Chapter Twenty-Four: Past Affairs

Romans' POV

After my conference meeting yesterday, I promised to hang out with Jane and Jennifer this weekend.

It's Friday.

I read through some paperwork trying to clear the bulk documents on my desk, and soon there was a soft knock on my door.

"Mr. Romans, you've a visitor," Paige said loudly through the door.

"Let them in," I said absentmindedly.

My office door pulled open and I lifted my gaze away from documents.

It was Eliora.

"Good morning sir," Eliora greeted politely.

"Good day" I said.

"Go ahead and sit" I beckoned for her to sit across from me.

"Anything?" I asked.

"Romans you see.." Eliora began but I cut her off.

"You use the word Mr. Romans here" I said rudely.

"Mr. Romans, I think I have an issue," Eliora said sadly.

Her gaze was avoiding mine.

"What's it?" I asked slyly but inside of me, I was concerned.

"My elder sister visited me yesterday," Eliora said.

"And..?" I asked cryptically.

"And.. you know she knows about our relationship" she struggles to speak.

"So?" I asked anxiously.

"My parents invited us to have dinner with them this Saturday," she said nervously.

"Did you tell them we're still together?" I asked in astonishment.

"Yeah I did. I couldn't hide it as Rebecca was expecting to hear some good news" she said.

"I'm not free and I'm also not interested in this game" I said bluntly.

"You need to help me, Romans." she pleaded with me, pitifully.

"Why should I help you?" I asked anxiously.

"I'll pay you then? Or... I'll help you fulfill any three wishes of yours." she stuttered impatiently.

"Any three wishes of mine?" I asked in a sarcastic, interested tone and she nodded.

"I'll drive you there then" I said.

"Really?" She reacted happily.

"Yes but don't get your hopes up, I'll be getting married soon" I reminded annoyingly.

"I understand," she nodded but her expression changed.

"You can leave then" I said politely.

"Sure. Thanks" Eliora said and proceeded towards the door.

"Eliora" I called out and she turned.

"Yes sir?" She responded.

"See you this weekend," I said.

"Okay" she nodded and left the office.

I sighed.

"How do I explain this to Jane and Jennifer? Was it too easy for me to accept her deal?"

"Arg!" My thoughts continued running wild and I lost control of it and paused my current work.

[Eliora's POV]

I was the water quenching the fire in him...It seemed so.

I didn't expect him to accept so fast! This was surreal.

I searched my closet looking for the best outfit that I've got, I searched like a crazy duck in love.

I took out a mini flay flowery dress and placed it on my chest looking at the mirror.

"Perfect!" I exclaimed as I began dressing.

I applied a warm makeup on my face, straightened my eye lashes with the mascara, gathered my hairstyle into a beautiful bun with hair pins, I took my small purse and was ready to leave.

"I'm outside" Romans text message binged into my phone.

"How did he get my number or did he still have it?" I thought as I took a last look at the mirror and left the house.

I hurriedly walked out of the estate and saw Romans standing beside a sharp red spider car operating his phone. I approached him.

"You're here..." Romans paused as he looked at me.

He didn't say a word and I felt ashamed.

Did I apply the wrong tone of makeup? Was the dress awful? How do I look?

I couldn't get what was running in his head, I stood there like a coward while he stared at me... in silence.

"I'm ready" I said loudly in reminder.

"Oh! Yeah! Yes.” He nodded as if confused and lost.

"Let's go," I said.

"Sure" he opened the door for me.

He wasn't looking bad, I have always been seeing him in a suit so it was nothing new.

The ride remained silent as Romans stole glances with me, I blushed.

"What do we do?" Romans asked.

"How?" I asked.

"Meeting your parents? How do we act?" Romans asked anxiously.

"As couples do." I said absentmindedly.

"Seriously?" His eyes widened.

"Yeah" I nodded shyly.

"Is your favorite still Chinese fries?" He asked.

Woa! He still remembers, I smiled.

"Yes" I nodded.

"And your favorite remains Roast Pepper and Pasta salad" I said.

"Yeah" he nodded.

"What else?" He asked.

"Do you plan on engaging me soon?" I asked and we both fell silent.

We stared at each other for a while before he faced the road.

"We... We're only faking it, Eliora" he stutters.

"Yeah but my parents will definitely ask," I insisted.

"Till then" he rattled out and I nodded.

Romans iPhone which was connected to the car bluetooth rings and he immediately answered it.

"Hey babe!" Jennifer's voice came out from the speaker, I remained dazed.

"Hey hun" he said.

"How are you?" Jennifer asked.

"Doing great and you?" He asked.

"Am good. Where are you at?" Jennifer asked anxiously.

"Joining a friend to his family gathering, will be back home soon" he lied but remained reserve.

I couldn't believe men lie so truthfully, I smirked.

"Okay bae. Take care and love you" Jennifer said.

"You too" he said and the call ended, I sighed.

"What?" He asked, shooting me a dekko.

"Nothing" I leaned on the car window.

Romans increased the music which was playing "Say You Love Me by Jessie Ware", it was one of my favorite music I listen to when reading novels.

"Should I change it?" He asked politely.

"No" I shook my head.

"Sure." he relaxed on the seat staring at the road attentively while rubbing his forehead.

[Romans' POV]

As she walked out of the gate, I remained glued to her beauty.

"Woah! She's so pretty!"

"Where have such diamonds been?"

"The last time I saw her, she wasn't this... Pretty and all glammed up".

I couldn't control the urge of staring at her like a fool, she captivated my heart again at that moment.

She. Eliora.

Was one beautiful lady that I can't stay without even when I claimed to be getting married soon.

I started the engine and rode into the street and we remained silent. I wanted to start a conversation but I just didn't know the right words to say.

Her eyes, we're still pretty.

Her lips still called for me.

Her hair was still golden and natural.

I love the woman she has become.

Rubbing my forehead with my eyes on the road, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I still wanted to look at her but, she will only take me for a ... coward, right?

"Romans, we are here." Eliora said.

"Here?" I asked anxiously.

"Yes" she nodded.

"Sure" I curbed the car to the nearby park and stopped the engine.

"Ready?" I asked with a smile on my face.

"Ready" she smiled.

[Eliora's POV]

I alighted from the car and Romans followed.

Some of you will be thinking my house is one in a hell beautiful and very big but I was so sorry to disappoint you.

It's been a long time since I have visited this district. I took my time to stare at my family building.

It was a small bungalow painted light blue but the paint was peeling off and covered with green algae, around the house was a small wooden door and passage. I caught sight of my dad's 2007 Toyota car which now had flat tires and looked as if it hadn't been used for quite some time.

I exhaled heavily.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

He just remained silent all these while staring at the house.

"I'm" I nodded.

I thought I was the only one suffering for the past few years, maybe others were.

"Let's go," I said.

Romans pulled open the small wooden door and we walked closer to the main bullet proof door.

I knocked on the door twice and it swung open.

"Eliora!" Rebecca screamed happily.

"Sister Becca" I smiled as we embraced each other tightly.

"This must be Romans," Rebecca said.

"Yeah" I nodded.

"Nice to meet you," Rebecca said with a smile.

"Pleasure is mine." Romans and Rebecca shook hands.

"Please come in." Rebecca ushered us into the house.

Romans and I walked into the empty living room while Rebecca left to call the others, again I started looking around.

Our house hasn't changed one bit. There was no sign of renovation.... Nothing.

The old couch and armchairs were around the wooden center table, there's an old hunchback Panasonic television. Across the room was another room with a bead-like curtain. There were six black leather chairs around the long table. I assumed it to be the dining room.

I left Romans who sat quietly on the armchair into the kitchen, the wall paint was fading away though the kitchen was neat.

I walked out of the kitchen and lifted my gaze to the wooden stairs, it looked old and a little bit broken. It can break anytime.

"What has mum and dad been doing with their money?"

The thought wandered in my head as I strolled back to the living room, even the tiles were looking musty and the brown center rug had some torn corners.

"Shrk!"

A light bulb sparked and went off, then I realized in a big house there were just three electricity bulbs and two were bad.

"Shame!" I screamed in my mind and couldn't even face Romans.

"Sister Liora!"

"Sister Liora!" a young handsome boy rushed from the stairs and embraced me tightly.

I patted his back softly.

Meet Aiden, my young brother who's about eight years old. He's still in elementary school. Aiden is tall and has curly black hair. He took his beauty from dad and has the best sets of white teeth. Aiden has small matte light pink lips with sharp gray eyes. Aiden remains my favorite brother.

"Baby Aiden" I called him with a smile on my face.

"I miss you so much Sister Liora. Where have you been?" Aiden asked anxiously.

"I miss you too, Aiden! So much." I said.

"Are you back with us now?" Aiden asks anxiously with his impatient rolling eyes.

"Maybe" I smiled.

"Romans meet my junior brother, Aiden" I said happily.

"Little Aiden" Romans called softly.

"I'm not little though. I'm Aiden" Aiden winked and I laughed.

"Oh really," Romans nodded shamefully.

"Sister Liora, is he going to be your husband soon?" Aiden asked and I fell silent, all of us did.

"Who's getting married?" The loud voice of my father, Mr. Harrison Ganes, broke the silence.

"Eliora!?" the cool voice of my mother called out and I turned.

"Mum?" I said.

My mother and father haven't changed one bit. Wait. It's been two or even three years, why hasn't anyone or anything changed but I have changed.

Meet Mrs. Bella Harrison Ganes, a very pretty young woman in her mid forties, she has the most beautiful smile with three folds on her forehead... It happens when she smiles though. She has very pretty pairs of brown eyes and long wavy brown hair, her lips are roughly pink and she is tall. She remains a workaholic wife and mother.

Meet Mr. Harrison Ganes, a not so handsome man in his late fifties, he has nice light blue eyes which were hidden because of his medicated glasses, he hardly smiles but when he does, heaven comes down. He is always low cut and has a black hair. He remains a workaholic husband and father.

I embraced my mother and father happily.

I was expecting some shouting or quarrel but none of those happened.

"How have you been dear?" Mrs. Bella asked lovingly.

"Let's do the talking in the dining room" Rebecca cut us off politely.

"Sure. Sure" Mr. Ganes nodded and we walked to the dining room.

Rebecca and Mrs. Bella served the dishes and we were ready to dig in. There were assorted dishes on the table and drinks.

Rice, soup, chicken soup, beef, spicy chicken, sandwich, gravy, dumplings, pasta.... I can't list them all.

The dining was packed with assorted meals.

"Delicious" I exclaimed smiling after tasting the chicken soup.

"Glad you love it," my mother said happily.

I should shun ' Mrs. Bella' and ' Mr. Ganes' for now... Ridiculous.

"Mr. Romans, how do you see my daughter?" My dad asked anxiously as he ate delicately.

I nervously quaffed.

"She's nice," Romans nodded and I smiled.

"Just nice?" Rebecca asked cryptically.

"Yeah. I love her" Romans said lovingly.

It seems he's so good at acting.

"When are we getting an invitation card? I mean, you both have been together for years now" my mum said rhetorically and everyone smiled.

"As for the wedding..." Romans began and my heart started thumping skeptically.

Wedding? Wedding under a fake act? Can he host two weddings at a time? I haven't even thought about his three wishes... Will I be able to save myself?