TOXIC ATTRACTION

TOXIC ATTRACTION EPISODE TWENTY THREE

I caught up with Julia outside and she was gasping for her breath. What had happened to that lady back there has just confirmed my fears of going through with the abortion and especially after the woman claimed she was not going to be responsible if anything happened to me in other words. Julia told me we should leave the place before we were associated with the woman...

Me: you brought me here to die?..

I asked quickly following her so that I didn't end up lost not having known the place well

Julia: you wanted to terminate that thing and I had a solution, I didn't know it was going to turn out that bad. Like I said people have different experiences.

We got away from that place and we boarded a different bus. I didn't not want to be anywhere near Julia. When she told me she was taking me to see someone, I thought it was some doctor who knew exactly what he was doing. Had I just escaped the jaws of death? I was literally shaking and wondering what had happened to that girl. What if she was dead, I mean she was bleeding, and the way she dropped... It is like she had no strength left in her and as for Julia, had she really done that before and if she did, how did she hide it from me? I had been her friend since forever...

My thoughts were interrupted by a call and when I checked the screen it was Richard. I didn't know why he was calling but I was too nervous to receive his call. I didn't receive it. I tried to ignore Richard's call but he insisted on calling and the looks that I was getting around me forced me to pick up as my ringtone seemed to annoy people on the bus.

Me: hi...

Richard: hey...

There was a bit of silence from my end as I didn't know what to tell him.

Me: I'm a little busy right now, can we talk later?

Richard: yeah but I was thinking you could come home for dinner so that we can talk about a few things including apologizing for how my mother and sister behaved earlier today.

Me: why apologize on their behalf? They made it clear how they felt about me.

Richard: and how do you feel about me?..

I didn't know how to respond to that question so I kept quiet and heard him make a sigh like he didn't know what to say to me.

Richard: you don't have to answer that over the phone. Please come home... I know I don't deserve you but I want to apologize to you over dinner. I will do the cooking...

I didn't respond.

Richard: please?..

Me: okay. I'll be on my way.

Richard: thank you.

I called Susan immediately and told her I was going to be late. I was nervous about meeting Richard, especially after what I had been up to that evening.

Julia was upset that her plan didn't push through the way she expected. What type of a friend was she to lead her friend into a trap that could get her killed, had the lady not dropped before them what would have become of Robina? She got off the bus and walked to her house not so happy about how the day had turned out and especially after Davis made it clear that he was in love with Robina and whatever happened between them didn't change anything.

Nerea was up and about looking for an apartment after deciding that she was not going back to the village. She needed to stay around and keep Robert in check so as to honor his end of the deal and she was also going to make sure that Richard's marriage to Robina worked. That evening when she was done, she called up Robert for a meeting as she said the meeting would determine their relationship henceforth. Diana had been following her around all along. She thought that her mother storming out of the house had something to do with the secrets she and Richard were keeping. Nerea's eldest son was never around. After he attended Richard's wedding he left the country to go further his studies in the US. Was he aware of what killed his father and was he aware of the deal his mother and brother had made, was Diana the only person in the dark?..

She sat in her car watching her mother check her wristwatch and look around impatiently. It was late but whatever she has to tell Robert could not wait. As Diana waited to see who her mother was meeting she called Mark. Diana was in love with mark and she was not going to stop pursuing him until he could at least get to listen. Not even the lies she made up about him and Robina would stop her from contacting him. Mark humiliated her Infront of her friends and if she was not going to have him for herself, she was going to give him hell as payback for what he did.

Mark: what do you want Diana?

He received the call after a few rings.

Diana: Can I see you?.

Mark: No.

Diana: ouch.. that is quite direct. I'm I that ugly?

Mark: no you are not. On the contrary, you are beautiful but you know my stand. I don't think I want to see you, not after what you told your brother about me and Robina.

Diana: yeah. That was stupid but hey, I need someone to talk to. You said you are like a brother to me right? I need one right now because my available brother won't even talk to me.

Mark: are you surprised? Diana, you are walking trouble. You cause chaos everywhere you go and who would want to be around such a person?

There was a bit of silence between them.

Diana: I'm sorry.

Mark did not respond, he instead hang up and that made Diana angrier. She was about to wail when she saw Robert walk towards her mother and she was surprised to know that he was the one she had been waiting for.

Robert: what is it that couldn't wait until tomorrow?

He asked signaling a waiter to come to serve him some tea as Nerea was already having hers. She looked worried but at the same, in control of the conversation, they were about to have.

Nerea: I did not expect that the breakfast would go the way it did.

Robert: you insulted my wife and daughter and embarrassed me in public. How did you expect the breakfast to go?

Nerea: that was uncalled for but you know you drove me to the wall.

Robert: why am I here?

Nerea leaned back on the chair and watched Robert speak to the waiter before she could have his attention.

Nerea: we need to fix the problem between Richard and Robina. See o thought they could talk it out and go back home together that morning but your daughter is proving to be difficult.

Richard: no. My daughter had the right to stand up for herself but your son, what did he do when you and your daughter almost bit her head off?

She did not respond.

Robert: I told Robina to go back to her husband. I threw her out this morning and do you know what type of a father that makes me?

Nerea: you made your choice Robert. You signed a deal with the devil and took what you thought would be the easiest way out. You left me with no choice but to make sure that I avenge my husband's death. I would have bailed you out if you let him arrest ...u.

Robert: Jesse left me with no choice. If I allowed him to arrest me he would have just sent someone to finish me off.. that's what happens when you betray a trusted friend. How sure are you that he never knew about us, what if the deal was a part of him letting me know that he knew all along?

Robert said leaning forward and speaking in a lower tone so that only Nerea could listen to what he was saying. Diana felt like there was something fishy going on between the two but she could not just storm in there and join them for a cup of tea. She couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about. She got her phone from her purse, stepped out of the car, and took a photo of them from across the street. They had sat near a glass wall and she could see them perfectly fine.

Nerea: knowing Jesse too well, I don't think he knew anything. He could have confronted me and even thrown me out of our house. Why did you make that deal with Richard, why offer your daughter as the sacrificial lamb?

Robert: Richard was becoming a pain in the ass. You yourself threatened to throw me behind bars if I didn't do what you wanted, you participated in making sure the wedding took place remember?

Nerea: that was after Richard told me about the arrangement you had. I couldn't say no because what reason would I have given? I had to play along because you never gave us a fighting chance. I was angry with you and I thought maybe agreeing for your daughter to marry my crippled son would be punishment enough.

Robert: wow!

Nerea: wow what?.

Robert: I didn't know you are that twisted.

Nerea: do you blame me? You left me high and dry.

Robert: Jesse was becoming suspicious I had to back off and not give him a reason to eliminate me. You had no idea of what Jesse was capable of doing.

Nerea: you knew him too well, so tell me. Who killed him?

Robert leaned back and looked away from Nerea. It was almost as if he was guilty he just couldn't talk about it. Was he afraid of someone?

Nerea: on his last days, Jesse was scared of something. He was always on edge and he told me he had made quite a number of enemies, only that he did not mention names. Do you know who could have assassinated my husband?

Robert: I don't think that's a conversation I want to have. Some things are better left buried Nerea its not as easy as you think. Jesse did some ugly things, Jesse killed innocent people and he had been trafficking girls for money.

Nerea: don't act like a saint in all that. You did too, then you took off with his money. I learned of the deal Richard made with his father. Jesse poisoned his mind and Richard is not going to stop until you return every single dime. If I were you, I would find a way of having Richard on my side because he knows Robina does not love him but he needs leverage over you. If Robina falls in love with him, you are safe and we can kiss goodbye. If she doesn't then just know Richard will unleash hell on you. He is my son and I know he has a dark side that not even i his mother has been able to tame. After the bull accident and the person who knocked him down and ran over him with a car, Richard became so aggressive, so angry, and if he puts his mind to something no one can stop him. He was mentored by his father and so trust me, he is double ruthless as Jesse was.. that's why I had to make sure I play by his book otherwise if Richard finds out about us, I'm dead. Both of us will be.

Robert took a deep breath and wiped his face with both of his hands. It got silent for a moment. Who was this Richard that everyone seemed to fear him?..

I got to Richard's place. I was scared to even knock on the door but I said to myself, what's the worst that could happen and after all, he didn't find me at Mark's and everyone knew Diana was a liar, what else had I to fear? I took a deep breath then knocked on the door and pushed it in to save Richard from rolling his wheelchair to the door to usher me in. I walked in and he already had dinner started..the aroma from the kitchen was breathtaking and it somehow reminded me of the fish Mark had prepared. Mark was a good cook and so was Richard from what o had heard.. only that he cooked once in a while when he really felt like it, it must have been really special for him to offer to cook otherwise he would have just taken me out or ordered food but in second thoughts, with what money. I had a strong feeling that the money he got from the guys in the streets was not enough to allow him to take me for a decent dinner or something like t...t...

Richard: you came...

I saw a smile on his face. I bet he thought I was never going to show up but he had been busy anyway.

Me: yeah. You called I came and I'm just making it clear that I'm not staying the night.

That must have been a mood killer for him. He tried to act like he was still okay but he was not.

Richard: well that's okay, I just needed us to talk. That's all.

I walked in and was impressed that the house looked neat. He tried to make an impression as if I was visiting for the first time and I liked it given the fact that he was in a wheelchair.

Richard: I'll get you something to drink as we wait for the food. It is almost ready.

Me: I can help with the drink.

Richard: you are my guest. I will take care of it.

I sat still waiting for him to come back and he did with two glasses and juice. He set a glass before me and poured me the juice and sat across me in his wheelchair.

Me: thanks for the effort.

He nodded and yet again everything between us seemed awkward. It is like we were total strangers who found themselves in the same room with no exit door. I was nervous, I don't know what made me more nervous, the fact that Diana had been right about me and Mark or the fact that I didn't know whose child I was carrying leave alone the terror that git me when I tried to terminate it.

Richard: it looks like something is bothering you. Do you want to talk about it?

I looked up from my glass and our eyes met. I looked down again and nodded.

Me: I'm sorry about what happened this morning. I know your mother meant well with the breakfast thing but I could not stand her or your sister.

Richard: I know. Embarrassing you and your parents like that was uncalled for and I apologize on their behalf just in case they never get to. Diana knows she should apologize to you but her pride might not let her do it.

There was a bit of silence then he cleared his throat.

Richard: I'm sorry about what she said about you and Mark. I should have stood up for you because you would never cheat on me with my best friend, would you?

I swallowed a hard lump in my throat and looked straight at his face. I knew what he was playing at and I just had to look him straight in the face and lie to him because I did not want to hurt his feelings.. at least not that very minute.

Me: no I would not. I don't know why your sister would think that in the fast place.

He smiled and the smile was not genuine. I felt like he could see right through me.

Me: enough talk about Mark, your sister, and your mother. How are you doing?..

Richard: I'm okay.

Me are you?.

Richard: does it really matter.. you left me when I thought we were starting to have a connection. I set you free then you left and come back. Why?

I didn't know how to answer that. Apart from me had come back because of wanting a roof over my head and another because I was his wife. Not for love or anything.

Richard: you still don't think I'm the right man for you?

Me: it's not that. It is the circumstances under which everything happened and our parents being the cooks who added salt pepper and everything horrible to make this soup. I like you as a person but truth be told you are not what I had in mind for a husband.

Richard: mmh!..

Me: what?.

Richard: so where does that leave us as far as this forced marriage is concerned?..

Me: you are asking me a question you and your mother have the answers to. You know so well that if I say I want a divorce my father will land in jail. I don't want that for my father.

Richard: so you will sacrifice your life for him?

Me: yes. If that's what it takes. We can make it an open relationship. You can bring home whoever you want and get to enjoy your life.

Richard: and that means you will be seeing another man too?

I shrugged my shoulder not giving him a straight answer and he might have picked my response from it. He excused himself to go bring the food and from the look on his face, my idea was not welcomed. Not that I wanted to hurt his feelings but I didn't want his life on standby for me. When he was gone my phone beeped and on checking it was Davis. He had sent me a text checking up on me and he asked if he could see me the following day. I didn't respond and after a few minutes, he called. He must have thought I was ignoring him. Richard came back with the plates placed on his lap and he set them on the table. He was there when my phone was ringing and just so that he wouldn't think I was being rude, I disconnected the call. He set the table and I offered to help with the food. He agreed for me to help this time round.

We got back to the table with the food and just as we were settling, there was another call. I looked at the screen ready to end it again knowing it was Davis but this time around, the screen read Mark. My heart beat increased and when I looked up, Richard had his eyes fixed on me.

Richard: it's okay. You can pick up the call...I will wait!

That was not permitted. That was a dare and he knew I was not going to answer that call right there. Mark would have probably started telling me how he missed me and wanted to kiss me and stuff.

Richard: please take the call... don't keep the person waiting.

I disconnected the call again and switched off my phone and put it away.

Me: I can always call back. Let's eat, shall we?

Richard: of cause.

He was disappointed. He might have wanted to confirm if I was already seeing someone now that I had suggested we see different people and I could see jealousy written all over his face.