Secret Vows Unveiled

Chapter5

Ariana, can i please have some rest. And we can have this conversation once I wake up?”.

Daniel replied as he turned his face away from mine.

For the first time,I wondered if the trip was really just about business.

South Africa?

The word reminded me of the video meeting we had earlier that month.

Harold Bennett’s face had appeared on the wide screen in the conference room at DM ACTIVEWEAR .He was joining us from Johannesburg.

“Hello,Everyone. Meet Harold Bennet, our soon to be collaborator for DM Activewear’s expansion into men’s activewear”. Daniel introduced Harold to us.

“Hello everyone, nice to meet you , I’m looking forward to work with you all”. Harold replied.

“I’ve spent years building a community around fitness” , “Harold said. And I’ve learned something”.

Everyone was attentive listening.

“Men don’t want just active wears that fit perfectly. They want something that represents who they are becoming”.

He paused .

“If we are entering men’s active wear, we have to sell more than fabric and designs. We have to sell confidence, discipline and commitment.”

I remembered the way Daniel listened carefully, his eyes fixed on the screen.

Harold wasn’t just bringing his name to the brand. He understood the audience we wanted to reach.

“The clothes are only part of the journey”.Harold continued. “People connect with what something makes them feel.They connect with the journey”.

The meeting had ended with plans to finalize the collaboration deal in South Africa.

“But why wouldn’t Daniel tell me of this trip?” I whispered to myself.

Maybe he had his reasons.

I will have to hear him out.

I put on my luxe active wear ready for my evening run.

A few moments later , i was back .

“You up already? That was quick”,I asked Daniel as I undressed .

“Yeah , yeah . I’m not feeling quite well”

“Well, maybe after you’ve let that thing out . You will feel better ” I teased.

He cleared his throat.

“Here. Drink some water”

He took the glass of water from me and put it aside.

“I’m heading to South Africa this weekend. To finalize the deal with Harold.”

Just like that.

Then silence.

“Since when do you book your own tickets?” I asked as i moved towards him.

Daniel looked at me for a moment before turning his face away from mine.

“I told you baby, It’s just a business trip.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

He stopped. “What exactly are you saying?”

“You always tell me about your business trips.

You tell me where you are going, whom you are going with and how long you will be there. But this time?I had to find out because I asked.”

He went silent.

And at this point, his silence bothered me more than any answer he could give.

“It’s just a ticket, stop making such a big deal out of it.”

“Seriously? And when were you planning to tell me?”

“Of course , I would have told you before traveling”.

“How long have you been planning this trip?”I asked.

“A few weeks.”

“And you didn’t think to mention it?”

“I didn’t think it was necessary.”

His responses stung more than the secrecy itself.

“Now that you already know, please pack a bag for the trip.”

I stared at him .

“So this is what people do in marriage? Stay calm and respectful even when their emotions are neglected and dismissed ?”. I whispered to myself.

“Just a few clothes , I’ll only be there for two days”he added.

“Wait, you are going alone ?”

“Yes”.

The answer came too quickly.

“Okay”. I nodded pretending it didn’t bother me.

I kept replaying the conversation in my head.

None of it was necessarily suspicious , the deal to finalize was intact, a legitimate reason to travel. Yet the way he handled everything made me feel uneasy.

I wanted to trust him without questioning every little detail.

But trust was difficult when someone kept giving you reasons to doubt.

I began packing , but my mind was somewhere else.

Then , as I moved his jacket into the suitcase something slipped from the pocket.

A very tiny notebook.

I froze.

‘‘ What’s this?’’.

I picked up slowly.

For a second ,I considered putting it back.

Whatever was written inside wasn’t mine to read.

I opened the first page.

But then I noticed something bolded.

My name.

“ARIANA” in capital letters.

My heart skipped.

I knew I shouldn’t open it.

But curiosity was stronger.

“Why is my husband suddenly so strange?”

First, he booked a ticket and plans a trip without telling.

And now this.

I kept opening the next pages.

Nothing.

My eyes landed on the name written on top.

And the handwriting was quite familiar.

Daniel’s .

I looked around to see any sign of Daniel coming.

He wasn’t around.

I opened another page.

I scanned that page quickly with my eyes before Daniel could catch me

Before i could read the first line, Daniel walked in.

I closed it quickly.

“Where did you get that?”. Daniel asked.

“It fell from your suit coat”.

“Give it to me”.

I took a deep breathe and gave it to him.

Are you okay? He asked while putting it in a drawer.

“Yes”I replied .

“You don’t look okay, did you read my notebook?”

“No I didn’t”.

“What could be written in there, why does he sound worried?” I whispered to myself.

“Okay. I’m resting up stairs”. He said while moving.

When he was gone, I had to sit quietly and try to remember what was written in the notebook.

I could remember enough to get a clue.

There was something like…. “what if I repeat the same mistake?”…

“I will have to make this right”.

That’s a few I could remember

I sat there wondering what could he be implying to?but I couldn’t bring myself to any conclusion.

“Iam going to take it and go through it,whatever happens at least I get to understand whats going on”.I said to myself.

When I reached the drawer,I heard footsteps behind me.

“What are you looking for Ariana?” I heard Daniel’s voice before I could turn around.