Chapter 16: Chapter 16

THE DILEMMA

"Meet me in five minutes at the restaurant," Jemimah said before shutting the door behind her.

"What kind of creature is this?" Jason soliloquized. Nonetheless, he changed into a trouser. After that, the athlete left the room hurriedly.

When he got to the restaurant on the first floor of the hotel, Jason saw Jemimah seated beside a massive aquarium. Standing next to her was a very huge man almost twice his size. He wore a pair of jeans and a black T- shirt. There was a placard in his hands which read, "No autographs allowed!"

'What is happening?' Jason thought to himself. 'I hope this isn't the part where I ruin my life by myself?'

It wasn't long before Jemimah noticed that he was around. Therefore, she waved at him and made a sign. Jason knew what she meant, so he walked towards her table and sat down.

"When last did you speak to your manager?" she asked him as soon as he took his seat. There were fans here and there staring at them. But both of them acted indifferent.

"Earlier today, why?"

"Have you seen the news?"

"No I haven't," he replied. "Actually, I don't normally do so until my morning activities are completely done. But I was about to before you arrived."

"Are you really as disciplined as you claim to be?" She fixed her eyes on his face. "Or is this all part of your grand seduction plan?"

Her words weren't very pleasant to Jason's ears. But he controlled himself. "You should be the judge of that," he retorted. All of a sudden, there was a very lovely smile on her face. It was the widest Jason had ever seen. 'Is this some kind of bribe for being so uptight all this while?' he asked himself.

She looked at the giant standing by her side. In response to that, he bent down and grabbed a bag close to his left foot. Then he handed it over to her.

Jason wondered why he didn't see the bag when he first walked in. He was obviously so intrigued by the man's terrifying frown and stature that his attention didn't go anywhere close to the Goliath's feet or the bag.

Jemimah opened the bag and showed him a tabloid. Then she also gave him her phone. Pictures and short clips had become widespread. They showed him gallivanting around the city of Lordham with her.

While the player was still really stunned by the news. Jemmy told him to calm down. "It's all Milverton FC's propaganda."

"How am I supposed to be calm?" he asked. 'Is my greatest fear beginning to unfold?'

"Did you just raise your voice at me?" she asked. And her giant grunted.

"What do you mean by that?" Jason was tense. "Do you think I'm scared of your pet? I don't know why you are being overly dramatic right now!" He was barely done talking when his phone began to ring. It was his manager.

"Hi!" He picked up the call.

"I told you to be careful, but what did you do instead? You became Romeo!" He was very angry as regards the recent development. "You have to return home immediately in order to accept the contract and pacify your loyal fans who gave you a chance when you had nothing!'

For the first time since they worked as a team, his manager hung up on him. That was to show the extent of his anger and the intensity of the situation the athlete suddenly found himself in.

"It's my manager." The expression on Jason's face changed immediately. He could no longer conceal how restless he had been all day. "He told me to…"

"Sshhh!" Jemimah placed her index finger on her lips. She didn't let him finish talking. "I'm sorry about accusing you of shouting. But you have got to hear me out." The change in her tone was totally unexpected. Jason liked it whenever she spoke to him heart to heart. "What do you want to say?"

"Tell me you aren't going anywhere," she said. "I want you to stay."

"I don't… I can," he stuttered.

"You occupy my nights and still crown my day. The woman you love is here and she needs you by her side always. I am not meant for long distance relationships. Pursue your sweetheart and keep me safe!"

Jason became faced with a dilemma. After staring at her in shock for almost half a minute, he got up and walked away. When he went out of sight, Jemimah left as well. And her Goliath hurried after her.