Eighteen

Two days later...

AUSTIN's

He was just done having his bath when he emerged from the bathroom with his towel tied around his waist. He made a few steps into the room heading for his wardrobe as he opened it, withdrew his workwear, and got into it. Soon a knock was heard as he walked to the door to open it.

"Mom, you're here."

He said as Marie smiled and took him into her arms.

"I trust ur night was splendid?"

She asked.

"Sure was...come on in."

Marie made her way into Austin's room and she felt like it was her first time entering cuz he had used beautiful paintings to decorate the wall and perhaps no one enters the room as it was a guy's.

"Baby your room's no longer the same, it's looking more like an art gallery."

Marie said, looking around the colorful room.

"That's the way it should be."

Marie's gaze caught the painting of a young pretty lady that was hung on the wall and she stared closely at it for a long time.

"Who's she?"

She asked stunningly cuz she knew that Austin had never been attracted to a lady talk more of having a picture of her.

"She's a friend of mine, a blindingly nice person at that.

"Interesting!"

She smiled and withdrew her face from the painting to face him.

"How intimate are you two?"

"On the range of one to hundred, we're eighty percent close."

"So who's the remaining twenty for?"

She smiled and Austin shrugged as they both guffawed.

"So, tell more about her."

"She's Lora. Lora's lovable even though she isn't fun to be with cuz she had always considered her work as her top priority. She's friendly and her smile alone was strong enough to melt a thousand hardened hearts. Mehn, she's got all the qualities of a decent woman."

"Do you have feelings for her? Don't lie to me"

Austin stared at his mother for a while. Marie was the closest person to his heart anytime he was troubled, he would lean on her... therefore, he felt he could tell her anything.

"Yea, I am in love with her."

"I knew it from the look in your eyes that you were smitten by this Lora for you to lay praises on her this much."

Austin laughed and Marie continued.

"Have you told Lora how you feel about her?"

"Not yet but I definitely would... when the time is right."

He said as a broad grin flitted across his face.

LORA's

"Are you and Sir Bill Okay now?" Isha asked

"No, we aren't. Why?" Lora replied with a mouth full. She was all dressed for work.

"I saw when you both got out of the mansion, dressed occasionally."

"Oh that. We just attended an anniversary party at his company."

"But he was behaving like a lovey-dovey," Isha said

"No way! He was only pulling an act. He told me to pretend like all was fine with us for a reason I can't seem to fathom."

"And you agreed to it?"

"You know how Bill is. He nearly forced me to bed again when I resisted, so I just had to give in."

Lora explained as she poked another spoon of food into her mouth.

"That Bill's unbelievable! He gets anything the way he wants it.

"Nanny, something happened that same day."

"Okay..."

"Austin called my phone and Bill picked it up." Isha jolted up. "Then he returned the phone to me, I don't know What Austin told him but I believed he covered up for us. Luckily, I had saved his contact with a symbol expecting this kind of matter. When I finally received the phone and spoke to Austin, he asked me who Bill was and When I told him he was my husband, he hung up immediately. Now, I am clueless about what to do."

"Goodness! What would've become of you if Bill had found out?"

"I trust what he can do but as for Austin, I just hope he doesn't get mad at me."

"I believe he will understand you after explaining things to him."

"You think so?"

AT WORK

Austin sat under a deck shade outside the supermarket going through his phone since there was no work in the office when Lora sighted him from afar. In a jiffy, she was standing in front of him with expressions flitted across her face.

"Austin, I am sorry about the other day. I should have..."

"Lora."

Austin cuts her short.

"That meant nothing to me, dear." He said smiling

"Don't tryna cover up Austin. If it hadn't meant nothing to you, when then did you cut the call on me?"

Austin laughed at this.

"Have a seat first, then we talk properly." Lora sat and Austin continued. "Listen, Lora, sincerely I ain't getting mad at you for no fucking reason. I was just trying to digest the fact that you're married plus the shock of hearing a masculine voice from the phone. I should be the one apologizing. Lora pls forgive me."

"I'm so flattered Austin, you're such a nice and understanding person. You know you aren't at fault here but me but you still had to overlook."

"It's nothing. Why was ur husband harsh on the phone lately? You know, that scared my spirit."

"I apologize on his behalf. Maybe he was pissed off by something or probably someone."

"That's fine." His smile widened.

Lora's thoughts: I think it's high time I tell Austin how I feel about him. I should summon more than enough courage to confess to him before it's too late. I have patiently held it in my heart and the feeling is pilling up already. I should let free.

"Let's go out today, maybe after work to have lunch or something." She suggested

"Wow! I won't resist this offer."

Austin winked his eyes at her as this got 'em laughing.

"Time?" He asked

"Our usual time, you know, is 6 pm."

"Well then...."

"But you will have to come over to my place and wait for me to dress up, then we can go from there."

Austin's expression switched.

"Do you think that would be possible Lora? I mean, ur husband..."

"You don't have to worry about that, perhaps he usually comes home late."

"Alright then. Always at your service."

They smiled simultaneously, staring into each other's eyes.

Later in the day...

As soon as work was over for the day, Austin emerged from the supermarket and stood by a corner, waiting on Lora. In a jiffy, Naomi showed up in front of him and she began to aggravate him again.

"Austin darling, what're you still doing here?"

"Not like it does matters to you." Austin fired.

"Stop it already. You're always on my neck!"

"That's because you don't wanna stay off me."

Austin yelled and in no time, Naomi had started getting close to touching him as she stared at him with lustful but sexy eyes. Before anyone could spell Jack, Austin had plastered a sound slap on her cheek.

"Stay off me, or you will have yourself to blame."

"Blimey! Did you just slap me?"

Naomi's eyes welled up as she held her burning cheek in her right palm. As this was going on, Lora emerged from the supermarket to meet the show going on.

"Lora, can we go now?"

"Sure."

Lora looked Naomi over and realized a lopsided grin as they both headed towards the direction where her car was parked leaving Naomi to bear her grief.

"Have the keys. You're doing the driving."

Lora dipped a single key and a remote into Austin's palm.

"Really? This is such an honor. C'mon get in let's do this."

He said and smiled as they got into the car. Naomi from afar kept close tables at them while this was going on and swore to make life miserable for Lora if she never gets Austin.

After a few minutes, they arrived at the mansion pulled up under the garage then alighted from it. Austin gazed around the mansion, it was what he had expected since Lora runs big cars.

"Welcome to my home Austin."

Austin smiled.

"Whoa! What a hell of a big house! I hope you don't nurture dogs here cuz am damn scared of dogs."

Austin joked and Lora resumed laughing as they made their way inside. When they walked in, Austin was stunned to see how Lora was being treated here by the servants and he smiled.

On getting in, Lora introduced Austin to Isha who had been busying herself with chopping vegetables.

"Oh, Austin! Lora has told me much about you and it's so good to have you here."

Isha said as she smiled.

"It's good to meet you as well."

"Urm... nanny, Austin, and I are heading somewhere in a short time."

"Really? That's so sweet of you both."

Lora turned to face Austin.

"And you Austin, make yourself at home while I get dressed."

"I'll be waiting, just make it snappy okay."

She started heading upstairs to her room as Austin stared at her retreating back. When her sight was no more seen, he instantly walked up to Isha, looking around to be sure that no one was watching.

"Son, you've done a great job by doing all that I asked of you and I think she's beginning to bullshit Bill aside."

Isha's voice sank into a whisper.

"All thanks to you grandmother, our plan was executed and Lora didn't find out about it."

"You know son, I am very happy that at least she's got to smile because you made it possible."

"I did all these because of you, and when you told me about Lora's condition, I felt I should get involved and take her out of this mess." Isha smiled and he continued. " Remember when I called Lora and Bill picked up, I was shocked cuz this wasn't the right time to face him and that was why I hung up on Lora with immediate effect."

"You did the right thing son and am...."

Before Isha could complete her statement, an object was thrown to the ground, giving a loud sound and Lora was already standing devastatingly behind them as she had overheard all they had been saying. Tears were already dropping from her innocuous eyes.

"Lora," Austin called his mouth agape. He never expected this to happen this way and not now.. same as Isha.

"All these were planned?"