CHAPTER 38

“Don't pick up the call”. My subconscious mind whispered.

Is that going to work? Ignoring Samuel's calls is an indirect way of fueling his anger and I am not ready to incur his wrath. I didn't also want to give him the impression that I knew what he wanted to say and I was guilty of it. 

Adrian was still wearing the same creepy face. I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me that he had a hand in this; his expression told it all. Now, it dawned on me what he meant when he said, “We will see about that.” Is that how badly he wanted to hear what transpired between me and Kira? He had to involve Samuel.

I bit my lower lips lightly as a wave of regret washed through me. I knew telling him to his face that I didn't want to tell him about it was a bad idea. Maybe I would have just lied or fabricated some stories to satisfy his curiosity. Now Samuel was in the picture, making it more complicated.

I felt a familiar sense of homeliness then I realized our jet was slowly reaching the ground. I had mixed feelings. I didn't know if I was happy or sad. Yes, I was glad to be home finally, but I was unsure of whatever awaited me. 

I turned around and stared at my phone screen. There were two missed call notifications from Samuel. I looked away and hissed painfully. We soon alighted from the jet and got into Adrian's car, which was already parked at the airport. I made sure to maintain my distance from him. 

I observed that winter was really showing up in America more than in other countries. We were approaching the month of December. Not only was I excited about Christmas, but it was also Mom's birth month. Who would ever believe that she could survive another year on that sick bed? The arrival of another birthday of ours was a source of comfort for me, a reason to believe that when there is life they hope and that it is not over until it is over.

A faint smile appeared on my face as I tried to think of the best way to celebrate this birthday with Mom. The previous years were always gloomy. I usually made her birthday look like her funeral, crying and wailing from dusk till dawn. But it's not going to be so this year. I don't know why I need to make this change but I think it's necessary.

The application of the emergency brakes snapped me back to the present. I was not using the seat belt, so I flew out of the car seat and hit my forehead on the headrest of the driver's seat in front of me. 

“Ohh ma'am I'm so sorry. I hope you did not hurt yourself. The driver asked immediately when he viewed the ordeal through the rear mirror.

Before I could open my mouth and thank him for his sympathy, there was a roar of laughter. I turned around and saw Adrian laughing so hard and holding his belly I had never seen him so amused since we got married. I didn't even know how to react to it, I just sat there and stared daggers into his soul.

When he was done with his self-fun, he scoffed loudly and muttered something inaudible, but I am sure it had something to do with me, and of course, it was negative. Anyway, I resolved to shove him aside and ignore him. Tucking my hair behind my ear, I sat back properly and fastened my seatbelt, wearing a stern look.

“Ma'am, are you okay?” The driver asked again with a concerned voice.

“Sure, I'm fine, thank you,” I replied in stutters.

“Alright, I am relieved to hear that.” He said, heaving a sigh.

“Can you please turn off the air conditioners? I'm feeling a bit cold,” I said, wrapping my hands around my chest and extending it to reach my shoulders.

“Boss, should I?” He asked Adrian for permission and I scoffed silently. 

Adrian shifted his gaze to me, and by then, my body was covered in goosebumps. He turned to the driver and gave a nod. 

I couldn't hide the fact that I was surprised at his response. As a matter of fact, I wasn't the only person the driver was stunned as well.

“Sorry boss I didn't get you.” He stammered.

“A person with initiative should know that the weather is quite chilly and needs heat. Why exactly did you have to wait to be told before you turn it off.” Adrian replied, visibly annoyed.

“My apologies sir”. The driver muttered and turned off the air conditioners. 

Another hush of silence fell in the car till we arrived at Adrian's penthouse. The sensors were installed in the gates which made it roll itself open when our car approached it. There was no slightest change in the environment except the weather conditions. My eyes scanned through the exterior parts of the building extending to the entire compound. It was too large to capture everything in a one-time view, but I tried. 

Just as we were about to alight from the car another car's horn was blaring at the gate. The gate was opened and Marcus drove in and stopped at the parking lot. I quickly start pacing into the house not wanting to have anything to do with him. I could hear him slam his car door behind him and exchange pleasantries with Adrian. Damn, the journey from the parking lot to the building was unusually long, the more I walked, the longer it became. 

“Hey Jenny, where are you running off to?” He called, making me come to a standstill. Of course, Adrian tried to talk him out of it, but he shoved him aside.

“Please come back. I hope my entry didn't scare you away from your husband.” He added with a spark of sarcasm in his voice.