Solitude – Episode 14

 

SOLITUDE

 

_14_

 

The three months that I have worked alongside August have been the toughest, he is so good at his job but also very tough. There is no day that he has spared me, I have worked my bones out stretching myself in ways I never thought I would.

 

We have just won a major case and I am quite ecstatic, considering how everyone just wanted me to fail. My mood suddenly turns sour when I see Chibesa entering my office.

 

‘Congratulations are in order.’ He says hands shoved deep in his pockets

 

‘Thank you.’ I respond

 

I have done my best in staying away from both him and Chanda, though some days I needed their opinion on certain things and that is when August came in really handy to stand in the gap for me.

 

‘None of us expected such a turn of events, we were so sure you would fail.’ He says

 

‘Isn’t that sad now.’ I say now trying to pack up, its already past my working hours.

 

‘Let me take you out for dinner.’

 

‘Why?’

 

He shrugs

 

‘I don’t know, to apologize maybe.’

 

‘You are not even sure.’ I say clicking my tongue

 

‘Come on Nella, I have been bad to you. We all have but I am here trying to make amends for the way I have been treating you.’

 

‘Fine.’ I say

 

‘I will pick you up at 8 tonight.’

 

‘Tonight?’ I ask looking at the time, its already thirty minutes past six and I am not sure I want to go anywhere after getting home

 

‘We both are not working tomorrow, does it really have to be today?’ I ask

 

‘So, you are free tomorrow morning too?’

 

‘Kind of.’

 

‘Then fill me in for both tomorrow and tonight.’ He says

 

‘Chibesa.’

 

‘Nella allow me to show you that I am not such a bad person.’

 

‘Right.’ I say with a chuckle

 

‘I will pick you up.’ He says before leaving my office

 

‘Kill me now.’ I say to myself as I roll my eyes

 

I finish packing up and drive home, I am debating between calling him to cancel dinner or just switching off my phone. Both look like a pretty good plan to me but then I cannot coward out, I will see him and see what exactly he wants.

 

I get home and straight away hit the shower, I would have loved to take a long relaxing bath but I don’t have all the time in the world to do that.

 

 

After I finish, I quickly apply my lotion and settle for a black body top, blue boyfriend jeans and black boats. I refuse to go all out dressing up for chibesa because I am not even sure what his real intentions are.

 

At exactly 8PM there is a knock at the door and I can only guess it is him.

 

‘Good evening.’ He says starring at me a little harder than he should

 

‘Good evening.’ I say

 

‘Let me grab my purse.’ I say leaving him by the door.

 

I quickly grab my mini clutch, handset and house keys. I lock up then follow him to see car

 

‘There you go.’ He says opening the door

 

‘Thank you.’ I respond

 

He closes the door just after I settle in then joins me on the other side

 

‘Where do you want to go?’

 

I look at him

 

‘I thought you had this figured out

 

‘No, I just thought maybe a place where you are comfortable.’

 

‘Oh.’ I respond

 

‘I don’t mean to offend you but I wouldn’t want to take you to a place where you are not comfortable being.’

 

‘I understand.’ I say

 

‘Okay maybe tell me what you like, maybe we can start from there.’

 

 

‘I hate congested places, I love privacy too and nice food.’ I say that with a smile

 

‘I might just know a place.’ He says eyes fixed on the road

 

He drives us to Latitude 15 Degrees, I haven’t been here but the environment looks cozy and I like it.

 

‘I hope this is as private as you like it.’ He says

 

I smile

 

‘It is not bad.’ I respond honestly

 

‘I am glad you like it.’

 

We pick a table, sitting across from where the pool is. The menu is brought and I go for a chicken alfredo whilst he goes for a bacon alfredo, our food comes with glasses of cranberry juice. My appetite has been messed up of late and this is the first proper meal I am having in a while and I must confess the food is making love to my taste buds.

 

When done, we are served with cheese cake and tea with cream as per order.

 

‘I see you love your dessert.’

 

I smile, cake in my mouth.

 

‘It’s cake.’ I respond after swallowing

 

He smiles

 

We continue to eat making small talk about nothing of importance.

 

‘Nella.’

 

‘Yes.’

 

 

‘I just wanted to apologize for the way I have been treating you.’

 

I sigh heavily leaning into my chair

 

‘Would you like to tell me why that has been so?’

 

He stares at me deeply

 

‘Chileshe is the only woman that I ever considered a mother, I mean she raised me when my mother.’

 

He pauses

 

‘When my mother died, I have never known any other family apart from Chileshe and Chanda. I was literally her son.’

 

‘I know.’

 

‘So, you see I always thought.’

 

He pauses

 

‘Chanda was her daughter, why would you assume that she would leave you her company when Chanda was breathing.’

 

‘I always knew Chanda would take over, it was either her or me. I never imagined a third person in the picture. An outsider, someone that she wasn’t even related to. Growing up we saw how she treated you better than us, and I for one thought maybe it was because you were an orphan. But as time went by and we grew I saw it was deeper than that.’

 

‘So, you continued to hate me?’

 

‘It was only natural Nella.’

 

‘Wow.’

 

 

‘Don’t get me wrong Nella, it was nothing personal.’

 

‘Of course, it was.’ I argue

 

He sighs

 

‘Maybe if you walked a day in my shoes you would understand, in Chanda’s shoes.’

 

‘Trust me I had no control over it, I never asked Chileshe to treat me the way she did Chibesa. So, it is just unfair that you hate me for a love I never asked for.’

 

‘I know, that is why I am apologizing to you.’

More Stories @ generalloaded.com

‘I didn’t deserve the hurt you gave.’

 

‘I am sorry.’

 

‘Clean slate.’ He adds stretching his hand

 

‘Clean slate.’ I respond shaking it