His Island Girl

Chapter Eight.

They discussed more on other things after which he requested to know more about her. He got to find out that she goes to a community college in the western regions which is the place opposite the sea on the mainland. She was in her early twenties and about to finish her first year in college. Her Dad hired a seaman to convey her to and fro the mainland everyday of school. She resides in the extreme northern part of the island with her family and her biggest dream is to experience life outside the island since she had lived all her life on the island. She seemed to envy her mates who lived freely on the mainland and she had been restricted from making friends with people on the mainland. All of that only got Dave worried about the kind of father she had.

Nevertheless, he felt glad that she trusted him enough to tell him all that and he made a promise to himself to uphold that trust and to increase her faith in him. When she was done telling him about herself, he told her about himself as well. He told her everything about himself except for the Orman Empire and the fact that he was Dave Orman in person

.

They shared a lot in common, ranging from art, taste of music, food, people and celebrities. All the sardines got sold out and people began to depart the seashore yet they seemed not to have enough of each other as they had so many things to talk and laugh about. The beach became scanty and quiet with just fewer people, but their conversations only got deeper and more interesting that their bond and attraction to each other only seemed to increase. The sun began to set but he didn't want to leave. He didn't want to let go of the moment and neither was she. They literally had to force themselves to let go when it began to get dark.

He took the bench in and she locked up the stall. She counted the money made from the day's sales in his presence. That was the level of trust she had for him - being with him, a total stranger outside in the late evening. Though they no longer saw themselves as strangers since they seemed to find friendship and companionship in each other.

"Dave?" He heard her sweet voice call out his name as she walked him to the banks of the sea.

He loved the way she had mentioned his name all day. He would do anything to hear her call out his name again and again. Just as if she had known him her whole life, she called him with full concentration, using every sweetness and affection she could muster. It showed him that she had a sense of belonging even though she still hasn't told him her name yet. He thought that perhaps he really had to earn it by taking things slowly.

"Yes ma'am?" He replied in the same tone of possession.

"Please promise me you won't tell anyone about my identity or whatever I told you. Not even your family, okay?" she spoke softly in the cool evening as they slowly approached the seaboard.

Listening to her soft angelic voice soothed his soul.

"I promise. But why if I may ask?" He said.

"Because...because I'm not supposed to. If my father finds out about it he'll be totally mad at me. I know he's probably agitated that I'm not home yet. I'm not supposed to be out here this late" she said.

Though he had not seen or met with her father, just hearing about him made him wonder the kind of person he could be and he kept it at the back of his mind to make more inquiries.

"Then why did you? Why did you stay out late? You should have informed me and we wouldn't be out here by this time" he spoke gently, almost huskily as he stopped in his tracks and turned to face her.

"I-I don't know. I guess I-"

"Shush! Shush! I understand" he said while placing a finger on her lips and holding one of her hands with his right hand.

"You've trusted me enough to tell me a lot of things and to even be out here alone with me at this hour. That's just too much to ask for. I never imagined this when I left my house this morning. When I came here today, I never had imaginations of what is even happening now. In just a day, I've gained so much trust from a total stranger who accepted to be my friend" he said as he squeezed her hand.

His fingers moved to caress her face gently and slowly and then her hair and in a slow movement, her free hand came up to hold his hand.

"Should I tell you a secret?" he whispered and she nodded as she raised her head to look at him.

"My sole aim of coming here today is you"

She smiled but didn't say a word as he continued.

"From the first time I met you, I wanted nothing more than a moment with you. I yearned for you. The second time I saw you, my yearnings increased. Today I decided to come for you and right now I feel so happy. To be honest with you, I've never been this happy and fulfilled in a long while. You really made my day and I'm so grateful for that. The only way to repay you is to keep my promise and maintain your trust in me" he said in a low and gentle whisper.

She looked up at him and smiled that gorgeous smile that exposed her true beauty. It infected him that he also smiled back at her.

Then they both became silent as they got lost in each other's gaze in the little darkness created by the setting sun. He was at least a foot taller than her and her body was just the perfect shape. Slim and fit, just like a model. Without saying it out, they both could see the longing in each other's eyes as they held each other's gaze and none of them wanted to let go first. However, she was the first to look away when he didn't expect her to.

"So its a goodbye from me now" she said.

"Is it okay if I come again next weekend?" He asked.

"You will? It'll be fine by me"

"Where can I see you?"

"At the stall"

"Is it okay if I get your mobile contact?" He asked.

"I don't have a phone. Just meet me at the same place" she assured with a smile.

"Goodbye" she said again and he felt his fingers being squeezed before she let go of him.

It was then he realised that they've been holding hands the whole while. He turned to leave as the seaman that brought him earlier was waiting patiently with few passengers on board. As soon as he was few steps away from her, he heard her angelic voice again.

"Noella" she said lightly in the chilly moonlit night.

He turned around briefly to look at her.

"Noella is my name. Do have a safe trip Dave" she said with a smile before trotting away towards the woods.

The joy he felt at that instant could not be underestimated. To say he felt happy is an understatement. He simply felt like abandoning his ride and running after her to hold her in his arms and never let go.

That night, he fell asleep with a smile on his face. It was indeed a great and memorable day.

* * * *

The next morning found him in a lively and cheerful mood as he became more jovial with the family, including the domestic staff in the mansion.

At work, his ebullience could not be hidden as he whistled and hummed while he went about with his activities. His employees could not help but notice and appreciate this rare exuberance coming from him.

Barry came into the office after he had requested for his presence. He wanted to discuss the level they had attained so far with the new project.

"You seem to be in good spirits bro. What's up?" Barry asked midway in their discussion because he couldn't hide his curiosity.

"What are you talking about?" Dave asked, pretending not to know where he was driving at.

"You know what I'm talking about" Barry raised an eyebrow at him.

"Nothing serious man. Lets just say I woke up on the good side of the bed" he replied as he picked up a pen on the desk, avoiding his friend's gaze.

"So where were you yesterday huh? I wanted us to hangout but you were no where to be found and all your phones were switched off"

"Sorry bout that bro. I was busy with some things" he lied.

"Busy with what on a Sunday if I may ask?" Barry was more curious now.

"Nothing" he muttered as he twisted the pen around his fingers.

"Perhaps busy with our new discovery huh? Our island girl" Barry teased.

Just then her cute face appeared on his mind and a smile crossed his lips as he remembered the previous day.

"I was right wasn't I? She's the cause of this high spirits you're in" Barry said again and then gave a loud chuckle.

Dave remained silent as he kept recalling the events of the previous day with a smile plastered on his face. He looked like a teenager who has found his first love.

"But seriously, tell me about it bro. I mean every little detail cos it seems she has found her way into that empty heart of yours" Barry giggled.

"Men don't gossip Barry" he jeered and they both laughed.

"I'm just so happy for you man" Barry added.

"I know bro. Don't mind me. We'll talk about it later" he said.

"I'll see you tonight then" Barry said and they rounded up their meeting before he left.

Dave had planned out all he needed to do since the previous night after having long thoughts about everything that has been happening recently, and then after having one last thought, he pressed the intercom on the table.

"Send in my PA" was all he said as soon as his secretary responded on the other end.

Few minutes later, Christen walked into the office. Ever since the last time he had tongue-lashed her about her mode of dressing, she had managed to maintain a moderate state of outfits but her taste never changed. She still exposed seductive areas of her body. The last time she had entered the office was since in the morning of that day. He had quickly dismissed her then because he knew all her tacts and what she secretly intended to do. She comes to work dressed nearly seductively but always covered up in a lengthy outer garment. But each time she wanted to come into his office, she removed the outer garment just to try her luck with him just once.

Without paying much attention to her he said,

"I want you to fix a meeting for me with the board members"

"It's few minutes to lunch Sir" she said, stressing the 'Sir'.

"Then you need to start working on it right away" he replied as he began to work on his private computer.

"But they all have private schedules and-"

"Then tell them its an emergency. I want the meeting to hold by all means today" he said without taking his eyes off his computer.

"Right away Sir" she said and turned to leave.

"Uhm Christen?" He called out again softly and she turned to look at him.

"Yes Sir?" She replied in a seductive voice.

"If you walk into my office again without covering up, I'll force you to resign... And.... this is not a threat but a strong resolution" he said squarely before concentrating on his computer once again.

She simply walked out without saying a word.

The meeting was to hold by 4pm due to clashes in schedules of the board of directors.

She came to remind him about the meeting thirty minutes earlier and at that time, she was fully covered in her outer garment. When it was time for the meeting, she returned again to pick up his things to the meeting venue.

The board members were all seated in anticipation as he walked in gracefully and took his seat at the head of the table, just like a king before his counsel.

"I apologize for any inconveniences this emergency might have caused any of you. I called for this meeting because I want some readjustments to be done on the Jenkins-Orman project" he said calmly after every protocol was observed.

"I believe many of you here could recall why I called during the weekend to inquire from you on why decisions were taken without informing or notifying me first. To be honest I was not satisfied with the turn around of events last week as regards to the new and ongoing project. How can this happen? I am the head of that project and the CEO of this company so why was I not involved?" He asked no one in particular.

Mr Andrew the leader of the board was the first to speak.

"First of all Mr Orman, I want to personally apologize for any decision taken without your notice. We sincerely apologize but just as I've told you on the phone on Saturday, not every decision is to be taken by the CEO sometimes the caretakers run the business and take decisions smoothly that will benefit the company without even the CEO knowing. You are a genius when it comes to business so you should know all these"

"I see! Now to the main topic of today's discussion. I want us to make readjustments on the new island project" Dave reiterated his stand.

"What readjustments are you referring to?" Mr Andrew asked again.

"I, I mean we all have come to discover that there are people living on that island. Its their only asset and source of livelihood. That place is a home to them" he explained.

"That's the reason we have decided to demolish-" Mr Goddy began.

"That's the point. They have no where else to go. So we cant demolish them" Dave shook his finger in rejection.

"But the company has signed an undertaking to pay them off so that they'll look for another place right?" Mrs Steve interjected, she was the head of finance.

"We are not going to do that because that is still considered a lower form of injustice. The money stated will not be enough for most of them to start a new life" Dave corrected.

"So what do you suggest we do now?" Mr Andrew asked.

"Reduce the intensity of the project. It should not affect the region where the people settle" Dave said.

"That can't be done. The contract we signed with the Jenkins states that the entire island will be used, besides we have no say in that area because the land is not a property of the Orman Empire" he added.

"The more reason why we need to readjust the contract. Even if it means repaying them half of their investments" Dave was totally serious now.

"But that's an outrageous thing to do. It has never been heard of the Orman Empire and its not going to start now. Mr Orman do you know what this will cause to the reputation of the company?" Mr Andrew interjected in bewilderment.

There was few minutes protests and murmur which created a noisy atmosphere in the meeting hall before he cut in abruptly.

"If we can't make readjustments then we'll have to abort the mission and that's final" he said sharply and squarely to the hearing of everyone in the hall.

They all became silent for few minutes as all attention focused on him.

"Yes. I've come to a final decision. We'll terminate the contract if readjustments I've just mentioned cannot be met" he reiterated.