Chapter 13: Chapter 13

TAKEN twelve

Getting to his fitness class, Marcus wondered why he was here the second time in a day. He pondered on Jenifer's sudden call this evening. He was not expecting it. There were no classes at evening so the class was empty, he head to his instructor's office. There she sat roaming her eyes into some books on her table, she raised her head up and saw Marcus standing at the door. She gave a warm smile and stood on her feet too.

"You sounded urgent" Marcus eyes rolled hesitating to come in even with her welcoming smile. Seeing her on her feet he sighted the new dress she was wearing, different from the one he saw in the morning, she didn't look like his fitness instructor here, but she really looked fit.

She was a work of expertise.

"Well, you could just take a sit and know why you're really here Mr Marcus" she said and after giving it some thoughts he finally comes into her office and takes a seat directly in front of her. He doubted every move she was going to make and was especially angry they were all alone in the fitness room. He didn't see any need for her unnecessary smile especially after their little argument in the morning. But he had the urge to come here this evening when he received her call, it was strange so he had to come.

"I want to apologize for earlier Mr Marcus. I let my personal life get in the way and instead wrongly gave you an impression about your wife. I had no idea it would cause a rift between you two and I totally regret my actions"

"Why didn't you say this on the phone?"

"You wouldn't see how sorry I am" she said with remorseful eyes and face. He studied her for some while, if she had truly said it over the phone or texted it, he might not take it as serious as this, so she gets a win on that part.

"What do you mean let your personal life get in the way" Marcus wasn't the type to throw ladies words away, he could see how sadly Jenifer said that statement and definitely knew she wanted someone to pour it out too.

"I..I..was in an abusive relationship. For a very long time. It affected my thinking and way of life. I literally see anyone in a relationship as a waste of time and always try to tell my story to prove that these people are all the same" Jenifer wouldn't say her personal story to anyone. Especially not a new student in her class, but due to the closeness she tried to demand from Marcus, she had to and it really hurt her to see she was a victim of an abusive relationship. She was strong and never knew something like this would happen to her or in fact break her down. She started passing aggressive traits and only cares about how well she grew.

"I'm sorry about that" Marcus felt pity for her. She smiled  and tried to shrug it off but he knew how much that hurt and her smile couldn't cover that up either.

"Come to think of it Jenifer, you should definitely be up for revenge, all these fitness exercise ain't for nothing, I have your back too" he said and she laughed hard. She continued laughing and he joined her too. He was glad he could make her genuinely smile, that was the aim of the joke and while he said it, he prayed she got the hint. Glad she did.

When she laughed to her satisfaction and stopped, they stared at each other and she still stifled a laugh too as he smiled broadly.

"If you're not in a hurry-" she said bringing out a wine and two cup beside her desk and putting it on the table. "Let's take few sips" she said.

~~~~

There was some sort of confidence and liberty in Flora as she drove her car, sometimes she went slow, sometimes she went fast, sometimes she drove roughly, sometimes smoothly. She played the music of her choice and sang loudly with it. All this was because the boss she hated was in her own car. It gave her a different kind of joy she couldn't explain and she would definitely cherish this night.

"Stop at the next restaurant you see" Allen said to her. She turned to look at him with her mouth slightly bent to the side in annoyance .She hated his guts and it upset every cells in her. She suddenly stopped the car and turned to him.

"Am I like your driver or something. This is my car and I'm offering you a ride, you can't tell me what or what not to do"she blurted to his face.

Allen paused for some minutes. He hadn't felt like he had a sister since he was born, but he definitely feels it now, there's some sort of childish confidence he liked and it really looked like he had a furious and angry  kid sister that is annoyed he didn't send her gifts for her birthday party. He didn't know why Flora was rude to him though, but he had seen her type and more with his previous boss and definitely know how to handle people like that. He just kept his cool because It was Marcus fault he had to go through this insult tonight, not Flora's.

" I would love to eat dinner at a restaurant before heading home"He informed. He didn't want to go home immediately if he was not going with Marcus, he knew what he would face at home and didn't like the idea tonight, he didn't want to fall for her temptations, he wanted to hang around till he confirms Marcus was heading home. "So please, stop me at the next restaurant" he politely asked when before she got more furious than that.

She sighed heavily and started the engine of her car again. "I would just drop you off" she told him.

"That's fine, I can get a taxi from there. Thank you" he said.

She accelerated as she joined the other cars on the road. She wasn't expecting a polite reply from Allen, she got an order from Marcus to take him home and would definitely not leave him at the restaurant if she didn't want to lose her job. But she wanted him to plead with her to drop him home and that's why she threatened to just drop him to eat. She was surprised at his cold reaction and silently prayed all her rude behaviour does not have a repercussion on her at work tomorrow.

"Here" she said pulling up at a space near the restaurant. He opened the door of her car and got down from it, he bent down to the window and said "Thank you ma'am" before entering the restaurant. She didn't feel comfortable with that so she hurriedly got off from the car and ran after him.

"Allen sir!" she called loudly. He stopped and turned to her, that would probably be the first time he heard her call him that.

"Can I join you sir?" she asked, this time around politely and not like the Flora in the car.