Chapter 13 Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten.

"The good things in life don't last as long as the bad. Enjoy the good things while you can and anticipate the worst"

**************

Lekki,

Lagos.

Mid May.

Amanda.

"We had so much fun I swear, it was great.  You know sometimes I can't believe my luck. He's like an angel, I'm so freaking lucky" Amanda gushed while speaking to Davina through video call.

Davina sighed 'I knew you two were going to end up together, you were still in denial then. What changed?' Davina asked edging closer to her screen.

Amanda smiled "I just finally admitted to myself that Denola is everything I want. I'm so happy, I wish you were here.  Everything is going so well.  How about you, how is Tim and South Africa?" Amanda asked.

Davina looked away 'South Africa is exciting. Vina decors is still struggling but I'm sure with time I'll be able to get everything in order. I'm really happy for you, I swear' Davina grinned.

Amanda squinted at the screen, "Vina you know you can tell me anything, what's wrong with you. You're acting odd and you haven't say anything about Tim" she said.

'Tim and I aren't together anymore' Davina informed while picking a lint in her skirt.

Amanda's shoulder slumped "But you two have been together for so long...what happened, what went wrong and why didn't you say anything since?" Amanda said feeling terrible immediately.

'I didn't want to dampen your happiness Mandy, I'm very fine okay? As for Tim, well screw that bastärd. I found out he was cheating on me with his boss all along' Davina said.

Amanda frowned "Then why did he drag you all the way to South Africa? I don't understand men at all, what are you going to do now, are you coming back to Nigeria?" Amanda asked concerned.

'Nope, I don't have enough funds now.  I'm actually living at the office till my rent expires.  Hopefully I'll get a job and a new apartment. Enough about me and my sob story, how about you?' Davina asked.

Amanda sighed "I don't want to talk about me, look Denola is going to South Africa for business. Why don't you come back with him, I'll talk to him" Amanda suggested.

'Where will I stay? I have nothing else in Nigeria.' Davina said.

"You can stay with me, Denola has an extra room and we can run Mandy's glam together. Everything will be fine, you helped me when I got to Lagos.  Let me help you now" Amanda said.

Davina let out a sob. 'Oh my God, Mandy you're a life saver.  I didn't know what to do, I'm stranded. I felt so confused and alone. I didn't know how to tell you....thank you so much Mandy' Davina said.

Amanda nodded "Alright babe, I have to go. I'll talk to you later okay, be safe for me" Amanda said. Davina nodded right before she ended the call.

She was still deep in thought, thinking about Tim's betrayal and Davina's predicament when a knock came through. Amanda sat properly and plastered a confident smile on her face.

"Come in" she called out. Denola entered the office clutching a bouquet of flowers. "Hey babe" he said with a small smile.

Amanda's tensed shoulders relaxed. "Hey Den. I wasn't expecting you" she said. "Did I catch you at a bad time, you look odd" Denola noted.

Amanda sighed before getting up.  She walked over to where he was standing and took the flowers from him. "You brought me flowers, my favorite" Amanda said sniffing the Lilies.

Denola pecked her lips. "You don't look happy baby, what's up?" Denola asked concerned.

Amanda ushered him to the couch by the wall.

"Sit, should I get you anything?" Amanda asked. Denola shook his head "I actually came to take my baby girl to lunch"  Denola winked.

"Where are we going?" Amanda asked sitting beside him.

She took his hand and played with the silver ring on his middle finger. "Somewhere special, it's a surprise" Denola said.

Amanda sighed and slumped against him. "I feel so terrible, I haven't been much of a good friend to Davina. I've been so busy fixing myself that I didn't bother to check on her. Tim cheated on her and now she's stranded and almost penniless. She doesn't even have enough money to come back home" Amanda said.

"Babe it isn't your fault okay, you know I hate it when you start getting depressed. I'll contact Davina when I go to South Africa next week and I'll bring her back home to you" Denola assured her.

Amanda smiled a little " Why do you have to be so perfect?" Amanda asked teasingly.

"Now you're flattering me, you know I'm far from perfect. I have faults, you know?" Denola said.

Amanda snorts "I agree, you're a little messy and disorganized" Amanda pinched his cheek.

Denola grinned like a little boy all over again. "Will you go out on a date with me, I really really need some alone time with you" he said.

Amanda nodded "Why not?  I'll clear up my desk and we'll be on our way" Amanda said getting up from the chair.

Denola cleared his throat as he watched her work. "So....my family and I had an impromptu meeting. I've told them that we're in a relationship" he said casually. He didn't want to upset her with the details of the meeting.

Amanda turned to him sharply. "Why? we've only been dating for a week now.  Why didn't you discuss it with me first?" Amanda asked a little pissed.

As for as she was concerned, he didn't have to tell his family. She had no business with them, they hated her after all.

"Come on Amanda, we were never going to hide it from them forever. You're my woman now and I wanted to make it clear to them that you shouldn't be bothered or messed with.  I don't want them being rude to you or trying to intimidate you" Denola explained.

Amanda walked back to him and sat on the arm of the chair. "How did they take it,  why am I even asking? I know they didn't approve" Amanda rolled her eyes.

Denola cupped her jaw.  "You know I don't care if they do or not.  You're the woman I want, I don't give a damn what they think" Denola said leaning forward to kiss her.

Amanda pouted a little when he pulled away. "I don't want to be at war with your family, I hate hostilities" Amanda said.

"Amanda, you aren't the one fighting them.  They are the ones against you.  Listen,  don't worry about the Mayfairs. At least my grandma likes you" Denola smiled.

"I haven't even met her yet, I can't wait to meet her though. The way you speak about her, she seems like a sweetheart" Amanda smiled back.

"I want you to meet her too, I've told her so much about you. You're going to love her" Denola assured.

Amanda smiled, at least one Mayfair was on her side. She could worry about the rest later.

•••

"Think about every decision you make now because whatever you do now determines what happens in the future"

************

Late May

Victoria Island,

Lagos.

Amanda.

Amanda was stirring the pot of stew in the kitchen when the bell rang.  She quickly turned off the gas and cleaned her hand with the hand towel in the kitchen and took off her apron.

It was already seven o'clock and Denola's driver had gone to pick up Davina from the airport. Amanda was happy, finally someone she could confide in. She couldn't always tell Denola everything, she wanted to confide in him but how could she tell him that his family was a threat to her.  She didn't want to offend him and she also didn't want to cause a rift between them.

With Davina around, she wouldn't have to bottle up her emotions anymore, she could tell someone. Amanda went to the door and unlocked it, she was greeted with a warm hug from Davina.

"Hey...." Amanda said softly while rubbing her back. The warm gesture made Davina burst into tears. "It's okay, it's okay...." Amanda said soothingly. She looked forward and saw Denola taking out the bags from the car.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. Come in, you must be exhausted" Amanda said taking Davina into the house.

Denola came into the house  seconds later, he stood by the door watching them silently.

"Why don't you go have a shower, I'll show you to your room" he heard Amanda say before they left the sitting room. Denola sighed before making himself comfortable on the chair.

Amanda returned later, "Thank you very much Denola, thank you for bringing her back" Amanda said.

"It's alright, you don't have to thank me" Denola said.

"How was your trip, was it successful?" Amanda asked sitting beside him.

Amanda didn't know much about his business, she never asked or paid attention besides Denola had been pretty closed off about his work especially after Teni's betrayal.

He knew Amanda was only asking about the trip because it was polite to do so.

"Nothing to worry yourself about, do you think she'll be fine here? She doesn't look fine Mandy" Denola asked concerned.

"Well she's safe and that's all that matters. Vina really trusted Tim, I can't believe he'd betray her like that. If he was cheating on her why did he ask her to go to South Africa with him. I don't understand...." Amanda murmured.

"Some things are too complex to be understood, I was in shock too when I found out about Teni's betrayal. But something good came out of it, I found you. Maybe Davina will find something better" Denola said.

Amanda smiled a little "Yes maybe, I too found a light after the storm" Amanda muttered under her breath but Denola heard.

"What do you mean?" he asked curiously. Amanda looked away.

"Nothing, you should go bath too. I've made dinner already" Amanda said getting up. Denola held her back, gripping her hand and refusing to let her walk away.

"Are we back to this, more secrets? I thought we were past that" Denola said.

"It means nothing and I don't owe you everything simply because we are in a relationship" Amanda snapped. Denola left her hand "Fine, suit yourself" he said before walking away.

Amanda knew she shouldn't have snapped at him but she couldn't help it.  She hated talking about previous life.

Whatever that had happened should be left in the past, locked up and never to be visited.

*

"You want to talk about what happened?" Amanda asked wrapping her arms around Davina comfortingly.

Davina sighed. "Can we go out? I need a fresh breath of air. Somewhere with a lot of people, can we go to that club again?" Davina said.

Amanda nodded "It's been a week Davina, you don't want to talk about your break up and you don't want to come back to work with me. I want my best friend back, I need my best friend back" Amanda said.

"Please, just give me time. I need to adjust, Tim and I were together for years.  I don't think I'm ever going to get used to being without him" Davina sobbed.

"You will, what happened to my independent Davina. Screw Tim, he's a baśtärd for leaving you. And he doesn't know what he's lost, he can go to hell" Amanda said angrily.

Davina shook her head "No, Amanda you don't understand. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry.  When you asked about Tim,  I was so ashamed. I didn't want to tell you the truth, I was afraid you'd judge me" Davina said.

"Why would I judge you, I'm not exactly miss perfection" Amanda said. Davina shook her head, "Tim only cheated on me because I pushed him away" Davina said wiping tears off her face.

"I don't understand, what do you mean?" Amanda asked.

"When I got to South Africa, I was so consumed with making Vina decors work that I neglected him. Most of the times, I slept at the studio. His boss began inviting him over to dinner, I didn't mind.  I'd stopped doing the cooking then, I was so busy with work. And soon they began sleeping with each other. When I found out and asked him how long their affair had been on,  he said it began when I placed my business before him. He said I was self centered....i just got so angry after he left that I trashed everything in his house and moved out. But he's right you know, I could have just avoided all these if I hadn't been selfish" Davina said.

Amanda shook her head "You dodged a bullet, I can't blame you for that. I don't believe you're at fault, Tim was a certified asshöle. Instead of confiding in you, he turned to another woman. Don't ever blame yourself for that, women like making excuses for men even when the men are at fault. Don't do that, it's not your fault, it's his fault" Amanda said.

Davina sighed. "At least, I still have you" Davina said hugging her.

"Anyway in my opinion, the best way to get over one guy is to find another. I think we should get you gussied up and find you another man" Amanda said winking.

Davina chuckled, she didn't think she would ever fall in love again but perhaps she could find a distraction.