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I gathered the assignment into my hands, grabbed my bag, and locked the car before heading towards my office.“You’re almost late,” I heard the famous voice of Daniel say from behind, and I groaned, not wanting to start a long talk with him this morning about how or why I was almost late.“Good morning, Daniel.” I tried a calm tone, and luckily, it worked.“Let me help you with that,” he offered, but unlike other times, I shook my head. It wasn’t his job to lessen my burden, and I didn’t want him to get used to it.“I’m almost at my office,” I pointed out as the reason I didn’t want his help.“Come on. I know you’ve got this under control and can do it all on your own, but I want to help.”Knowing there was no winning for Daniel, I paused and turned to him, clenching the books in my hand.“You will not let this rest if I don’t give in, will you?” I demanded, a frown coming into my face.He grinned. “You already know me so well.”I handed him the pile of books in my hand and began headi
I didn’t answer his question because I couldn’t, and so I walked on without bothering to say a word.He didn’t know my story with Aaron. The only one I told it to was Diya, and she was a keeper of secrets. Daniel didn’t deserve to know who Aaron was because we didn’t have a level of trust in our friendship. I trusted him to an extent, but I’d rather keep things from him, especially my secrets.“The least you can do is not ignore me, Zera,” he said, and I snapped out to see him following me.I paused and turned to him. “You need to stop following me, okay?”“Who’s Aaron? Why did you call me Aaron?”“Aaron is someone I want to leave in the past, and you are driving me nuts, just like he did.” This was the highest level of truth I could reveal to him. This would also shut him up and keep him from asking any more questions. Keeping him in the dark was best for both of us.“He’s the one responsible for your lack of trust in men?”That would be Owen. Aaron only made it harder, but that’s a s
The next few days flew by faster than I expected, and soon it was Friday. I had one class with my students, and after I closed up for the day, the next step was to pick up Zion from school.Just like every day, as I stepped out of the block, Daniel was already waiting for me to see me off to my car. “Are you ready for the night ahead?” he asked, sounding too eager and making me raise a brow at him.“I can’t say no, can I?” I raised a brow.“You can’t, Ms Adams. This is a yes-only question,” he chuckled.“Then yes, I am,” I answered.“And Zion?” His concern always seems to warm my heart. It could be because he’s expecting to get a chance with me someday, but it was always nice and comforting whenever he’d ask after Zion. He did more than some family members did.“He would be with Diya. I’ve already made plans.”He nodded, impressed, saying, “That’s good.”For a moment, I wondered what it would be like to give us a chance. He was a great guy with a big heart. I’ve known him for two years
My heart doubled a beat when my eyes returned to rest on him, and I found him watching me, but unlike others, he wasn’t clapping; he was just watching me intently, like I owed him something, like I took something that was his.I wasn’t hallucinating when I saw him at Domino’s many days ago. Seeing him here today told me what I had seen was him. He was there that afternoon, watching me like he was doing now.He looked the same way he did when I had seen him then and also in my dream. He had longer hair and trimmed beards, unlike five years ago, but didn’t look to have aged a bit since then.His appearance now meant I was no longer safe with my son. Five years ago, I said goodbye to him and thought I would never see him again, but here he was at the place I least expected.This was my nightmare becoming a reality, and there was nothing I could do.“Zera, they are waiting for you.” The host whisper-yelled at me, forcing me back into the reality of my surroundings to know I wasn’t in the r
It wasn’t an imagination I could snap out of, nor was it a dream I could wake up from. I couldn’t pretend that he wasn’t here either, because he was here with me. This was real. Aaron Hart stood closer to me than ever. I could feel his heated gaze watching my every move, wanting to see my next reaction.I turned from the elevator to face him and found a look on his face I couldn’t figure out.“Zera Adams.” His deep, hoarse voice called out like we had scores to settle, and shivers ran down my spine. His voice had been my downfall in the past, and even now, it still is.“You look amazing,” he said, and his eyes dragged over my body like it was on full display for him. “Indeed, the years have been kind.”I swallowed.I left him in my past five years ago, and ever since then, I have avoided anything and everything that would bring him back into my life. Now here he was, standing before me and staring me dead in the face, like he could see my very soul.I needed to gather my courage and fa
The organisers held a meeting the following week. It was headed by the vice chancellor, Tobi Akindele. He used the opportunity to thank everyone at the university who dedicated their time and effort to seeing the success of the event held. According to their report, this year’s fundraiser generated twice the revenue of the last. That made it the most successful they have had since they started. It was an excellent step in the right direction for the university.Being part of the movement gave me a sense of pride, and knowing I helped make education easier for someone made me happy.My joy, however, decreased when I learnt the largest donor for the night was Mr Aaron Hart, with over $200,000. This also differed from his other pledges during the many events that took place.I saw everyone cheer, and though I felt happy because this was something good for the university, it wasn’t good for me. I knew who Aaron was, and I knew what his presence meant, so even while others cheered and clapp
His eyes flickered as he stared at me, as if trying to figure something out. Whatever he searched for, he didn’t see it. At least, not before we got interrupted.“Ah! There he is. I thought you wouldn’t make it,” the vice chancellor, Mr Tobi Akindele, said, coming in from behind and offering him his hand for a shake.Aaron’s attention shifted from me over to the middle-aged man, and a smile came onto his face. “Good morning, Mr Akindele.” They shook hands.“Good morning, Mr Hart.” Tobi turned his attention to me. “This is Aaron Hart,” he told me. “Mr. Aaron Hart, this is...”“Zera Adams.” Aaron beat him to the introduction, and that made him raise a brow of interest. “You two know each other?”I moved to say, “We met at the fundraiser.”Aaron said, “We have a bit of history,” at the same time.Well, I didn’t think this would go well, and so far it hasn’t.“Okay, that’s good then.” Tobi said, brushing off what Aaron had just said lightly.It wasn’t good, but it would be less complicated
There was silence in the few weeks that followed. I had initially thought Aaron’s presence at the fundraiser or the university would turn my world upside down, but as it turned out, it didn’t. I saw him a few times after that day, but only in professional settings, which came as a relief to me.Still, I couldn’t take chances. Diya made a schedule for picking Zion up from school, and in the last few weeks, we have all stuck to it. From Mondays through Fridays, each person was assigned to pick him up and take him to their place until the evening, and I’d go over to pick him up and bring him home. The only days I had to pick him up were Fridays because both Diya and her parents were busy that day. Lionel got discharged from the rehabilitation hospital last week, and he was slowly getting back into the outside world. Although I could fit him into this schedule, I knew it was best to leave him out for now.With Aaron being out of the picture for the last few weeks, I could conclude that he