Anthony's pov.
"Can we meet?" Chantel asked through the phone.
"Sure". I responded.
"I'll come over to your place then".
"Mmm".
"Ok see you later" she said before ending the call.
I went back in and informed Richmond I was leaving.
"You're leaving now that you have seen the girl you came here for right? Traitor'' he teased.
"Whatever man. I have to meet Chantel later today so I'll have to finish most of my work first".
"Ah! People who have paperwork to do. It must be so hard man" he said lazily. "So are you still coming to the play house today" he asked.
"Maybe. Later man" I said before I headed out but came back. "Remember that I want the girl to get the Veronica role" I reminded him.
"Yea whatever, I'll just settle my girl, but you owe me big time" he shouted after me.
I called my driver to come pick me up and I went straight to the company to finish up. I was done before 5pm so I called Chantel so she could come over and we talk. I got home and found she was already waiting for me outside. I welcomed her in and I asked she joined me for dinner. I already pre-informed my helper to make an extra serving of what ever she was making. We sat down and ate quietly. The atmosphere was so tense that I couldn't even bring myself to start a normal friendly conversation. We finished our meal and she offered to help with the dishes and I didn't decline because I didn't want to do them anyway. I sat down in the dining lost in thought. I had asked Anne to come see me the day after tomorrow but I actually have nothing to say to her. I didn't just want her to leave like that. Anyway, I still have time to think of what I was going to say to her, but right now I had to handle Chantel. After she was done she came over to the dining room where I was and she sat down beside me. After a while of silence, she finally broke it.
"So.."
"So how was France" I said quickly.
"You should have asked about that when I had just returned. I'm tired of answering that question already" she said smiling.
"Well I didn't get a chance to" I responded.
"Because you have been avoiding me".
"No I've not. I've just been busy" I said with a guilty conscience. And there it was again. Another minute of silence.
"So.... What do you want to talk about" I said breaking the silence this time.
"What do you think I want to talk about?" She asked.
"I don't know and I won't know if you don't tell me".
"Since you've decided to play dumb I guess I'll just have to be more forward. I'm back from France already and you know what that means" she said more seriously this time while I just stared at her. "It's time to get married Anthony. We are not getting any younger" she said.
"But you know I don't want to marry you" I said.
"But you must. It for our own good".
"I don't love you Chantel at least not like the way you would want me to".
"But I love you and that is enough. My love is more than enough for both of us, besides feelings change and it will grow with time" she said placing one hand on mine. I looked at her hands and drew my hands back.
"All we've had has been time since we were kids, but what's not there cannot be forced".
"Please Anthony, don't do this to me" she said with almost teary eyes. I could feel all her emotions rushing at this moment.
"You deserve happiness and more and I will not make you happy. Do you understand" I tried to convince her.
"Being with you will make me happy. I cannot ask for more, please Anthony don't do this to me" she pleaded as she started sobbing. I've avoided meeting her so I wouldn't have to deal with this. Chantel was special to me but she was only a friend in my heart and can never go beyond that.
"I'm sorry Chantel but I deserve happiness too and I'm not going to find it with you" I said as she grabbed my shirt.
"So who are you going to find it with? Tell me. I'm the most suitable for you. My family is powerful and I'm beautiful and smart, what else do you want in a woman? Only I am fit to be Mrs Williams. Me and no one else" she said looking me right in the eyes.
"I'm sorry but that spot is reserved for someone else" I said tugging her hand from my shirt.
"Who? Tell me" she sobbed.
"My woman" I said and instantly regretted it.
"What woman? You and I know that the only women in your life are your mom and me. You don't even talk to your female cousins" she said confidently.
"Don't think you know everything about me, besides you've been away so you can't possibly know everything" I said trying to sound convincing.
"I don't believe you. You must be lying. Right Anthony, you're only trying to deceive me right" she said desperately. She was beginning to sound too desperate and I needed to end this thing with us quickly for the both of our happiness.
"I'm sorry Chantel, but I have someone and I'm planning on marrying her. We can't be together" I said looking her in the eyes. I watched her break down in tears but I didn't comfort her. She needed to let go. Even if it meant lying to her like this, I was willing. I don't want her to live the kind of life my mother is living. She might think now that she will be ok with it, but in the long run she's going to get tired and frustrated. I let her be for some time while I watched her by her side. When she finished, she got up and left right away without saying anything to me. I called my driver and asked him to send her home himself as I didn't want her driving on her own and it was already late.
I cleaned up the place and went to the study to work on some of my projects. I needed something to distract me. What other distraction can I have than work. Few minutes later, I got a call and it was from Mom.
"Chantel told me she went to see you" that was the first thing she said as soon as I picked up.
"Good evening to you too Mom" I said in sarcasm.
"Chantel says you have a woman in your life. How true is that" she said ignoring my statement. Chantel was such a bother. She even called Mom so now I have to continue with the lie.
"That is correct" I responded.
"I don't believe you" she said confidently.
"That's up to you, but I've found my love and that person is not Chantel. Period" I tried my best to sound convincing.
"What's the name of this so called girl, what family is she from, and what's their status" she asked in a tune that I was unable to tell if she was interested in this conversation or not.
"Her status and family name has got nothing to do with anything. I love her and that's all that matters" I replied her.
"If there really was someone, you'd have told me the name already but you're delaying which means your lying" she said and my mind became blank as if I was just caught stealing.
"Anne" I blurted out.
"Huh Anne what?" She asked confused.
"Her name is Anne" I said nervously.
"Hmmm. If that's what you say, I'll pretend I believe you for now. Let me meet this Anne soon" she said and hung up.
What have I gotten myself into. Why do I feel like this little white lie is going to transform into something big. I didn't know what I was thinking when I called the name to my mom and now my mom wants to see her. I guess I finally have what I'm going to say to her when we meet next tomorrow.