Chapter 4: His kindness

Tina started crying again, wondering what she had gotten herself into, where she would sleep, how she would get back home to face her mother, and where she would even get the transport money to go back home to her village at that risky hour of the night, as it was already dark due to the heavy rainfall.

While still in her thoughts, Patrick stepped out of his house, shocked to see Tina still standing outside and crying, shivering from the cold weather, her clothes soaked wet and clinging to her body.

Patrick knew Tina was stubborn, but he had to ask what she was still waiting for, as he was shocked that Prisca had left her behind. He stepped out to instruct the security man to lock his main entrance gate, since it was already past 9 p.m., and Sharon had called to say they weren't returning home.

Patrick hesitated to speak to Tina at first, knowing she was stubborn, and walked past her to inform the security guard. But as he walked past, Tina shivered in fright and immediately shifted backward, not expecting anyone. Seeing it was Patrick, she quickly called him back, "Hello, excuse me, sir!"

Patrick paused and stared back at Tina as he heard her sweet voice. Tina looked down, unable to meet his intense gaze, remembering she had been rude to him before. She stammered, trying to ask him for help to get transport money to go back home, but hoped she would find a bike to take her.

"Wait, I'm coming first. Let me tell the security gate man to lock back the house gate, since Sharon and Prisca aren't returning, for security purposes," Patrick said, meeting Tina's gaze.

"Okay," Tina replied as Patrick left her, and she watched him walk to the gate house, returning to say, "Honestly, I thought you'd already gone home with Prisca and Sharon. I'm surprised to still see you here, meaning Prisca left you behind. Why not come inside and wait? You'll be feeling too cold out here, and I don't think Prisca will be returning tonight."

Patrick offered his kindness, knowing Tina might still reject it and prefer to sleep outside, but Tina didn't have any other option. As it began to rain again, Patrick drew closer and asked, "Aren't you going to say something, miss?"

"I... I..." Tina stammered, meeting his dark, handsome gaze. "I wanted to ask if you can help me with transport fare to go back home to my village, but I don't even know the way. Or can you help me with directions too, because I've never been to this area before, and my mom will be worried if I don't return home tonight."

"Hmph," Patrick sighed, listening to Tina's sweet voice. "I can help with directions, but it's already late, and before you get to the junction leading to your village to start trekking, it will be very risky and already midnight. Why not stay in for tonight? Tomorrow morning, I'll personally drop you off before leaving for work."

Tina remained silent, and Patrick hoped she would understand and calm down, as he wasn't happy seeing her sobbing. He shook his head and walked to open the parlor door, ushering Tina in, as her wet clothes clung to her sexy shape, making him a bit uncomfortable since he liked her.

Tina was shivering from her wet clothes as she stepped into the living room, watching Patrick lock the parlor door. He said, "Wait here, let me go inside and search in Sharon's room for any clothes to give you."

"Okay," Tina replied, watching Patrick walked away.

Patrick brought out some of Sharon's clothes for Tina to change into, seeing Tina's wet clothes were dripping water on the tiled floor. Tina said, "Thank you, sir."

Tina collected the clothes, not comfortable changing in his presence, she asked, "Sir, can I use the restroom?"

"Sure," Patrick replied, and Tina quickly went into the restroom, scared and anxious, knowing she was alone with Patrick in the house.

Tina had no choice but to change into Sharon's pink gown, drying her wet body and rinsing her wet clothes. She hung them in the restroom window to dry before morning, when she could wear them back and go home.

Tina also took off her bra and panties, as they were wet, rinsing and hanging them beside her clothes. Feeling dread washed down her spine, she stepped out of the restroom to the living room, where Patrick had already served his dinner on a stool in front of his blue couch.

Patrick saw Tina and asked, "Will you like to join me for dinner?"

Hesitating at first, but feeling her stomach growl in hunger, Tina nodded, as she hadn't eaten since noon due to Prisca's silly stories and dragging her to visit Sharon.

Patrick knew he was dealing with a stubborn lady, noticing Tina hadn't eaten or drunk anything since arriving. He stood up from his blue couch, abandoning his food, and went to the kitchen to serve Tina's meal, bringing it out and setting it on another stool and blue couch in the parlor.

Patrick had cooked the meal before the rain started, knowing Sharon was lazy and wouldn't agree to cook. He served Tina's tray of food, got a bottle of water from the fridge, and returned to his seat, staring at Tina, still standing, and saying, "That's your meal. I hope you'll like it?"

Tina nervously sat down, replying, "Thank you, sir," but didn't touch the food yet, worried about how her mother and siblings would be concerned about her not returning home.

As Patrick finished his meal and cleared his plate to the kitchen, he returned to see Tina hadn't touched her food. He sat down opposite her, staring directly at her face, and asked, "Aren't you going to eat, or do you want to starve? Should I feed you?"

Tina shook her head, meeting Patrick's dark, handsome gaze, and replied, "No, sir, thank you. I'll eat it, but I'm just worried about my mom and siblings."

Tina then picked up her spoon and started eating the jollof rice little by little. Patrick asked, "Don't you have a phone to at least contact your mom and tell her you're at a friend's place and won't be able to return home until tomorrow due to the heavy rain?"

"No," Tina replied, shaking her head. "I don't have a phone, and I don't know my mom's phone number either."

Patrick sighed, turning his attention to the television, while Tina managed to eat half the food. As she got tired and started dozing off on the couch, Patrick interrupted, tapping her shoulder and seeing she was falling asleep. "You're already feeling sleepy, miss. Do you want to sleep here, as you won't be comfortable? Why not come sleep in my bedroom?"