RESILIENT HEARTS

CHAPTER SEVEN

Few minutes later, she out of the bathroom on a night dress similar to mine.

She sat on the bed and we started watching the movie displaying on the TV together.

My phone started ringing after some time.

It’s a strange number.

I looked at Celine and she motioned me to pick up.

“Hi” I said when I picked up.

“Jasmine” the familiar deep voice that sends cold shivers through my nerves said I muted the call and said to Cel,

“Its him”

“Jeffrey?” she asked quickly.

I nodded and she said “Come on take the call” and I unmuted it “oh Hi Jeffery” I said.

“Can I see you, now, if you don’t mind, I’m right at your door” he said.

“Okay, I’ll be out in a second” I said and ended the call.

“He’s here and he wants to see me” I informed Cel.

“Go on, go out and see him” Celine said and I rose from the bed, quickly arranged my dress.

“How do I look?” I asked Celine.

“As pretty as ever” she said and with that I took a deep breath and stepped out of the door.

Look at him standing in his full glory, tall and handsome, he was on a black vest on a black shorts. I tried hard not to disgrace myself.

But the guy kept sizing me, it was as though he was satisfied with what he saw then he said “You look very pretty, even as early as this morning”.

“Thank you very much, you don’t look bad yourself” I said shyly.

“I know” he joked and we laughed.

“I hope I didn’t interrupt anything?” he asked seriously.

“ No not at all” I said.

“So where do we go, my room or do you prefer downstairs?” he asked.

“I think outside is much better” I said.

“Outside it is then, let’s go” he said and held my hands while we descended the stairs.

He led me to the garden by the left side of the compound, there’s a swimming pool close to the garden and there’s this blue ray of light coming from the pool.

“Sit my lady” he said pulling out a seat for me.

“Thanks” I said and sat gracefully while he sat beside me.

“By the way, I love your nail design, it’s cool” he complimented.

“Oh, thanks” I replied.

“So where are you from?” he asked.

“I’m from the Eastern part of the country”I replied.

“Oh wow, I’m Igbo too” he said smiling.

“People keep arguing about that, some say your family are westerners” I told him and he laughed hard.

“They are just baseless rumor mongers, I’m Jeffery Chukwuebuka actually” he said.

“I’m Oluchukwu” I said too.

“That’s nice” he said.

“Ask me anything you want to know about me, cause I assume we’re friends” he said smiling.

I think he has this habit of smiling while talking and it suits him though he has a beautiful smile.

“Just tell me about yourself” I said and he laughed.

“So you’re one of those who say that, well it's nothing, You already know my name, I’m the third child and second son of my parents, I have two younger siblings. I’m a graduate of Business Admistration from the University of Texas, America. I’ve spent thirteen years of my life in the United States and worked for like seven years there. I left the country when I was just 14, so I guess you can figure out my age that way.

I love football, sports generally and adventure. And I like you very much” he said.

My heart skipped a beat, this guy is so charming.

“Well, I’m Jasmine Oluchukwu Festus, I’ll be 24 in few months, I’m the last of just two of my parents. I only have a big brother. My parents aren’t rich, my mum is a fashion designer as a matter of fact she designed and made the dress I wore last night while my daddy is a trader. I’m a graduate of Marketing and Finance from the prestigious University of Ibadan. And I’m currently unemployed”.

I was expecting his countenance to fall when I said my parents aren’t rich and when I said I’m currently unemployed, but it didn’t, he’s as calm as before.

“So you just have an elder brother?” he asked.

“Yes” I replied.

“Your mum is really good, because that dress was something else, she did justice to it” he praised.

“Thank you very much” I replied.

“So where did you work before now and what happened there?” he asked keenly.

“I was formerly working at Wegmans Company, one of the Shareholders framed me for trying to seduce him after futile attempts of trying to sleep with me” I explained briskly.

After a moment of silence he spoke up “That’s the problem with this country, so your boss couldn’t even carry out a proper investigation….. It’s good you no longer work there anyways, you don’t deserve to work with such an insignificant company. I’ll get you a job ASAP” he said.

“I appreciate your gesture, but I already texted my C.V to Thelma, she promised to get me a job” I said to him.

“Oh, that’s nice” he said relaxing.

“ I didn’t ask earlier but how were you able to get my contact?, And I’m sure you didn’t talk to Celine” I said and he grinned.

“Well, it was Thelma, I think she took your contact from your friend, cause she told me she didn’t have your contact and that you girls just met last night for the first time” he said.

“Yea, that’s true, She and Celine works at the same company” I told him.

“My sister is a very lovely soul and she’s kind, she treats everyone around her the same. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t crazy, if you ever mess with her yours is finished cause she will disgrace and drag you to the very last” he said and we laughed.

We chatted and laughed for long.

I really enjoyed his company he’s so funny and lively.

At 3 am we decided to go in.

He walked me to the door I knocked and knocked but there’s no answer I tried calling Celine’s phone but it was not reachable.

I couldn’t blame her because it was kind of late to be knocking and plus Celine is a deep sleeper.

“Maybe you should go with me, it seems she’s in a deep sleep” Jeffrey suggested.

“There’s nothing I can do but to go with you” I said while he smiled.

His room is at the last floor, so we ascended the stairs to his room.

When we got there I was in awe.

The room we were at is like three of this one.

His room has like three sections, the first part is the study, it’s well lighted because it’s a more like a library and a home office, the other part is the bedroom proper, just like ours there’s a large plasma television hung opposite the bedpost, the bed is very big too with almost ten pillows, the bedsheets and duvet are magenta colored with the a darker shade color of curtain. There’s this very big portrait of himself hung by the side of the bed, he’s looking as handsome as always. Then the third part is his walk in closet.

There are lots of black clothing and footwear here.

“So Jas, welcome to my bedroom, more like my apartment” he joked.

“I know right?, Your room is very spacious and nice” I said.

“Thanks, come over here and sit, aren’t you comfortable?” He asked.

He’s already sitting on the couch close to his bed.

“Of course, I am comfortable, you won’t kill me at least” I said and went over to sit with him.

“So what is your genre of movie? He asked.

“Well, I find Romance or Adventure interesting, especially when it’s Hollywood” I said and he laughed.

“What, what’s so funny?” I asked him.

“Nothing dear, but no offence, why do you like Hollywood Romance?” he asked.

“Well, I don’t know but it’s kind of real to me” I explained.

“Well I won’t blame you, movie is make believe anyways.

But I’ll tell you one thing none of that is real, most of them don’t even have the time for relationships” he said and I figured it might be true.

“It might be true, but I choose to believe what I see in movies” I told him.

“You have every right to believe anything you want, okay?” he said calmly and I nodded.

“I feel drowsy, what about you?” I asked him.

“I too, I’m very tired, I was stressed a lot today, let’s go to bed” He said.

“And please I don’t do well with sleeping on the couch, so hope you don’t mind we share the bed” he added.

“No, I don’t mind, the bed is very large, I won't even notice you're here” I said and stood up.

I went to the other side of the bed and and laid down.

Gosh the bed is so soft and cold and I liked it.

The room is cold too.

“Should I turn the A.C of?, are you feeling cold?” he asked.

“No I’m okay” I replied and covered myself.

He went into the bathroom, I guess to take his bath, after which he went into the closet, then he came out on a black loose joggers with nothing over his chest.

I gulped down hard, he's well built and muscular. He has nice abs, broad shoulders and muscular arms.

God I was already in the wonderland before I realized he has turned off the television and tuned in a nice, slow and sensual pop music.

He came and laid in the bed, the fragrance coming from his body was so sweet and before I knew it, I already blurted out “You smell so nice” why did I even do that, I was so ashamed of myself.

“Thank you dear, I thought you’ve slept, hope you don’t mind the music playing?” he asked.

“No, it’s cool” I replied.

He turned of the lights, we bade ourselves goodnight and went to bed.