Lady k

It was a cold morning. You'd almost think the harmattan had started, with the way the wind whirled the trees and the fogs covered all the pathways, and it wasn't even that early. It was early enough for breakfast and work of course at the Ozor's.

Christian was already dressed in his suit, taking his time with his breakfast. Eating slowly like he wasn't in a hurry to get to work. You'd be surprised why. The reason he had suddenly decided to stay for breakfast, for the first time since he and Natalie had moved into their own home. Natalie watched him nibble on his food slowly, taking his time. Who on earth ate breakfast at almost twelve PM?

That was unlike Christian, to not be at work as early as seven. If there was one thing he was known for, it was his undying dedication to Benoil. Christian had lived all his life, and trained himself to the best of his capacities, dedicated himself to the company, and just watching him sit there, relaxed and not bulging, worried a lot of people, not just Natalie. What worried them even more, was the thought that they knew exactly what he was trying to avoid, more like who.

"Sir." Natalie kept her eyes glued on him, even as the older maid approached them with her hands joined together underneath her apron. She watched Christian slowly pick another slice of beef from his plate, and then put it right into his mouth.

"Has he left yet?" He asked not even bothering to look at who he was asking. She shook her head.

"Not yet sir. He still insists on waiting for you, until you let him in, until you're ready to see him."

Christian dropped his fork in frustration. Had he really not left yet? Just how stubborn and persistent was he exactly?

I would say very.

Jeremiah had rushed all the way from home, as early as six AM. Early enough to meet up with Christian, right before he left for work. He wasn't allowed into Benoil anyway. It wasn't like anyone was stopping him from going, he just knew that staying away completely from the company, and anything that concerned it, including the building, was one of the only strategies to remain invincible to every worker and shareholder, and also a strategy to get Christian on his side again. He never went there. Not even if his life depended on it, so there he was, waiting right outside the big house in all that cold, especially since Christian had specifically given an order not to let him in.

"He insists on waiting, till you agree to see him. Do you want to see him sir?"

Natalie scoffed, and then reached for her glass of orange juice. You should have seen the way Christian raised his head to look at her, and how his frown worsened when he noticed the smirk on her face after she dropped the glass.

"You know," she slowly raised her head to meet his. "It's really cold outside. Freezing actually, and you've let him wait outside for hours, six hours if I'm right. If you're just not going to see him, you should go ask him to leave yourself, instead of cowardly hiding here, under the camouflage of having breakfast. Don't waste his time, and yours." She smiled, and then blinked her eyes. "Just my two cents."

Christian rolled his eyes. He had had about enough. Enough of people telling him what to do, and how to act. He pushed his chair back slowly, and then got up from it, pulling his coat together so he could button it in place.

"Mercy." He called on the maid as his eyes were still fixed on Natalie. "Please ready my room. I'd like a short nap."

Really? Was he really going to still leave him out there and not say anything? A short nap? Wow. Natalie scoffed. She couldn't believe it. The maid kept her head bowed as Christian walked away from the table as fast as he could, without saying another word.

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Jeremiah

Four hours later....

I checked my wrist watch. I couldn't believe I had been waiting for exactly ten hours. I yawned so loudly. At that point, it was really hard for me to control myself, or my stomach. I was starving. Just how long did I have to wait?

I was so sure Christian was inside. I had been waiting all morning, and I hadn't seen him drive out one minute. I knew it was because of me, I knew he was doing all he could to avoid me, and he was making me wait on purpose, but I couldn't help it. I couldn't leave without getting the chance to talk to him. Ever since he left the house, it had been so hard to live without remembering I was the reason he left in the first place.

How was he doing? Did he hate me more than he already did?

Those were the questions that kept flooding my head. I heard the gate open quickly, and it got me on my feet as fast as I could, hoping it was him. Hoping he had finally come out to see me, after making me wait for so long. Not that I minded. There was nothing great happening in school anyway, but it wasn't him, it was her. Natalie.

I watched her walk out through the gate, her eyes searching around like she was looking for me, and when she finally found me, I watched her let out a huge relief sigh, right before she hurried to me.

"You're still here?" She asked me.

"Is he?" I wanted to keep it short. Natalie and I weren't really close enough to exchange pleasantries. If I wanted a good and healthy relationship with my brother, I knew I had to stay away from his people. Not get too close or give him a chance to worry.

She nodded.

"He doesn't want to see me does he?"

"He just needs time." She told me. "More time. You don't have to do this, you don't have to come here everyday. He's going to come around soon, and when he does, he's going to reach out to you. Just live. Focus on yourself and school-"

While she was talking, the gate started opening, the bigger gate. It was like someone was driving out. I looked away from Natalie, my eyes focused on the black Jeep that was driving out of the house. It was him. It was Christian. He was driving away.

I had to meet up. I had to at least try to stop him. I could see him from his window, and his eyes were buried inside his sunshades.

"Chris!" I yelled his name, and made an attempt to hurry to the window, but he wound it up immediately. Didn't stop me from trying to run after the car anyway. At that point, I was ready to do anything to get him to talk. "Chris!" I kept running after the car, but then stopped to catch my breath after it sped off . I couldn't meet up with him, I couldn't meet up with that speed. I bent over, my hands on my knees just so I could catch my breath, my eyes still focused on the car that was now a long distance away from me, right before I buried my eyes to the ground again.

And just like that, I had lost another chance. Just how many chances did I have to lose? How many times did I have to keep trying?

I took a deep breath, and then stood straight. That was enough, enough of catching my breath.

"Jer?" I could hear Natalie call my name from behind me.

Be cool Jeremiah, be cool. Don't let it get to you.

I knew I had to act like I was okay with it. That I wasn't hurt at all, like it was fine. I took a deep breath, and then another, right before I turned to Natalie. I started to walk back to her.

"Jeremiah are you okay?"

"Yeah." I rubbed my forehead. "I'm fine." I told her.

"Do you want to come inside? I could get one of the maids to prepare something warm for you-"

"I'd be back tomorrow." I cut her off, and I meant every word of it. "And the day after that, and the day after that. I'm not going to give up on him."

I could see the worry in her eyes. It was almost as if she was beginning to pity me.

"I know he still cares about me." I continued. "He's my brother. He still loves me. I just have to keep showing up in his face, and reminding him, so yeah. Tell him I'd be back. That I don't give up easily, and he should know that by now. I'd keep doing all I can to make up for everything. To make up for all of it."

I nodded my head, hoping she understood what I meant perfectly, right before I turned to where my car was. My driver had been waiting patiently for me all that time. He must have been so tired. I hurried to the car as fast as I could, and then got in right before he drove off.