Jane stood in front of the building, the fitting centre and stared at the italics writing of Jentro. The building looked so nice and well built, she had been coming here for a very long time and their services are really nice.
She hasn't taken her time to examine how adorable the building looked. A huge building for just a fitting centre, she thought. Her mind flashed back to her conversation with her sis about one man owning the fitting centre and also the Jentro fashion company, she wondered who the man was but she waved it off as she wasn't interested in all these celebrities stuffs and problems.
But she wanted to know the owner of the building, she has been coming to the fitting centre for such a long time now but haven't come face to face with owner just the manger of the place. What's the point meeting the owner?. She exhaled and stared at the windows of the fitting centre and they were slightly open to let the breeze in.
She wore a sky blue loose top and black yoga pants with the sky blue sneakers on her feet, she tied her hair in a messy bun and stuck ear buds in her ears. She walked in and as usual she took in the fragrant scent of the inside. It smelled like lemon.
As usual she greeted the manager whose name was Kayode Akhindele a Yoruba guy who Chris entrusted his gyming centre to cause he was always busy with music. He had kept the centre going and Chris had warned him not to make it known to anyone that he was the owner of the centre 'cause he didn't want too many people coming in just because he's a star.
Kayode had kept his mouth shut and acted as the real owner expect when Chris is around, he didn't want to loose his job especially it was the only job he's doing to support his family and he was getting a lot of pay in it. Chris treated him as if he's his own brother. He didn't treat him as someone working under him and he kept Chris up to date with consumers coming in, the money coming in and the equipments which needed repairing or replacing.
Jane walked in and greeted the manager whose was on his counter doing some manger's stuffs and attending to some consumers. He looked up and saw Jane smiling, he smiled back and his eyes roamed on her outfit and beckons on it.
"Great outfit you have there." He said.
"Thanks." She smiled. Kayode has always been nice to her and treated her as if he had known her all his life. Being in his late 30's, he has a square shaped face, pointed nose, a nearly dark red lips. There was a tiny mole on his temple, has tiny round eyes that were full of radiance. Even in his 30's he looked handsome and younger as if he was twenty something but he's no march for Chris.
How can you be comparing him to Chris, Jane?. Her inner voice questioned her.
Kayode was such a nice guy always smiling, caring and funny. She envied his wife for having such a loving husband although they were newly wedded couple, almost 7 months now.
"Always counting money?." Jane joked leaning on his counter.
"That's how we men roll." He smiled. "We are always optimistic in making money. We got to do anything to take care of our loved ones."
"Speaking of loved ones." She began. How is your wife?".
"She's fine. Guess what?".
"What?".
"She is pregnant." He whispered to her. "Two weeks pregnant to be precise."
"Wow I'm happy for you." She smiled. "Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"I'm gonna be a godmother soon." She joked again earning a laughter from kayode.
"No worry, for baby shower. I'm gonna surprise her with something she will adore."
"You have a good heart, may you be happy all your life."
"Amen."
She walked to the treadmill machine and stepped on it, switching it on and setting it to the pace she wanted. She ran her legs on the treadmill machine for an hour until she felt her legs becoming jelly. She stepped down so she won't knock out any minute, she tried to steady her steps but couldn't.
Meanwhile Chris has been watching her since she arrived, he saw how close she was with kayode. She laughed and joked with him, he was the only one she doesn't talk to and even if she saw him she would pretend she didn't as if he doesn't exist.
Seeing how she laughed with kayode. He felt like punching him on the face for doing so, he felt a tint of jealousy seeing her near any guy. What was that feeling? This feeling to have her close to him, seeing her in her gym outfit, he felt like doing all the wild things with her. I can't be falling for her. Instead girls trip for me.
He watched her as she laughed, he loved her laughter, her smile. She had the best smile.
He was doing bench press with a dumbbell. He wore a Nike men's pro fitted short sleeved shirt with hood, on his waist was also a Nike men's team fly dri-fit short coupled with a white Nike metcon-5 sneakers on his feet. He braided his dark neatly dreadlocks into French plait. He tied a white handkerchief on his wrist.
He had been working out when she came in, as usual she was everyone's favourite. Even when some female and male fans came to him squealing out his name. Begging for his autographs and pics with him, she didn't turn around to look at him. He felt like firing Kayode for keeping her too busy to acknowledge him. But why would you do that to that poor man just because she refused to acknowledge you? His inner voice questioned.
He watched her climb the treadmill machine and moving on it to her pace. He loved her physique, so tempting to touch and seductive. He had told himself not to acknowledge any thing about her but he didn't know why her face kept appearing in front of him. He watched her until he saw her legs becoming jelly, he smiled as he saw she was trying to steady herself from falling.
Suddenly he heard a loud thud on the floor, she had landed with her butt on the hard floor bruising her right elbow which was bleeding. He rushed to her immediately, he didn't know what prompted him to do so.
"Are you okay?." He asked.
"Yes I'm fine." She answered and looked up, her face turned into a frown as she saw who came to her rescue. Why was he following her up and down?. He had made it clear to her he didn't want anything to do with her any more, she tried hard to stay away from him but the fool doesn't know he was the one coming close.
"Yes I'm fine." She repeated standing up. She tried to steady her legs but they were still shaking and she hated it that he noticed. He noticed the blood on her elbow.
"You're bleeding." He prompted.
"I'm fine." She replied as she tried to clean off the blood with her handkerchief.
"You need to tend to that wound." He suggested. "It could get infected if you leave it open."
"I said I'm fine. I can manage." She replied feeling irritated by his presence. She turned around to walk away when she noticed her feet being swept off the ground. Chris carried her over his shoulder and started walking away.
"Put me down." She demanded.
"Not until you get that cleaned up." He kept on, walking.
"It's my choice whether I want it cleaned up or not."
"It should be your choice now."
"Why are you being too grumpy?." She asked, annoyed.
"And why are you being too stubborn?." He asked in return.
He carried her walked pass Kayode who was surprised, he had noticed his boss staring at Jane since she started coming here. Most often they always get into quarrels, he always notice how they bicker among each other and he concluded that something was going on between those two. He has never seen his boss treat his female fans that way.
Some people who came to workout there murmured amongst themselves.
"She should be happy she's being carried by the rock star himself."
"Some many girls are dying be in her shoes right now."
"And what guts does she have to talk to him like that."
"If I were Chris I won't take it likely with her, who does she think she is?."
"Was she the same girl who had a fight with him?." Another questioned. "I'm beginning to think she's stalking our Chris."
He carried her even when she kept hitting his back to put her down, he paid no attention to her and carried her to the clinic which was built inside the gym centre. He sat her on chair there and told the male nurse to attend to her, Jane took her time to run her eyes on the interior of the clinic. It was well furnished with hospital gadgets, and it has a medicinal fragrance. Ugh.....how much she hated the smell of drugs.
"She injured her elbow." He said to the male nurse. The nurse nodded and brought out a first aid box from a cupboard full of medicine bags and other medicine stuffs.
"I said I'm fine." She pouted.
Chris and the male nurse ignored her. He opened the box and brought out a cotton wool, an ointment and a bandage. He told Jane to show her elbow.
"I told you both I'm fine." I don't need ointments.
Chris went to her and forced her to straight out her arm so the nurse can tend to her wound.
"Always grumpy." She murmured.
"I can hear you..." He said and she glared at him.
The nurse cleaned her wound with the bottled liquid, she shut her eyes close cause the pain was too much for her to bear. Chris stood there staring at the drama she and the nurse was creating.
"Have you injured this elbow before?." The nurse asked.
"Yes but that was months ago." She replied. "It wasn't a big deal because it has healed."
"Yes it has but it might have affected your inner bone and if you continue to injure this elbow it might result to something else you won't like." The nurse cautioned as he bandaged the cut on her elbow.
"OK thanks." She stood up and thanked the nurse, he smiled at her as a response. She turned to Chris.
"Happy now?." She asked, sarcastically and walked out. He followed her as she walked out to the gym centre and carried to her bags and stuffs. She made her way to Kayode's counter and he noticed the bandage on her elbow.
"Are you okay?." He asked.
"Yes I'm fine." She replied annoyed. 'Is this the kind of customers you accommodate?."
Kayode knows she was referring to Chris but couldn't tell her he was the owner. He chuckled.
"I'm sorry I didn't notice you two." He lied. "I was too busy attending to other customers."
"Making someone dance to his tune just because he's a Rock star. So grumpy." She said absentminded.
"Just forget about him, some rock stars can be annoying. As if they owned the world." Kayode felt sorry for speaking ill of his boss.
"But he's a good guy, he has been coming here a lot and fun to be with." He complimented.
"Yes I can see that. Good man that forces people to keen to his demands."
"But I have you seen two bickering most of the times here." He insinuated, eyeing her to know her response. "Have you met him before?. What kind of relationship do you guys share?. Are you his current girlfriend?." He asked too many questions at a time.
"No way I'm not his girlfriend at least not current." Why would Kayode think she was his girlfriend.
"You see I'm not his girlfriend. She answered. We have a frie-nemy relationship."
"Frie-nemy? What is frie-enemy?." He asked surprise.
"Someone who is friends with you yet still your enemy."
"So you're saying you both are friends and enemies same time?." Kayode asking in an amusing tone.
"Mmhmm.." She nodded.
"Frie-enemy?." They heard a voice behind them. They turned and saw Chris staring at them. "Hmmmmm... Interesting."
Jane and kayode kept quiet. She could feel his eyes on her even though she wasn't staring at him.
"Nothing." She replied curtly.
"But I heard you say frie-nemy." He implied.
"See you next time." She bade kayode goodbye, totally ignoring Chris and left, Chris just stared blankly at her.
"Why is she always like that?." He asked, turning to Kayode.
"I don't know maybe she's stressed about something."
"No it's not that. She's been avoiding me." He complained.
"I don't know but the Jane I know doesn't avoid or ignore people, maybe you did something to annoy her." Kayode suggested.
"Well forget about it. Let it slide, she's not important." Chris prompted.
*****************
Jane was through with the painting of Mr Bruce and ready to deliver it but going to his house was something she didn't want to do. She stared at his business card and saw the address of his house. Because of Chris she didn't get to ask Kayode who the owner of Jentro's fitting centre was. Because of his grumpiness.
Maybe Mr Bruce is married and too busy to come get his portrait himself that's why he asked her to do it herself.
Jane why have those immoral thoughts in you. The man mean no harm, he just want you to deliver it to his house. Simple. Her inner voice said.
She took a cab going towards that direction. She climbed down, paid the taxi driver. And asked the people around there where she could find the address which they showed her.
She walked downtown to the lane where Mr Bruce's mansion stood, where he lives, the buildings around it looked like estate buildings. So beautiful and nice, the environments nice too. she stood outside the steel gate. She marvelled at the beauty of the gate, and what marvelled her the most was the gate opened by itself when she was about to step inside.
She walked in and the gate closed by itself again, she stood a few steps away from the main doorway. She stared at the mightily erected building in front of her, the aluminum Chinese roof was brown in colour. The painting was grey ash, the building looked so neat and new as if it was newly built.
The windows were black in colour and around the windows were built window cones. At the side was a part where cars were been parked. At the porch,different types of cars, name them. A black Lexus 450, a blue land Rover, a white Range Rover,a black Porsche and two small cars that looked like sport cars. The compound was big and spacious that it can contain two more houses, the ground tiled, four pillars stood opposite each other at each end of the building. Two at one end and the other two at the other end. Beside one side of the building stood a sculpted elephant truck, it looked real. Kudos to the hand that sculpted it.
The fence that proved as a shield for the house was nicely built with beautiful bricks. And beautiful flowers were decorated at the base of the fence which made the house and everything have a wonderful look.
Phew.. She breathed out as she can't take her eyes off the beauty of the house. This man must be such a wealthy man. Her eyes roamed every corner of the building and she was satisfied with what she saw. If the exterior was like this, she wondered how the interior will be. It will be mind blowing. She thought.
She walked in and knocked at the main door that connects the house. The door opened reveling a six years old girl, at first Jane didn't believe her eyes at who she saw. Maybe she was in the wrong place. This can't be his house. The girl smiled at her which snapped her back to reality.
"Good day aunt Jane." Rose greeted showing off her dimples. "What brings you here?".
"Good day..." She responded. "Emm is this the house of Mr Bruce Ifediegwu?." She looked down on the business card of Mr Bruce to make sure she was in the right place.
"Yes." Rose smiled. "Come in."
She walked in and was mesmerized with what she saw. The inside was well furnished, the cushions were black in colour with blue pillows on them well arranged. A huge chandelier hung from the ceilings with patterns carved on it with German taste. Everything that made up the sitting room were nice and arranged in their place.
"Emm how did you know Mr Ifediegwu?." Jane asked Rose as she sat down on one of the cushion, resting the pillow of where she sat on her laps and placing her hand on it.
"He's my grandfather." Rose answered.
Grandfather!. She said to herself. So he's already married and also a granddad. That means if Rose was his granddaughter, that means Chris was his son. Why does she keep running into Chris's relatives. First was his mother, now his dad and Mr Bruce never told her he had a son and Mrs Gwen was his wife.
After asking herself many questions that she had no answers to. She breathed in relief that Mr Bruce was married and was the father of the man she loved. She didn't know if she should feel happy or not at the truth, just then Mrs Gwen came out and her face brightened as she saw Jane.
"Jane you are here." Mrs Gwen said walking to her. "I never expected you to come here this quick but anyways I'm happy to see you."
Jane smiled. "I'm not expecting you either. I'm here to deliver this painting work of Mr Bruce."
"That's my husband...." Mrs Gwen said curtly. "You have already met him?." She asked.
"Yes he came to my work place and gave me this work to do." She answered, lifting the framed covered portrait.
"Wow you painted him. That's nice," Mrs Gwen said taking the framed work from her and was about to open it when Jane stopped her.
"I'm sorry Ma, the owner of the work is the only one that has the right to open it first."
"Okay my bad. Honey! honey!." Gwen calls her husband. "Someone is here to see you."
"Okay I'm coming." He answered from inside. Just then he strolled out to the sitting room wearing a Nike polo and stripped short.
He doesn't look like a grandpa. She thought.
Immediately he saw Jane, his mood lightened up. He wasn't expecting she will still come cause the last time he saw her she was really scared as if he was a kidnapper.
"Nice to meet you again after such a long time." He smiled and sat on the same cushion his wife was.
"Nice to see you again sir." She smiled. "I'm here to give you the painting work, I'm done with it."
She handed him the painting work.
"You're already through with it?." He asked as he opens the work and pleased with what he saw.
"Cool, nice work." He and his wife chorused. "You really talented." He praised.
"Well I'm going to transfer one hundred thousand in your account for the job well done."
"One hundred thousand is too much for this size of work." Jane prompted. "This is a work of forty thousand."
"It doesn't matter." Gwen chipped in. "You deserve more."
"Thanks Ma."
"Have you two met before?." He asked his wife.
"Yeah, at the orphanage home I went with Rose."
"Really?." Mr Ifediegwu asks surprised.
"Yes can you believe she goes there every saturday to take care of the children."
Mr Ifediegwu was impressed with Jane's personality and he was more happier his wife likes her.
"She's a good girl. Gwen continued blabbing. "Not only does she help the children, she was the one that rescued Rose from being run over by a car."
"Really?." He asked again smiling. "Rose told me about it but I didn't know she was talking about you."
Jane was already tired of their praises, she hates being the center of attention. Besides she did what she ought to do. Would she have allowed her to being run over by a car just because she chased after a puppy.
"No need to thank me. I did what I had to do and I'm not taking that one hundred thousand."
Mr and Mrs Ifediegwu smiled. Not only was she a good woman, she wasn't money oriented like some girls. This is the kind of girl he wants his son to get married to. He knew she will teach him some morals of life, put him on the right tracks and care for him but what if she doesn't like his son?. What if she doesn't care a damn about his son?. But who wouldn't want to marry a Rock star?.
"Accept it as a token for what you have done for us. For saving our precious grand daughter."
"I don't know why you both are making a big deal out of it. She began. "It was my duty to do so and any one in my shoes will do so also."
"It's a big deal for us." Mrs Ifediegwu said. "We can't afford to loose her too."
Jane knew what she was saying and felt her pain. She wondered what state Chris's mother would have been if that car crushed Rose, not after loosing her son and wife. She decided to take the money and make the couple happy.
"OK I accept." She surrendered. "Here is my account number." She wrote her number on a piece of paper and hands it over to Mr Ifediegwu. He pressed her number into his phone transferring the money into her account and she answered an alert into her phone.
"I got it." She said as she pressed her phone. If Chris's parents are so nice and easily friendly, why was he so grumpy. Was he the only one that has become a famous Rock star?.
"I should go." She makes an attempt to stand up when Mrs Gwen spoke.
"No have something to eat, please."
Jane couldn't resist how sweet she looks and speaks and decided to gave in.
"Okay."
Mrs Gwen stood up and went to the kitchen to prepare something for Jane.
"Grandpa, grandpa, I want my own portrait." Rose pouted.
"OK darling I'm gonna paint you, don't worry." Jane assured the girl as she cupped her face.
"Yeah.. I'm gonna get my portrait done, I'm gonna get my portrait done, I'm gonna get my portrait done." Rose sang humping up and down the sitting room. Jane couldn't help but smile, Rose is such a sweet child.
She wished she had her own child, a child that has the same personality like Rose. She cursed death for snatching Rose's parents from her but anyways she still got the love of her grandparents and that of Chris.
She heard footsteps on the front porch of the house and wondered who it might be. She prayed silently that it shouldn't be Chris cause if he sees her in his parents house. She didn't know what he will make of it. He would think she's stalking him.
But her prayers wasn't answered cause her eyes landed on Chris coming in, who wore a leather jacket and trousers on him with a pair of sneakers on his feet. Even though her mind told her to stop falling for him all over again she couldn't help but admire his manly beauty, her heart churns each she sees him.
But her eyes darted to Cassandra who was also with him and she stared at how she entwined her hand around his arm. She wore a handless top and blue denim jeans with black sneakers on her feet. She tied her hair in a ponytail, wearing a heavy make up.
She saw how beautiful they look. It will suit them if ever they get married to each other, they look perfect but why was she not happy seeing them like this. She wished she was Cassandra, she wished she was the one Chris was holding.
Jane no matter how much you wish, it won't come true.
Chris's eyes met her and he was surprise to see her in his parents house. He had a lot of questions going on his mind. Like what was she doing here?. How did she know his parents?. How did she find out this was where his parents was living? Too many question were going on his mind.
Cassandra on the other hand was annoyed to see Jane here in Chris's parents house. Of all the days, she chose to come today Chris was going to introduce her as his fiancée to his parents and she knew Chris looses focus whenever he sees her.
"Jane what are you doing here?." He asked.
She wanted to speak up but Chris's father cuts her short.
"Oh son, you are here." He prompted. Jane is here to give the painted work of me." He ignored the fact that Cass was with his son even when she greeted him, he just nodded his head, he never liked her or should I say he never liked actresses with the rate they divorce their husbands.
He just didn't want his son to be one of them, that's why he was so bent on finding a wife for him.
"Yes dad, I came immediately you called me." He answered innocently. "You said you wanted to discuss something with me."
"Hi." Jane said to Cass.
"Hi." Cass greeted back, faking a smile. "I'm glad to see you again."
"Me too."
"Son, sit down." His father implied. Chris sat down opposite his dad with Cass beside him. Her hands were no longer on his arm but beside hers. Chris kept staring at Jane and she was feeling uncomfortable under his stare.
"Father." He called. "About me finding a wife." He began.
"Yes about that. I think I have a better one for you." His dad said with enthusiasm.
Wait a minute, what was going on here?. Jane asked herself. Was Chris's dad finding a wife for him?. But why would he do that?. Chris is old enough to pick his own wife or was he scared his son may make the wrong choice?.
Was Cassandra the wife he found for him?. The thought of Chris being married to Cass troubled her mind. You should be happy for him, he's your friend and friends need to be happy for one another no matter what.
Jane be happy, be happy. Is gonna be okay but what if Chris's dad wasn't getting him married to Cass but the thought of him still getting married to another woman still cause havoc in her heart.
"Dad, meet Cassandra Iheme." Chris introduced. "She's an actress, her parents live in Singapore but she came down here to be an actress."
"Nice to meet you again, Sir." Cass smiled. I have been friends with your son since fifth grade in kindergarten till high school until my parents moved to Singapore for a business trip and decided to live there." She said knowing fully well no one asked for the explanation but she has to do anything to make Chris's dad accept her as his fiancée.
Chris forced a smile.
"Oh you're the girl that lives ten miles away." His father asked. And suddenly you and your parents just disappeared.
"Yes." She smiled. "Actually my parents decided to base in Singapore, we didn't disappear." She chuckled
"How is your parents?." Mr Bruce smiled.
They are fine." She smiled, thanking God it was going as planned. Chris was thankful to God that his dad was getting along with Cass and hopes he accepts her as his fiancée.
Jane felt out of place as Mr Bruce channeled his attention from her to Chris and Cass, discussing events with them. She didn't belong here, she was better off in her own world of being an ordinary painter.
She needs to leave, she can't wait for Chris's mother to serve her food. Cass will make a good wife and daughter-inlaw to their family, she shouldn't include herself into their family talks. And Cass has so many memories with them from childhood. She was even a next door neighbor to them
You are overreacting, Jane. Who said Chris was getting married to Cass. Just chill.
She stood up to leave when Chris's dad called her attention.
"Jane are you going already?." He asked, skeptically.
"Yes Sir." She replied. "My mission here is done, I must have customers waiting for me."
Mr Bruce turned to his son and cleared his throat.
"Son before I forget." He began. "May I introduce to you, your wife to be." He said with enthusiasm placing his hands on Jane's shoulders in confirmation.
Wait his what?!. Did she hear Mr Bruce right or was her ears playing tricks on her?.
She,Chris and Cass widened their eyes in shock, trying to contemplate what he just said.
"His what?!." Jane and Chris's mom screamed at the same time when they heard plates, dropping on the dining table luckily they didn't break.