LOVE AND SECRETS

the restaurant reunion

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The Restaurant Reunion

Tuesday afternoon arrived with clear skies over Lagos.

Agatha had barely settled into her office when her phone rang.

It was Daniela.

"Don't tell me you're working through lunch again."

Agatha smiled.

"You know me too well."

"Good. Then stop pretending to be busy."

Agatha laughed softly.

"What do you want, Daniela?"

"Lunch."

"I'm not in the mood."

"I wasn't asking."

Agatha shook her head.

"You're impossible."

"I've already made reservations."

"Who's coming?"

There was a brief pause.

"Just me... Tony..."

Agatha narrowed her eyes.

"And?"

Daniela hesitated.

"...and Jeffrey."

The smile faded from Agatha's face.

"You tricked me."

"No."

"I invited all of you because I'm tired of watching the people I love avoid each other."

Agatha leaned back in her chair.

"I'm not making any promises."

"I don't need promises."

"I just need you to come."

After a long silence, Agatha sighed.

"One hour."

Daniela smiled on the other end of the call.

"I'll take it."

---

At exactly one o'clock, Agatha arrived at La Vista, one of Victoria Island's most elegant waterfront restaurants.

A waiter escorted her to a private dining room.

As soon as she stepped inside, Daniela stood to hug her.

"You came."

"I said I would."

Tony smiled warmly.

"It's good to see you again."

"You too, Tony."

Then her eyes shifted to the man standing beside the window.

Jeffrey.

He was dressed in a navy suit, his hands tucked into his pockets.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Jeffrey inclined his head politely.

"Good afternoon, Agatha."

She returned the gesture.

"Good afternoon."

No anger.

No warmth.

Just distance.

Daniela silently prayed the lunch wouldn't end in disaster.

---

The meal began with light conversation.

Tony spoke about work.

Daniela shared funny stories from wedding planning.

Little by little, the tension eased.

At one point, Daniela burst into laughter after Tony accidentally spilled water on himself.

Even Agatha couldn't hold back a smile.

Jeffrey watched quietly.

He had missed seeing her smile.

He wondered how many more he had lost over the past three years.

---

When the main course arrived, Tony excused himself to answer an urgent business call.

A few minutes later, Daniela received a call from her wedding planner.

"I'll be right back," she said.

Suddenly...

Jeffrey and Agatha were alone.

Neither of them seemed particularly pleased by the arrangement.

Jeffrey cleared his throat.

"I didn't know Daniela planned this."

Agatha looked up.

"I believe you."

He smiled faintly.

"Thank you."

The silence returned.

Finally, Agatha spoke.

"Why do you keep trying?"

Jeffrey met her eyes.

"Because giving up on you would mean giving up on the best part of my life."

She looked away.

"You always know what to say."

"I wish words were enough."

"They're not."

"I know."

She slowly put down her fork.

"I've been thinking."

"About what?"

"Those photographs."

Jeffrey's heartbeat quickened.

"And?"

"They don't make sense."

He remained silent.

"You looked surprised when Beatrice showed me the ring."

"I was."

"And at the charity gala..."

She paused.

"...you looked more frightened than guilty."

Jeffrey lowered his eyes.

"Because I knew someone was trying to rewrite our past."

Agatha searched his face.

"If I asked you one question..."

He looked back at her.

"...would you answer honestly?"

"Yes."

She took a slow breath.

"Did you ever stop loving me?"

Jeffrey didn't hesitate.

"Not for a single day."

Agatha's eyes shimmered.

She believed him.

Not because of the words.

Because of the way he said them.

Before either of them could speak again, the restaurant doors opened.

A woman entered wearing dark sunglasses and a cream-colored dress.

Beatrice.

She stopped when she saw Jeffrey and Agatha sitting together.

A slow smile spread across her face.

"Well..."

She said loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear.

"This is unexpected."

The entire restaurant grew quiet.

Several guests turned to look.

Beatrice walked confidently toward their table.

"I hope I'm not interrupting."

Jeffrey stood.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came for lunch."

She glanced at Agatha before returning her attention to Jeffrey.

"Although..."

She smiled sweetly.

"...perhaps this is the perfect opportunity."

Jeffrey's expression hardened.

"For what?"

Beatrice reached into her handbag.

"I've decided it's time Agatha saw the last letter you ever wrote."

Jeffrey's face lost all color.

"What letter?"

"The one you begged me never to show her."

Agatha slowly stood.

Her heart pounded against her chest.

"What is she talking about?"

Beatrice carefully removed a folded envelope from her handbag.

It was old.

The edges were worn with age.

Across the front, written in Jeffrey's unmistakable handwriting, were the words:

For Agatha.

Jeffrey stared at the envelope in horror.

He recognized it instantly.

He had written that letter three years ago.

But Agatha had never received it.

Until now.