When A Woman Wants

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 24

ROSA

She has been waiting for the morning for so long that she couldn’t believe her eyes when the sharp shadows cast by the street-lamps through the metallic blinds of Luke’s window started to fade, diluted by the onset of daylight.

She found her script by the side of the bed lamp. She was making progress, a rapid progress.

She could here Luke whistling from the Kitchen, he must be preparing tea for them both

. He has been doing that for the past seven days since she moved in with him contrary to what Francis had said.

Francis couldn’t imagine what she may likely go through staying in that house with Debby when he was away on business trip at France. He had asked her to stay and that once he got back, everything will be settled. When she remembered she had a boyfriend, she knew she had to tell him that she lost her job. Luke had been too eager to accommodate her. He of course didn’t know the whole story except that her boss got angry with her and she lost her job.

Francis was arriving today. she couldn’t wait to see him especially since Luke had been on her neck and she was close to telling him everything, the sooner she left the better for the three of them.

It had been difficult with Luke trying to adjust with the whole fake relationship thing with Francis but all she could tell him was too trust her. She knew she was not being fair, but she had promised Francis not to tell Luke anything

. Besides, her saying something would only prompt Luke to talk her out of her book and she was making great progress. She could already feel it. Even with the response she got from Madame Lydia when she sent her the soft copy of the chapters ..She was given 70 marks. All she needed was the 30 percent which would be easier once she was through writing.

Her phone rang and she picked it..It was Francis..

“Hello”

“Rosa, where are you?”

“Where are you too Francis?”

“I just got to Nigeria now and Steve is here to pick me from the airport, he said you have not been home..”

Rosa swallowed.

“Yes, I have been with Luke.”

Silence…

” Francis?”

“I thought I told you not to!” he sounded angry.

What was his problem? She thought.

“He is my boyfriend Francis and I can go and stay with him” She said emphatically.

Another silence…

“Okay, pack your things, send me your direction. I’m coming over there to pick you.”

“You can’t just come and pick me Francis, I need to talk things through with Luke.”

“What things? You want to tell him about the whole thing?”

“No, not about the whole thing..Just the reason why I need to leave”

“Which is?”

“I will sort it out..Just give me some time”

“You have thirty minutes. Else, I will tell the press you have been kidnapped”

“What!” She shouted but he ended the call. She hissed and put the phone beside her pillow.

Just then , Luke came in, carrying a tray containing two cups and a flask of hot tea which he placed carefully on the table, poured some tea into one of the cups and handed it to her while he poured his.

Later, he moved to sit beside her, allowing his tea to shimmer.

“Was that Francis?”

Rosa almost got her tongue burnt so she put down the cup and nodded slightly.

“He wants you to come back right?”

She nodded.

“What did you tell him?”

“Well..I need a job Luke…”

“What job?” He demanded.”A job as a PFG?” She squinted.

“What does that even mean?”

“Permanent Fake Girlfriend!”

She almost burst into laughter. PFG…Seriously?

“Luke, it’s not as bad as you are making it seem…Besides, there is nothing in between us…I already told you”

“I don’t trust him Rosaline”

Okay…here we go again..

“Luke, please, I’m sure that is not the job he has for me, okay? And I’m sure the whole fake relationship thing will be over soon” She tried as much as possible to placate him.

“I can get you a job Rosa…you don’t need to work with him!’

Uh…Oh…get her a job and she should her book..Her future..Her career! Never!

” Luke..Please..I get this okay?”

“So you are saying no to my job and you want to take his job?”

“Well…I’m sure his job will pay much better than whatever you can offer me.”

He looked hurt.

“Because he is Francis? And he is rich?”

She didn’t want to hurt him any longer. She drew closer and held his two hands.

“I pay for my schooling Luke..I need the money please, this is not about wanting to hurt you. This is just my life and me taking charge. Please just trust me.”

“You said your boss got angry with you, the lady of the house. So are you saying you want to go stay in that same house?”

To this she gave no reply.

“You can still stay here, you know”

She sighed again..This was just getting out of hand.

“I will ask Francis..” She replied without thinking.

He stared at her in disbelief. “You will ask your fake boyfriend before you can stay with your real boyfriend?”

She gasped. That wasn’t what she meant..But it sure seemed like that…..dear God!

“Please Luke..” She pleaded. It is not how it seems, please just trust me.”

He stood up.

“You are asking too much of me Rosa and this can only work if I get to meet with him.”

What! No he didn’t just say that!

“Luke..You…want to meet him?”

“Yeah” he replied. “I ‘d love to meet my girlfriend’s fake boyfriend. I need to set some boundaries okay? You seem to know him very well; he shouldn’t have any problem with that except if he has something to hide.”

Before she could reply, he was already leaving the room.

She was in a deep shit no doubt! Barely a week in the relationship and it was already a mess. Thank you so much Francis!

She dialed his number and gave him the update.

“No. I don’t have time for that Rosa.”

Now she was getting angry.

“Francis! You need to meet with him okay? “

“Why?” He asked stubbornly.

“He’s scared that you can’t be trusted”

“I don’t need his trust Rosa!” He replied angrily.

“But I do!” She snapped right back at him. “This thing ..This fake thing cannot get in between my own real life okay! You may have been used to the whole drama with Debby but I don’t want to be part of it”

That silenced him for a while…But then he started laughing.

“You are already part of it Rosa. Did you even tell Luke about the main story about your book? Hmm? Besides, Debby still doesn’t know about this does she? So you are lying to Luke and you lied to Debby! “

“I just decided to keep some things…I didn’t lie to anyone!”

“Didn’t you? Anyways tomorrow, I will choose the location, 7pm sharp and tell your boyfriend to suit up. By the way, I am expecting the direction”

“Go to hell Francis!” She retorted and banged the call.

FRANCIS

He took another look at his wrist watch. It was five minutes past seven. He cursed under his breath, if they didn’t show up on time he would definitely be angry with someone.

The waitress walked up to him for the third time.

“Would you like to order sir?”

He gave her one of his dashing smiles and shook his head.

“No chichi, not yet. Like I said, I’m expecting…..oh! One of them is here..”He replied as he spotted Angela in a beautiful short blue gown which clung delightfully on her hips . She looked angry and then he spotted Romeo coming behind her..

He quickly grab a drink which he gulped down. He was in a serious trouble.

” He is back, he is in the country , you invited him and invited me, and you didn’t think it was necessary for you to have told me?” Angela snapped at him, trying to lower her voice.

“I’m sorry Angry, I just needed both my best friends here, besides, if I had told you, you would still be angry”

“Well..” She continued, slamming her clutch against the table. “Consider my support withdrawn!” She sat down and signaled to a waiter,

Romeo grabbed a drink from a waiter walking by and sat comfortably beside Angela. He had flown in from Italy a day before after Francis had filled him in on everything.

“Angry, you have been angry with me like forever, this happened like four years ago! Please, we used to be so good together, I am sorry for cheating on you, can we just move past it?”

She made no response but instead grabbed the menu.

“Why did you ask us to be here Francis?” she asked

“Because, I am afraid that Luke may want to do something stupid. Probably get me jealous or do something crazy”

Angela scoffed.

“What do u mean by that”

“She means, the girl got you. You’re tripping dude. If you don’t have a thing for her, you wouldn’t need to be all scared up”

“No..no,,no,,I don’t. Besides, I want you both to be present here. I’ve missed how we used to hang out together”

Angela smiled and took his hand. “It’s okay not to dodge questions, what is not okay, is to lie to yourself..”

Francis was about to protest but then he saw Rosa come in and his stomach fluttered. Seems like months since he last saw her. She looked radiant. And just as she spotted him, she smiled at him and he smiled back ..But then he got angry as a hand went across her shoulders and then he noticed the man beside her..

“Wow…that guy is hot” Angry stated as she looked towards the direction he was looking. She then signaled to them to come over.

He stood up as they got to where they sat, Rosa embraced Angela while Luke shook hands with Romeo and later him. Francis introduced each to the other and then they took their seats, Rosa sitting in between Angry and Luke while Romeo sat beside him.

“How was your trip Francis?” Rosa asked.

“Fine thank you. You look good Rosa”

“Thank you Francis”

Silence……

“Can we order?” Angela broke the silence much to everyone’s relief and spoke to the waitress beside her.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Some minutes later, they were busy eating, they could only hear the noises of their cutlery.

He was getting irritated with the way Luke was feeding her and wiping her mouth for her and the way she was giggling. Was just pissing him off the more.

He knew what Luke was doing, he was sending him a message which he got clearly. This was stupid. He stood up..

“Luke, would you kindly follow me to the counter?” He asked and stood up.

Rosa gave him a surprised and suspicious look but he ignored her as Luke kissed her and later followed him.

Just as they got to the counter, he decided not to waste time anymore.

“Is there anything you would like to tell me Luke?”

“Tell me Luke. I keep noticing you seem as if there is something you want to ask me” He started.

Luke shrugged, wiping his mouth with the napkin. “Well, I’m just curious with the whole fake relationship thing. I mean, what the hell man!”

“What did you say to me?” He was beginning to get angrier.

“I’m saying, you need to let her off the hook. It’s distracting her, she can barely make a decision without thinking of you twice. I am the one she should be thinking of, not you. I am her boyfriend and I won’t allow any man to just use her as a puppet”

Francis smiled and took a drink.

“Does she know you will be telling me all these? Because if she does, trust me, you won’t be here. You said its distracting her, maybe she needs to be distracted or maybe you are the one distracting her. I know her better than you can possibly do”

Luke smiled painfully.

Read ” Dance With Me ” by the same author ( Tobi Loba )

. “She cannot stay in your house Francis.”

“Did she tell you that?”

No reply.

“Look Luke, Rosa is a woman that is old enough to make her own decisions. She has been through a lot and she knows what is good for her.”

“Francis, I’m not here to fight you, I just want you to back off. She is my girl not yours. You are only using her for publicity stunt..”

“No, I’m not, trust me, Rosa knows what she was getting into when she accepted this. There are some things she won’t tell you which I know, so you see, maybe you are the one who needs to back off”

He could see the pain his eyes and he realized he just struck a chord.

“I’m not here to fight you too Luke but trust your girl okay and if you cannot trust her, maybe you don’t deserve her after all”

“What the hell does that mean!” Luke snapped and instantly, Rosa was already in between them.

“What is going on here Francis?”

“Oh babe, talk to your boyfriend not me okay” Francis replied defensively.

“Luke..” She walked to him but he stepped back.

“You know what. I’m out of here” He replied and walked away.

“Francis what did you say to him?” She cried angrily.

“He was telling me all sorts of rubbish about why I should back off, talk to your boyfriend. He cannot come here and be telling me that”

“Francis, you were supposed to make peace with him, he is my boyfriend, he has every right to say that to you!”

“And I don’t have a right to call his bluff? Look Rosa, he doesn’t want you to come stay. I cannot allow you to keep staying with him!”

“You cannot what? You can’t tell me what to do, he is my boyfriend, not you!”

“You’ve said that a billion times Rosa, yes thanks for pointing that out. Do you think I am a stick with no feelings! Do you realize I have been in love with you even before I traveled to Haiti. Do you realize how hard it has been for me to hide it! Now you keep telling me he is your boyfriend! Fine, go ahead, go on and be with him. I’m done”

Without waiting for any reply or saying goodbye to his friends, he walked out of the restaurant, ignoring the pair of eyes that followed him or the ears that may have heard him.