Chapter 20: Chapter 20

TWENTY- THE KISS AND THE CONFESSSION

A knock sounded at the door, causing Louisa to jump with a start at its suddenness. Naa Larley laughed. "Jeez, relax girl." She teased. Turning her gaze to the door she hollered.

"Come in!"

The two friends watched as the door tentatively opened to reveal a smartly dressed Chris Ayettey holding a bouquet of tulips in his arms.

"Good evening ladies." He greeted after he had shut the door behind him, eyes opening in surprise when his gaze landed on the woman sitting upright on the hospital bed.

"Naa Larley?" He turned to look at Louisa for confirmation as Naa Larley proudly grinned and answered. "The one and only."

Chris was still stunned. "God, I can't believe this." He muttered as Louisa stood up to take the beautiful flowers from his grasp and place them in the second vase that sat at the only desk in the room, right next to the bunch of roses.

He looked at her accusingly. "You didn't tell me Naa Larley was the ill friend." Louisa glared back with equally accusing eyes. "Well, I didn't know you were going to come here. Stalker much?"

"You can't blame me for wanting to be with you in a stressful moment." Chris shrugged. "We barely spend enough time as it is, so I just thought I'd pass by."

Louisa nodded. Well she had nothing more to say to that. Plus, Chris was right... they really were very busy people, and the only date they had had was ruined by William, so the calls he made to her each night were the only ways they were able to hangout.

Naa Larley looked on at the exchange in delight. She could definitely see some sparks... but unfortunately, she was team William, she really hoped he and Louisa would get back together, but that didn't mean if Chris could be the better option, she wouldn't be up for it.

"So Chris, what is it that you do now?" She asked, curious.

"Oh." Chris started, glancing at Louisa for a minute.

"Well... I, uh do a little bit of this and that."

Naa grinned. "Well... can you be a little more specific?"

Louisa sighed. It was going to be a very long night. Reaching into her jeans pocket for her phone, her stomach rumbled all of a sudden reminding her that she hadn't had dinner yet. Thankfully, it wasn't that audible... That had been her saving grace for she didn't know how she would have acted if Chris had heard such an embarrassing sound.

"You guys keep talking. I'm going to get myself something to eat, I'm starving." She said and stood up, pushing her chair back with her legs to scooch past Chris.

She turned to the two when she got to the door.

"You guys want anything?"

"Naah... I'm good." Chris said.

"No thanks." Naa Larley chimed in.

Louisa stepped out of the room and paused for a moment, deliberating over whether to use the stairs, or the elevator. She didn't really like both of them... stairs were too much work, and elevators were pretty scary when you had a little claustrophobia, but she was very hungry, and plus... She had to hurry and get back to her friend, so she decided to go with the elevator.

She was going to press a button when the elevator doors opened, and guess who stared back at her... William freaking Blankson.

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"Oh God, what have I done today to deserve this?" Louisa muttered as she turned on her heel and tried to make a dash for it. But William was quicker and pulled her into the elevator with him, waving his hands in front of the door's motion sensors to enable it close faster.

He pressed on the emergency button as the four-walled compartment began its downward descent, halting its movement and practically trapping them in.

"ARE YOU CRAZY? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? GET ME OUT OF HERE!!" Louisa screamed, getting hysterical and William, too worked out to understand what was happening equally shouted back,

"HOW ABOUT YOU TELL ME ABOUT MY DAUGHTER FIRST?"

He watched as the mother of his child began to frantically pace and pull on the ends of her hair. He still didn't get it... his mind was so focused on getting an answer to his question, that it took Louisa sinking to the floor and pulling her knees up to her chin for him to figure it out. The woman was having a panic attack!

"Oh my God, Louisa! Louisa! It's alright, it's alright. I'm here." He rushed out, sinking to his knees as well and pulling her into his arms.

"You're safe. You're in the elevator with me... it's not stuck, I hit the emergency button because I wanted to talk to you."

Louisa was still hysterical, but she was becoming more aware of her surroundings now.

"Shh. It's alright Lou. There, there. I'm here now. I've got you." She heard him say, as she pressed her body some more against his, feeling protected and comforted in his arms. She looked up at him, his bluish grey orbs swallowing hers in, his forehead inching closer to hers. She watched on, breath coming out in little gasps as his lips softly touched hers, her eyes fluttering closed as he leaned in some more to deepen their kiss. It felt just right, and honestly, they had it coming a long time ago... perhaps since the day they had chanced on one another again. Louisa felt her hands reach out, grasping unto his hair slightly and reveling in his soft, encouraging moans. The kiss had turned frantic now... like they both needed it to survive. Their lips moved in sync for so long, it was like they had suddenly forgotten the concept of breathing... till Louisa began to feel lightheaded and broke the kiss. William trailed a wet path down her neck, nose briefly nuzzling her right ear, mouth sucking on soft, perfume-scented skin and he groaned in delight at the quiet moans and whimpers the action had started. William jumped back with a start, shutting his eyes tightly for a moment, as Louisa tried to wrap her head around things... She was still quite in a daze.

"Uh... Will? Are you okay?" She whispered reaching out to touch him in a bid to see if he was okay but she stopped at his groan.

"Ugh... no give me a moment." He breathed out painfully, his action causing her to give him a once-over and she almost choked at the obvious erection... goodness, it must be painful, she thought to herself worriedly, snapping out of her thoughts when he groaned again.

"Stop looking at me like that Lou... ugh, you're really not helping." He managed to breath out.

Louisa scooted to her feet, hands reaching out for the emergency stop button when William beat her to it.

"Wait Louisa." He paused for a moment, appearing to be more in control of his physical urges.

"I wanted to know more about the girl I met at your office that day... your daughter... but I have to tell you why I left first. I'm sorry I got carried away."

Louisa shrugged. "I can't really blame you for that."

"Believe it or not, I brought you here to actually talk to you." He sank back on the floor, and she joined him again... keeping some distance between them so she could be able to focus.

William dove right into it. "Have you ever heard of the Italian mafia?" He asked, nodding as Louisa shook her head in the negative.

He continued. "They are a crime syndicate usually based in Europe but with... let's call it branches all over the world."

Louisa was curious. "Well, what do they have to do with what happened fifteen years ago?"

He smirked. "You really are impatient, woman. Relax, I'm getting there."

"To keep everything short, they lent my dad some money back when he was in the States and when he couldn't pay, he fled the country to Ghana where he met my mum, and they had me. But here's the thing about the mafia, they'll always find you when they need to... no matter where you hide." He paused briefly when he saw Louisa shiver at his ominous tone, but she signalled for him to continue, and so he did.

"They found him when I turned 20, and I watched them kill my mum right in front of my eyes... It was horrible, and they were going to kill me too if my father hadn't made a deal with them to save my life. He had almost paid half of the debt, when he also passed on from depression and excessive drinking… that was around the time I met you."

He paused, stretching his long legs that seemed to have numbed a bit from being in one position for too long and then resumed once more.

"At first, when I started working for them, I did simple, normal things... like representing them in business deals and all that, but then, they wanted me to do more... stuff that were very illegal, and at first I refused, but one of my friends was kidnapped, and a picture of you and I on our first date appeared in a box at my door step, I didn't want you threatened in anyway, it would have killed me Lou." He looked into her eyes uncomfortably as he swallowed.

"And so I had done it Lou. I agreed to work for them. I took the next available flight to Europe, and never looked back or reached out to you for fear of putting you in danger." He looked into her eyes as she reached out for his hand to console him, wiping away a stray tear with her other free hand.

"By the time the debt had been paid, ten years had passed, Louisa, and I resigned myself to the fact that you had moved on... that you would never be mine again. You can imagine my surprise, and relief to have returned after all these years only to find you single... or divorced? I don't know and I honestly don't care, but I couldn't be with Reggie anymore. You are the one I love Lou, and if there's even an iota of a chance for us to be together, it'd be enough for me." He finished gently.

Louisa sat there quietly, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Isabel is your daughter." She whispered, and smiled at the relieved look on the handsome, weary man's face.

Her blaring phone ruined the moment, causing them both to scramble to their feet. She answered the call, as William pressed on a button to resume their descent.

"Where are you Louisa? Are you okay?" She heard Chris ask with concern.

"Oh...yeah Chris, the uhm... queue is quite long, I'll be up soon." She lied through her teeth, rolling her eyes when William raised his eyebrows inquiringly.

The lift opened and Louisa headed for the cafeteria, William in tow. She noticed he was following her and stopped abruptly.

"Where are you going?" She quizzed.

"I'm going with you to wherever you are going." He answered, scratching his head nervously at the admission as Louisa sighed. God, he was cute but she couldn't do this tonight. She couldn't pretend like everything was fine, like... ugh she didn't even know anymore.

"Look Will, please. I think I've had a lot to deal with today. Go home, I beg you... a-and l- let's talk about this tomorrow." She begged, and as he looked at her, he was overcome with love, and understanding. She was right, it really was a whole lot to take in.

"Alright." He conceded with a nod.

"I'll see you tomorrow. Oh, and tell Naa Larley I sent my regards... and that I wish her speedy recovery.

Louisa nodded in acknowledgment and watched him stalk off, then turned back, heading for Naa Larley's ward. Her appetite had fled so there was no need going to the cafeteria. This time however, she headed for the stairs, she had had enough of elevators for quite a while.