to be with her. "Did you ever need it?" "Enitan. Please, you said you were done with the back and forth. Honestly I'm done too. Can we just get along." "Fine. You have my blessings with Annabelle. You can live your life without the fear of me interfering. In fact, you can pretend I don't exist," I managed to say without falling apart. "That's impossible. I can't go about like you don't exist—" My heart skipped a beat. "We're having a child together for God sake. That's too big a mutual interest to pretend you don't exist. I'll need updates from time to time, about your wellbeing and the child's, and lots of other things." His child, of course. "Fine. You'll get 'time to time updates about my wellbeing and the child's.'" "Good. But we'll still have to talk about your doctor's appointment and a comfortable living arrangement on the island." "I was going to stay with my family, but your mother offered me the house. Should be close to whatever hospital you have in mind." "My mother is not getting involved with my child's welfare! You'll be moving to my penthouse on Monday. I'll get someone to clean up. Let me know if you want to redecorate—" "No Nathan. I'm tired of moving around like a refugee. Let me make this one decision. It's my life after all!" My hands instantly went to my hips and I glared at him. He scrunched his face and after much hesitation he spoke, "ok. Whenever you're ready, Everest will help you pack. He'll also be taking you to your doctor's appointments. We'll discuss more important things as time progresses." I see. "Fine." "Alright, I guess that will be all for now. Do take care." With that he turned and walked off the beach and up the barrier, not sparing me a second glance. I puffed out an exasperated sigh and threw myself on the sand. "Enitan Alaide," I muttered to myself. "Baby Mama! Your mother would be so proud." I laid my back on the sand and hissed. Was that how bad he didn't want to be around me? Nathan obviously had everything planned out in other to avoid me. Making his bodyguard do his antenatal responsibilities? His mum had nothing to worry about. There'll definitely be no "emotional complications." 2 Likes |
| Re: The Wall Between Us. A Novel By EneChelsea by Ann2012(f): 7:42am On Apr 29, 2020 |
Thanks for the update |
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A UNILAG Babe's Twitter Love Story / Chimamanda Adichie Blasts Elnathan John, A Writer From Kaduna In New Interview / "365": A Novelette
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