Chapter 22: Chapter 22

- Ready

Deila's pov

The next day, after I was able to drag myself from my office desk, I quickly stormed out of the office in a hurry to get home. I wanted to have enough time to get ready for dinner with James but I got glued to work again. 6 pm clocked before I realized time was far gone.

About to drive off immediately I was sat in my car, I heard a knock on the window. My body shook startled. As always I wondered if the way I was so easily startled was healthy.

When the know I came again, I realized I hadn't seen any car parked out before I got in the car. I would think maybe the person knocking didn't have a car, but the only other person left in the building was the janitors. Could it be one of them knocking on the window?

I frowned skeptically as I made the window go down. And there stood Nat. I sighed relieved. The guy sure had a thing for startling me.

"Nat"

"Dei," he replied with a smile that light up his tanned face.

"Oh man, you have to stop creeping in on me like that. You scared the shit out of me!" I exclaimed trying not to sound too serious but being serious.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I just wanted to invite you to dinner. Anywhere you want."

I smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, but no. I have plans for the evening," I told him and saw disappointment itch on his face before I even finished.

I saw the struggle in his features as he tried not to look or sound too disappointed. "Ah. Another time then?"

"Yeah, some other time." I paused then smiled. "Bye," I muttered and took off.

If it weird seeing him from my review standing there with a smirk, his hands tucked into his pocket till I drove to a point where the office was out of sight I didn't acknowledge it.

Immediately I got home, I started my way up to my room but stopped short when Aunt Mona's voice came. "Dei? What a warm way to greet your family. We've been waiting to welcome you with warm hugs."

Oh damn great!

I sighed as I turned to face her and was met with the beautiful faces of my aunties, sister, and best friends. Guilt washed over me. Aunt Monic was holding a plate of cookies I assumed they wanted to welcome me with, it was so wrong of me to not even announce my arrival.

"I'm so sorry guys, " I drawled, walking down to them.

"It's no problem, " Eva, Lari, and Sia said in unison as they had rehearsed it. I smiled at them and shook my head in disbelief.

" I can't even begin to imagine how stressful seating in for your dad is for you. We'll understand if the first thing you want to do as soon as you're home is go straight to bed," Aunt Mona reasoned giving me a beaming smile which I returned. "How was work?"

"Erm... Stressful, but overall good," I answered skeptically and reached out for a cookie.

I took a bite from it, moaning as the rich taste hit my taste bud. Perfect. As I continued to savor the one in my mouth, I took another one from the tray and munched on.

"Hey, young lady!" Aunt Monic called and I answered her "Hmm" as my mouth was full, and truthfully the cookies were too good for me to answer.

"Who told you those are for you?" She continued, feigning a serious tone. Anyone who didn't know her would miss the joke lacing it.

"I know it is," I answered giggling and then I grabbed another one, broke a large piece, and shoved it into my mouth.

"Thanks," I rushed out when I grabbed the fifth, I didn't even realize how hungry I was. "I'm going up to my room now ladies," I excused myself with a bow, not forgetting to kiss my aunts before starting my way up the stairs.

"Okay, then. Shower and come back down! Dinner is almost ready," I didn't I know which one my aunties it was, I was too tired to place it.

They were so identical in everything, even in the way they talk, that sometimes you mix their voices. The only thing that served as a difference between them was the huge fading scar on Aun't Monic's forehead, which served as a constant reminder of her story. A story that had birthed so many phobias in me.

This isn't the time to think about it, I chided myself.

"I'd be having dinner, but not with you guys, I'm sorry," I told them and turned to see curiosity and a mix of disappointment on their faces.

"I and Lari were hoping to have dinner with you before we leave tomorrow," Eva purred as Lari pouted. Guilt washed over me. I didn't have to ponder too much to know I'd pick having dinner with my best friends, especially if they were leaving tomorrow.

I was going to tell them I'd have dinner with them, even though I knew it would add to the list of things James would hate me for, but then Aunt Mona came to my rescue.

"You can't leave tomorrow. Erica, Deila's mum would be sending a package down for you guys tomorrow. So you'd have to postpone your trip."

"What?!"

"For real?

So much surprise laced their voices.

"Yes!" Aunt Monic and Aunt Mona answered them in unison, making the whole thing look like some comedy.

"But our bosses-"Eva started.

" Relax a little child." Aunt Monic waved a dismissive hand.

Lari started to chuckle but stopped abruptly as Eva glared at her before they both sighed in defeat.

"So," Sia drawled in all her drama. "Dei, where are you going to have dinner? or is it, who are you going to have dinner with?" trust Sia to put me back on the spot.

"Uhm... I - It's erm-"

"Wait.. why are your stuttering?" Lari asked, mirth dancing in her eyes and I would've bet an estate she knew who I had a problem revealing.

"It's this new place and I'm going to have dinner with a friend of mine," I told them shrugging.

"Okay. Go get dressed, B. You don't want to have office attire on for a date," Eva deadpanned.

"Date?" What the hell did they know?

"Shush, just go," she dismissed nonchalantly like she didn't just say what she said.

I wanted to argue but decided against it, rolling my eyes, I climbed up to my room, not missing the sheepish smile Lari had infected them all with. Oh. These ladies.

Once I got to my room I quickly offed my clothes and put them in my laundry basket, before walking to the bathroom in my birthday suit.

I showered for about ten minutes, walked out of the tub, dried my body and hair, then stepped out to my room.

What I saw on my bed left my mouth agape, I was certain my jaw could've touched the ground despite the height I stood at 5'8, but that was biologically impossible.

Placed neatly on my bed was a beautiful purple gown with spirals of silver sparkles from the shoulder to the mid-thigh —where I was certain it would stop on me— forming a big 'S'. The gown was breathtaking, with a round cut on both side, it was revealing and classy.

I walked closer to my bed and ran my hands on the smooth side of the fabric. Foolish me... already liking the dress when I didn't even know how it got here or who owned it. I quickly grabbed the dress and made my way downstairs. I was met with Eva and Lari, their eyes fixated on me with a look that said they were expecting me to come down to them.

"Who left this on my bed?" I held the dress up for them to see.

"We did," Eva answered for them, giving me a pointed look.

"Oh, okay. Just wanted to know. Should I keep it back there for you? Or in the guest room where your stuff is? Or should I just hand it over to you now?" I queried.

Lari giggled like there was some joke I wasn't getting. "No silly. Stop the blab. It's for you."

"But Eva just said you guys kept it there, so it's definitely for one of you. And besides, I don't own a dress like this," I started with an eye roll.

Lari giggled, and this time Eva joined her. What the hell are they laughing at?

I shook my head at their unnecessary amusement.

"What?"

"You should see how cute you look. We bought that dress for you before we left LA," Eva told me with a grin.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Nah, we bought it for you and had forgotten to give it to you," she continued.

"Well, until now," Lari chipped in.

"And we remembered at the right time. It'll be perfect for the date."

Date? What date was she talking about? "You must know something I don't if you think I've some kinda date or."

"You didn't have to tell us. We knew although I don't know how," she started, rushing to add the last part. "We know you're going on a date with James," She cooed.

"Yes, I might be going to have dinner with him, but It's not a date," I told them a matter of factly.

"Oh!?" Eva questioned with obvious sarcasm, arching a brow. "Quit deceiving yourself already. It is what it is and you'd be draining yourself arguing."

I opened my mouth to reply and shut it back. What in the hell is this?

"Just go get dressed," Lari said sighing as she walked to me to plant a kiss on my cheeks and then turned to the direction of the field.

I sighed in defeat, what was the essence of arguing anyway? I always said any argument outside the law court was useless. "Okay, okay." I raised my hands in defeat. "Thanks for the dress, but it's not a date," I told them one more time before rushing upstairs to prevent further arguments. I heard them whispering while I was rushing up, but I didn't pay attention to it. Later.

I unwrapped the towel from my body, wore my matching lacy black bra and panties, after which I walked to my large mirror to start on my makeup. I went with a natural look as I didn't want it to look like I was doing too much for what I said was just a dinner. The dress was already too much for 'just a dinner with a friend'. After packing my hair into a bun I brought out my jewelry box and decided to go with just my dropping silver earrings.

I picked up the dress and searched for the zipper. I was still about my search when my door suddenly opened to reveal Dawn. I quickly brought my hands up, trying to cover what little I could of my almost naked body.

Shit! How could he just barge up on me like that?

His eyes widened before he quickly covered them with his hands. "Holy shit!" he cursed, rushing back out and slammed the door close behind him.

"Fuck! How could you just barge in on me like that!?" I fumed, for some reason I knew he was still out there. I was furious.

"You could at least try to put on something and not walk around half-naked!" he yelled from outside the door.

"How dare you? You barged into a lady's room—my room, and try to blame me for it? Why couldn't you just at least knock?"

"You're right. I'm so sorry, sis. I'll take caution next time."

You would think I was overreacting because after all, it was my brother who saw me that way, but I wasn't. Even though he'd seen me in bikinis so many times it wasn't the same as seeing me in a matching lace bra and panties. As if that was what was bothering me... It was knowing that him seeing me like that and later getting to know I took out time to dress up —down to my undies— for a dinner I was going for with James. It would only lead him on to playing whatever games he was with us. The asshole.

I quickly picked up the dress from the bed and wore it from the down, as I didn't want to ruin my hair and makeup. After I wore it and stretched my flexible hands to try to get the zipper up as I normally did.

"You can come in now," I announced.

He opened the door and stepped in, still covering his eyes with both his hands.

"It's alright. It's safe now," I told him, crossing my hands over my chest.

"Are you sure?" he asked, gently peeling his hand away from his eyes.

"Thank God," he muttered.

"What do you want?"

He stretched a file at me. "Just wanted to give you a file you forgot at the office."

I smiled and took it from him muttering a "Thank you".

"Again I'm so sorry for barging in like that," he insisted and I waved my hands at him lazily, dismissing it.

He was about to step out of my room when he stopped with his goofy face on. "And good luck on your date with Jamy. Enjoy." He shut the door before I could comprehend.

I shook my head in disbelief. How did this become news? And who says it's a date?

Sighing defeatedly, I got back to my preparation that remained shoes and a purse. I walked to my full mirror when I was done. I couldn't help smiling as I took in myself.

The dress was not something I would usually go for because of how it clung to my body like a second skin, but tonight it was my favorite. The beauty of the gown was on full display now that I had worn it. It was a straight purple gown that stopped halfway up my thigh— as I expected. Apart from the round cuts at both sides that exposed my skin, it also had a round deep back. It was a little off my shoulder and had sleeves that ran to my ankle. All in all, it was elegant as it was alluring.

I smothered the side of the gown with a grateful heart to Eva and Lari. The girls saved me tonight by placing this dress on my bed in all its glory. Even though I didn't believe the story behind it about how they'd gotten it for me in LA, I had to be grateful to them. If they hadn't gifted me the dress, I was going to go for plain blue jeans and a white crop top. That was usually me, plain. But that didn't mean I didn't love looking elegant.

I heard a beep from my phone, indicating there was a new message. I picked the phone up to see it was from James.

I'm outside. Are you ready?-

I stared at the text in surprise. I did send him a text to confirm if he was still up, but what I didn't involve in the text was for him to come to pick me. We didn't discuss him picking me up. I was planning on going in my car. Acknowledging the latter part of the text, was I was ready? I asked myself.

I was nervous as fuck, but I knew If I didn't do it now, I would never do it. I knew we needed to talk. Damn, I needed to tell him the reason I broke up with him... if anyone would ever understand my fucked my reasons that is. It might clear the air between us, and then maybe he wouldn't hate me so much like I feared he did.

Tonight, it could get either get better or it could go wrong or even get worse. I needed to be ready, but knowing myself and how much I get all nervous around him, it wouldn't be easy.

Before I descended the stairs, the ladies were already chirping on how beautiful I looked, while Dawn was wide-eyed.

"Did that lady just step out of the magazine?" he asked and I blushed profusely... not that the pink would show very well on my face seeing I wasn't white. My cheeks did puff up.

After listening to their chimes, I took courage and stepped outside into the cold night.