Chapter 12: Chapter 12
: COLD FLAME
The state of mind and body called 'comfort' was so relative and varied from individual to individual. Obviously, sitting in front of Chris in a restaurant at the moment, could be termed uncomfortable for me but not for him. My discomfort must have been caused by the smug look he had on his face. He wasn’t even trying to hide the fact that I was the cause of his amusement.
"Temitope, what will you like to eat?" Christopher asked gently, finally breaking the silence with that smug smile still intact.
"I'll have the peppered spaghetti and meat balls and please have the tab for the meals prepared separately" I said to the waiter.
He stared at me with a frown, then handed the menu to the waiter, "White rice and pepper soup for me and I'll handle both bills thank you."
Well, look who’s not smiling now.
I hated the way he dismissed my statement like I was a kid or one of those women who thought a man must pander and pay for their every need.
Fork and Knives wasn't what I expected. Everything about him screamed class hence I was expecting somewhere so plush; you know, the type where they charged for cutlery and dinning sets or something like that. This was pretty cool; the man behind me was eating his pounded yam with his hands; the Nigerian way. What happened to the fork and knives though? I chuckled lightly.
I looked everywhere but him. I covered up my interior by being saucy and rude knowing deep down, I was just shy. I haven't had a meal with a guy that isn't basically family since Matt and my stupid question was making it worse.
"I’m sorry if my question was a bit abrupt and out of place but I hope you don't take it to mean I want this to be a date because honestly Mr. CEO that is a thought very far from my mind. I’m also glad we are on the same page and I’m paying for my meal, thank you." I said with a straight face.
He just stared at me weirdly; his lip jutting forward in a pout, a tiny crease on his brow. He looked at me like I was a weird specimen or an alien. His stare made me self-conscious so I ran my hand over my hair.
“You should probably stop doing that. You’re making a bigger mess on your hair.” Chris said again, he didn’t even consider how the statement would make me feel. Just like that day in Liz’s office. He must have a special thing for pointing out peoples faults and weaknesses. Unlike the first time, I kept quiet. I already knew I looked a mess but I don’t care what he thinks about me so I stared back ferociously. It could never be said that I couldn't meet a man's glare no matter how inviting and beautiful his eyes were.
The waiter finally returned with our respective orders which made us end our stare fest and dig in. The rush of saliva to my dry mouth at the sight of the dish was pure reflex. I stand corrected. This place has class; the arrangement of the food before me, its aroma. Ughh. I could detect the distinct spices with my ever trusted nose.
Food is life, food never disappoints.
Unlike every other couple present, we did not make small talk during the course of our meal which I was grateful for because we were both eating hot, spicy food. He ate slowly for a male, chewing his food carefully and thoroughly. He tried to hide it but I could see stellar upbringing. Who was I kidding? The guy was rich. I might have googled him.
After the first peep, I just ate my food with total relish. The waiters came to clear out the dishes and he ordered two servings of chocolate mousse.
"I never said I wanted dessert" even though the possibility of trying out anything chocolaty filled me with sheer joy.
As usual he only chose to answer whatever he felt like so it came as no surprise when he hit me with a different question. "So, why medicine?’ he asked, casually sipping the orange juice that accompanied the meal. His choice of orange juice instead of wine or anything alcoholic felt strange.
"What's your deal,Mr. CEO? You keep acting shady and strange, choosing to reply whatever suits you, you have a cross hanging in your car, you are drinking orange juice, you helped out a poor woman; paid her bills and comforted her grieving daughter. Something is off about you and it keeps giving me the shivers."
"My name is Christopher; why do you insist on calling me Mr CEO?" ignoring every other thing I said. Chris sipped his juice carefully, his guard up. As usual. His answer made me feel stupid, like I wasn’t worth a reply.
"You just ignored everything I asked." Irritation showed clearly in my voice.
"Why are you so eager to label me? The fact that a cross hangs in my car doesn't make me a saved person. I drink orange juice doesn’t mean I’m not an alcoholic. Maybe, I just don't like taking any kind of alcohol with my meal or I do not feel like. I may have helped the woman because I don't want her to cause unnecessary issues for my company or any kind of law suit in particular. Also, it will cost me more later when I could pay less now. Stop trying to box me" he replied coldly.
And that shut me up. I couldn't think of a retort. He replied like he was incapable of sprinkling a dash of emotion into his statements. I wanted to just mind my own business but he was too cold to be true. It could only be a facade; like the one I put up when Shayo died.Right? I became quiet, I wasn’t good with real life conversations but I could laugh a storm at unimportant issues. Nothing ever touched my heart till Matt.
"You are hiding behind the cold mask; I think you care much more than you let on" I finally said in response to the longest statement he has said to me all night or even throughout the duration of all our encounters combined.
He laughed harshly. "That's rich coming from a rude, closed off person. You are always defensive and acting like a shrew. You wear these free, non-flattering clothes because you are scared men will get to see the hourglass figure underneath, I suppose. You have your hair tightly packed in a bun giving off a serious vibe. Oh don't get me started on the way you sit here judging and labelling me, wanting to pay your bill just to prove to me that you can afford it. The difference between us, is that I’m not hiding-not behind clothes or a rude personality. I am cold to those I don't know and warm to those I do. I’m not replying all of your questions because I’m not in a hurry to tell a stranger all my life details."
How can someone be so cold? Not a single show of emotion accompanied that statement.
The waiter brought desert and for once my inner foodie disappeared. I ate slowlyand in tiny morsels but what scared me was that his words hurt. Its different being at the end of the sword, being the one someone else’s words cut. He guessed some wrong though. I did not cover my body up in loose clothing because I’m ashamed of it, rather I felt comfortable not being ogled at. I had broken a home once and I believed that we should be held accountable for what we wear. I put my hair up because wearing it down gets in the way of work and I had waist length now. I liked to pay because I love being independent, I wanted to work and earn my way through life but of course, I did not tell him these. I had probably judged others worse and I currently despised all the times I did. It’s also true that I’m rude, defensive and closed up and hide the real me a lot.
Karma was a bitch right? Someone just served me my share.
He stared at me. I wasn't bending my head in shame or pity. The way he talked about my body opened a dam of emotions so I did something weird. I revealed how I felt to a random stranger.
"I am sorry for wrongly judging you. Regardless of what you think, I will pay for my meal because there are no rules that says you have to pay for me. Also you are actually trying to prove a point, so thanks for the judgement lessons. My apologies once again. Thank you for the company and the drive down here but I'll find my way back",
There was a counter at the end I walked there asked for my bill, paid and walked straight out. Far away from that cold flame. I hailed a cab to the barracks since I won't be able to make it back to Ibadan tonight. A few hours after settling in, I got his text.
Hello, sorry we did not finalize our shares deal. Please head to CHANCE Corporations tomorrow and have the paper work signed.
There was no name attached but I knew it was him. He did not even apologize for the abruptend of our dinner. Anger surged through me. This man was fire and ice all at once.
Would I see him tomorrow?
Do I want to see him tomorrow?
How awkward will it be?
Similar questions rushed through my mind as I fell asleep. My last conscious thought being cold honey brown eyes, Ice that could consume as easily as fire.
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