Chapter Ten

"What about your dad? Will he accept me?" She asked after thinking for a long time. In her moment of thought, Christopher didn't disturb her. He was content watching her.

"Who cares? I am my own person. He doesn't have a right to decide who I marry. I will marry who I want!" He said.

"This is Nigeria and not outside the country where you grew up. Parents have a lot of say in their children's life. They get to tell you a lot of things around here." She said to him.

"I know this is Nigeria and I know how most parents are dictators in the lives of their kids. I won't allow him to rule my life at my age and I want my child to live happily. My dad has used up his right to tell me what to do. He can no longer do that." He said.

"I don't know. How can we get married if you are so sure your dad will not accept me?" She asked.

"Listen, I know what you are scared of but, if you are to get married to me, I want you to remember that it's me who wants to marry you. It's me who wants to spend the rest of my life with you and not my father. What he thinks doesn't matter at all." He said.

"I don't know. What about Princess?"

"What about her?"

"I don't want to expose her to the media. If we get married then she would always be exposed to the public. She would be in the spotlight. I don't want that for her. " she said.

"I also don't want that. We'll keep a low profile. I'll make sure to keep you two away from the spotlight." He assured her.

Rose didn't know why she kept thinking of how their marriage will be but she jas decided to go with the flow. If what she feeling keeps growing then, why wait? "Ok. Let's just allow nature to take its course."

"Since we are allowing nature to take its course then can I ask for something?" He asked her. They were already sitting together but, he wanted to hold her. He wanted more than just sitting with her.

"What is that?" Rose asked him.

Instead of saying anything, he just pulled her into his arms and hugged her. "Can we stay like this for a while? I have been wanting to do this and more since I saw you but, I know you would want us to take it slow so, let's just stay like this for a while."

Rose didn't say a thing. She was frozen in his arms. Her head on his chest, She could hear his heartbeat and it was like music to music to her ears. She loved how it was sounding. They just stayed like that till she began to relax in his arms and Christopher noticed it. He was happy to see that she wasn't fighting it. If she wasn't fighting it then, there is hope.

They were sitting and hugging in comfortable silence when Christopher's phone started to ring.

Rose wanted to pull out of the hug but he held her tighter and picked up his call. "What's up Uzo?"

"Guy, where you dey?" Uzo asked him.

"Why are you asking. I thought I told you where I would be," he answered.

"Oh, you did. Guy your dad has done it again oo. Have you seen what's trending?" Uzo asked.

"What has he done again? I hope it doesn't concern me?"

"Guy, it concerns you oo. It changes a lot of things sef. That your pap dey para ooo." Uzo said.

"Uzo, please stop with all this your vernacular English. You know I don't understand it as much as I would love to. What did my dad do this time around?" Christopher asked.

"Well, your dad and your all-time girlfriend have announced that you two are engaged. They said they will announce the wedding date very soon." Uzo explained.

Christopher wasn't surprised. He was expecting such a thing from his father and he didn't disappoint. "It took him long enough. That man thinks am joking. Well, it's all good. He needs a wife so, he can just marry that snake. I have seen who I want as a life partner. Before I forget, my daughter is very cute." He said to his friend.

"Are you with...?"

"Yes, I am with her. Do you want to say hi?" He asked his friend.

"No, I will meet her when you bring her back. Good luck. No, come dey flex your love for me. Bye-bye." He said and hung up.

"Haha..." He chuckled after dropping his phone.

"What happened?" Rose who has been quiet all along asked.

"It's my friend and brother. His name is Uzo. He called to tell me about the stunt my dad just pulled." He said to her.

"What stunt?" She asked.

"It's something he would regret. He just had a press conference and he announced that I and Cindy Coker are engaged. What a lame joke." He said to her.

Rose pulled away from the hug and looked at him then said, "Engaged?"

"Yes. He called me and threatened me with that and I told him to go ahead. Don't worry. I have who I want right here with me," he said and held her face in his hands. "It's you that I want and nothing can change that. If you agree to go back with me, we will go back as a husband and wife. He can go ahead and get married to her for all I care. I have found you and am not about to lose you again."

"No, you don't get it. People will think I am the other woman. They will point fingers at me. Cindy is a celebrity and I am a nobody. How do you think I can win against her?" She said.

"You are not the other woman and you and you will never be the other woman. I want you and that's all that matters. My dad can do whatever he feels like. I don't care as long as he doesn't trouble you. Wait! Have you thought about getting married to me?" He said like he just realized something.

"Yes. I couldn't sleep last night. I know I feel something for you but, I don't know what it is. I can't name my feelings test but, I want to try. I don't want to spend the time I have second-guessing myself. If I have to do it then, why waste time." She said.

"I promise you won't regret your decision. I will make you and our daughter the happiest people in this world. You just wait and see," he promised.

He wanted to pull her back into his arms and kiss the life out of her but, he didn't want to rush her. He had decided to give her the time she needs and he won't rush her. He has waited for years so, what are a few weeks or months that he can't wait for?