170 Determination

Tom breathed a sigh of relief when Fred left him and Denise’s presence. He couldn’t hide the fact that he felt threatened by Fred’s new idea of becoming Denise’s chauffeur for two days. The two days sounded like two weeks or maybe months to him. He watched Fred with mixed feelings, whistling happily as he left to get the car ready.

“Tom, you are going to lose Denise to Fred.” A warning voice kept ringing in Tom’s head. “Send Fred packing before things get out of hand.

Tom raked his hand through his hair and released another gush of air.

“My brother is a handful. Sometimes, I wish we weren’t related.” He turned to face Denise and tried to force out a smile. He cupped her slightly piqued face and kiss her lips briefly.

“I’m sorry for making you lose your appetite due to my argument with Fred. I regret allowing him to cajole me into staying in my house. All this wouldn’t have been necessary if I had said no.”

“Sweetie, don’t overstress yourself concerning Fred.” Denise stroked Tom’s chin fondly. “He is just one cute boy, who needs to be taught a good lesson that; you can’t eat you’re cake and have it.’ If it makes you happy, I will eat something little with you, and then we can go to work together.”

“Thanks, dear,” Tom beamed and led her to the table for a nice breakfast of toast, scrambled eggs, and coffee.

While they were eating, Tom received an urgent call at his place of work. He frowned when the call ended and dropped the phone grudgingly on the table.

“What’s wrong, dear?” Denise’s eyes flashed in alarm. “Did something bad happen at your place of work or home?”

.....

“Nothing bad happened. It’s just that I am needed urgently at the construction site. I can’t afford to leave you alone with my brother in the car. That young man is mischievous and it bothers me greatly.” Tom’s nose crinkled.

“Hahaha...” Denise couldn’t hold back her laughter. “You just got me worried over nothing, baby. Don’t be a jealous baby. You know I have my eyes set on only you.”

“I trust you, babe. But I don’t trust Fred. I don’t know if you can manage my brother’s excesses alone. If it’s okay by you, I can tell him not to bother dropping you at the office.”

Inwardly, Tom prayed that Denise would disapprove of Fred dropping her off. He was scared of the things Fred would do or say to Denise if they were left alone for long.

“Sweetheart!” Denise cooed. She leaned closer to Tom and stroked his cheeks softly. “I can manage myself and your brother included. Don’t worry about me. Just quickly attend to your urgent business. I will be fine.”

“Okay, if you say so.” Tom reluctantly stood up from the table, perked Denise on the forehead, and dashed out of the house.

After having her breakfast, Denise cleaned up and left the house. She strolled towards her new car, which Tom bought for her, and caught sight of Fred, looking so dashing from a distance.

The way Fred was leaning beside the car, with legs crossed and arms folded on his chest, have him the demeanor of a supermodel, posing for a camera shoot.

“At least, it’s not a crime to admire a handsome man when you see one,” Denise mumbled. “Fred must have really gone out of his way just to impress me.”

Denise paused on her track and closed her eyes.

“You can’t allow this dashing young man to seduce you. You have an amazing fiance and he alone matters.” She scolded her flirtatious thoughts and forced out every hatching feelings for Fred out of her mind.

Fred had been patiently waiting for Denise to come out of the house for more than twenty minutes. Immediately he saw her, his face lit up into a contagious smile. He sprinted towards her, intending to get her laptop bag and handbag but Denise stopped him with a swift stop sign using her right hand.

“Thanks, Fred, I can manage,” Denise said dryly.

“Okay, I’m sorry I was too fast-forward.” Fred bowed politely and went back to the car. He opens up the back seat and gestured to her in with a killer smile.

Fred couldn’t believe his luck when Tom informed him, amidst threat, that he would not be riding with them. He chuckled as Tom stressed for the one-hundredth time that Denise was his fiancee and must not be flirted with.

When both Denise and Fred were finally onboard the car, he zoomed off.

On their way, Fred tried tirelessly to initiate a conversation but Denise’s blank remarks were always the same.

“Fred, eyes on the road.”

Fred felt frustrated at Denise’s refusal to talk to him. He thought briefly and decided to remain silent until they arrived at their destination.

When they got to the APB fashion company parking lots, Fred quickly came down from the car and went over to open the back seat for his new boss.

“Thanks, Fred,” Denise gave a lopsided grin. “You can take the rest of the day off until I’m ready to go home.”

“You’re welcome, ma’am.” Fred smiled and sauntered towards Denise. “Please ma’am, let me carry your laptop bag to your office before I take my leave.”

“Fred, I can...”

“You can’t possibly stress yourself while I am here to assist. Please, allow me to do this and I’ll be out of your skin before you know it.” Fred smiled.

“Okay!” Denise hissed and shoved her laptop bag into his hand. “You are so pushy and annoying.”

“I guess that’s why you liked me in the past!”

“I never did!” Denise flashed him an angry look. “I was too drunk to differentiate between likeness and resentment.”

“Hmm... Is really difficult to differentiate the two.” Fred said thoughtfully as he tagged along behind Denise; who was walking so fast that one would assume that she was speed walking or running.

“Take for example, I don’t know if you hate me this much that you want me to disappear from the face of the earth or you like me so much that you’re scared of showing your emotions like you did that faithful night.”

Denise stopped on her track at Fred’s last statement. She slowly turned around and stared deeply into his eyes.

“Get this into your blockhead. Whatever we had in the past was the biggest mistake of my life.” Denise said between gritted teeth. I loath that day just as I loathed you in the past and now. The only reason you are talking to me now is because of your brother. So, be the self-acclaimed chauffeur you so much desire, and shut the hell up!”

“Okay, ma’am I’m sorry to have offended you.” Fred maintained his placid smile and led the way this time as if he knew his way around the fashion company.

Denise stood transfixed for a while as she watched Fred happily stride along as if all the hateful words she just voiced out didn’t scar him. She had expected him to storm off but instead, he led the way.

“What am I going to do with this annoying man.” Denise sighed and tagged along.

When Fred stepped into the busy reception hall of the APB fashion company, there was a sudden silence. Every pair of eyes, both male and female were transfixed on him.

Feeling unperturbed by the lustful gaze of most of the females, the admiration from the male folk, and the different side whispering, Fred smiled and waited for Denise to catch up with him.

historical

He smiled as Denise approached him with a frosty look.

“Ma’am, can you please lead the way to your office?” He spoke in his most charming voice.

“That way!” Denise blurted out in anger. She wanted to reprimand all the jobless eyes that were staring at Fred. However, she reconsidered her decision and just followed him briskly.

When they both got to the entrance of her office, Denise gestured for Fred to hand over her bag to her secretary.

“Hello!” Fred beamed bewitchingly and handed over the laptop bag to Denise’s secretary.

“Hi!” Denise’s secretary, Lia, returned Fred’s smile, revealing all her white thirty-two teeth.

“Lia, will you collect my bag and stop smiling like a fool?” Denise snapped after the secretary.

“Oh... sorry ma’am!” Lia hastily took the bag from Fred and ran into Denise’s office to drop it off.

“I guess you’re done with your job for now. Denise said dismissively. “You can come to pick me up at 5:00 PM later today, nothing more nothing less.”

“Alright ma’am,” Fred smiled politely. “Umm... Before I leave, I have something for you.”

“Thanks, but no thanks. I don’t want anything from you.” Denise said emphatically. “Now you can go!”

She was about to walk into her office when Fred dangled something he brought out of his pocket, before her eyes.

Instantly, the memories of the night she gave Fred her virginity, in a bid to forget her ex, came flooding back.

“H...how did you g...get that.” Denise’s eyes widened and her jaws dropped in awe. She felt something cold wash over her body, making her feel serene and happy. “I thought I lost it.”