Jema stood still when she realised that he wasn't home. She didn't know where he could have gone off to as he never informed her of leaving to anywhere.
She felt so trapped on the spot, for once in a very long time,she didn't know what to do and she hated the fact that it was men that always put her in such situations.
She dialed his number again but this time it told her that his phone was switched off.
She sighed and went over to her sofa to sit. She felt the if she stood any longer,she might fall over from all the occurrences that were ganging up against her.
She tried to relax into the seat but she couldn't successfully, all her muscles were on a riot against her. She sat upright and began deliberating her next line of action.
The thought to call Adam seeped into her mind. She almost face palmed herself for not thinking of it sooner,it was even supposed to have been her first move when she didn't see Lionel at home.
She quickly dialed his number and he picked up within a few rings,as he had always done in her few hours if knowing him.
She didn't wait from him to speak a word before she said in rushed words.
"Do you know where Lionel is?,I've tried calling him but he isn't picking up, it even seems like his phone is switched off", she said, trying her best not to transfer suppressed anger to an innocent man over the phone.
The man did not respond for a long time on hearing her making Jema wonder if he really knew where he was.
" Miss Malteng I don't know where he is",he said after his long pause before muttering something under his breath that Jema was not quick to catch.
"Well, that's why I called,I thought you might know", she said,not hiding her disappointment.
" I'm sorry I wasn't of any help Miss Malteng, let's just hope he resurfaces soon",he said and Jema thanked him before cutting the call.
She sat still,now fully our if any ideas. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back,not aware when sleep came knocking.
Moments later,she battered her eyelashes open. She looked around and saw that she was at her house. She sat upright as her memories began presenting themselves to her.
She berated herself for falling asleep so easily. She looked around her house once again and slowly sensed if there was any other presence in her house but there wasn't, Lionel was yet to return.
She sighed and checked her watch,it was four more hours till the time she had given him earlier. She groaned when a thought that he might not be back till then.
She then regretted her action of leaving her office earlier than usual and rescheduling all her work till Monday which was three days away.
There would be more work awaiting her then.
Just as she stood up and was about to head to her room, the door opened and Lionel stepped in. He hid something behind him before stepping in as he had noticed her car parked outside.
Jema turned to face him and immense relief flooded her being but her face showed annoyance
"Where have you been all morning, I tried calling you but your phone was switched off",she said, trying to sound annoyed,even though she really was.
He looked at her and brought his hand forward to run it through his hair. He looked at her,her hair was dishevelled but in an attractive way and she looked weary,like she had been doing a ton of work.
He let out a deceitfully sheepish smile.
"I'm sorry,something came up and I needed to attend to it ASAP", he said and she frowned.
" And you switched on your phone,heck I thought you knew nowhere in this city and now you are telling me something came up,doesn't that sound odd to you ",she said and shook her head.
She had thought of the worst possibilities upon his abrupt disappearance bit she had decided to keep her hopes positive.
Her eyes trailed to further study him. He was wearing the same clothe as earlier this morning,the tight fitted turtlenecked shirt on jeans and it looked exactly the same except that she felt that something fishy was going on with him.
She didn't trust the teasing smile etched all over his face,he looked like he was hiding something from her and she didn't know what neither did she want to ask.
When Lionel felt her gaze roving all over him,he stuck the thing he was holding behind him and drew his jacket to cover it up.
" Come on,Miss Malteng",he began, his teasing grin still spread our across his face,"why do you suspect everyone and everything hmn,someone broke your heart",he said and watched as her gaze faltered.
She looked away suddenly remembering her past relationships. She wondered if it was just a mere coincidence or he knew about her relationships and decided to tease her with it. If it was,it definitely was an inconsiderate thing to do. She couldn't find her footing to question him anymore so she let the subject die.
"So, why are you home this early,something come up?",he asked,looking more serious this time.
" Yes it did, I've decided to fast track all what I've planned,we would be going to see my father now and the court marriage will take place tomorrow ",she said and turned to continue her way up the stairs.
Lionel stared at her back,wondering what could have made her change her mind so quickly but he decided to keep his thoughts to himself
Suddenly, she turned back and faced him after taking a few steps on the stairs.
" Lionel and please,change into something more presentable,I would come join you in a bit so we can go to the hospital ",she said and continued her walk up the stairs.
Lionel looked at her before looking at what he was wearing,again wondering what was wrong with his clothes.
Jema entered her room and went straight to her bed to sit. Her brain had been processing a lot in just two days and she wondered what more fate might throw her way.
She decided to plan her marriage registry. She wanted to invite her two sisters and even Carly,to rub it a little into her face for ever thinking that she would ever have what belonged rightfully to her as sole heiress.
She proceeded and called Kylie,her younger sister and inform her of the rushed marriage. She knew her sister wouldn't be entirely pleased with her idea of a wedding as her sister had always planned that when she ever decided to get married, that she would help her pick a wedding gown.
She couldn't even believe the irony of it all herself. She remembered laughing along with her sister and saying that the much expected time was very close by,but it never did come,nor would it ever.
She almost laughed at her own pathetic situation. Fate specialised in going in the direct opposite and even more complex route than one had planned, the cunning old hag.
Kylie had picked up her call and her voice burst through her array of thoughts. She greeted her warmly and wasted no time in conveying the reason for her calling.
Kylie was shocked and at the same time pleasantly pleased. She couldn't believe that her sister had someone in her life already. She was unaware if the details as Jema hid it from her.
Jema told her to pass on the news to her twin before ending the call to place a call across to her next guest on her mental invite list,Carly.
Carly was probably the last person she wanted to her call at the moment but she knew she had to,the whole family needed to be aware.
Carly pucked up the call after several rings. Jema knew that she ignored her call intentionally but she kept calling,keeping her ego in check.
When she eventually picked up,she greeted Jema in a sly,conceited manner. Jema knew all her tricks. it decided to play along.
"Carly dear,have you developed clogged ears that you weren't able to hear your phone ring", she asked in a ridiculous accent.
She could feel Carly smile with mischief over the phone.
" Oh No, Sis Jem,I just wanted to make sure you didn't butt dial me again, like before,remember",she replied and Jema clenched her teeth in an attempt to subdue her anger.
"Well,this isn't a butt dial, I'm calling you to give you a wonderful news, I'm getting married tomorrow and I'll love if you'll honour our reception at city hall tomorrow morning by eleven in the morning", she said,cringing at the word love.
She could then hear Carly laugh over the phone and wondered what was so funny about what she said.
" Oh,I'm so happy for you,you are finally getting married to the love of your life or should I call him your car wrecker",she said and laughed out loud over the phone and Jema could not help but leave her mouth hanging open. How on earth did she know,was that too on the social media, if it was,all her plans were totally ruined.
'Don't kill yourself with worry,the news isn't out there,I paid the blogger with the news heavily to keep her mouth shut,don't think I did this for you,I did it for the Malteng name you are planning to roll in the mud and for the registry, praise providence if I come",she said and rudely cur the call.
Jema couldn't believe one hundred percent what she had just heard. She was grateful that for once Carly did something rational, but she continued to wonder in what sick way that this might turn on her later.
She called her step mother as well to convey the same message. The woman promised to he there.
She called every member of her family in the same order,conveying to them all the same message in the same order. She thought about calling her friend but she didn't want to bother her friend who was on her honeymoon.
She was happy for her friend but couldn't help to be envious a bit,she was truly happy with her love filled marriage while she was here in a convenience marriage.
When she was calling all she thought she needed to call,she stood up and straightened herself before leaving the room.
She descended downstairs and looked around for Lionel. She saw him leaning against the wall,pressing his phone which he shoved in his pocket on noticing her presence.
She looked at what he had changed into. He was wearing a suit without a tie and it was loose by few buttons.
He looked very attractive dressed like that,he even did something with his hair that just pronounced the outfit.
She wondered if he was trying to seduce her,but she looked away and killed all other thoughts arising.
"Took you long enough", he said and moved to open the door for her.
She walked into the living room to pick up her bag she had left on the sofa and proceeded out of the door being opened for her.
Lionel walked out behind her and locked the door behind him. He opened the door of the car and she got in before he got in seconds later.
Lionel got settled in his seat and looked to face her to ask for instructions. She told him the name of the hospital and he began to tap on his tablet.
He began to drive off towards the direction the map led him.