Part twenty six

Michy's POV

It was morning, Saturday morning to be precise so I didn't go to work. I was home and currently at the dinner table with Monae. I wasn't eating, I'm not hungry much.

All I've done since I came to sit here is stare at Monae as she ate while I pretend to do so myself. I know it's really creepy to do that but I can't help, her beauty and cuteness aren't doing anything to help matters the slightest.

She keeps pouting as she chews on her greek yoghurt avocado toast and the way she gulps down her chai tea, I find them all cute though someone will normally find it super weird.

Just staring at her all this while has made me realize how lucky I am to have her finally with me. Call me selfish but the mishap that happened to her was for a better cause which is her liberation.

Monae has finally had her freedom from those callous people, they wouldn't be able to hurt her anymore and now she can live her life freely without evil eyes watching her and mind plotting evilly against her in the dark so they break her beyond what she can bear.

Though what happened was rather unfortunate, I'm happy it did. Aside her liberation, I also benefit. No, we both benefit because we can find love with each other and live happily ever after.

I smiled sheepishly to myself, I feel like I am a girl as I put down my tea cup and continue staring at her but I quickly look away when I saw her shift her gaze to me. It would really be embarrassing if I was caught staring at her like that.

"Are you okay? You haven't eaten much, you only keep drinking your tea."

"Uh.. uh, I'm fine. I'm just not that hungry, are you done with your breakfast?"

"Do you want me for something?" She asked, raising her cup of tea to her mouth.

"Actually yeah I do." I said, looking down on my plates. What I'm about to say isn't that hard for me to say but I don't know how she's going to feel about it. I contemplated on whether telling her or making an excuse. I could say I have forgotten what I wanted to say but I decided against it and chose to tell her the truth.  "I want to take you out for shopping."

"Shopping? But I have the clothes you had them deliver to me?"

"They aren't much, they don't even amount to ten and you can't keep wearing the same clothes over and over again, they'll fade or get tattered."

"I understand but you've done so much for me already. You can't keep doing them, I don't want to be a bother any longer, I'll find a work to do and take care of myself."

To be honest, I felt a little bad about what she said. Monae didn't want me doing little things that won't cost me much for her. I thought we were that close enough to have that right but I guess I was wrong, maybe I'm still a stranger to her. A stranger who's only helping her since she doesn't have anywhere going.

"Alright if that's what you want." I passed her a small smile that showed hurt, wiping my mouth with the table napkin and got up to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"My home office, just realized I had work to do." I replied her and turned to leave.

I know I was being petty and something as trivial as this shouldn't get me in this mood but I was hurt. I like her, very much and I'm willing to do anything, just anything to make her happy and feel like a queen but she doesn't feel that way towards me. It is difficult and preventing me from doing things for her makes it more difficult.

I sighed, taking the last step leading to the second floor where my home office was situated and walked towards the door.

Opening it, I stepped inside and made my way towards the window and pulled the curtain blinds to allow sunlight into the room before walking to my desk and sat on the chair.

My eyes out of habit fell on the painting I roughly made of Monae a year ago when I couldn't take her haunting face in my dreams anymore. I took the picture frame from the laminated table, roaming my fingers across the picture.

My thoughts drifted to her. I shouldn't have just left her alone suddenly at the table because I was hurt by what she said. I can't blame her much, her pride and ego as a woman is at stake here, I would have said the same if I were here. Wait, what if she was hurt too because of how curt I was with her?

I should apologize to her. I blew out a puff of air before sighing, this love thing isn't that easy. How can I succeed in making her fall for me if I continue being insensitive towards her feelings and wants? I'll end up being a tyrant rather than a lover.

Just when I made an attempt to get up from my seat, a short knock sounded on my door. I furrowed my brows but nevertheless, I ordered whoever was behind it to enter.

I was startled when Monae entered, looking unsure of herself. I was only going to her and she came over?

I then remembered I still held the picture frame. I quickly hid it in an open drawer and closed it while gesturing to her with my eyes to take her seat.

Monae sat down like I asked her to, roaming her eyes around the room and finally settled them on me. I caught her fiddle with her fingers before she spoke up, "I'm sorry."

I was taken aback by her words, why was she apologizing for doing nothing wrong? I don't blame her, I blame myself. I got hurt unnecessarily when she was only trying to save her ego.

"No, don't apologize...you've done nothing wrong. I should, I was curt with you back there and that wasn't nice of me so I'm sorry."

"Was it because of what I said? Because if it is, I think..." Monae said, looking away from me and scratched her neck shyly. "I need those clothes."

"You do?"

"Uhm yeah."

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"Hey, Michy! Haven't seen you in a long time." Tessa, the owner of the designer shop we are in currently squealed, slapping my chest as she smiled broadly. "Where have you been?"

"I've been around just a little occupied that's all." I answered her truthfully, removing her hand off my chest and took a step back.

That was one of my pet peeves, I hate clingy women who can't keep their hands to themselves especially around men and would do anything to touch them. If it weren't for how good of her designer her clothes are, I would take Monae's hand and leave with her from here in seconds.

Her smile quickly dropped seeing what I had done but she covered it up with a smile and looked beside me. That was when she noticed I wasn't the only one who came but a lady as well. "Who's this?"

The love of my life! I wanted to yell out, not to rub it in her face or something but I wanted the whole world to know who she was to me and how I felt towards her. I didn't say it and looked awkwardly at Monae, she already had her eyes on me. It was as if she was also waiting to hear who she was to me.

Women!

"She's my friend." I blurted out, looking away from Monae and tucked my hand in my jeans pocket. Tessa stared at me like I had just grown an extra head then at Monae. She looked at her closely from top to down, repeating her action.

She was getting on my last nerves already. Why scrutinize her if you don't believe me. We aren't really friends but she knows much about me and knows of all the species in the world, it is females I stay aware from and don't befriend so I get her reaction, but why take your surprise on someone else.

"I need some clothes for her, that's why we're here and we seem to be in a hurry too so if you don't mind. Show us what you've got."

"Sure, sure, do come with me." She clasped her hands, saying that and with a big smile on her face that was forced, it didn't reach her eyes which were hooked on Monae. "I have just what you want."

We followed her deeper into her shop and stopped at the latest designs section when she stopped and turned to us. "These came in just yesterday so mind you they are expensive, but nothing you can't buy."

"I didn't ask for the price Tessa, I told you we wanted clothes so the price tag doesn't matter."

"I know." She curtly replied, getting down to business. She searched through each rack for clothes that were to my tase and soon, her hands were overloaded with different clothes ranging from whatever names ladies give them. "Follow me miss."

I nodded at Monae who glanced over her shoulders at me before she was dragged into the changing room by Tessa.

As they left, I pulled out my phone and sat down to wait for them. I casually went on Instagram and while I was there, a post from Monae's account popped up.

I tapped on it as my curiosity got the best of me. Someone had posted using her account, telling her followers she was deleting her Instagram account. I scoffed, these people really have time on their hands and if they will sell, I'll gladly buy a country load of it. They're really pathetic, throwing her out wasn't enough and now they're impersonating her too?

Really?

I was there laughing to myself after leaving her page and watching something worthwhile when I felt someone standing in front of me.

Raising my head, I widened my eyes in disbelief. It was Monae's look alike looking sexy and hot as hell. I mean hot like Kim K and Rihanna hot.

She donned a red knee length dress and looking at it, it's a turtle neck. That was what I thought till she turned her back to me, revealing her bare skin. I wish I could grimace at it but I couldn't, the dress wasn't appropriate yet it suited her perfectly as if it was only made for her.

"Do you like it?"

"Nah I don't, wanted to know if you liked it since you brought me shopping."

"And do you care so much for what I want? That too for this dress?"

She nodded in response.

"I like it but it's inappropriate so there goes your answer."

"Since you like it, I'll buy it and display it in my room for you to see." She grin childishly and left before I could say anything.

Monae's POV

It was hot, like scorching hot. With the way the sun is burning you would think it's Summer already but it isn't. I need to get outta here fast lest I get charred and turn into an Oreo.

Not only did I spot Michy's black Bentley when I scanned around the parking lot to find a cool shade to stand under and get away from the burning son, I also saw him leaning against the car door.

He was clad in a slim fit navy blue tailored suit with his think biceps bulging out as he crossed his arms over his chest and lower his gaze after adjusting the shades he wore.

I gulped thickly and quickly looked away lest I was caught ogling over him like the first day we met at home. I was really silly back there and thinking about it everyday makes me throw back my head with a silly smile on my face, I behaved like a stupefied teen then. No wonder he couldn't stop staring at me with that crazy amused look.

For some reason which is best known to him, he picks me up from lectures everyday since I started living with him, btw that's almost a month ago. He will always tell me to text him so he sends the driver to pick me up but when I come into the lot like today, I find him here waiting for me instead of the driver.

It isn't like I'm complaining, no, what I don't get is, he's a very busy man who has a lot of people pushing him here and there for business but in spite of all this, he still finds time to pick me up when the driver could have.

It makes me feel there's more to this whole thing than it looks. There's something else there aside this I'm only doing what a good friend is supposed to do shit he tells me anytime I ask him why he does all this.

First, he gave me a place to stay then took me out for shopping at a designer store but we ended up buying a whole closet at other stores and that isn't the only thing. Michy bought me a new phone, a more advanced one than what I was previously using. He allows me so whatever I want at home and lately, he agrees with whatever I say even if he doesn't like it.

Like a week ago before dinner, Asabrewaa, his cook asked what we wanted for dinner and I immediately said beef curry with vegetable rice because I had been craving so much for it for sometime little did I know Michy was allergic to red meat. Though she looked at Michy weirdly, he told her to go ahead and since I didn't know, I didn't ask questions.

He ate it and ended up sick the next day, he couldn't go to work that day and had to stay home as he was down with diarrhea aside itching and wheezing. I felt bad after learning about his allergy to red meat but he told me it was fine, it wasn't my fault because I didn't know.

So you see? I think there's more to it. Only I can't pin point a finger to it because I'm clueless as to what it is.

I pushed those thoughts away and quickened my steps to him. He must have sensed my presence because he lifted his head as I got close to him. He took off his shades and stuffed it into his pocket then looked at the bag of practical items I had in hand.

"Hey." He muttered, grabbing the bag from my hand before I prevent him from doing so.

"Hi." I said, smiling shyly. I don't know why I was shy, maybe it was the way his fingers brushed mine as he took the bag that made me flush or his usual slight raspy voice that always seems to send tingling sensations within me that caused it.

I watched as he opened the door for me to sit in the car after dumping the bag at the back seat. His muscles ripping out as he did so, I was sure I was salivating, I'm a fan of thick sweaty muscles. Though it wasn't sweaty, it managed to make me stare at it kinda dreamily.

"Are we going home?" I asked, looking away from his arms to his face, his biceps were distracting in a way.

He glanced at me briefly before looking back at the road as we were now on the busy streets. "Do you have anywhere you wanna go?"

"Uhm no." I replied him, falling back in my seat. I looked out of the car to stare at the moving people and buildings but my thoughts wouldn't allow me.

I had only asked him that just to make sure he wasn't having an unfinished work at the office. He can't possibly abandoned them just so he can play chauffeur when there's someone there to do that besides I've read so much about how he loves to work and earn more money that he can call his own.

According to the reports, he is from a very wealthy family but after high school, he chose to leave home and start his own business while he went to the university.

So why stop what you're passionate about just to do something which isn't obligatory?

Michy gently tapped my nose which made me look at him and when I did, I saw him wearing an amused grin on his face as he stared at me when he should be focusing on the road. But hey, I don't feel the car moving. Huh? Oh yeah! It dawned on me, he has parked the car.

"I know what you're thinking Nae and you're right about it."

"What I'm I thinking about?"

"That I have work waiting for me at the office yet I'm here being your chauffeur." He said as if reading my thoughts and smiled. I stiffened for a sec when I felt his hand slide to my thighs but relaxed when he made for my hand, squeezing it. "I actually don't mind if I'm here driving you when I have workload at the office waiting for me to get to them. I enjoy doing these things for me. I know you've read about my love for money but trust me, I value life and relations more than that. Money stays with you forever yeah, but they don't give you the happiness your loved ones give you."

"What do you mean?" I understood what he said perfectly, I only wanted him to elaborate further cause I knew he was talking about me.

"All I'm trying to say is, I don't care much for work and money more than I do for you." He replied me, pulling back his hand to run his fingers through his hair. "You mean so much to me more than you can ever think of." He said in a solemn voice, looking away from me.

But I saw the sincerity with which he spoke on his face before he looked away. Something, definitely something, a feeling I have no idea about spread through my heart warmly when I head him utter those words which were surprisingly ringing repeatedly in my ears.

My heart fluttered rapidly in my chest, I mean so much to him! I get it, that is why he goes out of his way to do all these to make me happy.

But wait, he said so much. Does that mean.....?

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