*** Solana ***“You two should be working.”The sound of Mark's uncle's voice as he climbed down the stairs sends a jolt through Solana. This man again.She wished the ground would open and swallow her up. Mark still had his arms around her. She clumsily move out of his embrace, lowering her head in complete embarrassment. Stepping a few feet away, she wished there was a wall to hide behind, at least.“Thought you were meeting Uncle John? Mark asked the man.Solana raised her eyelids to steal a glance only to find the older man turning to continue on his way down the stairs. Relief made her suck in a deep breath. He was not on his way to Mark’s office.The man did not reply his question. Instead, he said, “Or you could use one of your suites. You’re not in a movie, Marky boy.”Solana glanced at her boss to find him looking down at her. It didn’t seem like was listening to his uncle.When the older man disappeared out of sight, he took her gently by the arm and led her into her office.
*** Mark ***"Who was that?" Mark asked his cousin.He wondered why she had been unusually quiet all day. Was it his little speech about parents and how they didn’t stick around forever? He shrugged off that thought. If it really got to her, she wouldn't be leaving, would she?One thing he knew was that she got like this whenever she was upset. Either her father must've really pissed her off or something happened, which she was unwilling to share. He thought his uncle was definitely not the only reason she was rushing back.She ignored his question, pretending not to hear, and he had no desire to press further, so he let it lie. Everyone deserved their privacy."I'm not happy you're leaving so soon." That was the truth."So come to Denmark one of these days. You're rich now. You can afford to go wherever you want." She replied, a half smile forming in her face. "Bring your pretty girlfriend, too." She winked as she moved ahead in the queue."You think she's pretty, huh?" Mark couldn't
*** Solana ***The vibe in front of the motel lobby felt awkward as Mark led Solana away. He was quick to hide the embarrassed look on his face and Phil's fake smile was hard to miss. She looked at Joe's face for clues, but the guard was unreadable as he watched she and Mark moved towards the lobby.When she turned to glance at Phil again, she failed to see his face because Jamal and the temp guard's wide shoulders now stood in the way.Solana also noticed Lucy quickly returning to her seat as they passed the lobby. Mark did not let go of her hand even as they walked past receptionist to the staircase.She felt the need to ask. "Are you and Phil -?" "Chatting." He replied before she could finish the question. "That chat was long overdue."Was chatting the new code word for fighting? More importantly, had been about to do that because of her? That would be beyond flattering. However, it was totally unbecoming, especially for her former boss.Solana decided to find out later. Perhaps w
*** Phil ***"I'm outside the hotel." The Uber driver's voice came through the phone on loudspeaker."Be there in two minutes." Phil replied as finished buttoning his shirt.It was early October. Which meant four-season countries were in their colder months. The weather was much chillier than he expected when he landed the previous day.He doned his new, thick, ankle length jacket as he rushed out of the room to his waiting cab.Minutes later, he was in front of Kendi's hostel in the city center.As she approached him from the distance, furrowed brow, messy curls peeking out of her hair warmer, he admitted silently that she was the reason he'd flown here. Not to piss off Mark some more or get over Solana. "You really are here." Laughter and disbelief colored her voice as she said this."What made you think I was lying?" He asked."What are you doing here, young Gonza." The shock was still in her voice but the amusement was gone."Young Gonza?" He scoffed. "Are you mad at me or someth
*** Mark ***"I could've picked up groceries yesterday evening, mah." Mark Daniels glanced at his mother on the passenger side of the car."Shoulda, woulda, coulda!" His mother muttered. She wound down the windshield. As if that would help her get a clearer picture of the crowd leaving and entering the supermarket. "Is it always this crowded?"Mark rubbed his forehead in frustration. If he ignored that question, she would call him disrespectful and they'd start quarreling. "Yes, because it's Saturday. Also, you already know this. Should we go to the mall instead?"Even as he asked this, he knew the suggestion was dumb. The mall was often much worse than Ever-Good supermarket on this day and time of the week. But he hated driving in traffic or shopping in crowded places. No doubt, there would be kids in there screaming for no reason while their parents did nothing about it.His mother's reply was as expected. "We're already here. Also, you hate it there on Saturday."Mark eased the car
*** Solana ***Solana's heart was in her stomach as Mr. Gonza approached. Linda, his assistant, was beside him. She had a file under her arm as she typed on her phone with one hand. 'Please god, I still need this job... for food... and rent.'Her boss slowed his strides when he came a few feet closer."Good morning, Mr. Gonza. Miss Lance." She greeted the two. "You're early today." Her boss said. He had a curious frown on his face. She wondered if there was a right and wrong reply to that comment."I woke up early." Lame reply, she thought."Oh. Sweet. The meds must've worked wonders." He said.Was that sarcasm? She would never know because she lacked the courage to ask. "I... guess." She mumbled.The silence didn't last three seconds but it started to get awkward fast before he said,"Well, it's good to know you're better now. Enjoy." He walked off into the sales floor with Linda trailing behind."Thanks... sir." She murmured."I don't think he heard that, Sol. He’s gone." Kofi sai
Philip Gonza drove his black Mazda into his street mart private parking lot, waving to the security staff members as he passed. He parked at his usual reserved spot beside the Khaya tree, near the supermarket entrance. Turning off the engine caused the car radio to go off too, bringing the usual calm and quiet that he loved so much at this time of day.Phil checked the time again. It was already 7.25. The sun was coming up full now. The Ever-Good supermarket did not open to customers until 8.15 AM and his self-assigned resumption time was 7.50. Although he liked to arrive at least twenty minutes earlier. It gave him time to chill in his car and fiddle with his phone or just let his mind roam.This was his routine every morning since his father handed him this shop. He loved sitting under this slightly large tree with his car door open in the mornings before resuming his duties. The only sound at this time was of birds singing atop the tree. Cars honked out in the street, but the sound
☆ Mark ☆It was the thirteenth day after his mother's funeral that Mark decided to save her "precious" Lovelane. That was not the only turnaround he made. Smoking weed beside her grave every morning was also cancelled. He decided it was pointless and a waste of time. Especially if he meant to save his livelihood. He couldn't decide what had brought on the epiphany. Was it the serious roasting he got from his uncle? Or the scolding that accompanied his merely mentioning that he wished to sell the place? One thing was certain. The talk with Kendi, his cousin, the one who was set to take his house, had played a major role.When she called at first, he'd told himself to bear in mind that money and property caused family members to turn on each other. All of his mother's assets would go to her if he failed to adhere to the will. So he'd listened without forming any real opinion.It had been on the tip of his lips to beg her that he didn't want to be homeless. She could take everything else
*** Phil ***"I'm outside the hotel." The Uber driver's voice came through the phone on loudspeaker."Be there in two minutes." Phil replied as finished buttoning his shirt.It was early October. Which meant four-season countries were in their colder months. The weather was much chillier than he expected when he landed the previous day.He doned his new, thick, ankle length jacket as he rushed out of the room to his waiting cab.Minutes later, he was in front of Kendi's hostel in the city center.As she approached him from the distance, furrowed brow, messy curls peeking out of her hair warmer, he admitted silently that she was the reason he'd flown here. Not to piss off Mark some more or get over Solana. "You really are here." Laughter and disbelief colored her voice as she said this."What made you think I was lying?" He asked."What are you doing here, young Gonza." The shock was still in her voice but the amusement was gone."Young Gonza?" He scoffed. "Are you mad at me or someth
*** Solana ***The vibe in front of the motel lobby felt awkward as Mark led Solana away. He was quick to hide the embarrassed look on his face and Phil's fake smile was hard to miss. She looked at Joe's face for clues, but the guard was unreadable as he watched she and Mark moved towards the lobby.When she turned to glance at Phil again, she failed to see his face because Jamal and the temp guard's wide shoulders now stood in the way.Solana also noticed Lucy quickly returning to her seat as they passed the lobby. Mark did not let go of her hand even as they walked past receptionist to the staircase.She felt the need to ask. "Are you and Phil -?" "Chatting." He replied before she could finish the question. "That chat was long overdue."Was chatting the new code word for fighting? More importantly, had been about to do that because of her? That would be beyond flattering. However, it was totally unbecoming, especially for her former boss.Solana decided to find out later. Perhaps w
*** Mark ***"Who was that?" Mark asked his cousin.He wondered why she had been unusually quiet all day. Was it his little speech about parents and how they didn’t stick around forever? He shrugged off that thought. If it really got to her, she wouldn't be leaving, would she?One thing he knew was that she got like this whenever she was upset. Either her father must've really pissed her off or something happened, which she was unwilling to share. He thought his uncle was definitely not the only reason she was rushing back.She ignored his question, pretending not to hear, and he had no desire to press further, so he let it lie. Everyone deserved their privacy."I'm not happy you're leaving so soon." That was the truth."So come to Denmark one of these days. You're rich now. You can afford to go wherever you want." She replied, a half smile forming in her face. "Bring your pretty girlfriend, too." She winked as she moved ahead in the queue."You think she's pretty, huh?" Mark couldn't
*** Solana ***“You two should be working.”The sound of Mark's uncle's voice as he climbed down the stairs sends a jolt through Solana. This man again.She wished the ground would open and swallow her up. Mark still had his arms around her. She clumsily move out of his embrace, lowering her head in complete embarrassment. Stepping a few feet away, she wished there was a wall to hide behind, at least.“Thought you were meeting Uncle John? Mark asked the man.Solana raised her eyelids to steal a glance only to find the older man turning to continue on his way down the stairs. Relief made her suck in a deep breath. He was not on his way to Mark’s office.The man did not reply his question. Instead, he said, “Or you could use one of your suites. You’re not in a movie, Marky boy.”Solana glanced at her boss to find him looking down at her. It didn’t seem like was listening to his uncle.When the older man disappeared out of sight, he took her gently by the arm and led her into her office.
*** Solana ***After the little chitchat at the new kitchen, Solana only saw and heard from Mark just once for the rest of the morning.The brief meeting they had afterwards was nothing close to awkward. It was formal and serious, making her feel like they were back to that time when she pined for him all day and night. It felt like they'd returned to the stage when he looked at her with evident lust but keeps a safe distance.At some point before her lunch break, she wondered if their date on Saturday was not even real. Or were they back to pretending. It seemed like he'd forgotten the fact that she was his girlfriend now. Lovelane was the most important thing, of course. She was alright with that. Can't be jealous of the attention the motel got from him.But she was eager for the day to end. She needed to see how he'd treat her once they were officially done with work.It was break time, and she sat on her desk, wondering if it was alright to check on him. If it be too forward of he
*** Mark ***As Mark and his uncle entered his office for their meeting, he was prepared for any unsolicited comment or advise about his personal life.To his surprise, the man made no reference to Solana when they sat down to talk business. He went back to his usual, dignified, pretentious, proper self, beginning his questions and lectures about all Mark would be handling.Mark followed his lead and kept a professional and calm manner throughout their talk. If uncle Johnny saw him now, he imagined the man would say something like, "how come I never get this type of courtesy from you."The meeting went far better than he expected as they made plans for other businesses outside Lovelane.It turned out that uncle Johnny and Mr. Johnson were wrong about his paternal uncle. He hadn't come to see what his mother left behind to take back from Mark. He was getting the sense that the man came to ensure he was handling the estate well enough. If he thought he wasn't, only then would he make a
*** Solana ***Solana took a deep, steadying breath before opening her door. It is Monday morning and time for work.She had been dating her boss for forty-eight hours, and this day would be the first time they'd work together since they got involved.The sound of a door opening made her want to do one of two things. Nunber one was to get back inside her apartment and lock her door till he leaves. Number two was to run quickly down the stairs. She wanted to hide from him.Choosing the latter, she was already facing the gate but had to stop at the sound of her name."Solana." 'Why, oh why are you nervous?'She turned around and forced a smile through the grimace when a few drops of hot coffee spilled into her hand."Good morning," he said."Good morning," she replied.He moved closer bringing out his handkerchief and took the cup from her. Her hand shook a little when it made contact with his, but Solana was thankful that his did the same.He dabbed gently with his handkerchief, wipin
*** Phil ***The distant sound of a cock crow roused Phil from a sleep that felt like death as he forced his eyes open. The headache that struck as the daylight hit his eyes brought back memories of the night before.He and Kendi had ridden the elevator downstairs and she'd continuously insist he couldn't drive home in his state. Then she'd led him by the arm to this room, dumped him on the bed and left.Shame and anger filled him as he remembered leaning on her soft shoulder for support. The events of the past twenty-four hours made him wish this weekend would end already.Solana's date with Mark and the fact that he spent the evening with his bottle. Plus getting mocked by his ex. These things made him want to run off and start a new existence somewhere far from here."It's not enough that she witnessed the whole thing. You had to get wasted in front of her, too?" It was this very thought of Kendi that kept Phil on the bed, wishing he could vanish from the city.Eventually, he made
*** Phil ***"Hey! Hey!"Kendi stood between Phil and the glassdoor of the lobby. The nausea he'd felt all day intensified as he watched Solana and Mark enter the new, tiny elevator. "Don't even think about what you're thinking about." Kendi warned him, pulling his arm towards the outdoor staircase that led to the bar.Phil didn't know what he was thinking. Except that the bastard had his hand on Solana's lower back while she smiled up at him and gave him those doe-eyed looks."They are just getting back from a date, Phil. That means you lost! She chose him. C'mon." Kendi kept dragging him away, and Phil noticed mister harsh-face security guard now watched him with interest from the lobby's glass door. He felt like going up to that one to ask him what he's looking at. But Kendi had a tight grip on his shirt as she dragged him away."She hasn't told me that yet." He argued."Don't be stupid." She replied, urging him up the stairs.An the image of Mark and Solana, naked in bed tonight,