Chapter 17 Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

'Somethings are not meant to be no matter how much or how hard you try to make it work'

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

June,

Victoria Island,

Lagos.

Denola.

The sitting room was empty when he got back from the club but he could make out Davina and Amanda's voice in the kitchen.

"Have you tried making pepper soup with pork meat before, it's fantastic I tell you" Davina was saying when he walked into the kitchen.

"Hey ladies" he said shoving his hand into his pocket. "Denola hey, welcome back" Davina said cheerily as she wiped her hands with the hand towel.

"Where were you?" Amanda asked icily before he could respond to Davina. Denola cleared his throat. "I.. um...went to see Hakeem" Denola said.

He turned to Davina. "Was my grandmother here today?" He asked.

Davina paused and turned to Amanda. "I...don't know" Davina replied. She didn't want to lie to Denola but she also didn't want to offend Amanda.

"Yes... your grandmother came Denola. I was going to tell you before you ran over to Hakeem's club. You know I hate it when you go over there alone, Hakeem is simply bad influence" Amanda said taking off the apron. She turned off the gas cooker and turned to Davina. "Vee, please give us a moment" Amanda said.

Davina nodded before walking out of the kitchen. "Your grandmother came over to invite us for dinner, I decided that we shouldn't go" Amanda said crossing her arms against her chest.

Denola's brows furrowed more in surprise than confusion. "Why would you decide that?" Denola asked.

Amanda sighed "Denola we agreed that....." she was saying when Denola cut her off.

"We didn't agree on shït Amanda" he said pissed off.

Amanda stared at him in surprise. "Wait are you yelling at me because we couldn't go to a dinner your grandmother is hosting?" Amanda asked.

"We know damn well that isn't why I'm angry and I'm not yelling Amanda. Far from it, you had no right to make that decision for me Amanda. You should have told me about it first ,  it seems you really enjoy fighting with my family" Denola said angrily.

Amanda stared back emotionless. "I thought you understood me.  I don't want to fight with your family Denola but your family obviously won't stop attacking me.  It's not my fault if I don't want to be around them all they've ever done is put me down" Amanda said.

Denola sighed before resting against the wall. "I'm tired Amanda" he said rubbing his forehead.

"Just as I thought, look if you want to go to your grandmother's dinner you should go. You obviously don't care enough about me, I can't deal Denola.  If you can't put me first then I'm leaving" Amanda said before walking out of the kitchen.

Denola groaned and followed her.  "Why do you always do this Amanda, I'm trying aren't I?  I love you, why can't you love my family?" Denola asked.

Amanda turned to him sharply. "Love your family,  Do they love me?" Amanda asked irritated.

"They will love you Amanda" Denola said walking closer to her. Amanda shook her head.

"No they won't, as long as they are in the picture our relationship won't work. They won't ever accept me!" Amanda yelled at him.

"They will...they won't have a choice when I marry you" Denola said.

"If we even get married, do you think we'll make it till then? I don't think so,  your parents will find away to separate us before you even think of proposing" Amanda said.

"I'm thinking of proposing now" Denola said softly, his eyes were hooded and she couldn't really tell the emotions in them.

"Don't! I won't accept it. Not after the way you yelled at me while we were in the kitchen" Amanda hissed and walked away from him.

Denola stood motionless for a few minutes before he walked back into the living room.  Davina was in the sitting room, eyes stuck to the television. "I heard you guys" Davina said to him softly.

Denola shook his head "Every time Amanda makes me feel like I'm juggling glass or eggs. One small mistake and everything will be destroyed, she claims I don't understand her. It's hard to understand her when she doesn't let me, she's pretty closed off. I don't know what to do Vina" Denola said.

"Do you love Amanda?" Davina asked. Denola looked at her as if she'd suddenly developed horns.  "Are you really asking me that?" he asked with sarcasm.

Davina nodded "I want you to admit it to yourself first" Davina said.

"I love her" Denola said, his voice was heavy with emotion.  "When you love someone you don't give up on them no matter how much they fùck up. You have to keep on loving them." Davina said.

"I think you should go back to that room and propose like a man who is actually in love with his woman" Davina advised.

Denola smiled a little. "You're amazing Davina, despite everything you've been through you're still solid.  Thanks a lot Vee" Denola said gratefully.

"You're welcome" Davina said with a small smile.

*

The water in the bathroom was running when he got to the room so he knew immediately that she was having a shower, the usual one before bed.

He tried to pull the door open but it didn't budge because it was locked. "Amanda we need to talk" Denola said.

Amanda turned off the water when she heard his voice. "There's nothing to talk about, leave me alone" Amanda said.

"I'm sorry I acted like an asshöle,  I love you.  I love you so much Amanda" he said kneeling beside the door.

"Mands...will you marry me?  I know you're angry and I screwed up in the kitchen but I'm sorry.  You're everything I want Mandy, please say yes.  And make my sorry äss a happy man" Denola begged.

He waited for her reply but none came, instead he heard the sound of the water running again. Signifying that she was ignoring him, he waited for a few more minutes before the door came open.

Amanda was wrapped in a fluffy white robe, her face was bare and fresh from the shower. "I'm not happy that you think that this proposal is going to appease me. You can't yell at me and expect me to take it, I'm pissed at you" Amanda said.

"I know baby but I'm sorry, I won't ever upset you in that manner again" Denola said.

Amanda twisted her lips like she always did when she was thinking. "I forgive you and I would like to marry you but on my terms" Amanda said.

"Anything you want Amanda" Denola said.

"Your family can't know about it,  you can't tell Hakeem either. We have to wed secretly and tell them afterwards" Amanda said.

Denola stiffened. "Why?" He asked. "That's just what  I want, if you won't accept that then we can get married" Amanda said.

Denola stood up slowly  and met her eyes once he was standing. "You and I know it would be wrong to get married without the family's blessings. I need my grand parents blessings at least" Denola said.

"I don't need anyone's blessings, look I'm not going to cajole you.  If you want us to get married that's the way it's going to be,  if you don't....then it'd be best if we end our relationship" Amanda said.

Hakeem's warning came to mind again, the words kept on ringing in his head. Then he remembered he'd lost Teniola his first love, he suspected his family had a hand in it.

Did he really want to lose Amanda because of his family too?

• • •

"Finding a woman you love is a beautiful thing, getting the woman to love you and remain with you forever is even more beautiful"

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

Denola's crib,

Victoria Island,

Lagos.

Amanda.

"I'm getting married!" Amanda squealed as she walked into the guest room in the early hours of the morning while Denola still asleep in their bedroom.

"Oh my God! Are you serious? Wow, congratulations" came from Davina who was already awake.

Amanda hopped on the bed and sighed. "I finally got him to agree to a closet wedding,  we'll be heading to Jos to get married" Amanda said.

Davina stared at her in disbelief. "A closet wedding, Amanda is that advisable?" She asked.

Amanda huffed "You know his family hates me,  they'll stop at nothing to make sure our wedding doesn't pull through, I don't want that okay?" Amanda said a little irritated.

"Mands, they are trying to make peace with you now,  his grandmother was here just the other day to invite you to a family dinner" Davina said.

Amanda rolled her eyes "Who says she was here to make peace? Don't be deceived, she invited us to dinner to serve us with more ultimatums. They all want Denola to leave me...." Amanda muttered.

"Davina this is for the best, I'm tired of dealing with the Mayfairs. I want them gone and out of our lives and I'm working on it" Amanda said confidently.

Denola listened to her because she was holding him by the heart. Soon she'd get him to leave his family forever, there would be no more interference from the Mayfairs.

Davina nodded "If that makes you happy" she said to Amanda. She couldn't help but feel that Amanda was slowly ruining Denola but it wasn't her place to say anything.

"I'm telling you because we need at least two witnesses to stand in for us at the wedding. I don't want Denola inviting or telling Hakeem because anyone fraternizing with the Mayfairs is an enemy" Amanda said.

Davina shook her head amused. "You're marrying a Mayfair, that's more than fraternizing, soon you'll be a Mayfair" she said trying to show Amanda how ridiculous her hatred for the Mayfair was.

Amanda twisted her lips in annoyance. "Can I count on you or what?" Amanda asked.

Davina nodded. "Of course you can" Davina assured her.

"Good,  we're leaving on Thursday. I need to make flight arrangements and everything, I told Denola I would handle everything. I'll need your help too" Amanda said.

"Sure, anything you want. What do we need to do, planning a wedding in such short time takes a lot of work and time" Davina reminded her.

"It's nothing extravagant, we'll be done before we leave for Jos" Amanda shrugged.

"Why did you even pick Jos, of all places Amanda...?" Davina asked curiously.

"It's a long way from here and secondly I have some unfinished business in Jos.  Lastly, that's were our second witness resides. I've asked her to make arrangements with a local pastor who will wed Denola and I" Amanda said.

Davina threw her a questioning look. "You have everything planned don't you...cunning girl" she teased.

Amanda winked playfully before getting out of bed. "I'm going back to bed, we'll talk better in the morning when we get to the office.  Speaking of work, we have to get someone else to see to oversee the work going on with our client at Epe this weekend since we won't be around" Amanda informed.

Davina nodded thoughtfully "It's something anyone  of our staffs can handle, we'll pick someone today. Will you be telling your staffs why you're taking a week off?" Davina asked.

Amanda shook her head. "I don't trust anyone, besides Atalia Mayfair has eyes and ears everywhere" Amanda said.

"Alright....I'm going back to bed. Talk later in the morning yeah?" Davina said.

Amanda nodded before walking out of the room.

Just as she opened her bedroom door, she overheard Denola's voice. "Guy...what's up?" he wasn't whispering but his voice was low.

Amanda shook her head in disappointment before walking over to him.

She motioned for him to end the call once she was in his view.

Denola shook his head so she posed in her usual angry stance with her arms crossed against her chest and her feet tapping the floor impatiently.

"Let me call you back" Denola murmured coldly  before ending the call.

"What is it Amanda, I can't speak with Hakeem anymore?" he threw at her.

"Did you tell him about the wedding?" Amanda asked sharply. "No!" he said irritated.

"Then why did you wait till I left the room before calling him,  you were practically whispering.... like you didn't want me to hear you" Amanda complained.

"I wasn't freaking whispering, I was just trying to have a freaking conversation without you eavesdropping" Denola sighed and turned the other way.

"I'll feel much better if I held onto your phone till we get back from Jos" Amanda announced.

"Are you crazy?" Denola cocked a brow in her direction.

"No, but I'm your wife to be! You're already secretly phoning Hakeem and telling him God knows what, who is next? Jadesola,  your mother or your grandma?" Amanda asked.

"Now you're being theatrical Amanda and I'm not giving you my phone, no way" Denola said.

"Denola you promised, you said we were going to do things my way till we get back from Jos. Why are you going back on your word?" Amanda asked.

"Mands, you're overreacting. I never said you could withhold my phone, for crying out loud I'm not a child" Denola said irritated.

"Just give me the phone, if it's an urgent call or important message I'll tell you.  You have to trust me Denola, I know what's best for us right now" Amanda said reaching out for the phone.

Denola eyed her hand for a while before handing her the phone. "Satisfied?" Denola asked grumpily.

"Mhmmm" Amanda said shoving the phone into the pocket of her robe.

"Christ Mandy, I don't know what has come over you" Denola muttered.

"This is me protecting our relationship, no matter what. I'm doing what's best for us Denola, you have to trust me" Amanda said leaning forward to rub his shoulders soothingly.

"Don't you trust me? I'll never hurt you or misuse your love, trust and devotion like your family did. They don't deserve you.." Amanda said moving to sit on his laps.

Denola shook his head. "You don't understand Amanda" He said with a sigh.

Amanda shot him a pointed look. "I understand, you have to focus on me Denola. I'm the only one you can rely on now, when we get married it's going to be You and I. Just you and I babe and nobody else" Amanda said pressing a kiss on his forehead.

"My family will always be in the picture, and you're also going to be my family Amanda. I know you're scared that they will separate us but they won't succeed" Denola said.

Amanda closed her eyes,  she knew she had to think of ways to harden his heart towards his family. He was softening again and she didn't want that.

She wanted his meddling family out of their lives for good.