"A date with the man who delivers things to you?"
I stilled at his unexpected question and remained silent because it was strange how he knew.
"How can you go on a date with someone like that, Arleen?"
What was I supposed to say?
"It's just a harmless date," actually it wasn't.
"A harmless date? Do you even know what he wants from you?…what if he's planning to use you? Can't you see you're way out of his league?" For the first time in history, Damion raised his voice at me as if he felt threatened.
But wait! How did he know I went out with Clifford?
Secondly, why was he acting out of character? It was very unlike him.
Thirdly, why did he care what Clifford wanted from me?
"With due respect, it's my personal life sir," I managed to say.
Nevertheless, the way he looked at me only went to say he felt I knew something he didn't want me to know.
Sighing, he looked away as if to collect himself before facing me again.
"I'm sorry for overreacting. Please go in and rest." He was back to his calm self again.
Without waiting for him to say more, I headed straight to the guest room and shut myself in so I could breath all I was.
My nerves were erratic and it took every strength in me to control it.
"Just take a deep breath Arleen…now breathe out," I whispered while lowering myself to the floor. Before I knew it, the tears I battled to hold back finally came rushing out.
I was still finding it hard to wrap my head around everything.
From the looks of it, Damion was getting unusually suspicious which meant I had to act dumb so I don't get mixed up in his mess.
I couldn't quit because if I did, he would definitely find out that I know something.
What have I gotten myself into?
**
~The following day~
A soft knock came at my door and it took me a while to get up and answer it. I was still sleepy and my eyes felt heavy.
However, when I came face to face with Damion, the happenings of last night came rushing into my mind.
"Good morning, Arleen. Did you sleep well last night?" He had a look of worry as he scrutinized me with his gaze.
"Good morning, Mr Damio…"
"Damion."
I blinked at him.
"Call me Damion when it's just us," he explained and to make things complicated, he brushed a strand of hair from my face and tucked it behind my ear.
"Have a bath and meet me in the dining room let's have breakfast."
Were my ears playing tricks on me or what?
I simply nodded and closed the door behind me.
Now that I was away from him, I began to wonder how long I would wear this mask of ignorance?
"Let's do this, Arleen. We'll just do another month and quit."
With that in mind, I took my bath and got ready for the trip to New York.
Every step I took to the dining room only made me nervous and stressed out but to my greatest surprise, on entering the dining room I found him setting the table himself.
Sensing my presence, he smiled and did a come hither with his hand. As I did so, he pulled out a chair for me to sit on.
Now this was not what I was expecting at all.
Once I was well seated, he sat down beside me.
Since it was morning, we were having scrambled eggs, toasted bread and orange juice.
"I'm sorry about last night." He apologized.
I slowly turned my head to the side and found him staring at me.
"It's just that I can't help being overprotective of you."
I looked away as I began to think deeply on his words.
"I'm sorry for worrying you with my personal life." I apologized too.
"Can I ask something?"
At his question, I faced him again.
"Sure."
"He's just a delivery guy, why him?"
So he didn't even know who Clifford Edson truly was.
'Yes, we've met a couple of times but he doesn't recognize me.' I got reminded of what Clifford told me at the restaurant.
Did Damion act the way he did last night because he didn't want me to date a delivery guy?
Now this is getting interesting.
"He shows how much he loves me." I deliberately said just to hear what he would say next.
"Don't I also show how much I love you?"
Silence filled the room as my eyes widened slightly at his confession.
"What?" I breathlessly asked.
My heart began to race fast as I maintained eye contact with him. This was what I had always dreamt of and now here it was.
"Last night I waited for you so we could have dinner and let you know how I truly felt but…" he paused, "I didn't know you would go out on a date with someone."