THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40

EPISODE 40

“So I heard you don’t want a society wedding, may I know why?” Senator Abamba asked Eric as they all moved to the dining for brunch.

“Well, I just want something small. Besides I can’t afford such a huge wedding, and I don’t want you to sponsor it either.” Eric added making the senator look at him curiously.

“But she is my only daughter and I can’t let her have a less than perfect wedding.” The senator said as he sat down on the head of the table, while Kimberly and Eric sat down side by side. Amaka took the seat directly opposite Eric.

“Well, I don’t think a wedding has to be loud to be perfect. Besides, I think weddings that are quiet with less people in attendance are the sort that makes more waves.” Eric said and turned to look at Kimberly with a loving expression, “But if you want a grand wedding I would completely understand. I can’t expect you to…”

“No. It’s fine. I would prefer something quiet too. Maybe we could go abroad and have a very private wedding.” Kimberly suggested.

“Yeah. I think I support Kim on that. But what about your family?” Amaka asked Eric with a curious smile.

“We are estranged at the moment, so I’m not sure they will want to attend. I’m hoping that won’t be a problem, sir?” Eric asked the senator with a polite smile, “Maybe we could have a court wedding and wait until I’m able to settle things with my family before we can have the traditional and possibly church wedding. I would rather wait until then of course to do everything, but since you insisted she get married so soon and I don’t want to lose her…” Eric let the rest of his words trail off.

“I completely understand. It doesn’t matter, don’t worry. I think it’s probably best you both pretend like you eloped and get married on your own outside the country. I would have some top bloggers like Linda Ikeji, Tunde Ednut and even Instablog carry the rumor. We can do the right thing when you’re ready. Hopefully after the election.” Senator Abamba said with a smile, deciding that he liked Eric’s forthrightness.

“But darling, at least one of us should be there. I would like to see Kim get married.” Amaka said with a pout.

“You will see her get married when they do it officially. For now we need them to do this next step so that there would be no more rumors or scandals about her.”

“Can’t I go with them? I’m long due for a vacation you know?” Amaka asked with a pout while both Eric and Kimberly focused their attention on the food they were eating.

“And who would take care of Junior in your absence? You can go on your vacation once Junior is done with school for the term.” The senator said before turning to look at Eric.

“So Kim told me you recently resigned from your job with iGlobal? Why did you do something like that?”

So he had truly lied to Kimberly about who he was, Amaka mused as she raised her leg under the table and placed it on Eric’s lap while pretending to eat.

Eric forcefully moved his leg in a way that pushed her leg off him, and gave her a warning look before returning his attention to the senator, “Well, I think I was becoming a workaholic and needed space to focus on other things. I might return to work or not. I’m just not sure about that yet.” Eric said before switching the topic to politics.

THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40

They argued for a while about the political parties in Nigeria, and then moved to football before returning to business talk, while both Kimberly and Amaka listened without contributing to the topic. Kimberly was quite surprised by Eric’s ability to do easily carry on conversations with her father.

“I think my lady is bored.” Eric suddenly said as he glanced at Kimberly, “Sorry, your father is just so intelligent I got carried away by our discussions.” Eric said with an apologetic smile as he glanced at Kimberly.

“I hope you don’t mind public displays of affection, I’m a sucker for it when it comes to your daughter.” Eric told the senator, and without waiting for a response, he leaned closer to Kimberly to drop a kiss on her lips. Kimberly’s heart skipped a beat and she suddenly hiccuped as her wide eyes met his in surprise. She had thought he was going to peck her cheek or forehead, she hadn’t been expecting a direct kiss like that.

Eric chuckled as he pulled away from her, “I think she’s shy because she’s around her father.” Eric announced, making the senator who had been looking at him curiously chuckle lightly.

“You young people of nowadays don’t do things secretly anymore. Amaka was just like that too when we just got married.” The senator said with a smile as he glanced at his wife.

Amaka swallowed hard past the lump of jealousy in her throat and forced a smile when she felt her husband’s hand on her own, “It’s good to see that Kim got such a romantic young man.”

Kimberly who was still dumbstruck, quickly excused herself and left the table when she felt like she was going to suffer from indigestion because of the way her heart was beating. “Kim relax! You’re both just acting.” Kimberly kept muttering to herself as she headed for her bedroom.

“So what do you say about traveling out? Just the both of you? See it as my way of supporting your relationship. You don’t have a job at the moment so traveling out shouldn’t affect your schedule, right?” Senator Abamba suggested.

“Well, we will talk about it when we get home and get back to you later.” Eric assured him.

“Darling shouldn’t you take Eric’s number? He’s your future son-in-law after all.” Amaka suggested.

“Yeah, that’s right. Eric give your number to my wife.” The senator said, making Amaka smile widely as she handed her phone to him. They both knew she was not going to let him be now that she knew he was back. He was her first love after all, and she was his too, and as the saying goes, ‘You can never forget your first love’.

THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40
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“Do you know any guy that drives a Mercedes Benz?” Chuka asked idly as they ate. He had taken her to a bukka hut not very far from her workplace where they could get really nice and affordable African delicacies. He was eating semo and egusi soup, while Kathleen settled for a plate of Banga rice and assorted meat since it had been quite long since she last ate that and had been craving it.

“Huh? Yeah, my boss owns a black Mercedes car. Why?” Kathleen asked as she continued eating.

“Don’t turn around. He’s been following us since we left the company. I don’t think he will make a very good spy though.” Chuka said with a chuckle making Kathleen almost choke on her food.

THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 31 – 40

It took all the discipline she had mastered over the years to stop herself from turning around to look for him, “What? Where is he?” she asked in a whisper, scared that he might hear her. Why would Pete tail them? Yeah, he had been acting strange all day, but tailing them? That was on a completely different level.

“At your eleven o’clock.” Chuka said, and chuckled when he realized Kathleen didn’t understand what he meant, since she raised her phone to check the time.

“Nevermind. Are you both having an affair or is he a jealous ex? Why is he following you?” Chuka asked curiously making Kathleen frown.

“No we don’t have any such relationship. I only babysit his daughter and live in the boys quarter apartment of his house.” Kathleen said still wondering what was going on. Or perhaps Chuka mistaken?

“Are you sure it’s a Mercedes Benz car that was tailing us? When did you notice it? Describe the car. What color is it?” Kathleen asked with a puzzled expression.

“Well, as I was waiting for you to come out earlier, this tall fine man walked outside of the building and headed for his car, but I noticed he remained in his car and didn’t bother to drive. And then just as we were leaving the parking lot I noticed him driving behind us too. It’s a black Mercedes car. Wait, did you just say he’s the same boss you live with in that estate? Isn’t he married with a daughter?” Chuka asked when it occured to him that she had just said she lived in his boys quarter.

“No. His wife is late. Why would he be following me? Or perhaps he just wants to know the kind of person I’m going out with seeing as I’m responsible for his daughter?” Kathleen asked thoughtfully.

“Maybe.” Chuka said in an unconvinced manner. He wasn’t sure any busy man would leave his office for something like that. “Why do you live with him?” Chuka asked as he washed his hand.

“Well, there was a fire incident at my former place, so he offered that I move in with him.” Kathleen said with a shrug making Chuka grin when he suddenly got a clear picture of what he believed was going on.

“It seems to me like your boss is interested in you. Did he ask you out?” Chuka asked making Kathleen look at him like he had lost his mind.

“Interested in me? That man? You don’t know him. He doesn’t even like me at all.” She said with a shake of her head.

“Why are you so sure that he doesn’t like you?” Chuka asked in amusement as he kept eating while keeping an eye on Pete who was still seated in his car watching them through the restaurant glass, oblivious to the fact that they were very aware of his presence.

“Because he doesn’t. He doesn’t even look at me twice and he’s always finding faults with everything I do. Besides he told me clearly that I’m not his type.” Kathleen said with a shrug as she pushed the plate away from her. Knowing that Pete was watching her right now suddenly made her lose appetite for her meal.

“Well, it’s possible to say one thing and mean another. We will know if he likes you. You want to find out if he does?” Chuka asked, and without waiting for her to answer him, he leaned forward towards her with a grin. From Pete’s angle it seemed like Chuka was kissing Kathleen so he quickly sat up in his seat. How could they be so shameless and kiss in public? Pete wondered with a frown.

“How?” Kathleen asked Chuka innocently not understanding what Chuka had just done.

“You’ll find out when you get to the office. You’re not in a relationship, are you?” Chuka asked as he wiped his hand using a serviette napkin. It was obvious that Kathleen was very naive and not as exposed as most of these typical Lagos girls else she would have gotten her boss already unless of course she wasn’t interested in him.

“No. Why?”

“Nothing. Just curious. Sorry though, but I’m curious about something again. Are you interested in your boss? Like, is he your type? Or maybe you’d like to be in a relationship with him if he asked?” Chuka asked with an unreadable expression making Kathleen wonder why he was asking her such a question.

She had been thinking about this all morning and she was yet to come up with a suitable answer. Did she like Pete? Enough to date him IF he asked her to? “I don’t know.” She managed with a shrug.

“I see. You should eat up quickly, you don’t have much time left.” Chuka said as he glanced at his wristwatch.

“I’ll just pack it up, I lost my appetite.” Kathleen said apologetically.

“It’s alright.” Chuka said as he signalled one of the waiters to pack the food while he settled the bill, “Try not to let him know you know he tailed you.” Chuka said as they both walked out of the restaurant and headed for his car.