Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Romans POV

After my conference meeting yesterday, I promised to hang out with Jane and Jennifer this weekend.

It's Friday.

I read through some paper work trying to clear the bulk documents on my desk, and soon there was soft knock on my door.

"Mr. Romans, you've a visitor" Paige said loudly through the door.

"Let them in" I said absentmindedly.

My office door pulled open and I lift my gaze away from documents.

It was Eliora.

"Good morning sir" Eliora greeted politely.

"Good day" I said.

"Go ahead and sit" I beckoned for her to sit across me.

"Anything?" I asked.

"Romans you see.." Eliora begins but I cut her off.

"You use the word Mr. Romans here" I said rudely.

"Mr. Romans, I think I have an issue" Eliora said sadly.

Her gaze were avoiding mine.

"What's it?" I asked slyly but inside of me, I was concerned.

"My elder sister visited me yesterday" Eliora said.

"And..?" I asked cryptically.

"And.. you know she knows about our relationship" she struggles to speak.

"So?" I asked anxiously.

"My parents invited us to have diner with them this Saturday" she said nervously.

"Did you tell them we're still together?" I asked in astonishment.

"Yeah I did. I couldn't hide it as Rebecca was expectant to hear some good news" she said.

"I'm not free and I'm not also interested in this game" I said bluntly.

"You need to help me Romans" she pleas pitifully.

"Why should I help you?" I asked anxiously.

"I'll pay you then? Or... I'll help you fulfill any three wishes of yours" she stutters impatiently.

"Any three wishes of mine?" I asked in a sarcastic interested tone and she nod.

"I'll drive you there then" I said.

"Really?" She reacts happily.

"Yes but don't get your hopes up, I'll be getting married soon" I reminded annoyingly.

"I understand" she nods but her expression changed.

"You can leave then" I said politely.

"Sure. Thanks" Eliora said and proceed towards the door.

"Eliora" I called out and she turn.

"Yes sir?" She responded.

"See you this weekend" I said.

"Okay" she nods and leave the office.

I sighed.

"How do I explain this to Jane and Jennifer? Was I too easy to accept her deal?"

"Arg!" My thoughts continued running wild and I lost control of it and pause my current work.

Eliora's POV

I'm the water quenching the fire in him...It seems so.

I didn't expect him to accept so fast! This is surreal.

I searched my closet looking for the best outfit that I've got, I searched like a crazy duck in love.

I took out a mini flay flowery dress and place on my chest looking at the mirror.

"Perfect!" I exclaimed as I begin dressing.

I applied a warm make up on my face, straightened my eye lashes with the mascara, gathered my hairstyle into a beautiful bun with hairpins, I took my small purse and was ready to leave.

"I'm outside" Romans text bing into my phone.

"How did he get my number or did he still have it?" I thought as I take a last look at the mirror and left the house.

I hurriedly walk out of the estate and saw Romans standing beside a sharp red spider car operating his phone, I approached him.

"You're here..." Romans paused as he look at me.

He didn't say any word and I felt shameful.

Did I apply the wrong tone of make up? Was the dress awful? How do I look?

I couldn't get what was running in his head, I stood there like a coward while he stared at me... in silence.

"I'm ready" I said loudly in reminder.

"Oh! Yeah! Yes" he nod as if confuse and lost.

"Let's go" I said.

"Sure" he open the door for me.

He wasn't looking bad, I have always been seeing him on suit so it was nothing new.

The ride remain silent as Romans steal glances with me, I blushed.

"What do we do?" Romans asked.

"How?" I asked.

"Meeting your parents? How do we act?" Romans asked anxiously.

"As couple do" I said absentmindedly.

"Seriously?" He eyes widen.

"Yeah" I nod shyly.

"Is your favorite still Chinese fries?" He asked.

Woa! He still remembers, I smiled.

"Yes" I nod.

"And your favorite remains Roast Pepper and Pasta salad" I said.

"Yeah" he nod.

"What else?" He asked.

"Do you plan on engaging me soon?" I asked and we both fell silent.

We stare at each other for a while before he face the road.

"We... We're only faking it, Eliora" he stutters.

"Yeah but my parents will definitely ask" I insisted.

"Till then" he rattles out and I nodded.

Romans iPhone which was connected to the car bluetooth rings and he immediately answered it.

"Hey babe!" Jennifer's voice comes out from the speaker, I remained daze.

"Hey hun" he said.

"How are you?" Jennifer asked.

"Doing great and you?" He asked.

"Am good. Where are you at?" Jennifer asked anxiously.

"Joining a friend to his family gathering, will be back home soon" he lied but remain reserve.

I couldn't believe men lie so truthfully, I smirked.

"Okay bae. Take care and love you" Jennifer said.

"You too" he said and the call ended, I sighed.

"What?" He asked giving me a dekko.

"Nothing" I leaned on the car window.

Romans increased the music which was playing "Say You Love Me by Jessie Ware", it was one of my favorite music I listen to when reading novels.

"Should I change it?" He asked politely.

"No" I shook my head.

"Sure" he relax on the seat staring at the road attentively while rubbing his forehead.

Romans POV

As she walked out of the gate, I remain glued to her beauty.

"Woah! She's so pretty!"

"Where have such diamond been?"

"The last time I saw her, she wasn't this... Pretty and all glammed up".

I couldn't control the urge of staring at her like a fool, she captivated my heart again at that moment.

She. Eliora.

Was one beautiful lady that I can't stay without even when I claimed to be getting married soon.

I start the engine and rode into the street and we remain silent. I wanted to start a conversation but I just didn't know the right words to say.

Her eyes, we're still pretty.

Her lips, still calls for me.

Her hair, were still golden and natural.

I love the woman she has become.

Rubbing my forehead with my eyes on the road, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I still wanted to look at her but, she will only take me for a ... coward, right?

"Romans, we are here" Eliora said.

"Here?" I asked anxiously.

"Yes" she nods.

"Sure" I curbed the car to the nearby park and stop the engine.

"Ready?" I asked with smile on my face.

"Ready" she smiled.

Eliora's POV

I alighted from the car and Romans followed.

Some of you will be thinking my house is one in a hell beautiful and very big but I'm so sorry to disappoint you.

It's been a long time since I have visited this district. I took my time to stare at my family building.

It was a small bungalow painted light blue but the paint were peeling off and covered with green algae, around the house was a small wooden door and passage. I caught sight of my dad's 2007 Toyota car which now had flat tyres and looked as if it haven't been used for quite some time.

I exhaled heavily.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

He just remain silent all these while staring at the house.

"I'm" I nodded.

I thought I was the only one suffering for the past few years, maybe others were.

"Let's go" I said.

Romans pull open the small wooden door and we walked closer to the main bullet proof door.

I knocked the door twice and it swings open.

"Eliora!" Rebecca screamed happily.

"Sister Becca" I smiled as we embrace each other tightly.

"This must be Romans" Rebecca said.

"Yeah" I nodded.

"Nice to meet you" Rebecca said with a smile.

"Pleasure is mine" Romans and Rebecca shook hands.

"Please come in" Rebecca ushered us into the house.

I and Romans walked into the empty living room while Rebecca left to call the others, again I started looking around.

Our house haven't changed one bit. There was no sign of renovation.... Nothing.

The old couch and armchairs was around the wooden center table, there's an old hunchback Panasonic television. Across the room was another room with bead-like curtain, there were six black leather chairs around the long table, I assumed it to be the dinning room.

I left Romans who sat quietly on the armchair into the kitchen, the wall paint was fading away though the kitchen is neat.

I walked out of the kitchen and lift my gaze to the wooden stairs, it looked old and a little bit broken. It can break anytime.

"What has mum and dad being doing with their money?"

The thought wander in my head as I strolled back to the living room, even the tiles were looking musty and the brown center rug had some torn corners.

"Shrk!"

A light bulb sparks and went off, then I realized in a big house there was just three electricity bulbs and two were bad.

"Shame!" I screamed in my mind and couldn't even face Romans.

"Sister Liora!",

"Sister Liora!" a young handsome boy rushes from the stair and embraced me tightly.

I patted his back softly.

Meet Aiden, my young brother who's about eight years old. He's still in elementary school. Aiden is tall and has curly black hair. He took his beauty from dad and has the best sets of white teeth. Aiden has a small matte light pink lips with a sharp grey eyes. Aiden remains my favorite brother.

"Baby Aiden" I called with smile on my face.

"I miss you so much Sister Liora. Where have you been?" Aiden asked anxiously.

"I miss you to Aiden! So much" I said.

"Are you back with us now?" Aiden ask anxiously with his impatient rolling eyes.

"Maybe" I smiled.

"Romans meet my junior brother, Aiden" I said happily.

"Little Aiden" Romans called softly.

"I'm not little though. I'm Aiden" Aiden winks and I laughed.

"Oh really" Romans nods shamefully.

"Sister Liora, is he going to be your husband soon?" Aiden asked and I fell silent, all of us did.

"Who's getting married?" the loud voice of my father, Mr. Harrison Ganes broke the silence.

"Eliora!?" the coo voice of my mother calls out and I turned.

"Mum?" I said.

My mother and father haven't changed one bit. Wait. It's been two or even three years, why haven't anyone or anything changed but I have changed.

Meet Mrs. Bella Harrison Ganes, a very pretty young woman in her middle forties, she has the most beautiful smile with three folds on her forehead... It happens when she smile though. She has very pretty pairs of brown eyes and a long wavy brown hair, her lips are roughly pink and she is tall. She remains a workaholic wife and mother.

Meet Mr. Harrison Ganes, a not so handsome man in his late fifties, he has a nice light blue eyes which were hidden because of his medicated glasses, he hardly smile but when he does, heaven come down. He is always on low cut and has a black hair. He remains a workaholic husband and father.

I embraced my mother and father happily.

I was expecting some shouting or quarrel but none of those happened.

"How have you been dear?" Mrs. Bella asked lovingly.

"Let's do the talking in the dining room" Rebecca cut us off politely.

"Sure. Sure" Mr. Ganes nodded and we walk to the dining room.

Rebecca and Mrs. Bella served the dishes and we were ready to dig in. There were assorted dishes on the table and drink.

Rice, soup, chicken soup, beefs, spicy chicken, sandwich, gravy, dumplings, pasta.... I can't list them all.

The dining was packed with assorted meals.

"Delicious" I exclaimed smiling after tasting the chicken soup.

"Glad you love it" my mother said happily.

I should shun the ' Mrs. Bella' and ' Mr. Ganes' for now... Ridiculous.

"Mr. Romans, how do you see my daughter?" My dad asked anxiously as he eats delicately.

I nervously quaffed.

"She's nice" Romans nods and I smiled.

"Just nice?" Rebecca asked cryptically.

"Yeah. I love her" Romans said lovingly.

It seems he's so good at acting.

"When are we getting an invitation card? I mean, you both have been together for years now" my mum said rhetorically and everyone smiled.

"As for the wedding..." Romans begins and my heart started thumping skeptically.

Wedding? Wedding under a fake act? Can he host two weddings at a time? I haven't even thought about his three wishes... Will I be able to save myself?