C2 Chapter 2

The house was spick and span like nothing happened earlier. He had requested the service of a house cleaning company. Glasses were replaced and so were the other house appliances that were damaged. Just as he was about to put a call through to the police department, a jeep appeared and parked right in front of his gate. Thanks to good lightening and CCTV cameras, he was able to watch all that goes on in his surroundings right from his room.

A boy around her age range had brought her home. He had opened her side of the door and had gently helped her down from the vehicle. He touched her forehead to probably check her temperature and then hesitated before locking his lips with hers. It was a shocking event to Aiden because he had never seen any of her male friends come over before. Not that any of that was his business. He didn't even know why he noticed that. Was he unconsciously monitoring her? It was a question he didn't want to provide an answer to. After what seemed like forever, she finally crept in quietly watching her surroundings like someone who was about to steal something. He quickly went down to apologise for what happened earlier and to be sure it wasn't something very serious. She was about to take another step when he showed up. Her expression was like that of someone who had just seen a ghost. To think that she quickly had to cover the exposed part of her chest immediately she saw him gave him a lot of concern. For Godsake he could never take advantage of her or anybody. He might be many things but he wasn't that.

"We live in the same place, you can't hide from me forever. I sincerely want to apologize for what happened earlier. I was angry and wasn't reasoning properly, neither was I in a proper state of mind at the moment. I called all the hospitals around but all of them confirmed you didn't show up at any. Please do you mind if I look at it? I see it has been treated. Please, Rachel, can you stop shaking like you are standing in front of a beast. There is so much fear written all over you and it doesn't sit well with me. It's me Aiden. Have you forgotten? I don't bite." He said.

"Good evening Mr James. I have been attended to. My mother's sister is a nurse so she treated the wound. I'm really fine. You don't have to worry about me. I know you wouldn't intentionally hurt me and truth be told, I'm really scared of you that's one of the reasons why I never come to your house until it's my working hours which is usually in the evenings. The Aiden I once knew has faded into the background. Every day your level of anger skyrockets by the day and when you are angry you just feel the need to destroy everything that you lay your hands on. I mean look at the cuts all over your hands they seem to increase by the day. All your workers have all gone. I tried placing a call to our usual agency that supplies us household staffs but all my calls are going into voicemail. I know you are hurting Mr James but I'm too. We've both lost people we cherish. At least you always had them by your side. I can't say the same for my mother. She was usually very busy tending to your families needs. It's been three years. Three good year's since it occurred. You have refused to take care of yourself. You hardly touch your meals and you are growing thinner by the day. You hardly step out of this house. The gym has become your hiding place. Once upon a time, I used to run to you so you could protect me from those bullies and bad boys but now it's funny how it's you I'm running away from. I'm sorry I tend to blab a lot of rubbish when I'm tired and stressed. I may have crossed my path with some of the things I said. I'm sorry sir. If you don't mind, I'll like to retire to my quarters." She said.

All her words hit him straight in the heart and in the head. She was the only one who had the guts to talk to him like this and get away with it. He knew he looked unkempt but that was nobody's business. He wasn't going anywhere and all the work he did from home besides if he decided he wasn't going to work for the rest of his life, he wasn't going to feel the impact. The money was still coming in from all his chains of business. All he had to do was give out commands and that was it. He had enough money to last forever. The wealth of James had been stored there right from the time of his ancestors. He knew that she was afraid of him but for her to openly confirm it was a bullet to his chest and to think that while her mother should have been attending to her needs, she was busy overseeing his while she was alive. He will forever be indebted to her. He knew most of the things Rachel had said will continuously be ringing in his head for a long time.

"Crossed your path with some of your choice of word? Yes. And what's with the "Mr James"? You can call me Aiden. Your aunt must hate me at the moment. As I said, I'm sorry it wasn't my intention. I hope you can forgive me. Feel free to come to me if you need anything and you don't have to stay if you don't want to. I know you hate me right now for stealing time that you could have spent with your mother. I wish I could make up for it trust me. I will forever be indebted to her. Just in case you need anything, please feel free to ask me. It's the least of things I can do. You can come live with me if you find it very quiet and lonely there. This house is big enough so you don't have to worry about having to cross each others path."

"Thanks. I think I'll stick to Mr James and I think I will be more convenient staying in my quarters. You indicated when you cut me off that you and I weren't in the same social class and I understand there's a line between the rich and poor and I am not ready to cross it. You don't have to be worried about my aunt I told her it was a home accident and I won't be going anywhere anytime soon because well I need the pay for my college fee and future purposes except you want to kick me out like the others. Like I said earlier I'm sorry for crossing my path with the things I said. I'll be sure to control my mouth next time. Good night sir."

So she noticed he cut her off. It wasn't for any social class whatsoever. He was trying to save his marriage he almost corrected her. They had once been so close, his mother had thought she was the one he was going to marry. Everyone thought so too. He did too at one point but then he was worried about the age difference which was quiet much but then again age was just a number. You of all people know that things had started to go downhill for them from the moment you found out one reckless night in between the sheets with Sabrina had led to the formation of a baby his inner voice whispered.

He wasn't about to tell her he had paid for all her college fee and that the money she had been paying to her school had been transferred to an account for her.

He was more than happy that her mother had kept to his wishes of not letting her know he had been paying her fees since high school and that he bought her present car and all the cars she had ever used. He had even bought her shoes and clothes and lied that his mother had sent it to her knowing she wouldn't have accepted it if she knew it was coming from him. He sure sounded like a desperate person when he said she could move in. Truth be told he needed the presence of someone else other than him in his apartment. He was due for a shave and a new haircut. What if it was time to heal he questioned.