The evening was approaching and Hussain wondered why George had stayed that long . He however did not bother to call him . He knew the day had ended and maybe he would have to brief him his last words early in the morning before he cought up with his flight to Omani . Collins on the other hand had the best time to seduce Susan. He knew when Hussain left, there would be no one to over-supervise him or Susan. A stupid thought crossed his mind that he could even marry her when she gives in. Apart from him, no one else at the Big Blue had a clue that Hussain was leaving.
George had decided to spend the rest of the time with his darling. He decided to write to Hussain that he wouldn't be around until tomorrow and miraculously he had accepted. At one of the fanciest hotels around the airport, George had took Angela for a drink as they talk and enjoyed each other's company. They sat at a table in an almost private part of the hotel facing each other . Red wine sparkled in stem glasses before them while a catalog of the hotel lay aside on the far end the table . Angela's phone was also not far from the catalog but still conspicuous on this table.
" So when are you going Angela? Could you brief me of Claire if you don't mind?" George spoke to her in almost a whisper and maintaining the privacy between them. "By noon I should be here. Probably before two o'clock we would be out of the Kenyan boundaries."
She recounted softly.
"Why did you decide to take her out of the country?"
"I didn't decide for your information. It's the doctor who decided. He said she would need a kidney transplant if she needed a more quality life."
"So that all you need to go for in India?"
"Yes ! Claire has been very weak over this few weeks and I feel for her." She said just about to break into tears. George looked at her with pity. A touch of despondency in him.
"Sorry for what happened that day George. I didn't intended to do that. I was not just in the right mood." She apologized when she realized how awkward it was to be averting that subject. "I meant to ask you politely for your help okay." She added. George was confused with this apology . He felt that it was supposed to be the other way around. He was the one to apologise and not her. "I forgive you darling! But I must say I was also wrong for answering you without care. It was not of me Angela. I'm really sorry!"
"Its cool babe! Don't get worried by that okay? I have found some means to source the money. "
"Some means?" George wondered.
"Yes I took a loan and an advance at the same time. The rest I secured from my savings. I now can afford everything from the ticket to her hospital bills. " She said tersely . He still wondered even more how she could source all that money from whatever she just said. He could now appreciate how strong Angela was for fighting this battle alone and single-handed . She never mentioned of even her father or someone close to her coming into her help . Tears almost welled him . He did not find it okay with loans. He swallowed heavily a gulp of wine and touched her hands softly. "I'm really sorry for you. That is so much for my angel. She must not do this thing alone." he encouraged her and continued."Look ! I'm going to service your loan. I'm not happy to hear that. All my other plans must be put to a halt first of all." Angela was not in a position to explain to him how she felt.
Unwavering sensation of a feeling between ecstasy and guilt took the better part of her. She knew where her guilt came from. Firstly cheating George on her sources of money and secondly, playing away from home. She knew she did not love Harrison. She only leaned to him for the support of Claire's treatment.
"Thank you so much! I don't know how to thank you." she muttered in a whisper. "You mean everything in my life George." She held her gaze into his and could only see the delight and contentment in his dark iris of his eyes. He was oblivious of how she secured her money. Just at that moment ,a vibration was heard followed by an immediate melodious ringtone. Angela's phone was ringing. If it was meant to bring confusion and irritation to this romantic characters, then it did it perfectly.
George retracted backwards to allow her receive the call. Angela hesitated to pick up the phone. She fidgeted and wobbled. Her hands drawn into her tight thighs and her shoulders projected forward as if she was disowning the call. Her face couldn't hide the terror and embarrassment as she pretended to look away from the phone. George could smell a rat. She never behaved like this before. He craned his nake to see the caller and was disappointed to see the name 'Harrison' and an emoticon of love just after it. He streteched his hand courageously , picked the phone and gave it to her forcefully with an authoritative yet disappointed glare.
"Hello honey!" A deep broken voice was heard from the other end when she finally received it. "Hello!" she replied in a low and wavery tone. George sneered and fumed uncontrollably. The voice continued even when George tried to click loudly. " I have decided to cancel the interest on the loan. I really enjoyed your company Angela." George glanced at Angela with a silent ' speak up or else..' evident on his face. She found it difficult to talk but with uncertainty and fear she replied. "It okay Harrison!" This was not a sufficient stopper to Harrison. He continued talking obviously unware of Angela's boyfriend around. "I would like your warmth this evening. Then thereafter I may not consider it a loan anymore. Just a token for your service. Is it possible?"
"No! Not possible! I mean which evening are you talking about?" she answered nonchalantly with a low voice yet very succinct. " Why now! What's wrong again. You don't need the money? Or what should I say?" Harrison was apprehensive. He wondered why the girl who yearned for money could now think that she is satisfied. He was not in a state to accept the fact that Angela would not accept any of his enticement for her body.
"Are you okay sweetheart? Why are you like this today?" Harrison asked with a touch of care in his voice. Angela hesitated for a moment before she continued ."I'm not..." George grabbed the phone from her hand before she finished her words. "Not okay . I'm not okay . Why do you do this? Didn't you know Angela is my girl? Didn't she tell you?" George blurted out furiously over the phone. "Stupid man! Find money to keep you quiet bah!"Harrison exchanged equally furious and disappointed at another man's voice . Before George could counter him, he had already shut off the conversation going off almost immediately.
With the phone still in his hand he looked at Angela angrily as if he wanted to pounce on her and devour her alive as a lion would do to an innocent sheep. Angela had already found it hard to control her tears and now they drop freely wetting her lap. She couldn't speak a word . She felt guilty for hiding it from George for all that time. She imagined how their love would be shattered after they departed from here.
" Could you please make it clear for me. Is it me or him?" George questioned in a growling voice clearly indicating his struggle to contend with his temper. " It's you George. I don't know how to explain it to you."
" You don't know how to explain it to me but you seem to know how to cheat on me right?"
" No ! George. I still love you so much. I love you that I couldn't stand to beg you for Claire's expenses. Believe me George!" She defended amidst cries that had now started attracting the attention of other people in the hotel.
"And who is Harrison ?" He asked with now a sign of relief and remorse evident on his hairy face. "He's my boss at work. He had always wanted me to give him a chance."
"And so you gave him?"
"I couldn't have done anything else to secure the money. Remember you wanted to invest and I wouldn't bother you!" She again injected the guilt in him very carefully that he could now admit that he was the cause of the problem. He kept silent for a minute as the guilt and remorse grew stronger and stronger in him.
He vividly remembered the day Angela chased him out of the room for not showing empathy to her sister. He still could see her face and how she cried that day. He regretted for not giving her a helping hand. He wanted to invest the money he earned from the last abduction but since then he had never settled his mind on what exactly he wanted to venture into. He still had the money idle in his bank account. He couldn't help but to move his seat to the other side of the table and sat next to her. He pulled her closer and wiped her hot tears with his hand soothingly.