One Last Chance

Six: Mr Mulwa

"Tiffany those are very strong allegations, are you sure about it?" Seline asks her and she nods.

"Phill told me he suspected this two were together, I had to follow up and I have seen them hanging out together."

I turn to look at Angie and she is biting her lips nervously, looking anywhere else but me. I don't need to ask her for a confirmation. It's true.

"How long have you two been together?"

"Pascale I can explain." Her voice is shaking.

"How long?" I'm trying to act as composed as possible.

This people claim to be my friends, but they have been hiding so much from me. Especially Joe, why wouldn't he tell me the truth. That's what friends are for.

"A few months five or six, probably."

"And you didn't find it necessary to tell me."

"You weren't around."

Same lame excuse that everyone has been telling me. They are using that as reason for them to hide the truth from me and I'm not entertaining that anymore.

"We have phones for a reason, we always talked but you never saw it necessary to mention it."

"I'm sorry." The look she gives me is enough to tell me she is sorry. I have nothing against her being with my best friend but I feel like she should have told me. Him too. The both of them are my friends they shouldn't be hiding such information from me.

"Do you love him?" I don't know why the tone of my voice has changed suddenly. Probably because I don't like the idea of my best friend screwing my friend behind my back.

"I'm not sure, I guess."

If she doesn't love him then why in the hell is she with him? I don't want anyone breaking my best friend's heart. I care so much about him.

"Look, if you don't love him you should stop wasting his time. He deserves better." I quickly cover my mouth when those words come out.

I didn't mean to say it that way. Angie turns to look at me with squinted eyes. This is so not going to end well.

"So who's better for him? You?"

"I didn't mean it that way."

"Really?" She looks so pissed off.

I know I said the wrong thing, but if there's anyone that should be mad at anyone here, then it's me.

"No, Pascale let's just say the truth right now. Do you think just because I'm screwing him I'm happy?"

"Then why the hell are you doing it?" Tiffany asks her and she throws daggers at her before she turns back her attention to me. Seline is surprisingly quiet. Probably because this discussion doesn't involve her.

"That guy loves you, everyone knows that, you also know that, but you never want to reciprocate the feeling. He has loved you for like forever, and no matter how many girls come in to his life, he keeps holding on to the fact that you will love him back one day, but look at you. You don't even give a single fuck."

Well, that was so uncalled for. She didn't have a right to tell me that.

"I care about Joseph, he knows that too well." He knows I don't love him and he is okay with it. I don't know why everyone always seems to make such a fuss out of it.

"Okay can I just get one thing clear here?" Seline who has been quiet the whole time asks looking at Angie with raised brows.

"You know that Joseph loved Pascale, yet you're doing him. Why? Don't you care about your own feelings?"

Uh oh.

Trust Seline to bring the therapist version of her into the discussion.

"He loves her, yes, but we sort of click. We just have this bond that pulls us together, might be love."

I don't want to believe it, but what if Joe is actually falling for her? Am I okay with it? I'm already getting worked up because he is with her, what if he falls in love with her? Will I be able to take it? I know this two are my friends and I'm supposed to be happy for them but Joe really deserves better. He deserves someone who loves him deeply. That someone is so not Angie.

"Pascale do you have feelings for Joe?" Seline asks me and I give her a questioning look. She already knows the answer to that.

"You know how I feel about him."

"Just answer the question." She is using a more serious tone now.

"No... I don't know." He has always been there for me more than anyone has. I may not love him like I loved Trevor but there's definitely something I feel for him.

Because if I didn't, then I wouldn't be feeling this jealous of Angie.

"You need to be sure of your feelings for him, because if you don't, you and Angie won't have a normal friendship." She is sort of right, but I don't want to come in between them when I know I can't love Joe back the way he wants.

"I don't care who he dates, as long as you don't keep it a secret."

Angie's lips form a smile when I say that. I know I care but that will just stick to be my problem. I just didn't expect he would choose her. But then again I don't exactly know what attracted him to her. She is beautiful though, extremely.

I really need to stop focusing on who my best friend dates. I should be happy for him.

"Now that we have that solved, you're all invited to my engagement party." Seline announces in excitement and Tiffany shrills.

"Congratulations girl!"

"Congratulations." Angie is so calm. Probably because Tiffany didn't give her a break the moment she came here.

"When is the party?" Tiffany asks.

"This weekend."

Seline had already told me about it.

"That is the day after tomorrow?"

"Actually it's tomorrow evening." Well we need a party. One of us is almost officially taken.

"I can't wait." Angie who has been quiet finally says.

***

After hours of shopping with the girls we got back home with Seline. They both suggested, we shop for our dresses today, to ease the tension of preparing for the party tomorrow.

Each one of us chose what suited us best, but Angie wasn't talking much during the whole period. I know things are going to be different between me and her. She acts like she is scared of me and I was just trying to act as cool as possible. I really hope their relationship won't affect our friendship

Though I can honestly say it's already affecting it.

I'm in my room getting ready for the dinner date with Nelson. Seline insisted I buy a new dress for the date, and since that girl can be so pushy I didn't have a choice.

My phone buzzes and I quickly check the caller.

Beatrice.

I can't talk to her her now so I hang up. She is going to nag me on how I didn't inform her I was coming back and she will ask me to go home. That is something I don't want to do. My relationship with her is no longer steady, we only talk when it's necessary. My plan was to avoid most of the people when I came back and I'm going to stick to my plan.

If it weren't for the paparazzi, they would have only known when we were launching the movie. I have about a week to make sure all that is done. Next week Friday we will be launching the movie with Joe, who hasn't talked to me since last night and on Saturday, it will be the launch of my new clothing line. Sunday I will be on a flight back to France.

Maybe if I get time during the week I will check up on Beatrice. Todd too if I feel like it. They divorced and Todd sort of moved in with Helena. I heard they did some private wedding. I didn't pay much attention.

At this point I stopped caring about what they do with their life. After all it was so clear Todd loved Tiffany's mother more than my mom.

Seline is not in the house so I lock the door once I'm done and head for my car. Not really my car, because I don't own one right now. It's Seline's, she said she would use a taxi. My phone buzzes again and when I check the caller ID, I'm glad that it isn't my mom again.

"Hallo?"

"Monalisa!" That voice sounds familiar but I can't really tell.

"You're talking to her, who's this?"

"I didn't realize my voice has changed so much." The caller says and I roll my eyes. If she doesn't identify herself I'm going to hang up. I don't know why I can't remember who it is.

I place the phone on the console and start the car.

"Can you please identify yourself?' I don't have the time to remember her voice.

She stays quiet for a moment before she speaks, this time in a more calmer voice.

"It's Stephanie, heard you were in town and I wanted to say hi."

Oh my God! This adorable girl. She was the first person in Trevor's circle that I sort of liked, I still do. Just that I couldn't keep communicating with her if me and her father were no longer on speaking terms.

"How are you?"

"Good, we've really missed you, you should come and say hi to us."

Like hell I would. In fact her calling me was a mistake.

"I'm sorry but I can't." I apologize.

"Look, I know my dad hurt you and you never want to see him again but Sunshine and I miss you, if you don't want to come home it's fine. In fact don't come home, we can meet you at the place of your choice, Dad and Mom won't know about it."

She calls them dad and mom. Just beautiful.

Trevor has the perfect family that he's always wanted. His wife who happens to be the mother to his first daughter and the aunt to his second daughter. Something I would never be. It hurts but, it doesn't matter anymore.

The restaurant Nelson sent me the address wasn't that far away from where I stay so I get there so fast. I get out of the car. The phone on my ear.

"Please." Stephanie's voice comes through when she realizes I'm quiet.

I don't know what to tell her. The last time I tried sneaking Trevor's 'girls' he came looking for me with four body guards and he threatened to call the police on me. We weren't on bad terms at the time. So if I meet his daughters behind his back, he might just actually call the police on me, given that we are sort of enemies, I think.

"I'll call you later and we can arrange that." She lets out a shrill when I tell her that. I hang up. I will just have to find a way out of this.

Nelson said he was having a meeting so he couldn't make to come and pick me up. I wanted to cancel the whole dinner thing, but then Seline insisted I needed the adventure. So here I am.

I get to the restaurant and I can't spot Nelson. I call him and he picks on the first ring.

"Hey." His seems to be excited.

"Where are you? I'm at the door way of the restaurant."

"I'll be there in a minute." He hangs up and I'm standing there nervously as I wait for him. I don't know what to expect but, I just hope this date won't be a disappointment.

A moment later I see him come from the left side of the restaurant. He is in a black three piece suit and let's just say he looks breath taking.

"Hey."

"You look amazing." He kisses me on the cheek which makes me blush.

"Thank you."

"Come on." He holds my hand and leads me to where he came from.

"I was having a meeting with my boss and I couldn't cancel it. We are almost done, hope it won't be much of a bother." I nod.

We get to his table and there's someone sitting there his back on us. I know it's been years since I last saw him but I would recognize him in a heart beat.

Mr Mulwa.

He turns to look at our direction and when his eyes land on me, he freezes.

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