Afraid To Love – Episode 17


By Patience Ahworegba 
49
Files piled up on his desk and Adam his P.A kept bringing in more and more files. They all needed his signature. He wished Adam could sign just like him so he’d get to sign on those papers. Jeremy was in no mood to work. He still couldn’t get over the shock he felt last night. Seeing Purity in the arms of his cousin got him crazy. It was appaling. He never imagined Purity doing that. But Tricia took him there and she had told him she was with Ernest. Could it be that they plotted that? Ernest just arrived, how was that even possible? Purity bothered him more, he had to know what she was doing with that man. She was pure? Had she been lying to him? There were so many douts, he just didn’t know what to think anymore.
The door of his office opened, Adam walked in, carrying a pile of files. Jeremy stared at him motionless.
“Sir?” Adam was worried about his boss. He has entered his office up to three times and his boss had just sat down without saying a word to him. He wasn’t his normal cheerful self. Something was wrong. He had to be happy, only last night he had his engagement part, why is he now sulky? Adam couldn’t bear to see his boss that way. He had to help him. He so much wanted to.
“Sir?” he called again.
Jeremy didn’t respond.
Adam gently squeezed his shoulder.
Jeremy shuddered on fright, feeling a hand on his shoulder. When he got to see that it was Adam, he tried calming his nerves.
“Don’t be scared, boss. Its me, Adam.” he tried to pacify him. Seeing his reaction, he knew that all was not well. “I don’t think you are fine.”
Jeremy groaned and relaxed back on the chair. He raked a hand through his hair. “Is my fiancee here?” She was still his, no matter how angry he was at her.
“You mean Purity Theodore?” Adam was relieved that his boss had spoken.
He nodded in affirmation.
“No. No one’s here.”
Jeremy glanced at his wrist watch. What’s keeping her? She should be here by now. “If she comes, please let her in.”
“Alright. Are you okay?”
That question was unexpected. “I am fine.”
“I don’t think you are. There is so much work to do and you’ve not done any.” He drew his attention to the piled up files on his desk. “Not only that, you haven’t said a word to me this morning until now. You are not yourself. If you are not okay, you should rest. All these can wait.”
Jeremy was impressed. There was someone who cared about him besides his family. He felt loved, like any brother would have for him. He smiled in appreciation. “Thanks Adam. I’ll just wait here in my office for Purity and rest at the same time.”
Adam was happy. “That will be better. I’m sure Miss Theodore can help you feel better. I’m off.”
Inwardly, Jeremy hoped that Purity would make him feel better. She just had to. The way he felt, only she had made him that way. He had never been that angry at any woman before, neither had he been jealous. It was good he could keep is feelings in check. It would have been too bad for his cousin if he didn’t know how. He’d have strangled him.
He raised his head and was stunned to see a female figure sitting comfortably on a chair opposite him. There was a lovely smile on her face which he considered disgusting. Her appearance was only going to add to his troubles. If Purity comes and find them together? He had to get rid of her.
“How did you get in here without my knowledge?”
She smiled broadly. “When I got here, you were deep in thoughts. So, I preferred sitting here and waiting till you got back from the world of fantasy.”
Darn it! Was he that absorbed in those thoughts? “Did you even knock?”
“I don’t need to knock. I’m already familiar with this company.”
A slight frown of disapproval appeared on Jeremy’s face. Arguing with her wasn’t on his menu, the little strength he had, he had to reserve it for Purity-that would be hell.
“Tell me what you came for?”
“You are looking weary, are you good?” She bluntly ignored his statement.
“If you don’t have anything doing here, get out.” He was rude, but that didn’t bother him.
Tricia wrinkled her nose. “I know you’re still hurt and getting over what you saw last night. I’m here to help.”
50
Her statement troubled him more. “What do you mean by that? Help me with what? I don’t remember texting you or calling you to come help me out.”
She rolled her eyes. “Relax, I know you didn’t ask for my help. As a good friend that I’ve always been, I figured out you need it.”
Jeremy scratched his head. “What kind of help are you here to offer?”
She grinned. “You are heartbroken. You are in need of a company.”
He gave a mocking laugh. “Who told you I’m heartbroken?”
“I said, I just figured out you could be.” She shifted uncomfortably on the chair.
He shook his head in amusement. “Now, your help isn’t needed. Please, leave.”
Tricia pursed her lips. Now, that didn’t work out. Something else has to. “Why do you hate my presence this much? Jeremy, we’ve been friends, more than friends for close to four years now. Suddenly, you begin disliking me? What did I do wrong? Any time I come to visit, its either you throw me out or walk out on me.” She stood up and paced around his office.
Jeremy silently examined her.
“Today, I came to render assistance,” She turned to face him. “I know you are not okay after seeing what you saw last night. I came to help you get better and now you ask me to leave? I’m heartbroken too.”
He instantly felt sorry for her. Maybe she truly wanted to help him. “Tricia, sit down. I’m sorry for reacting the way I did. Honestly, I am not fine.”
She smiled to herself and resumed her seat. “What is bothering you?”
He placed his left elbow on his desk and rested his head on that arm. “I just don’t get it. What were they doing out there all alone in the dark? That was Purity’s engagement party. How could she? What does she even have with Ernest?”
“I’m as confused as you are. Don’t know why Ernest broke my heart this way,” she muttered sadly.
Jeremy stared at her. “What’s with you? Weeks before that party, you were all over me and even wanted to work with me. Now you say you’re heartbroken, how is that even possible?”
That question hit her hard. “You want me to keep mourning you? I dare not. I’ve got other things to do.”
He kept looking at her in askance. “I really hope that’s true.” He was sure she wasn’t saying the truth. He could read her like a book. “Have you heard from Ernest? What did he tell you?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. Have you?”
“I don’t even like him. There’s something sinister about him. Need to talk to Purity before anyone else. He might tell lies about her.”
“Talk to him first. Your virgin might be the one lying. You never can tell.”
“You sound so convinced, like you know a lot about her. Tell me what you know.”
“I don’t know anything.” She denied.
Jeremy wasn’t buying that. “Out with it.”
She sighed. “Okay. Don’t tell anyone about this. Ernest mentioned to me that they had met years back and kind of dated.”
Jeremy couldn’t believe what he just heard. Dated? Dated? Purity had told him she had never dated any guy. He was the person who had stolen her first kiss. What was this devil trying to do? Split them apart? He was suddenly crazed with anger. “Who gave you the guts to say such lies about my fiancee to my face?” he hauled himself off the swivel chair.
Tricia was scared. “Its… Its..the…..truth.”
“The truth? What do you hope to gain if you put us apart? Purity was in Ernest arms last night. You took me up and showed them to me. How did you even know they were there, together? You two most have planned it. I don’t even get how Ernest is involved but you, you’re no exception.”
Tricia was ashamed of herself. She had to cover it up. “How dare you accuse me of that? Yes, I was in love with you, but I no longer do. I…. I only told you what he told me. I’m hurt as well. The second time by two cousins. Jeremy, I’m hurt.”
“Get out!” he barked at her.
She didn’t know what demon had possessed Jeremy. She hadn’t seen him that way before. He trusted Purity so much and protected her. We’ll see if that trust remains after what he saw and what she just told him. Let’s see if he can protect her from this, she thought silently to herself. Receiving one more blank look from Jeremy, she scurried away.
 51
Ronald beamed with joy as he caught sight of his brother-in-law at the front door. “Welcome, Jeremy.”
Jeremy stepped into the well furnished living room. He had his hopes up.
Ronald closed the door behind him. “Take a sit.”
“Don’t bother, I’ll stand. Where’s Purity?” He didn’t want to spend time there, just to get Purity and move to a quiet place where they would talk. He hadn’t seen her after the previous night and was so worried about her. He badly wanted to see her. He knew it was going to be really difficult talking to her after what he’d seen that night. The anger was there, however, he still wanted to be with her, he craved for her. Now he was the one going after her- it was women that usually come after him. It was very different with Purity, he didn’t mind at all. Love could really change people.
“Purity’s not home.” Ronald flatly told hm, dragging him from his reverie.
Ronald’s words hadn’t sank into Jeremy’s head. He waited for few seconds to let the words sink in. “She’s not home?”
“I just said that.”
Jeremy was beginning to get angry. It was her fault, all her fault. They were to meet. She was the one to come to his office, but she hadn’t; he was at her home for her only to be informed that she wasn’t there. Purity Theodore, what is wrong with you?
“Where can I find her?”
“Um,” Ronald was confused. He had no idea what was going on between Jeremy and his sister. Purity was worse, she was acting strange and going back to her former self. “Should be at the company.”
“Thanks.” He could have gone there first. He turned his back to Ronald and went straight to the door.
“Wait.”
Jeremy stopped walking and turned to face Ronald. He sent him a questioning look.
“What’s up with you two? Purity is weird.”
He smirked. It had to happen. “Normal crisis in a relationship. We’ll get it fixed. Bye.”
Jeremy found his way out of the house before he be interrogated by Ronald. Those inquisitive eyes and his puzzled look. Jeremy knew that if he started answering his questions, he’d never leave and his pending conversation with Purity would be post-poned and that would make matters even worse. Thank God he escaped. It’d be up to the brothers to figure out the whole thing for themselves. If they really wanted to know.
Hastily, he slid into his car and drove out of the Theodore’s duplex, going straight to the Theodore’s Enterprise. Purity, Purity, Purity. This woman was making him go crazy. He left his work just for her. How many women make him do this?
*
*
*
“Good afternoon, sir.” Heather greeted Jeremy.
Jeremy smiled in return. He took his time to examine Purity’s secretary. He remembered the first day he was there, it was really an ugly scene between them both. He hadn’t seen her since then. She was pretty and well mannered. He felt sorry for her, knowing she was putting up with Purity and all her crazy acts. Maybe the secretary wasn’t all that bad, but her big mouth was what made Purity treat her that way. His smile turned into a grin as he recalled that day’s event.
“How are you doing?”
“I’m fine, sir.” She replied, looking down.
Jeremy observed this, “Are you scared of me?”
She looked up at him and held his gaze. “Of course, not. Why should I be?”
He laughed loud. “You still remember what happened the first day I was here?”
Heather cursed that day. It was a very embarrassing day for her. She hated to remember it.^”Sir, why are you here?” Heather didn’t want to discuss that day.
Jeremy understood. “To see my fiancee of course.”
That statement surprised her. “But sir, she’s not here.”
“What do you mean by that? Didn’t she come to work this morning?”
Heather nodded. “She did. But left thirty minutes after she arrived. She was acting awkward.”
Oh, no. This can’t be happening. “Did she tell you were she was going?”
“She didn’t.”
“Holy s–t!” he exclaimed, enraged. “What is wrong with her?” He couldn’t quite place his fingers on it. Something was wrong with that woman.
Still enraged, he went into her office. The door was unlocked. The room was neat and in order, as if she never came in. But the desk was disorganized. Seems she left in a hurry, as if running away from something, he thought to himself. He got to the desk and laid his hands on it. He saw a piece of paper in her writing and read it. “Country house?”
… To be continued

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