C7 I Can't Help Grace

Roselyn looking away from where Cynthia stood saw Parry (her husband) gazing at her. His stare was really scary and unusual but Roselyn could not figure out what went wrong.

"Why are you staring that way at me?" Roselyn asked but Parry said nothing for some time but still continued staring at her.

"I can't just help myself from staring,” he said as Roselyn smiled.

“I know you want a dance, you should not come to me with such an approach,” Roselyn responded as they both laughed.

“Ya sure, you are my wife so I can have the dance if I want,” Parry said sarcastically as Roselyn glared off.

“Without a please, you will not have this dance,” she responded as her husband walked closer knowing how childish and commanding his wife can be.

“ Can I please have this dance," he replied, bowing his head and stretching out his palms to her as she grabbed, laughing at his funny action.

The whole building was filled with different couples dancing with each other except for those who came alone. Some persons randomly found partners while some sat back at their sit.

Roselyn looking around remembered Cynthia may be one of those who are left with no dance partner to flirt with.

"How did the discussion go?" Roselyn asked Parry who was overwhelmed with the loud music.

"Huh?" He asked pretending he didn't understand what she said knowing how his wife would react if she knows he heard nothing from the both of them.

"Alfred and Cynthia," she responded.

"Oh, they?" He stammered, giving his wife a weird look. His wife was sharp enough to understand that look on his face.

Parry always acts weird when he has not done what he was asked to do and this was no different from his other reactions.

"Don't tell me you didn't hear anything!" Roselyn hissed so as not to go loud to the hearing of everyone despite being angry.

Parry did not know what to say to her so he continues gazing at her without saying a word. She quickly pushes him off heading for the stairs in disappointment.

"Babe, I would love to help Grace but also, Alfred is my friend and needs my support in whatever he does," Parry said holding her wrist and dragging her to himself.

"I actually heard nothing because I didn’t want my friend to spot me but I guess before I heard found something to use, they had gone far in their discussion and surprisingly, Mrs Travis came around and stopped their discussion. It's actually his business, let him do what he thinks is right, it's Jerome's thing, they do their will. Don't put yourself at risk or me in one!" Parry added gazing at his wife who only stared at him saying nothing.

"How many men would agree to marry a divorcee? How many Perry!” Roselyn exclaimed as Parry stood speechless staring at her.

“You should know more about our customs and tradition and how people rate divorced women in our part of the world. A divorced woman is rated to be characterless, a prostitute, a flirt, and a lot more.

To worsen the case, Grace is married into the Jerome family and would be a big issue if a woman from a highly reputed family is divorced in the open. Have you no conscience for a poor girl? Whatever happens here tonight will all be your fault!” Roselyn responded after a while.

"You should know I love Grace before I decided to help her. I have come to the understanding that my friend is not so heartless. You can see how romantic and fastened they are to each other. Whatever he would want to do to Grace would be at the end of this occasion that I am sure of and about marry a divorced woman; I would if I loved her,” Parry answered trying to defend his friends and minding his business.

"Are you sure you know this family?” Roselyn inquired, surprised at the words which came out of her husband’s mouth.

Mr Jerome has left a legacy of being the most honest businessman in Nigeria and everyone believes in him and his family. If an accusation is laid on her, it will stay forever, not only to her, all her family would be characterized as such," Roselyn added.

"Relax hun, Alfred might do no such thing today, he is into her and cannot go hard on her right now, let's mind our business and continue dancing hun,” Parry responded.

"How about the strange man? he looks pretty poor and unhealthy, I would say he was a bodyguard but his poor appearance can tell me he isn't," Roselyn said.

"So what do you want me to do?" Parry asked as Roselyn stared at him, with a wide smile on her chin.

"Don't tell me you want me to follow them up?" Parry added looking at her as she said nothing. Parry could understand what his wife meant from the looks on her face.

"Sh*t!" He uttered as a response to what his wife wanted him to do.

"I’m not going to do that,” Parry added.

"Please....." Roselyn begged, showing off her innocent face to Parry. Her looks could easily melt the heart of any man but not this time. Parry really wants to mind his business but his wife wants to go extra for Grace.

"No....." Parry responded.

"Please, please....." She pleaded, trying her best to manipulate him into doing what she wanted.

"No!" Parry yet with the same response.

"How about a son?" Roselyn sarcastically said with a wide smile.

"Huh?" Parry responded, confused about what she meant.

"I hope the poor man is not a killer or stuff but all I want from you is to find out his work in this auditorium and I will accept to have a son,” Roselyn replied.

"Funny, but you know I don't want a son yet" he replied, laughing intensely as Roselyn felt defeated and out of words to say to her husband.

"Okay babe, do it for your lovely wife. That man might be harmful and might hurt Grace. Alfred is not in his right state of mind as he wants her out and may agree on anything that could hurt Grace.

They are so many media men here, looking for information to upload on their boring blocks and Grace cannot be a topic for them," she said

"I know babe, how exactly do you want me to gather information about them?" Parry asked his wife.

"Right, use your phone, make a video of them, whatever they say or should be recorded," she said, handing him his phone as Perry looked surprised at how she got his phone in her hands.

"What were you doing with my phone and when did you remove it?" Parry asked.

"When you were busy discussing with other girls, I had to check on the new update on your phone!" Roselyn said.

"What? Babe you know I can never cheat on you," Parry responded.

"Ya I knew until you started discussing with your friend about sending Grace away," Roselyn responded as Parry frowns.

"Are you comparing me to Alfred?" Parry asked.

"You know what they say, show me your friend and I will tell you more about you,” Roselyn said.

To prove to me that you really are not like your friend, you will need to help me,” Roselyn added knowing Parry will accept to assist finally.

"Go already," she added as Parry stood beside her staring.

Parry really would love to help but to think about being screwed makes him reconsider it. He did not want to ruin his friendship with Alfred in any way as they have been friends for more than 20 years.

If Alfred wants to divorce Grace then it is his personal decision and had nothing to do with them but his wife keeps insisting they help stop it.

"Babe, I will not be able to do this! Grace is a friend to both of us but Alfred is my best friend, it is his choice to divorce his wife, let's not get ourselves into this.

I know you’re hurt that your innocent friend might be heartbroken but let's keep ourselves from trouble, I know how Alfred treats his enemies, remember he is my friend and a billionaire we are just related by luck, I’m sorry, I won’t ruin my years of friendship for a personal decision made by Alfred," Perry said pecking her and walking back to where he stood.

Though he did not have a dance partner but being away from his wife at that particular moment was what he wanted.

His wife would continue pestering him as long as she sees him around and he may end up doing what he would regret in the long run.

Alfred’s friendship with him has been smooth and his personal decision cannot be a reason to end the friendship.

However, Roselyn was disappointed her husband did not want to help Grace even after all his explanation. Parry always has a way but he refuses to figure anything out in this case.

She was left with no choice had to go down with her husband.