A smile played on his lips as he drove to Steve's place, his heart was bubbling with excitement, anticipating his date with Juliana that night.
MATHEW SAT FACING STEVE, a frown on his face. According to Steve, Matthew should get married as soon as possible so as to retain full respect as a CEO.
"I'm doing okay as I am." He countered.
"The board members do not think so. The reporters won't get off your back too. You'll have problem with the Press."
"I'll think about it, though Julie keeps popping in my mind when I think of marriage."
"Juliana Solade? You can't be serious. That girl's father is in jail for murder, how could you even think of her being your wife? What do you expect the Press to do? They'll tarnish your image with a few ink on paper."
Matthew could not say anything. It's true Juliana's father is in jail but Juliana keep saying that he was robed and he believed her, seeing the way the case was closed down with no proper evidence to prove his guilt.
"I'll see you later." He said.
"Take your time to think it through properly." Steve said and patted his back.
Matthew got into his car and drove out, heading for his home. As soon as he turned on his phone, he saw that he had missed calls, all from Juliana. His phone rang again and he switched it off.
"I'm sorry, Julie." He said into the empty space.
On getting home, he went to his room, ignoring the greetings from his servants. He laid on the bed but sleep would not come. The burden was coming back on him. His parents had died in a plane crash, leaving him all their money, houses and businesses. Being the only child, he had no brother nor sister to share it with. His parent's death had been a stab and still hurt every time he thought of them.
"Matthew." Nanny Morry called him, but he didn't reply her. "Juliana is here to see you."
"I'll see her in the office."
His voice sounded hurt when he spoke so Nanny Morry came in and sat beside him on the bed. "What's wrong? You are not yourself today." She asked him.
"I'll be fine." He said.
"Matthew, you....." She tried to persuade him to speak up but he raised a hand and shunned her.
"Please, I want to be alone for now. Tell Juliana that I will see her in the office."
Nanny Morry didn't reply him. She just stared at him for sometime then left. He knew it was rude of him to shun her lime that, but he just couldn't bring himself to explaining his problem to her. She might have left him without saying anything, but he knew that once she felt that he's okay, she's going to give him an earful of how bad and rude it was to raise his hand to shun her. He'll worry about that later. For now, he had a whole lot to think of. He got up and picked the family photo album, checking all the pictures in it, especially those of his parents.
"I wish you were here." He said, tears pooled in his eyes and ran down his face.
THE KNOCKING ON THE door woke Juliana from sleep. She groaned and buried her face in the pillow. It was too early to awake from such small sleep. It was past midnight before she could sleep that night. She'd been busy ruminating on what could possibly make Matthew cancel their date without informing her. And what's worse is that he refused to see her when she checked him at home. She noticed that Nanny Morry did not seem happy when she spoke to her, so something was definitely wrong. But why won't Matthew share it with her?
The knocking came again. She got up and checked her phone, no call from Matthew, not even a message. She sighed and went to open the door. It was Angela.
"Yippy Yu!!!!" She exclaimed happily, and embraced Julie. They both entered.
Angela took a sheet and a pen, already writing something in it. Julie wasn't even curious to know what her friend was up to. She went to brush her teeth, then into the kitchen. In a few minutes, she came back to the sitting room with two cups of hot tea. Angela was still writing, so she placed her tea on the stool beside her and then turned on the TV.
"What else are we going to need?" Angela asked.
"Need for what?"
"Your birthday."
"Birthday. Ah, I didn't even remember."
"What? You didn't remember that your birthday is on Tuesday, and that's three days from now."
Juliana shrugged and switched her attention back to the TV she was watching.
"Now now, girl. I can sense something is not right here. What's the matter with you?"
Juliana didn't reply at first, and that got Angela more worried.
"Speak up, Julie. What is it?"
"It is....." She choked on a sob and her lips start to quiver in her attempt to stop the tears, "Matthew."
Angela took the teacup from her hands because they were shaking.
"I went to his house last night..." She started, and explained what happened to Angela. "I don't know what is going on with him, and he didn't even bother to call me. I've called him and texted him, but he ignored it all and sometimes, his phone is off." The tears were already flowing freely down her face.
"It's okay." Angela tried to console her.
"No! It's not okay at all."
"I know how much this bothers you, but you've got to give him some time. He'll get in touch with you, and more so, you'll see him on Tuesday."
"That's if he remembers that it's my birthday."
"I meant that you'll see in the office. And you worry too much, Julie. Everyone can see how much he loves you. He cannot forget your birthday."
"You think so?"
Angela nodded with a smile.
"But I'm having a bad feeling about it all." Julie said.
"Then let's change it into a good feeling."
"How?" Julie asked.
Her friend waved the sheet in front of her, "Let's go shopping."
Juliana smiled. She went to the room and got dressed. "I hope this works." She muttered under her breath and followed Angela out.
They were almost through with the shopping when Steve approached the stall beside them. They greeted him and moved on towards the car.
"I know markets are always busy on Saturdays. We shouldn't have come today." Julie said.
"Then when should we come? Yesterday when we were at work? Or tomorrow which is Sunday? You're not serious. Come on, let's head out of here to your place and sort it all out." Angela said, playfully. They soon got to Julie's place and parked the car.
"I wonder what Steve is doing in the market."
"Up to no good, as usual." Juliana replied.
Angela went to the boot of the car and they offloaded the items they'd bought. After they had arranged it all in their respective places, Angela decided to take her leave.
"We'll see on Tuesday." She told Juliana.
"Why not on Monday?"
"Monday is May First which is worker's day."
"Oh, I totally forgot. Okay, thanks."
"Bye."
JULIANA GOT TO WORK on Tuesday, early as usual, but was surprised to find Matthew's car in the garage. According to his secretary, he was supposed to be in a meeting and was not expected in the office till noon. She went inside and to his office. He stood facing the window, a cup of coffee in his hand, his back to her.
"Matthew." She called.
He turned to face her, but was not smiling.
"Are you okay?" She asked him.
"I'm fine." He took his seat.
"What about the meeting you're supposed to attend this morning."
"It's been cancelled. I'm not in the right mood to hold any meeting."
She went to his side and put her arm around him. "Are you okay, Matthew? Tell me what's going on."
"How is your father doing?"
She withdrew her arm from him, surprised that he's asking of her father now. "Why are you asking of him?"
"It's been a while since you said anything about him."
"He's in jail."
"What should we....?"
"Stop it, please. I'm not ready to talk about it. I'm going to my office now, there's lot of work to be done."
&
nbsp; Matthew caught her arm before she could leave. He drew her into his arms and embraced her. "I love you, Julie. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but your dad's case is an obstacle."
"What do you mean? I told you my dad did nothing wrong. Even if he's guilty, which I know he isn't, what has that got to do with our relationship? I am not my father." Tears welled up in her eyes.
"I know. But if I marry you, my reputation would be tarnished. It'll affect my business and my image. I'm sorry Julie, but we have to stop."
She looked up at him, "You're breaking up with me?"
"Yes." He released her.
"Because my father is in jail."
"Juliana, try to understand....."
"I understand it perfectly." The tears were already flowing like torrents down her face, she left his office and headed for her home. She couldn't do any work in that condition. What a bad day!
And it was her birthday!!
She locked the door and went to her room. She did not even bother to remove her shoes, she just lay on the bed, soaking up the pillow with her tears.
A knock sounded on the door just then. Thinking maybe Matthew changed his mind, she ran to open the door but met no one there. A box was at her entrance. It was wrapped as a gift.
"Happy birthday, Juliana. I'm sorry for ruining your day.
Hope you can forgive me.
MATTHEW"
She read the note on the box, it was from Matthew. She took it in and opened the gift. It was a beautiful diamond necklace and earrings. As beautiful as it is, it could not erase the ache in her heart. She knew this was his birthday gift to her, as well as his goodbye gift.
Juliana did not report to work for a week, she called in sick so Angela came to see her. She was reluctant to open the door, but she got up on the third knock.
"Girl, what's wrong with you? Your eyes are all swollen and red!"
"Come in, Angela."
When they were both sitted and Angela was sipping hot tea because of the cold that morning, Juliana told her everything that transpired between Matthew and her.
"I'm so sorry for you, Juliana. That will explain why he's been walking with a along face since you left."
"I don't know what...." She covered her mouth as she felt nausea. She quickly ran into the toilet and threw up. Angela was at her heels, concerned for her friend.
"Julie?" She called.
"I..." Julie threw up again.
"You need to see a doctor, let's go to the hospital."
She washed her face and they both left for the hospital.
"Congratulations, Miss Solade." The doctor smiled.
"Congratulations? How can you congratulate me because I'm pregnant?!" She almost screamed the words at the doctor.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Juliana, let's leave now. Don't take out your frustration on someone else. Bye, doctor." Angela led her out, and drove them both back home.
ITS BEEN VERY LONG time since Matthew last saw Juliana and he's started to feel uneasy. He goes to work and come back home as usual. Once in a while, he got out with Steve and his pals. But all that did nothing to soothe him. The worst of it was the message Steve sent to him a few days ago.
"Mr. Solade killed your father...." That's the message.
He went into his study and called out to Nanny Morry.
"You know a lot about my family, even more than I do. Tell me, why is Juliana's father in jail?"
She stared at him for a while, contemplating on what to say.
"Nanny Morry, please I need to know the truth. I am very confused now and it's you I trust would tell me the truth, you're like a mother to me and you will not lie to me. Please, tell me what you know about the case."
She went to bring him some cool water to drink.
"I'm not thirsty." He objected.
"It will calm you down."
Knowing there was no use arguing with her, he gulped the whole water. Both his parents had died while he was away on holiday, so he didn't really know much about how they died. All he knew was that their plane crashed. His patience soon start to wane when Nanny Morry did not speak up on time. He knew she was stalling, which made him all the more curious as to know what she was keeping from him.
"Nanny...?" He asked, impatiently.
"Mr. Solade was your father's driver..."
He interrupted her, "I know that. Please tell me..."
"I will get there, be patient." When he calmed, she continued, "He has worked for your father for a very long time and we all trusted him, that's one reason why his daughter got the job with your company. Keep calm," she said when he wanted to interrupt her again. "He was present at the scene where the plane crashed, which made it more suspicious. And he was there by your father's side till he died in the hospital." She stopped talking.
"That doesn't explain why he's in prison."
"He killed your father." She said, "Now you know why he's in jail." She was about to leave him alone when a knock sounded on the door, "That should be Juliana, she called earlier that she's coming to see you. Treat her well, she's not her father." She said to him then went into the kitchen to prepare lunch.
Juliana came in and sat on a sofa, looking anywhere but at him. She has changed and looked thinner and distressed.
"Let me get you something to drink." He offered.
"No, there's no need. I'll be leaving soon."
"Julie..."
"I'm pregnant."
"Pregnant?" He asked.
"And it's your child, our child. I just thought you should know. It's not necessary for you to claim the child, I'll take care of the baby and you can go on with your life." She stood up and left.
Matthew could not bring himself to stop her. He was rooted on the spot, in shock. Juliana was going to have his child, she's carrying his baby.
"Where is Julie?" Nanny Morry asked when she came to meet him.
"She's gone." He said.
Nanny Morry grabbed his hand before he passed by her. "I know you've received a very shocking news, but Juliana is a good woman. You know that. Don't treat her badly because of what her father did." She said.
He did not answer her and she left the room. He dialled Steve to tell him about Julie's pregnancy.
"There's no need to panic. We'll solve it and the Press won't get a wind of it. Calm down, okay?" Steve said.
"Okay, but make sure the two of them are alright."
Steve hung up.
Matthew buried his face in his hands and let the tears flow. His heart really ache and his mind swirl with confusion.
Nanny Morry watched him as he made his call to Steve. The expression on his face tore at her heart. She knew she had only worsen his feelings with what she said about Julie's father, but it was not within her power to tell him the whole truth.
"I'm sorry, Matthew." She apologised in her mind.
As she made to leave, she almost collided with Steve who was coming to see Matthew. She stared at him in disgust.
"Your deadly glare can do me no harm." He sniggered, then went in to meet Matthew.
JULIANA ALREADY PACKED her things, she was preparing to leave the city which had brought nothing good into her life but rather, jeopardized it. Her father's in jail, her fiance broke up with her and she will be a single mother in a matter of months. Exhausted, she threw the remaining clothes into her bag and zipped it shut. The picture she took with Matthew, hung on the wall. She kept it in her bag too, she was not ready to let go of his memory, even though they're separated.
She'd locked the door when two men came to take her away.
"Please ma, you have to go with us." One of them said.
"Where are you taking me to?" She asked.
"You will know soon enough, ma."
They took her luggage to the car and drove off to the airport where an airplane was waiting for them.
"Who are you and where are you taking me?" She shrieked and almost screamed, but kept quiet seeing the way they all treated her like she was t
heir boss.
A pretty lady came to her, greeted her and led her to the waiting airplane.
"What's going on?" She asked again.
"Everything is okay, ma." was the reply she got.
So she was ushered into the airplane and in hours, she landed in America. There, someone met her at the airport and drove her to where she would stay. She was given a home all to herself. There were maids and cook and gardener to do all the work for her.
That night, she got an email from Matthew.
"Take care of yourself," he'd said as a conclusion.
"Stupid!" Juliana screamed her frustration. So, he'd planned the whole thing. He already made provision for her job there too. Julie started work soon.
Eight months later, she delivered a baby girl and named her TORIOLA.
CHAPTER SEVEN
TWO YEARS AFTER...
Matthew and Lydia are having dinner together. They'd been dating for almost a year and Matthew had not proposed marriage to her yet. Anytime he planned to, he lost the nerve to do it. Every time they were together, he always wished that he was with Juliana. Lydia noticed that he's always withdrawn when they were together, and she accused him of it but he used work as an excuse that it's his job that occupied his mind. He knew it was not fair to keep her when he wasn't sure if he'll marry her. He was cut between realms as he did not know if he'll ever have Juliana for himself.
"Matthew!" Lydia called.
He was jolted back to the present, "Oh sorry about that." He apologised.
"Your work on your mind again?" She accused.
He didn't answer, "When you're done eating, let us go." He said instead.
"I already lost my appetite for food since my date is not interested." She stood up and picked her purse, "We can leave now." She said.
He led her to his car. They soon drove out of the restaurant. He knew she was upset but there was nothing he could do about it, his heart still beat for Julie. He brought out a box and gave it to her. In it was a beautiful pair of earrings and a gold wristwatch. Contrary to what he expected, her face remained firm and she closed the box.
"I'm tired of your gifts, Matthew. I need your attention." She complained.
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