Chapter Seven

She excused herself to go to the washroom after that. She was so evil. Chantelle was a she-devil. She honestly thought she has grown up and had matured but she was so wrong. The sole reason of inviting her this party was to embarrass her and bring up the past issues.

With tears in her eyes she took out her phone from her purse and texted her friend. She sent the message and shoved the phone back into her purse.

She looked at her face in the mirror and gently fixed her make up. She took a deep breath and walked back to the party.

“Hey Maya come and join us. We are playing truth or dare,” Chantelle grinned at her mischievously.

Maya knew that look very well and she knew there was a catch nevertheless she couldn’t say no so she just sat back right on her seat and tried her best to smile and look like she was enjoying herself.

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Meanwhile on the other side of the City Christian was having dinner with his family and the last person he wanted to be with was Chanel. The woman was clingy and so sophisticated, one reason he doesn’t like her. She had this delusional thought about him and her getting married one day just because they are family friends and they grew up together. The thought made him really sick.

He wanted to leave but couldn’t because of his mother. This meant so much to her. The table was engaged in a lively conversation when his phone beeped notifying a message. He took it out of his pocket and looked at the screen.

It was from Maya. He was shocked. Why would she text him? She has never done that before.

He opened and silently read it.

Come and get me please. I can’t stay here anymore Noor. You were right I shouldn’t have come here. Please come soon. Gardens of Eden, I hope you haven’t forgotten.

“Christian, what are you doing? You have promised that you will stay away from your phone during the dinner which is why I didn’t compesce it from you.”

He bit his tongue still looking at the message trying to figure out the reason behind it. It sounded like she was in some trouble. Strange how he could sense it. He was feeling uneasy.

“Christian!” his mother admonished.

“Erm…mom, dad,” he looks at them. “I am sorry but I can’t finish the dinner with you. I have to rush somewhere very important.”

“What could be more important than this dinner darling?” Chanel asked.

He cringed at the pet name. God he wanted to leave from there as soon as possible. It was a bad idea but he had no other choice. He couldn’t stand being close to Chanel not when she occasionally kept rubbing her body against his and calling him her darling.

“I am not a single man Chanel. I have a girlfriend and she needs me now,” he stated and the entire table went silent and blinked at him. Until Kelly; his sister squealed in happiness.

“Finally! Finally my big brother is in love. Mom, did you hear that he is no more a bachelor! This is what you and dad have been waiting to hear, isn’t it?”

The couple were still under a state of shock. They could only look at each other dumbstruck.

“If you will excuse I have a woman to go to,” he gave them a small smile and quickly left from there.

“He? He….he has a girl.. girlfriend? But he doesn’t have a girlfriend!” Chanel exclaimed in disbelief soon after he left.

Kelly burst out in laughter. Laughing at the look on her face. “No honey the last time you checked which was like decades ago he didn’t have a boyfriend and now he does. Take that on your face. You’re in denial and delusional. If I don’t like you what makes you think my brother will? He is in love with someone who isn’t you!” she grinned at her gob smacked face.

Mrs. Ambrose broke from her shaken state and looked at her daughter. “Do you know who he is in love with?”

“I don’t know but we can always know,” she cheesy shared a knowing smile with her parents Chanel completely forgotten.

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“Tell us Maya after your break up with my cousin did you move on or you are still moping over the idea of him dumping you for a way better woman?” Chantelle asked.

She nibbled with her lower lip not knowing how to avoid the question. Of course she was still single.

“You must be twenty- five right? Right now you should be having a stable boyfriend ready to propose to you already.”

“Well….ummm…I am..”

“Wait don’t tell me you are still single!”

“I am not!” she blurted. “Its complicated. We are still talking things over.”

“What happened? Did he cheat too?” Brad asked with a satisfied grin on his face.

“No! He is not a jerk like you!” she snapped at him. “He is a gentleman and he really does love me.”

“What is his name? Do we know him?” Saint asked her.

“His name?” she gulped and licked her lips. “His name is…erm…is…”

“Christian. Christian Ambrose,” a deep husky voice answered and all heads looked up to see him.

Maya’s jaw dropped as her eyes met him. He was looking hot in those black denim joggers and pink hoodie. His eyes were sparkling under the lights and his smooth skin was glowing.

She didn’t even realize she was walking up to him until he looked down at her with a smile and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her forehead. Claiming her as his in front of everyone.

She gasped in shock and clung the sides of his hoodie “H...how? I mean what are you doing here?” she asked in a whisper.

“Sorry I am late honey,” he caressed her chubby cheeks still smiling to Maya’s shock. “I had a few things to take care of. Shall we leave now? It’s quite late and I have missed you.”

“Wh…what?”

“Let’s go home,” he held her hand and kissed it not breaking the eye contact. “Thank you all for keeping my Queen company but we need to go back home now,” he gently smiled revealing his attractive dimples.

“You are her boyfriend?” Chantelle scoffed. “What is someone like you doing with someone like her? She’s fat!” she huffed in annoyance. She couldn’t deny that the man was quite handsome so handsome to be Maya’s boyfriend.

“Really?” he raised his eyebrow checking Maya out. “Sorry I never noticed that. She’s fine to me and no matter how she is I love her. At least she is way more beautiful than you. All natural and not artificial,” he smirked and walked Maya out of there their ears deaf to Chantelle’s profanities.

Maya couldn’t stop looking at him and smiling as he drove her home.

“Stop looking at me like that. I didn’t miraculously appear there. You texted me.”

“What? No I didn’t!”

He looks at her then back to the road. “Check your phone then.”

She instantly went to messages and there it was. She really did text him and it was the same text she sent Noor. How was that possible? She opened Noor’s and her chat it stated that they both chatted yesterday which meant once again she mistook him for someone else. She embarrassingly bit her lower lip and sunk into her seat.

“I am so sorry,” she whispered.

“You don’t have to be ,” he smiles. “I understand how it feels to be intimidated and looked down by your mates.”

“You do?” she couldn’t hide her surprise.

“Yes. When I was in high school I was bullied by some guys, some bad girls too because I was timid and I was a nerd. I was often bullied because I was the super rich and smart kid. It took me a while to stand up and fight for myself.”

“I am sorry to hear that,” she fidgeted with her fingers. “Chantelle, never liked me for some reason. I don’t know, everyone always hate me for no reason. Chantelle back then and now Chanel Gold.”

“Chanel?” he raised his eyebrows in question.

“Yes. She doesn’t like me much.”

He smiled. “Chanel normally hates someone when she feel threatened by them. She must be threatened by you in some way.”

She scoffed. “What could she possibly be jealous of in me? I mean I am just me.”

“You are right. You’re just you which makes you unique Maya. You have no idea how attractive you really are. Do you know what makes you more attractive? That you don’t know you are,” he looks at her for a moment then back at the road ahead.

“ You think I am attractive?” she smirks turning to face him.

The car stops and he looks at her. “Get out.”

Her jaw dropped. He wasn’t serious, was he?

“What? What did I do? I just asked you a simple question and you’re angry. Why are you like this? You can’t drop me off in the middle of nowhere. What if I get raped or robbed by thugs then?”

He sighed. “Maya no one is going to rape you or rob.”

“You don’t know that. We are in the middle of no….,” she looked outside and was immediately shut down. She was right outside her house. She sheepishly giggled in embarrassment whilst Christian raised his eyebrow at her. “Sorry. Sorry, I thought…”

“Well don’t think. You put some much pressure on your brain when you do that,” he sarcastically stated which made Maya smile.

“Thank you for coming Mr. Ambrose,” she thanked him once she was out of the door. “And thanks for dropping me off.”

“Maya let me tell you something,” he gazes at her. “That will be the last time I ever poise as your boyfriend. If you don’t have something then don’t lie about having it in the future. Be truthful to yourself and those around you. That is called building trust,” he snorts. “You go in first. I will wait here.”

She nods and made her way to the gate. She rings the bell but no one answered. She did it again and no answer came. She takes out her phone to call her mother, maybe she was sleeping inside and couldn’t hear the bell.

“Mommy, I am outside could you please open the gate. It’s cold and it’s dazzling,” she asked immediately the call got engaged.

“Maya honey I am so sorry. I am not at home and will be back tomorrow morning.”

Her eyes filled with amusement. “Oh I see! Mommy, are you having an affair?”

“Trust me honey if I am having a affair you would be the first one to know. I am just out with some of my friends.”

“That’s okay you just spend your quality time. I will figure something out. I love you mommy.”

“I love you too honey. See you tomorrow and take care.”

The call got disconnected and she made another call to her friend.

“Hello Noor, can I come over to your place. Mom has gone out and won’t be back until tomorrow morning. She has locked the gate and the house.”

“Oh no! It’s going to rain anytime soon,” Noor exclaimed. “Okay do one thing. Come over. I will inform Trey about it and I know he won’t mind to have you with us.”

“Erm…Trey is over there? Noor, don’t worry I will think of something.”

“But Maya you…”

“Don’t worry about me okay? Focus on you and Trey. I will work something out.”

Seeing her waiting at the gate for such a long time and talking on the phone he got worried and decided to go check if she was alright.

“Hey is everything okay?” he held her shoulders with both of his hands which startled Maya. She actually thought he won’t wait for her to go in. She was surprised to see him still there.

“You didn’t leave?”

“I told you I was going to wait till you go in. We don’t want anyone raping or robbing you, do we?” he teased brushing her shoulder. Her clothes were slowly getting wet from the dazzling rain drops. He looked down and a few fell on his face then down at Maya who was gazing at him. “We should probably get out of here. The dazzle is enough to get anyone sick. Come,” he took her hand and walked her back to the car.

“I am sorry for causing you any trouble. You could just drop me off at a hotel. I will stay there for the night,” she softly said. She was embarrassed by the situation. He had already saved her from humiliation and now he has taken the trouble to help her. “I am also sorry about dirtying your car with my wet clothes.”

“Don’t ever say that again,” he tells her. “I don’t mind and I don’t care about that. What matters is you are here with me Maya. Let’s get you home alright.”