Chapter 37: Chapter 37

- More than you think

Deila's pov

The cold breeze found a way to make goosebumps erupt in every inch of my skin despite the very thick duvet I was under. I was still half asleep, but conscious enough to know I wasn't alone in the room. I hugged my duvet closer slowly lifting my lids to see my first love and hero. My dad.

Sitting at the edge of my bed, he looked all flustered fumbling his fingers.

I frowned. I had to shift my legs as they were tired of being in the same position.

"Dei? Are you up now?" His voice had a soft edge.

Yawning, "Yes, dad. Good morning," I told him.

He stood up from the end of the bed and walked closer till he was standing over my head. "Morning, baby. How did you sleep?"

"Well," I told him tiredly. "I slept well. What's wrong?" I sat up.

"Wrong?"

"You had a grim expression on your face when I woke up. Still do. You look all distracted, like you are here but not here."

"Nothing's wrong, baby."

I huffed. "Dad, something's wrong. The atmosphere has been unclear for some time now. What's stuffing in it? And I don't wake up to the sight of my dad every morning. I know something's wrong."

He chuckled. "We could fix that, you waking up to the sight of me every morning that is. You never asked. All you had to say all this time was 'first face I wanna see when I wake up every morning is my dad's'," he said in a tone that would never pass as mimicking me.

"I don't sound like that," I said through hearted laughs.

There was silence. A comfortable silence, but then I decided to break it.

"So...'' I trailed.

"So... I'd like to know," he started then stopped to look at me.

"Go on," I encouraged.

"Would you still want to go back to Los Angelos?"

The big question. A very gigantic question it was. A question I asked myself every day since the first day I felt his lips on mine again. Would I? Would I want to go back to LA? Did I want to go? And finally, would my heart allow me?

"You don't have to think too far, Dei. I just thought I should ask and let you know it's in your hands. I'm sorry if I've pushed you too much which I think I've." He squeezed my leg then gave me a tight smile.

"If you still want to be head of the company then I'd wholeheartedly agree. I could even step down permanently for you, Dei," he added. I took the last part as a joke.

I didn't let the delegation go on for too long in my head. I'd think about it some other time, I thought to myself.

"You should go today. I think some time off will help me think."

"If you say so." He stood up and the bed sprang up from relive of his weight.

Not that my dad was bulky, but he weighed more than a man with his statue should weigh, and for his age, his muscles were too defined. He was fifty-four and still, he would hit the gym four times every week.

"I'd go now. Take all the time you need. See you later," he said strolling to the door.

"Bye."

As soon as he left I checked my phone for the time. It was almost 7.

I could as well sleep the rest of the day off since I don't have anywhere to go, that was my thought before I felt my phone vibrating in my hands. I looked at the caller ID. It was James.

"Hey," I answered into the receiver.

"Hey. I'm sorry if I woke you up."

I let out a breath of relief. I was so worried about the way he left the office yesterday. He sounded fine now, hopefully, he was.

"No, you didn't. I was already up."

"Yeah, you should be up... boss lady ."

I giggled. "You'd want to stop calling me that. My dad's in today."

"Oh for real? But that doesn't mean I'd stop calling you that, CEO''

"What's up?"

"Erm...Nothing. Nothing that isn't me wanting us to meet up sometime today." It was like a statement and a question at the same time.

''Since you aren't working today," he added.

I already knew what my reply would be before he even asked. But why not keep the conversation going? I asked myself with sass.

"And so? That I'm not working today doesn't mean I'm free."

He paused longer than I'd have liked and I knew he didn't get the wit in what I said.

"Of course, my bad. If you're free then."

Yeah, he did think I was going to pass on spending time with him. People aren't fun without their sense of humor, I decided.

"I was kidding. Your sense of humor asleep?"

He chuckled. "Dei."

"Yes, I'd love to meet up with you."

He groaned. "I should've known you were kidding. You had to be kidding at a time like this."

"What time? Is it a bad time?"

"Not really. Under control."

"What's under control?"

"Nothing big. Not to worry."

"James." I made my voice as stern as I could. "What's happening?"

I heard him exhale loudly. "I'll tell you when we see ."

"Alright then. I'd let it be if I'll still be getting my answers."

"Okay, babe."

The butterflies that erupted in my stomach had reasons to fly, he just called me babe.

"See you at 2 pm then?"

"Fine." I tried not to sound the way I was feeling. **Cheesy as hell.

"I'd pick you up from the house. Please don't argue."

Damn him if he thinks he knows me so well as to know when my argumentative spirit comes alive, I thought defeatedly then sighed.

He knew me too well and I loved that he did. I was going to argue and he knew it.

"You there?"

"Yeah."

"See you then."

"Bye." I hung up.

The day went by lazy and fast and by 2 pm I was already dressed and sat at the kitchen counter with my bowl of cookies as a company.

Everywhere was so quiet as everyone left in a rush a few hours after dad did, and they all left in mum's car. I found it weird. They all had cars of their own, so why did they all sardine in mum's car to wherever?

All of them headed in the same direction? Including Dawn who these days was always in his apartment with the love of his life?

And there was the fact that the atmosphere was still tensed. What was going on? Or was it all in my head?

I was brought out of my web of thinking by the noise of my phone ringing. It was James calling.

Hopefully, he's outside, I could do with some company. And that was new as I was never the type that needed company, I loved my lone but I appreciated it when I had certain persons around. James was one, and this time I craved company. It was way too quiet and tense for a normal day.

"Hello."

"Hey. I'm outside."

"Be there in a jiffy." I hung up, carried my purse, then headed out.

There was no need to lock the door, it automatically shuts itself after some minutes and takes registered thumbprints to open it. The mansion was with high security and alarm systems or maybe it was just me assuring myself I was safe.

The smile that crept up my face as I saw him resting on his car and fumbling with his keys had a mind of its own. The same way the sudden thumping in my chest had a mind of its own.

He looked effortlessly handsome wearing a black polo and black pants. His feet were slipped in a causal Gucci palm. I watched as his hand went up to smother his already smooth jet black color hair that waved a bit to the side.

I wet my lips as they had suddenly gone dry. There was something mouth-watering about the sight of a pant-dropping-walking-orgasmic man fumbling nervously with his keys as he waited for you.

"Hello, beautiful." He smiled as I reached him.

I looked away to hide my smile. "Hey."

"You good? You don't look like your usual bright self.''

"I'm fine. That's supposed to be my line. You took it right outta my mouth."

"What?"

"That you don't look too bright yourself. You look...." I trailed, my hands unconsciously reaching out to the dark lines under his eyes that must have been caused by lack of sleep.

He hissed removing my hands from his face but he didn't let go. He held it tightly in his and tugged me to him.

"You should warn me when you're going to touch me." His voice was suddenly groggy.

"Sorry. You didn't exactly do that. Warn me when you are going to tug me."

"Oh right."

He did something I didn't expect. He hugged me. It wasn't just a hug. He hugged me like I was his comfort. And when I hugged him back and heard him sigh, I thought indeed I was.

His shoulders relaxed as he shifted his head to place his nose on my hair. Then he sniffed.

Thank God I washed my hair this morning, I silently breathed.

He hugged me tighter and sighed again. This time, I stiffened as a particular warmth spread to my core.

"Thank you." His voice was muffled as his face was still buried in my hair. "I needed this."

"Needed what?"

"This comfort I'm getting from hugging you."

"Oh." was all I could say.

He wasn't the only one getting comfort from the hug. I was overwhelmed by the feeling so much so that I forgot about the tense air that has been hovering like a cloud over me. Then and there, I could only enjoy being in the arms of the only man I ever loved. And ever will. The only man that made my boundary lines grow legs to walk away.

That moment I knew I didn't want to live a life without him.

I remembered something was wrong with him. I needed answers and I was getting them. No way I was going to let him shove it off, I thought as I broke away to look him in the eye.

"So are you going to tell me now?"

"What?" He almost successfully feigned innocence. Almost.

"On the phone earlier. Answers?"

"Oh," he mouthed, scratching the back of his neck. "We can't stand here all day. Let's go someplace else."

"Where would that be?"

"To mine? If you must know I still haven't moved in fully, but I hired a cleaning service. They clean it four times a week. Or we could go someplace else if you want. To grab a bite, get coffee..."

"Okay, Okay." I waved my hands.

He was blabbing, something I knew he did when he was nervous.

"It's okay. Yours is fine."

"Good."

"Give me the keys, I'm driving." I walked to the driver's side, opened the door, and sat in.

"Why are you there?"

"I just told you, I'm driving."

"Ever the dictator," he said chuckling but gave me the keys to his range rover without arguing.

As soon as he hopped on the passenger's side I zoomed off in the direction of his house.

"Do you know where you're going?" he inquired.

I snickered at his question. But he was right to ask. The only time I drove there, we got lost, but we found our way there and kept the funny experience to ourselves.

"Are you mocking me?" I asked jokingly.

"I'm not exactly mocking you. I just don't want us to get lost.'' But when I looked at him, he was suppressing his laughter.

"It's the same thing." I suppressed a laugh of my own, deciding to tell him of my experience with the girls. "I know I got lost the first time I drove there, but I did manage my way back home and didn't get lost. Besides, I wouldn't fancy making the same mistake twice." A giggle escaped.

"That was some experience for me and the girls."

"Tell me about it." His head inclined towards me.

I couldn't hold back my laughter as I narrated the story— How Scared Sia had been, how dramatic Lari had gotten, and how Eva has scolded me as a mother would. All the chaos of their rants had stopped when Sia had gotten hysteric and opened the door to step out but she shrank back in when a Rottweiler was right there with its drool all over.

At first, it was funny that Sia went from complaining to shrinking and sobbing, but we had similar reactions when it barked and almost got into the car. Thankfully, a sane Lari had reached out to lock the door before it did. Careful not to hit the poor dog and to not make for us the pitied one when the story of how a dog ate up four girls turned up.

I took my eyes off the road for a second to see his head cocked to the side while he watched me intently with a smile. His eyes still held every laughter we bellowed together in the course of my tale.

God. He looks beautiful when he smiles, I concluded then concentrated on driving.

"You do too." His voice dipped meaningfully as he took my free hand in his.

"Hmm?"

"You just said I look beautiful when I smile. So I'm confessing you do too. Beautiful is an understatement, you'd have to pardon me for not quoting any of Shakespeare's piece, but I can't compare you to a summer day because you're hotter."

I didn't realize I said that out loud. If his wit had not filled me with delight, embarrassment would've.

Warmth spread through me. "I," I paused giggling. "Don't know what to say. Thank you."

Less than fifteen minutes later we got to his penthouse, which he once called an apartment— I still wondered why. It was 3 times bigger than an apartment with four bedrooms that each had large bathrooms of their own, a large living room, a kitchen almost as big as my mums. And that's saying very big because my mum's kitchen could pass off as a whole restaurant. His gym was incredible and then there was his study room and the pool area. And then there was the garden. He gave me a full tour alright.

"I could look at your garden all day," I confessed as I caught sight of a drooping leucothoe.

As if he saw me looking at it— which I guessed he did— he plucked and held it in front of me. I muttered a thank you and was going to collect it when he retreated the flower and walked closer to me. I held my breath for what I knew he was going to do.

He held up the flower to my face and tucked a single one into my hair and another to the side of my ear.

I didn't try to suppress the smile that stretched my face.

"There." He took my hand and we walked hand in hand till we reached the door where he had to leave my hand to open the door with a thumbprint.

I paid little attention to it being similar to the one at the mansion, I hadn't forgotten he had answers. And it was time for them to hit me.

Inside the house, he slumped down on a chair and patted beside him. I sat down.

He cupped his jaw looking at me and then looking away as he ruffled his hair unbearably. He appeared frustrated and I knew it was serious. Very serious.

"Calm down, Jamy. You can talk to me."

"Zara was abducted."

I stopped breathing for a while, my eyes popping out from their sockets. My heart on the ground.

"What?" It was a whisper of disbelief.

"I don't even know how to go about it."

"How? When? Where?" I rumbled for answers.

It wasn't adding up, Sia had told me she and Zara meet at a fashion house yesterday, so when was she suddenly abducted? How was she abducted?

"She disappeared from the house yesterday," he answered my unasked question.

This was the center of my family rushing out of the house this morning. I thought back to Dad's agitated state. Everyone leaving together and their assurances of ' don't worry' when I didn't think there was a cause to.

Why would they hide such a thing from me?

"That explains why my family was... sulking." I decided for a lack of better grammar.

"Yeah, they were at ours when I left."

"And they didn't think to tell me?" I couldn't help the hurt in my voice.

"I was there when my mum and dad informed them. I told them I wanted to be the one to tell you because I needed an excuse to see you that wouldn't make me seem like the brother that wasn't bothered with his sister missing."

I gave him a small smile and squeezed his hand.

"I just needed you. I can't take it, Dei."

My throat closed.

"What exactly happened?"

"I was inside my room when I heard a scream. Rushed downstairs and found everything okay. I mean what could be wrong? Zara was out— so I thought— and my mum over there by the kitchen counter. The atmosphere seemed okay in contrast to the disrupting scream I'd heard. I was still in the middle of asking my mum if she heard the scream when another scream came, this time louder than the first. And then mum told me to check up on Zara, but it was too late. Damn it was too late. I blame myself. My sister was kidnapped from the same house I was in. Under the same roof, I was."

I squeezed his hands for the umpteenth time hoping to comfort him. "Shh.. Don't do that. Don't blame yourself. None of it was your fault. How were you supposed to know your sister would be abducted in a house as secured as yours?" I asked than answered, "No way."

Rubbing his back in circles, I caught the tears that escaped from the pool he was trying so hard to control.

"Cry if you need to, but it's not the time to mop around or blame yourself. I'd be hysteric if I were you. Mad as hell, but it'd do us good to look for clues instead. Who might have kidnapped her? Could she've had problems with anyone in school? Or anyone in the neighborhood? Who could have a motive to do something like this? Zara couldn't possibly hurt a fly."

"Yeah, I know. My sister could never harm anyone. She's my baby for fucks sake." He buried his face in his palms and my heart broke from a thousand to a million pœciles. "We know who kidnapped her. Or my dad has an idea." His voice broke.

"Then we're good. That's more than a cue. You must've gone to the police then?"

"We never had to."

"Never had to? It's your sister we're talking about here and you know who's responsible, or your dad as you said. I expect you to have gone to the police immediately."

"Authorities are aware. There's more to it than you think."