Chapter 24: Chapter 24

TWENTY FOUR- FORGIVENESS AND CLOSURE

Almost two weeks had passed after Reggie's little incident with a certain handsome stranger and through it all, the model hadn't been able to stop thinking about the mysterious man.

It amazed her, how she had been able to have an actual conversation that had eventually led to what she wasn't so sure anymore was a mistake, for she didn't really make friends that easily... especially friends of the opposite sex, and she definitely didn't go round ending up in people's beds simply because she had had too much to drink.

She remembered how livid she had been with her girls...

Some friends they were, coaxing her out of the warm cocoon of her bed and then forcing her out there, encouraging her to drink, and then leaving her to her own devices. What if she had been kidnapped?

Yaayaa especially, had been super remorseful and Reggie being Reggie... very forgiving and unable to hold a grudge for long, had forgiven her, forgiven them all.

But even though she had cooped herself in her room all over again, she realised one thing... she wasn't that heartbroken anymore. It still hurt, but not like it did before.

She had no one but the sexy stranger to thank for this change, for he had given her the one thing she had been desperately seeking; hope.

She realised now that, life didn't revolve around William after all, that she could finally let him go because she could now see that if it wasn't meant to be, no amount of pushing or forcing could make it work.

But there was one thing she needed though; one thing she needed to do before she began her healing process.

She needed closure, and she was going to get it, but she needed to take a shower first and grab something to eat, then she'd pay William a visit at his office.

*****

"Louisa, when is your daughter meeting her father?" She heard her mother ask for the umpteenth time. She wasn't the only one asking though, Naa Larley was too, and so was Akua, now that she had come to know everything.

Louisa sighed. "Very soon, Mama. In fact, he's coming for Isa's musical concert tomorrow. I'll be passing by his office to give him the ticket." She rolled her eyes at her mother's squeal of delight.

"Does Isa know?" Mrs. Mensah asked, reaching for her cup of green tea. Her daughter nodded, a small smile on her face.

"She does, and it's funny... She doesn't really want to show it, but you can tell she's excited."

Mrs. Mensah laughed, the sound so hearty and full of mirth. "I don't know why she's trying to act so tough and nonchalant. She played her violin the whole afternoon yesterday, I even had to beg her to come eat dinner."

"Gossiping about someone behind their back is so not cool, guys." Isabel said, plopping down on one dining chair, and looking at her family in mock disdain.

Mrs. Mensah and Louisa jumped at the suddenness of the young girl's entry into the room, no one had heard her come in.

They were all frozen in time for a moment before everyone burst out in laughter.

"God, you really scared me Isa-"

"You scared us all!" Mrs. Mensah cut in, wiping a stray tear from her face from laughing so much. Louisa's reaction had been pretty hilarious.

Isabel grinned wickedly. "That will teach you not to gossip ever again." She said smugly. She reached out for two slices of bread and made herself some tea as the adults engaged in conversation butting in where she was needed.

******

William wasn't paying attention to the board's presentation and a glance at Chris told him the man wasn't paying attention as well.

William wondered what was bothering the guy. Louisa aside, he honestly cared about his friend and he could see that the man had not been himself for the past two weeks.

He made a mental note to go check up on him after the meeting.

But God he was excited! Louisa had finally agreed for him to meet his daughter! She was even passing by to drop his ticket for her musical concert. He had heard his daughter was an excellent violinist and he just couldn't wait to see her in action!

He cleared his mind and tried to concentrate on the meeting, while praying desperately for it to end.

He stepped out the conference room thirty minutes later and strode towards his office, halting in his tracks when his assistant called his name.

"Yeah?"

"Miss Mensah is here. I told her to wait in your office just like you asked." She said in a professional tone.

William nodded. "Thank you very much Lisa." He all but run to his office, the poor man was that excited.

"Morning Louisa," He greeted softly when he barged into the office so as to not scare her, but he did anyway. Scare her that is.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." He apologised, striding towards his desk and taking a seat.

"You look lovely, but then you always do." He complimented with a smirk when he was seated, smiling fully when she gave him a bored look. "Well, thank you... but I know that already, I always look good, my mirror and my mama always confirm it every time." She stated cheekily laughing at the oh-it's-on look on his face.

"Well, I think you have to hear it from someone else once in a while."

"Oh really?" Louisa asked, raising a perfectly plucked eyebrow in question, watching as William leaned closer, his hands clasped under his chin, eyes darkening appreciatively. Her gaze strayed absentmindedly to his hands... those clean and well trimmed finger nails, and long lean fingers... those fingers that had done wicked things to her all those years ago and made her a moaning mess. She briefly wondered if they could still get that same reaction out of her.

"You feel it too huh?" She heard William ask huskily as she shook her head to clear away the dangerous thoughts.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She denied sitting upright and breaking the connection, and the sexual tension that had begun to form around them.

She cleared her throat uneasily. "I uh... brought you the ticket, the time and venue have all been provided, so... uhm call me in case you need more help or can't make it or something."

He leaned in again, reaching for her hands. "Louisa," he called out, pinning her with his bluish grey gaze.

"I'm not missing Isabel's concert for the world." He smiled when Louisa smiled back and nodded, pulling her hands away and standing up shyly.

"Well, I'll be taking my leave now." She said.

William nodded, relaxing back in his chair. He called out her name when she got to the door.

"Yeah?" She turned to look at him.

"I couldn't ask for a more beautiful name for our daughter." He said, meaning in with all his heart.

Louisa smiled, a smile that one could tell was completely genuine this time.

"Thank you." She whispered and stepped out.

****

"Where's Chris?" William asked his assistant as he approached and was told he wasn't in his office.

"He didn't say where he was going but, I'm guessing he went downstairs to get something from his car." She replied.

William nodded curtly. "Well alright, could you tell him I came by to see him when he gets back?" He asked, turning to head back to his office when she nodded in understanding.

William paused at his own assistant's desk when he realised she wasn't at her post.

She was here just a few minutes ago. Well perhaps, she went for a bathroom break.

He grabbed a file he needed and opened the door to his office, closing the door behind him with one hand and unbuttoning his coat with the other. He gaped at the person who turned to look at him, a small smile on her face.

"Reggie? What are you doing here?" He asked warily, inching closer to his desk and taking a seat.

Reggie smiled briefly. "Well what do you think? I'm here to get you back."

William pinched the bridge of his nose frustratingly. His day had been going so well, where from this dark cloud that suddenly wanted to rain on his parade? "Look Reggie," he sighed.

"We've talked about this... there's no getting back tog-" he stopped at Reggie's burst of laughter, watching as she wiped a stray tear from laughing so much.

"God! I needed that laugh." She panted, laughing all over again. "You should have seen your face!"

She settled into little giggles. "I was just kidding, I'm not here to get you back or force you to be with me." She took on a more serious note now. "I'm her for closure William. I believe I deserve that much."

William gazed at her suspiciously, but he could tell with all his heart that she was telling the truth, and so he nodded. "I'm honestly very sorry Reggie. I didn't mean for things to happen the way it did and I'm sorry for hurting you, believe me I dragged my decision out for a long time just so I wouldn't hurt your feelings but I realised I was being unfair to you." He whispered reaching for her hand. "There's a man out there looking for you Reggie... a man who's going to love you the way you completely deserve, and I'm sorry it isn't me, because you're an amazing woman." He whispered meaning it with all his heart.

A stray tear slid down Reggie's face. "It's alright William. It just wasn't meant to be, and we can't control how we feel sometimes, it took me so long to realise it but I see that now. I know about Louisa and I wish you guys all the happiness in this world." She replied with all honesty. William smiled sadly at her statement. "I appreciate the wish, but I honestly don't know if I'm going to win her heart." He confided. "I hurt her so much in the past."

Reggie gazed at him in puzzlement. "Are you William Blankson?" William raised an eyebrow at her question, briefly wondering if she had dementia or amnesia, or some other memory loss illness.

"Are you the man I know... the man who never gives up? Because you sure sound like you've resigned yourself to your fate and the William I know will never accept defeat. I know you'll win her over." She finished confidently, meeting his gaze. William stood up to give her a hug. Lord knows he really needed the pep talk. "Thank you so much Reggie, I really needed that."

"Does it mean we can be friends?" He asked when he had pulled back cringing in shame when Reggie winced. "I'm so sorry Reggie. That was an inconsiderate question to ask-"

"That's quite alright William, and yes we can become friends, just not right now, let's give it some more time for me to completely get over you." She quipped giving him a small sad smile. "It was nice talking to you. I think I finally have the closure I needed." She concluded reaching for her black handbag. William nodded in understanding. "Well, I'll escort you to your car, and don't convince me otherwise." He admonished with a mock glare when she opened her mouth to protest.

The duo stepped out of his office only to crash into a very puzzled Chris, who blanched in anger at the sight of the beautiful woman that stared back at him, eyes equally dark with anger.