Chapter 24: Chapter 24

~Akeyla’s POV~

“I made you your favorite dish my love…” I stared at Mrs. Stella who was smiling broadly at me.

I smiled at her and moved my eyes to the several dishes served on the table. This whole was new to me, I had never had such extravagant meal in my life and the food that she said was my favorite, was something I had never eaten in my entire life before. Throughout the night, I had been going through the information that Mr. Martins had given to me and trust me, I was nervous as hell. I stared at the food and gulped hard before I picked up the cutlery that had been properly laid on the table.

“Miss Ella.”

I slowly took a bit from the food.

“Miss Ella.”

That was the second time a feminine voice called that name…Wait, that was my name now, I had totally forgotten. Don’t blame me; I couldn’t possibly get used to the name in less than three days. I turned around to the direction of the voice and I saw a maid standing close to me.

“Um… yes?” I smiled at her.

She stared at me for a while as if she had forgotten what she wanted to tell me before she quickly brought out a phone and stretched it out to me.

“You have a call.” She said quickly and I could tell that she was frightened. Why was she scared?

I nodded my head and collected the phone from her. “Thank you.” I smiled at her. She blinked rapidly and remained standing like she was glued to the spot. Was I acting weird? Why did she keep looking at me?

“You may go now, Akira.” Ella’s grandma, grandma Sarah dismissed the maid.

The maid snapped her head to her direction and nodded quickly before she walked away. I sighed before I glanced at the phone screen. I blinked continuously when I saw a random number on the screen. Should I answer? What if it was someone that knew Ella? There was no name on the screen and I did not want to mess up. I quickly declined the call and placed the phone on the table before I picked back the cutlery.

“Why didn’t you answer, Ella?” Mrs. Stella asked me as she cut her meat into smaller sizes.

I smiled at her, “Um, don’t worry about it mom, I’m sure it’s a prank call.”I said to her.

She nodded, “Alright.”

I sighed and gulped and just as I was about to start eating, the phone rang again. I looked at the screen and saw the same random number. It could be that the person knew Ella.

“You can just answer it, dear.” Mrs. Stella said to me.

I nodded and forced a smile before I reached for the phone again. I slide to answer before I placed the phone against my ear.

“He… Hello.”

“My father wouldn’t give me a break until I call you…” That was the first the person said at the other end of the call. It was a male’s voice. Who on earth was this? “I might not really like you but I don’t hate you either so… it wouldn’t be so bad to call you.” The voice added.

Okay, who was this and what was the person talking about? Don’t say anything Akeyla, just listen. My innermost mind advised me.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t die…” The voice continued. “But it’s quite sad that you recovered this quickly.”

Wait, what? Who on earth was this person? How could he say something like that so bluntly? He couldn’t actually be a friend of Ella right?

“Hello, are you even there?” I heard him ask in a higher tone.

I cleared my throat. “Um…Thanks for… for reaching out then.” Great, that was all I should say since I did not know him, I wouldn’t want to say something stupid but why would he say something like that though? He didn’t wish her a quick recovery? There was no way this person could be her friend. Should I ask who he was? Should I not? No no, I should, I should ask who he was.

“Um, sorry but who am I speaking with?”

The person did not say anything for a moment and I guessed he was shocked I did not know him but it wasn’t my fault. She did not even save his contact so how was I supposed to know?

“Well I understand that you may not have my number but couldn’t you have at least recognized my voice? We have spoken before or do you have any other person who their father would force them reach out to you?”

Okay, that wasn’t the answer I expected to hear from this person. Shouldn’t he just tell me his name or who he was? Why must he be rude in everything?

“Well um, I have no idea who you are so could you just tell me your name?” I asked. From the corner of my eyes, I could see Mrs. Stella and Grandma Sarah staring throwing glances at me. I bet they would ask me who I was speaking to once I ended the call.

“Wow, you never seize to amaze me...” the person said and it was clear he was being sarcastic. He sighed before he continued. “Do you have another fiancé elsewhere or did you hurt your head during the accident?”

Ouch. Could this person be less crude? How could he say a thing like that? Who on earth… Wait, did he say fiancé? My eyes widened as I quickly realized who he was. It was Jayson Abiola, Ella’s soon to be contract husband. I recalled it well when Mr. Martins said if there was anyone I should not forget, it should be him because he was the main reason why I was here to impersonate his daughter.

“Oh, it’s you.” Oh it’s you? Oh God, what was I saying?

I heard him scoffed. “Of course it is and it’s more annoying that I have to pay you a visit as well.”

Pay me a visit? Wait, he was going to come here?

“You… You are coming over?”

“Yes.” He answered curtly.

“Why?”

“Why? You couldn’t possibly be asking me that. Listen, hurry up and get back on your feet so we can get this done with alright?” And that was it, the line went dead.

I moved the phone away from my ear and stared at the phone screen in disbelief. Was this actually the guy Mr. Martins wanted his daughter to marry? Even if it was only a contract marriage, how would she have been able to cope with such a crude and rude person? And me, how was I going to cope with this person?

“Ella?”

Mrs. Stella’s voice startled me and I turned to her. “Yes, mom?”

“Is everything okay?” She asked me with a concerned expression. She was a really lovely person. I could tell that she loved her daughter very much and it made me feel more guilty for deceiving her but well, I needed the money.

“Everything is fine.” I answered her.

“Who was that?” Grandma Sarah asked me as she wrapped her hand over my shoulder.

“It was um… It was Jayson, grandma.” I replied her with a smile.

“Oh, Jayson? What did he say?”

“He wanted to check up on me.”

Grandma Sarah pursed her lips before she nodded her head. “That is sweet of him…” Sweet of him my foot. I bet she wouldn’t say the same about him if she heard what he actually told me. “At least he is reasonable enough to check up on you.”

I nodded, “Yes.” I answered quickly before I reached for the cutlery again to start eating.

After we finished eating, Mrs. Stella left for work while I and Grandma Sarah sat down in the sitting room to watch TV.

“If you find the whole think too uncomfortable and hard, you can always call it off Aniyah darling…” Grandma Sarah started to say few minutes into the movie. I guessed she was talking about the engagement. “I do not want you to be forced into something you don’t want.”

I turned to her and smiled. She was really caring and sweet. “It’s fine grandma. It’s um… It’s only for a year, it would be over soon.”

Grandma Sarah smiled, “If that Jayson boy gives you any problem, let me know…” She beat her chest. “I will give him a beating or two.”

I chuckled, “Of course, I will let you know.”

She smiled at me and relaxed her head against the chair before she sighed. “You know, I was really scared when I saw you lying almost lifelessly covered in blood that day. Do you know what went through my mind then?” She tilted her head to look at me.

I gulped nervously and shook my head.

“I thought about those times when you asked me to take you to my hometown and when I had refused. I pleaded desperately for you to come back to me so I would at least fulfill that to you.” She smiled at me.

Hometown? What hometown? That had not been mentioned to me yet. What would I do, how would I respond to her?

“You must have been really scared, grandma.” I reached for her hand and caressed it.

She placed her hand on top of mine and sighed. “Yes, my darling, I was.”She slowly patted my head. “I am so happy you are back with us, safe and sound.” I gulped and gave her slight smile. I could feel my heart beat faster as I grew anxious. What if things went wrong? What if Ella could not wake up later?

I shook the thought off my head abruptly. No, I shouldn’t think about something like that.

“You… You don’t have to feel scared grandma. I’m here now; we can do a lot of things together.”

She smiled at me. “I will take you to my hometown very soon, okay?”

“Hometown? Uh, yes yes, of course, I would love that.” I smiled nervously at her.

She smiled back at me.

XOXO