Sunday arrived and the act continued but only when James' mother was in sight. And it had not gone beyond holding hands and some hugs. They behave as friends but talk less in people's presence.
Joyce did everything in her power to avoid or ignore her growing feelings for him but it wasn't very fruitful. But she always put them aside whenever they cheated a way into her head. She somehow missed James. Somehow.
James,on the other hand was continually staring at her and followed her with his eyes whenever she moved. He didn't bother hindering the thoughts of her when coming to him. He would always welcome them and imagined doing a lot with her till he couldn't imagine anymore.
Peter saw him where he was and went to him. James decided to talk his heart out to his brother to draw words from his mouth.
"Hi,
Joyce sat with Leah and Cecilia who were chatting and laughing. She seemed not to be on good mood. Leah noticed her half hearted smile and moody attitude and put her arm around her shoulders. "What's wrong,Joyce? You look unhappy," Leah asked. Cecilia guessed it was because of the argument she told her about and thus asked,"Did James refuse to apologize to you? Did he hurt you again? We can deal with your boyfriend for you, "Cecilia declared. Joyce was tired of lying and deceiving these friendly and kind hearted women. She decided to say the truth. She had to tell them. But she didn't want to look so cheap to them. She made up her mind and a tear fell from one eye. She looked at them one after the other. She was sitting between them. "James and I..... We..
James and Joyce left very early on Monday morning. They were the first to vacate the house. Mrs Andrew had thanked Joyce for gracing her with her presence and her gift. She also gave her a necklace as a welcome gift into her family. Vivian had left the previous day. She had simply wanted to bid James goodbye the previous night when she had knocked and intrude their intimacy. Joyce,on the other hand, was so grateful to her in some way. What if she hasn't knocked? She found herself wondering what would have happened. She had not said a word to James since the previous night. And now, as she sat beside him in his car,her fingers clenched into a fist. She could not help but think about him. He also said nothing to her. He had crossed his boundary. He almost did what he shouldn't. He had to apolo
"What on earth for? Sorry - I mean,what do you want to use them for?" James asked,trying not to overreact, that's if he hadn't already."James,I mean no harm to her,so don't get angry. I just realized I like her so much and I want to get close to her. Maybe, she would give me a chance." Philip couldn't figure out why he was getting angry. He had hoped James could help him talk to her in conviction to his cause. He didn't expect his reaction at all.Before James could make a reply,the telephone on his desk started ringing. His receptionist was calling him to inform him that Joyce wanted to see him.Oh,no! He couldn't let Philip see her now or that would make him half successful. He didn't want to say it on the phone for it would make him suspect he was referring to her. "No," he said into the phone and put the receiver back to its holder."Excuse me,Philip. I'm sorry," he apologiz
James was shocked to hear her say that. Why would she want to resign? He couldn't think of any logical reason as to the reason. He was never going to accept that from her. He wasn't ready to let go of the prey. Never will he be ready. "And you come here thinking I will accept that? What will you do if you resign?" Concerned filled his tone but not only that. Worry, too. Assuming she were to leave,where would he start from? He didn't want to start hunting all over again just when he had thought he'd stopped. "I will just call Philip to look into a job for me. I won't care if the salary is high or not. I just need to get out of here." That was a big lie. She would never get a job that its salary is lesser than her present one. This new hunter has bewitched her, he thought. Was he more handsome than him? He tilted his head to t
When he closed at the office, he went home to have a nap. He was very tired but all he planned was a few minutes nap before he would eat and return Joyce's phone. He got to his large living room which has a few painting of his pictures on the walls. The colors of the curtains and chairs are the same which was chocolate brown against the cream colored walls. He dropped his briefcase carelessly on the sofa, took off his suit, tie and shoes and let them assemble on the tiled floor as he walked to his room, almost with closed eyes. He fell softly on his bouncy bed and his planned nap turned into hours of sleep with Joyce's phone in his hand as he sprawled on the bed. Joyce got to his living room burning with anger from what Vivian had told her. She didn't know where she got her address from but she had been there to confirm all her fears and doubts. She wasn't surprised at all. She c
Joyce opened the metal door widely and rushed in. She looked at her boss on his king sized bed and thought he was unconscious. With fear, she climbed the bed and started calling his name. She was beginning to sweat in her palms but as she lifted one of his hands in hers, he made a turn around and rested his bonce on her thighs.She hissed aloud. "Gosh, I thought he's dead. I've forgotten he sleeps like one," she complained to her relief and then pushed him gently to awake him. "James?"No response."Hey, James," she shouted but he could only snuggled closer and circled a hand around her waist. Her mouth formed an 'o' as she exclaimed, "You've got some guts, haven't you?" She uttered as her eyes drifted to where her phone was on the far edge of the bed. She would have to stretch all her body to reach it.James turned with his chest facing up. He was still fast asleep or so she thought.
James lifted her chin with his right index finger and made her to look at him while he stared at the luscious twins beneath her nose that were trembling, possibly out of fear.He smiled. "I'll recognize those lips anywhere,"he mentioned and her jaw dropped." But, I'll have to confirm, "his voice came out as a whisper now.Joyce's mouth opened and close more than usual. It seemed she suddenly forget how to talk. She couldn't make words out of her mouth. What was he trying to do? What did he mean by confirming? She was curious.James leaned his head downward slowly with his finger still under her chin. He raised his eyelids to see that she almost had her eyes closed and also leaning toward him, although with hesitation, as if she was unsure about it.Gently, but seductively, his lips touched hers but moved away too quickly. He started acting sluggishly when she suddenly seemed impatient to be c
"Can you at least hear me out?" James pleaded in a calmer tone. He used a hand to rub his neck and paced a few times before taking Joyce's hand and took her to his living room.She couldn't say anything. All she found herself doing was looking at him go about before settling on the large table at the center of the room before her."Joyce, I really don't know how to explain this to you for you to be really convinced,"he started and met her eyes, but she didn't utter a word so he continued," Vivian and I are just friends. Nothing more. I don't know what she has planted into your head but they are all lies,"he said, and when she opened her mouth, probably to protest, he made her swallow her unspoken words by holding her hands.He must confess,he loved the feeling. "Joyce, I love you," he revealed and watched as her gaze shifted from their hands to his face and he nodded in confirmation that he meant what he said. "I really do
James got to his car and opened the door for his fiancee to alight. That was what they had planned that morning when Annabelle had uninvitedly visit her house to apologize and explain the reasons behind her actions.Joyce had found out that her story of being sexually molested by her uncle was true and Vivian had used that as her first weapon, promising to help her fly out of the country if she would obey her."I really hesitated at first because I knew it was wrong and because you were so nice to me, but my desperation to escape from my uncle got the best of me and I had no choice but to do it, especially after Vivian told me that she was initially with Mister James before you ruined it,"Annabelle had explained earlier that morning.Joyce did not seem shocked after hearing her explanation that morning. She was only disappointed in her. But she understood her. She had her reasons, just that her way of making things right
James brought Joyce and her mother home after leaving the police station. The DPO had sent some of his men to Vivian's address that he had given to have her arrested.But, throughout their ride in the car, Joyce did not say a word, nor did she even glance at him once from where she was sitting beside him. He was the one stealing glances and yearning for her to meet his eyes and that was quite torturing for him. She had changed and he hoped that the reason should just be that she was stressed out and not because she had gotten tired of him.He didn't want that. He never did.He parked in their front porch and alighted to help Joyce out of the car. Her mother joined them, holding Joyce's other hand and started walking her in. She was too weak to be able to walk on her own."Sorry, my dear," Felicia said as she opened the front door for them to go inside."Oh, dear! You got me s
In no time,they were in DPO's office and James had questioned him as to the reason he had Joyce arrested when he had clearly stated that he had no intention of pursuing the case.The officer smiled a little at James' reaction. "Sir, you know it is actually impossible for us to take such step without prior permission," he explained."Then, who gave you the permission?" James was curious. He knew the only people who could give suslch permission was his family,but who exactly was it?"Your mother came here and inform me that you changed your mind about the case and that you wanted the culprit to face the wrath of the law," the police man expounded.James placed his elbows on the desk before him and buried his face in his palms. How could his mother do that? What had even gotten into her? For as much as she knew,she really loved Joyce as her own child. But why would that change all of a sudden? He trie
James was almost at his mother's house when his phone started ringing. He looked at the screen and saw that it was Joyce's mother calling him. What could be wrong? She had never called him ever since the incident happened. Not for once. He feared something might have happened to Joyce, so he quickly answered the call and greeted.The woman did not answer his greeting but went directly to her reason for calling her. One should not heat around the bush in cases like hers or it would be dangerous. "I beg of you, my dear, let Joyce be released from the police's custody. She knew absolutely nothing about the money," she was in tears and that was noticeable through her voice.James felt shivers ran down his spine. What was she talking about? Joyce? In police's custody? How? When?He swerved to the side of the road, halting the car with the ignition on. "What!" That was the only word that had the courage to leave his mouth despite all the
James glared at her as they got into the compound. He was furious. He had actually not expected that of Vivian. He was aware that she did not seem to like Joyce with reasons that are vague to him, but she should not have blurted it out like that. It was an embarrassment to him and would definitely tarnish Joyce's reputation with his workers. He did not want that.Vivian could only give an evil smile as she folded her arms and watched his actions. Exactly what she wanted, to make him mad.She loved seeing him in such a state. She knew he was trying to tell her something with the way he opened his mouth and closed them back. He seemed too angry to say anything, so she decided to help him out. "Are you perhaps wondering how I got to know about it?"James narrowed his eyes at her. That was not exactly what she was pondering on, but it would not be so bad to know where she got the news from. "Yeah?" No one knew about the issue
James was in his office for the first time in weeks. He needed to go if he did not want his company to liquidate. He had to monitor the business going on in the company or he was going to lose a whole lot.Things had not been very easy for him. He had not been doing well and the sadness within him was boldly written on his face. Anyone could see that he had not been his usual self. Most of his employees had been asking him what was wrong with him and all he could tell them was that he fell sick. That was not a lie actually, and it was definitely not the truth as well. But he could not just be explaining everything that happened to them. That was his personal life and problem.He managed to finish some paperworks at work and gave the rest up till the following day. He had piles of files to go through. How he wished Joyce was still with him! Those contracts would take her not more than a day to review,which would make it easier for him to
What was her mother talking about? Preg –what? Was that how easy it was to conceive? It was not a bad news, but nor was it a good news, too. How perfect would it be if she could share the news with James! He did not even pick her calls nor call back anymore. Perhaps, he was still angry. He might have totally forgotten about her.But, it could be true. She had not seen her period that month, but she had been too bothered to notice.A tear escaped from one of her eyes and like a flash of lightning, she moved her palm and wiped the stubborn stroke of tear away from her cheek. She should not get too emotional, but how could that be possible when she had no happiness?What was it that she did wrong to deserve the suffering she was having now? She would not mind if she had to apologize to anyone to regain her joy. Just mention who."What did you say, mum?" It was possible for her to actually be ove
Joyce rushed outside her room to the bathroom to puke. She had been ill and had been having morning sickness for a few days now. She had been feeling very weak and lazy to even wash to even wash the dishes.She opened the tap and rinsed her mouth a few times. She placed her hands on the zinc and sighed, looking at herself in the mirror. "I need to get myself treated for malaria," she muttered to herself as she closed her eyes briefly. She heard someone cleared their throat behind her, so she looked at the entrance beside her and saw her mother watching her in some kind of way. She could not decipher what the look meant, so she raised a brow, indirectly asking her mother what the problem was and why she was staring, more like glaring at her.Instead of replying, Felicia moved closer to her and soothingly rubbed her daughter's belly, hoping she would get the hint of what she was trying to relay to her. But unfortunately, Joyce looked
It had been a week since the kidnapping of Joyce's parents and Annabelle was just going back to Vivian's house after buying herself a dinner.Vivian had promised to take her out of the country the following week and she had been very excited about that. She literally bounced her way back home as she lingered on the thought of what she could do when she got abroad. Her thoughts strayed to the suffering and molestation she had experienced in her Uncle's house.His Uncle never allowed her to leave the house. He would lock the door with her inside whenever he was going to work and come inside her room to sexually harass herwhen he got back. She had been so helpless at the time, and that was why she had not hesitated to live with Vivian when she had suggested it.She could almost not believe that she would be running away from him forever. Her plan was to travel out of the country and never come back to Nigeria since she had