THE HONOURABLE MAN

Episode 33

Bryce clears his throat before he picks up, he listens mutely for a minute and then he exhales and calms down after realizing Harkins is only calling to check up on him as his doctor. What a kind thoughtful man he is, yet he is busy fantasizing about making love to his fiancée.

“The other day when you came to my house you left in a hurry before I got the chance to ask you a few questions,” he utters in a low voice as if afraid to speak up. “I know and I’m sorry about that, I had to rush to the hospital one of our kids had hurt herself.” Bryce instantly spits out the juice he had just sipped and it splashes on the desk leaving Kiana baffled.

Did he hear her correctly, did she just say “One of our kids?” If she has children with Harkins then there is no hope for them, she would never leave her children’s father and break their home. Just as he decided to let her go for the sake of giving his son a family, she would stay with Harkins for the sake of their children. He feels a sharp stabbing pain in his chest. The thought of Kiana having a child with another man is too heavy and unbearable for him, is this how she felt when he told her he is expecting a child with another woman? He wonders.

Some of the juice goes down the wrong pipe and he starts coughing hard, “are you okay?” she is concerned but he can’t speak to answer her since he is still coughing. “Can I get you a glass of water to drink?” He nods yes and she gets up and fetches a glass of water for him. After drinking he manages to calm down and compose himself. “You have kids?”

“Yeah I do,” she nods. She studies the pained and disappointed look on his face. She understands it very well for she too felt the same way the day he told her he was having a child with another woman but she believes he has been punished enough.

He has been through too much pain and suffering already she doesn’t need to add on to it and risk sending him back to rehab.

“Yes I have two kids Emily who is eight and the youngest Kelly she is five but…” “but what?” “They are not biologically mine, they are Remy’s kids and I have been helping him raise them for two years. We are pretty close they even call me mom.” “That’s sweet but isn’t Harkins too young to have kids of that age?” she giggles before responding, “no! He is thirty four years old I guess he looks younger than his age.”

“Hmm good for him, so in conclusion you don’t have a biological child? It makes perfect sense,” “and why is that?” “Your body looks too fine to have carried a child.” She blushes and bows her head and fails to open her mouth to say something. He realises what he said has made her uncomfortable. “So you and Remy have been together for two years huh?” “Correct”

“Are you living together?” “No! What’s with all the questions?” “Have you set a wedding date?” “Bryce! Stop! It’s none of your concern,” she mutters feeling uncomfortable with the subject.

“Oh come on am I not allowed to ask, as a friend?” “No we haven’t set a date yet,” “and why is that?” he presses on hoping the answer would be something to do with trouble in paradise but he conceives she wouldn’t disclose that to him if it were so. “Bryce! Please stop asking me so many questions about my personal life. How come you haven’t bothered to ask me what I do for a living and stuff like that?”

“I was going to get to that but I thought since you already know everything about my personal life I should first get to know about yours too.”

“Oh well since you won’t ask I will tell you anyway. After I obtained my business degree I was offered a job in Monti Cano I was excited to relocate and start a new life in a place where no one knew me. I worked for Raunchy magazine as a book keeper. When I obtained my master’s degree I was then promoted to supervisor. Three years back Raunchy announced that it’s opening offices in Alandro and they picked me to be the branch manager. I had mixed feelings about moving back to my home town but I’m glad I did.”

“So am I, Wow! So you finally got what you wanted I still remember you telling me you are going to be a manager someday and now you are one I’m proud of you Barbie.”

“You know I have always hated that name,” she chuckles “oh come on stop lying I know you love it I still remember the first time I called you Barbie and you yelling, I’m not a Barbie doll.”

The two start laughing hard, Bryce doesn’t remember the last time he had such a good time full of laughter and joy in his heart. “I can’t believe you have been back here for three years and we never bumped into each other,” he says. “Me neither but you know Alandro is a very big city besides I’m always in doors and when I’m outside I will be driving in my car and because of that I hardly bump into people. I also avoid being in crowded or popular places I am a private person.”

“I guess you and I are the same, by the way how is Maliah I bet she is now a troublesome teenager, are you guys staying together?” “She is doing fine and no we are not living together I have my own apartment in town but she often comes for sleepovers.”

The office phone rings, Dina informs Bryce that there is a client who is waiting to see him, he has been having such a great time with Kiana that he completely forgot to check the time. Kiana clears up his desk and throws the left overs in the dust bin and makes her way towards the door but Bryce calls out to her to stop. She turns around to face him wondering what he wants, he walks to her and takes her right hand into his. “When can I see you again?” he asks softly in a voice that sounds seductive to her.

The touch of his hand electrifies her and stirs up old feelings and memories. He is standing very close to her, her heart starts beating faster and her lips start trembling as she feels his warm breath on her skin. “Ugh I…I..Don’t know but I…I really have to go Bryce,” she gradually moves away from him until she exits his office.

Once outside she stops to catch her breath but then an amused smile starts forming on her face.

*

“Hey honey, where are you coming from?” Remy asks as she enters her office, she is startled to see him there and she feels very guilty that her mind is full of Bryce. “Ugh I had just gone out for a walk,” “Is everything okay? You look pale,” “yeah I’m okay I’m fine and what do I owe this visit?”

“I’m horny,” he winks. “Excuse me?” “I miss you a lot babe,” he whispers as he strides to the door to lock it. “Lately it seems like there is something bothering you, you haven’t been yourself and you have been starving me emotionally and sexually,” “well…I …I…” he doesn’t give her a chance to finish her sentence, he pulls her into his arms and starts kissing her neck and caressing her waist.

“Remy we can’t not right now,” “and why not? I have already checked with your PA she said you have no meetings or appointments within the next two hours,” he mumbles before he carries on kissing her. “Please stop!” she yells as she pushes him away leaving him shocked and perplexed. “I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to push you, please forgive me,” she whispers with her hand covering her mouth after realizing what she had done.

“Babe what is going on with you?” he calmly questions. She is at a loss for words, what can she say to him, how can she tell him she has been dreaming about her first love whom she has never stopped loving? To make matters worse it’s someone he knows.