All Chapters of Their Chance : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

AhanaMy breath catches in my throat as his lips take mine, in the perfect climax to the tension I have felt since seeing him at the grocery store. From looking up and seeing him standing down that aisle, gorgeous in a black peacoat jacket over a navy blue cardigan and indigo blue jeans, to the feel of his body when he pulled me close to break my fall in the bus, to us standing cheek-to-cheek seeking shelter under the portico as he tried to open the door, all my senses have been heightened, and the feel of his lips on mine is an hallelujah moment, a symphony, a full-on orchestra complete with sopranos, tenors and bass. I close my eyes as I savour this kiss that has stopped my world on its axis, no longer feeling the chill of the rain still striking us. Knotting my fists in his jacket, I pull him closer, and he groans softly as his arms circle my waist, pulling me even closer still as our kiss deepens.And then his phone vibrates, bringing us both back to reality.He immediately pulls

Ahana“Were you on your way out?” she asks. “Thank God I caught you then. I got you and… and the angel gifts!”I cross my arms and watch as she hurls in two large boxes; one bedecked in a flashy black and gold Versace wrapping paper with a red bow atop it the only indication of anything related to Christmas, and the other draped in a pink and yellow polka wrap.“Can we open them, daddy?” Muna squeals, her eyes lit by the elaborate gifts.“Maybe when we get back, sweetheart,” Chris says to her. “We really have to get going.”Noticing me, the Ada looks in my direction and then back at Chris with questioning eyes.“That’s Ahana, Muna’s nanny,” he answers. “Ahana, this is my… friend, Ada.”I smile, more from the much-needed reminder of what exactly I am to him. His daughter’s nanny. “Nice to meet you.”“It’s lovely to meet you too,” she offers me a stiff smile, before returning her attention to Chris. “Good call. Ahana, never heard that one before. Hopefully she's better than those horny

AhanaMy eyes go to the bag of takeaway in her hands and a bubble of rage starts to well up inside me. But I quickly catch myself. Of course, she… they … would expect me to run errands for them. Why else am I here?“No, no, I’ll do that,” Chris says, quickly taking the bags from her, shutting the front door, and walking towards the kitchen, all without looking at me.Ada lingers at the doorway and turns to me, her smile completely gone. She gives me a onceover, from the crown of my hair to my socked feet, and she must decide I pose no threat as she offers a thin smile. “You alright?”I nod, not bothering with a smile of my own. “Yes. Thank you.”The unmistakable smell of Chinese food wafts in from the kitchen, reminding me that the lovebirds are about to feast on their meal. Even though I have been procrastinating my own lunch and am already decidedly hungry, I decide it is in my better interest to retire upstairs. I neither want to be a third wheel nor do I want to witness the lovers

AhanaWalking up to the apartment block, even though it has only been days since I was there last, I am already as emotionally detached as someone who hasn’t been there in years. Making my way up the stairs, I have a vivid flashback of battling up them with my suitcases when I first arrived and battling down them with the same suitcases as I fled to Josephine’s place. I smile and shake my head as I think about all the lofty hopes and dreams I’d come to London with, believing Aput would take me to a cute, small apartment and, with what was left of my living expenses allowance after he paid for his exam, we would live happily ever after. But now, only three months later, everything has spectacularly imploded.Tragic.“Hey, beautiful!” Dairen remarks when he opens the door,even though his eyes look somewhat flat. “You didn't visit for Christmas.”I just smile in response as I walk in, not bothering to tell him Aput and I have broken up and he no longer had rights to use endearment for me

AhanaI drift in and out of sleep all of Saturday, unable to do more than open my eyes the few times I awake. The trauma to my body is just as potent as if I have been drugged, compelling me to obey it and not even move as much as a muscle.I am aware the several times Chris comes into the room to check on me, and when he places trays of food on my bedside table, meals I can’t even look at talk less of eat. I know when he comes in to take away each uneaten meal and replace it with another one, and even notice him hover over me for a few minutes, probably concerned about how long I have been in bed, but I can’t even open my eyes in acknowledgment. It isn’t until much later that night, at about 11pm, that I am finally able to wake up. Sitting up in bed, even though there is still a dull ache in my head, I feel considerably better.I find my way to the bathroom, and I am consoled to see the swelling on my eye has gone down and the bruising on my face and neck are no longer quite as purpl