Afraid To Love – Episode 6

By Patience Ahworegba
 16

Jeremy continued glowering at the pretty witch bluffing. He thought they were going to get along. What the hell was wrong with her? He’d asked her to say ‘thank you’ for what he’d done. Instead of doing that, she’s here, bluffing. Saying she can ruin him. She’d forgotten he was a Broderick- mightier and richer than the Theodore’s. His glowering face turned to a mocking laugh.

Why was he laughing? Purity lost her courage at once. Ah, her father’s enterprise needed help, the Broderick’s were willing to help only if she married their son. They were powerful. That was it! She said the wrong thing to the wrong guy. He had won. Stupid me, she cursed herself. Her pride. Her pride.

“Darling, I’m waiting for you to ruin me. Please do.” he winked at her again.

The same thing happened. Her heart simply exploded. Dancing with happiness. She blushed fiercely. “Oh, shut up!” she barked trying to hide her feelings.

In a blink, he grasped her arm and forced her near him. Very close. He held her tightly. Purity tried to make him leave her. She fought and fought till she got to understand that it was pointless. Jeremy was stronger.

She was panting. “Release me at once!” her voice was weak, she was weak too. This man had exhausted her. What sort of devil is he?

Her command made him tighten his hold on her.

She regretted that.

What was she scared of? He smiled evily when he recalled that she had pleaded with him not to kiss her at her office.
“Do you want to walk home, tired?”

“No.” she replied weakly.

He smiled. “Good. Do you want to share another kiss with me?”

Her silver eyes widened with shock. Her heartbeat increasing. She was somewhat excited and shocked. A part of her wanted to say yes, the other part violently resisted the temptation. She had wanted to act with the former but not vigor for that. She found herself resting her head on his chest.
“No, I’ll bruise my lip.” she confessed.

“Then say ‘thank you’.”

“Th-th- Thank you.” The words were strange to her lips. She usually said thank you whenever she felt like. And now she didn’t. She’d lost. Surprisingly, she didn’t feel defeated, she felt good and relieved. Wow. This was strange. She grinned to herself.

Yay! Jeremy had won! For a minute, he had just wanted to push her into the car and zoom off. He had gotten tired of the fight. He tried the very last thing on his mind and it worked. Thank the heavens. He had to admit, he loved her guts, but the bad manners, he hated. He grinned like a champion. “You’re welcome, my lady.” He freed her, using the remote control, he unlocked the doors of the vehicle. He swiftly opened the door of the passenger’s seat. She hauled herself in.
He shut it, jogged to the other side, opened the door and got in. They both fastened their seat belts and soon, were moving.
*
*
*
“What hospital is your dad in?” Purity broke the unending silence. They hadn’t said a word to each other after Jeremy had succeeded in making her thank him. She really didn’t see the need of doing that. She’d just been quiet, looking out the window. The route they were taking was unfamiliar and she wasn’t sure it led to a hospital.

“Was in Saint Maria’s,” he answered without looking at her. He focused on the road ahead.

“I don’t think this road leads there.” She was looking around this time, both back and front and out the window; peering into the road. “Wait a minute, did you just say ‘was’?”

“Yeah. I did. He was discharged this evening. He’s home, that’s where we’re going.” He refused turning his head to face her. He could feel her eyes over him. He was sure he’s receiving deadly stares. He chuckled within him.

“Why didn’t you let me know?” she queried.

“Um… It was, uh, kinda like a surprise?”

She sighed. “Visiting me in my bedroom, getting the latest cell phone for me, taking me out for dinner is enough surprise for a night. Don’t you think so?”

He shook his head. “Its not. One more.”

“Oh, and I forgot to add. The unexpected visit at my office? The scene you put up. You were actually struggling with my secretary? And you told her we’re engaged. d–n it, Jeremy. I’ve got enough surprises already.”

He chuckled silently. “Lets see my papa and it’ll be over.”

17

“Okay.” she concurred.

“We’re here,” he announced grinning.

Purity raised her head. The car was in front of a gate. A huge iron gate painted black. It was possible to see through the gate because it was like iron bars separated from one another. She looked from her left to right, they were actually secluded among trees in one of New York’s most exclusive streets.
Jeremy honked the horn of the car. She watched as the gate opened mechanically. She was awed by that. The little house close to the gate should belong to the security guard. He had used a security camera to see Jeremy on the outside then pressed buttons on a remote to open the gate. She’d seen something like that but didn’t know Jeremy had one. He was stinkingly rich. She noticed he wasn’t proud of it. She that had little compared to him was always blabbing about her father’s wealth.

As they drove past the gate, she saw two golden images of arced angels on both sides of the gate. The gate shut the same way it opened. Light shown from their eyes, electric bulbs. The compound was wide and spacious. The mansion stood at the face end of the compound. It was really huge, painted white and blue. It had turrets, a order, balconies, screened-in front porch.

Jeremy drove to the garage. There were already four different cars parked. His vehicle joined them. He died the engine down and opened his door, closed it behind him. He went to the other side, for Purity. He pushed the door open and helped her down. Her stilleto touched the inter locked brick ground making clanking noises as she walked. She fed her eyes once more. The compound smelt of money. She could see a gazebo at a garden, right from the mansion they were heading to. In the middle was a pool. Next to it were waters flying in the air, water falls. A little round pole situated there. It watered the carpet grass in that area and alone gave beauty to the premises. Trees were planted a little farther from the grasses and pool. Their branches danced to the tune of the night’s cool breeze. Electric bulbs around the branches, filling it with exceptional beauty. That night, the moon was full which added to its flourecence. Purity was humbled by what she saw.

As they got to the front door, Jeremy pressed numbers on a key pad hung by the side of the door.

He really didn’t have to use the bell, Purity thought. It was his home. The door steps were decorated with Hibsicus and rose flowers. The scent filled the air, she sniffed in some.

Jeremy watched her while waiting for the door to unlock itself. He smiled. “Do you like what you see?”

She was jolted back to reality. “Um…yeah. I’m impressed. You’ve got a nice place.” she complimented.

“You should be thanking my dad.”

A light sound came from the door and Jeremy turned the door knob. He pushed the door open. “After you,” he gestured.

She obediently walked in. She was greeted by a flight of stairs. The stair case was grand. The floor was marble. She heard some clanking behind her and seconds later, Jeremy was besides her. He held out his arm, “Lets go.”

She took it and they began ascending the stairs together. Everything looked opulent from the gleaming marble floors covered in beautiful throw rugs to the thin light and transparent curtains billowing like mist on the walls.

The furnishing were old but had a story to tell, a very fascinating one. They had to be antiques with what looked like hand carved workmanship.

Each area of the room melting into the the beauty of the next with some delicate settees next to more heavy book cases and fire place that melted with the walls that appeared to be actually used

18

“Sit.” Jeremy beckoned to Purity, pointing at the couch.
He took her there and she sat down. “Relax. I’ll go get my dad.”

She mumbled some words and he went out.

Purity relaxed on the couch and studied the living room. The walls were painted white, very tidy. On the wall were portraits, large ones. The first was a depiction of a couple on their wedding day. She could tell that was Mr. Broderick and his late wife. They looked so happy together. Her striking hazel eyes reminded her of Jeremy, that’s where he got his from. The next, late Emily Broderick dressed in a designer gown, ears, neck and wrist decorated with gold. Chin held high and a sweet smile. She must have been a fashionista. And she’s so pretty. Too bad she’s gone. Good she can’t be forgotten. The last pictured Edwin Broderick, Jeremy Broderick and Emily Broderick. A happy one. A happy family. Jeremy must have been close to his parents especially his mama. She’d gone now and he’d do what he never dreamt of just to make his papa happy. Could she really do that? She wasn’t all that close to her parents. She never was. Jeremy was and is happy. She could try that too. She’d let him teach her. She wouldn’t wait anymore till they were sick and at the brink on death. No. Her eyes never left the portrait.

“Beautiful, isn’t she?”

Edwin Broderick’s voice brought her back from her day dream. She stood up at once and tilted to the direction the voice came from. “Um..yes sir. She’s very pretty.”

He moved closer. “Oh, no. Don’t get up. Sit down.”

She remained standing. “Uh, sir? You’re in your pyjamas already. I came at the wrong time. I’m sorry.” True, she acted like a heartless b—h at times, she knew when to behave.

Edwin gave a soft laugh. He got to where she stood and pulled her to the couch, he sat too. “Don’t worry. I wasn’t really in bed. I really wanted to see you. How are you?”

She shook her head. “No, how are you? Heard you’re sick. How are you feeling now?”

Jeremy cleared his throat loudly. “I’ll go change, then join you guys.” He bowed and smiled at his father. Purity had forgotten Jeremy was beside his dad while they had been talking. Edwin caught her attention. She watched him bow, taking permission from his dad. So respectful. He turned to her, grinned and winked at her. Her heart lurched with excitement. She returned his grin with a mock salute. Then, he disappeared.

“He’s really a nice guy.”

“He’s your son. That’s why you think he’s nice.”

Edwin wasn’t surprised. Only Purity could dare make a statement like that about Jeremy. He admired her courage and boldness. Others may call it rude but it wasn’t to him.
“You’re the first female actually to degrade my son to my face. You even say I know it but concealing it because he’s my son.”

“No. I didn’t really mean-”

“Don’t worry, dear. You can say the truth always.”

Purity kept quiet. She nodded in response to Edwin’s remark.

He tapped her. “What’s going on in your mind?”

She stared at him with sadness. “How did it feel to lose her?”

He shrugged, then rubbed his forehead. “It was so painful. A lethal blow. I hadn’t believed she was dead. It took a week for me to accept the fact that she was gone and never coming back. I mourned her for a year. She was the source of my happiness. I never thought she’d go so soon. She had fought and fought. I had always wanted to take away her pains but I couldn’t. She’s now resting, relieved from the sufferings she went through.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that. I haven’t thought about it that way. How did you cope and Jeremy?”

“Jeremy surprised me greatly. He was so close to his mother and I felt it’d be hard for him. But he acted more matured than I ever was. He was there for me. We supported each other and got over it together, though he healed before me. He’s really strong.”

“And he still misses her. I saw the pain in his eyes when I asked about her, didn’t know she’s dead.”

He brightened up. “And he needs you. Needs you in his life.”

Purity waved her hand. “I don’t think so. What could I actually do for him?”

“With time you’d know. Wanna hear her last wish?”

“Sure.”

“That you marry Jeremy.”

…to be continued