Chapter 21

"You sent for me?."

"Yes I did, this is yours" he dropped his passport on the mahogany table before him.

"What's the need for it then? Thought you seized it?."

"Your mother told me how you accosted her because you wanted to elope after your wedding," Ernest said, adjusting in his armchair.

Nodding in realization. "She tells you everything. What's left to say then?."

"You insulted her!... Am alright with you disappointing and disrespecting me but your mother?!."

"It wasn't my intention to" Jason defended himself. "I was pissed off, I felt like a teenager! I am an adult for god's sake and still have my parents seize my passport without my knowledge."

"We wouldn't treat you that way if you had the least respect for yourself."

"Then why give it back now? Or you think I've become comfortable in my new home or I've suddenly become responsible because am now a married man?."

"No, far from it. I and your mother decided on a better approach, she wanted this not me. but I want you to know that the next time you dare disrespect her... I won't think it twice to disown you. you won't go treating your mother or women like that" he finished with a dangerous tone to his voice.

"Yes sir. As I've said it wasn't my intention to do so."

Ernest watched him for a while. Jason still had a long way to go. But he wasn't pushing his luck so hard today, It was a miracle he even agreed to see him.

"So your professor tells me you're through with your project just waiting on the defense?"

"You had to call him to be sure?" Jason frowned, this was his problem with his parents. Always intercepting his everyday activities. He wouldn't be surprised to know they have someone spying on him in his own home.

"I had to, you and I don't necessarily talk for long, you stall. And I wanted to make sure you still have school in mind because I'd still want you in my company."

Surprised. "Really? but I only did literary studies at the university and it has nothing to do with managing a business."

Jason always wanted to work for his father's company but he wasn't focused at all. His idea then was that working for his father's company would be easier than anything because he'd have the freedom to do as he liked and still get paid. But he was wrong, Ernest was a serious-minded man even in business. Jason tried working as an intern while he was testing the waters but couldn't cope after some weeks. He quit without notifying his father and went back to his usual extravagant lifestyle.

"You can take a program online just to know the basics but my manager could teach you."

He wasn't sure how he felt about the offer, he was glad his father still had mercy on him even after his misbehaviors. But he had to find himself first and sort out his messed-up life.

"T_thank you Dad I appreciate your efforts, yours and mum but I have to think this through and give my reply."

Ernest smiled for the first time in a long while. At that moment he strongly believed that the best decision they ever made for him was to get him married.

When he finished with his father he left his office and climbed downstairs with a little limp to his left foot. Olivia met him on the way and ran to his rescue.

"Why are you limping? Did you fall?" Concerned.

"Just tripped, I'll be fine though. I've already put an ice pack there and taken some pain reliever."

"It's not enough, let me see it" she insisted helping him to one of the large white couches in their extravagant living room.

"Mum!" He cried. "It's nothing, I’m alright I can take care of a minor home accident" he complained while she rushed to get the first aid kit. Jason sighed inwardly. she always did this to him, Sometimes he hated being an only child where every attention was on him even unwarranted attention.

She returned with a first aid kit and sat beside him on the couch.

"You say home accident? Did the maids forget to clean up spilled water or what?."

"No, just on my own" he lied. his mother was worse than his father when it came to prying into people's privacy and he didn't need that now.

"You'll have to take off your trousers, I can't see your knee from your jeans" she cleared her throat awkwardly knowing Jason would never agree.

"Am leaving, I can do it myself at home just give me the ointment, this so embarrassing" he muttered.

"Here make sure to apply it on your knee every chance you get, it will ease up the pain alright," She said and handed him the neurogesic.

"Am sorry" he said all of a sudden. Olivia stopped talking to look at her son in shock.

"For what dear?."

"For disrespecting you when I couldn't find my passport, it was very poor of me."

She managed not to cry, he hated such cuddly mother and son moments so she held in her tears and spoke.

"Oh dear its not necessary, you were right to be angry. We treated you like you were still our little boy not like an adult who should have an upper hand in his life decisions. I guess we didn't think our little boy has grown into a man and doesn't need his parents at some point."

Jason nodded in affirmation. He thanked his mother, not wanting to get all emotional so he left. At least he wasn't driving, he had his driver take him wherever because of his knee.

He recalled the previous night and the outcome right before him. He remembered how scared and ashamed he felt for being caught sleeping off in her room. He had to use a lie and save himself from further embarrassment.

And thank goodness she bought his drunken lie. Or else he would never have cause to look her in the face again. Then he had to trip on something or rather hit his knee on something making the worst of the situation.

Though it earned him quite something. He slept so well last night and had very nice peaceful dreams about himself smiling at nothing in particular. What an antidote could not do, she did. He still wondered how her presence alone could get him all riled up and yet calm at the same time.

"But she called me Stan... Who is Stan?" He thought frowning.

"The doctor... So the doctor stays in her room sometimes? That would be the only explanation to why she thought I was Stan" he thought aloud in his car on his way home.

The feeling he felt at the realization wasn't appealing to him though, he wouldn't outrightly say he felt jealous because she didn't deserve him at all but still he felt it at the pit of his stomach.

And for the first time since he moved into that house. He was in a hurry to get home rather than spend his remaining hours in a club or at a friend's house.

***

They were already through with her therapy session, luckily for Sophia her doctor allowed her to try making use of her legs. Stan came around and helped her take a walk around the house.

He was the one carrying all her weight.

After their stroll, they went back inside and had some snacks prepared by one of the maids.

Stan wasn't himself all the way, he thought of Maureen's incessant request and how appalling it sounded to him. And not wanting Sophia to even hear a whiff of it.

"You seem troubled, is it work?" She watched him carefully while they both sat at the dining table eating the last bit of their snacks.

"Just stressed out, my shifts are long but soon I'll be through with my house job and I plan on traveling abroad to further."

"Really? Can't you do it here in Nigeria? I mean you'll have to be very far from home and I won't get to see you often."

"Yeah me too. But you know the takes now, I'll have to stay with my sister over there. I'll be back, I won't reside there forever" He assured with a smile.

"Or you'll marry someone there and decide to stay forever since you have no one here to come back to. I mean your only family is over there right?" Sophia asked.

Stan smiled at her but her mood was far from getting better.

"My father is still here so I'll certainly do return."

"Oh, this is medicine after death" She chuckled.

"Yes. Am sorry to have brought that up to its still far alright? besides you have to get used to your husband have you guys talked at all?."

"Well... Yes, we did but awkwardly. I think he tries so hard to avoid me and I on the other hand haven't found my legs to stand not to talk of reaching out to him. I just... It feels weird talking to him. I don't know him" She stated matter of fact.

Stan nodded in agreement, he understood her. Married to someone you've never met or had anything to do with was as hard as trying to make conversations with a snub.

"At least you have Zara and Sabina to talk to, does he still return very late? I swear since I've been coming over here I've never set my eyes on him. It's like you live here alone."

"He returns late and goes out very early. I don't even know where he goes to. We're both total strangers living under the same roof" Sophia didn't want to tell Stan about the midnight encounter.

It wasn't necessary and Stan might become overprotective. she knew he disliked Jason even more than she did. If it were possible he would do anything for Sophia to avoid Jason forever.

While they were at it, Jason stepped into the living room and paused, surprised.

This was the first time he ever came home early.

Both Stan and Sophia were surprised to see him standing there watching both of them carefully. He wore black jeans with an oxblood T-shirt inside his black jacket and with his curls styled nicely, he looked breathtaking as usual, even the intense frown marring his face didn't reduce his alluring effect one bit.

The air was so tense. If she was correct, Jason was glaring at Stan while Stan watched with a disappointed look on his face, but Sophia had mixed expressions on her innocent face.

She hated such situations, it was enough for both of them to run into each other occasionally but a stare-down wasn't part of it. And why he would suddenly return by this time was what she could not understand.

"Hey..." Jason said first, shocking everyone.

Stan glanced at Sophia for an explanation but she barely shrugged.

"Hi am Stan" he introduced.

"I know, the doctor," Jason said without a care in the world. As he pulled off his jacket.

Stanley nodded in realization and decided to give up on ever making a conversation with him. He was a total jerk.

Jason stood there and stared at Sophia for a while as if expecting her to say something. She wanted to say something but it got stuck in her throat. He clutched his jacket hard with the car key and stormed off to his room. Sophia swallowed hard.

"What a jerk, I think he has a personality issue" They both burst out.

"Really? I didn't think he'd be home this early. I mean it never happened."

"It's his home of course but he's so uptight I don't like him" Sophia laughed again at how childish Stan was acting.

While Jason was in his room pulling off the remainder of his clothes, he heard their laughter from the living room. He felt so agitated that he almost forgot proper reasoning just to go back there and bash the doctor's face. Rather he entered the shower and left them to their leisure.

Thanks and don't forget to vote.