Shattered Dreams Episode 8 By Nissi Adeola

Shattered Dreams Episode 8 By Nissi Adeola

“Wouldn’t you have your seat, Mr. Coker?” Patricia asked with a smile as she waited in vain for Michael to speak.
 
“What do you want Miss Williams?” Michael asked in return, still not moving his position; he could almost be mistaken for a mannequin.
 
“Ooohhh, eager right? Why don’t we sit calmly like two adult so we can talk properly?” Pat threw back, matching his calm perfectly.
 
“If the vague rumors and news are correct, nothing about your visits are calm, so why don’t we get in the mood right from the beginning?”
 
Patricia raised her brow and smiled. “I love a man who doesn’t beat around the bush.” She murmured and still got no facial expression from Michael. She wondered how Alexander managed to fall for such a cold man. Well, what a shame! “It is good that rumor is a familiar subject to you because I am here to get out the facts from you. The news taking over the entire country and beyond is the fact that you are gay; what do you have to say about this?”
 
For the first time ever, Michael moved away from the massive glass which was facing her because of its position behind Michael’s large table. Michael moved to the small portable fridge and extracted a pack of juice and a glass. For a second, Patricia actually thought he did not hear her question and when he took out the juice, she also thought he was finally making an effort at being hospitable but when he filled a glass and raised it to his own lips; she swallowed her fury and disgust and kept a straight face.
 
“Is that why you flew to Nigeria from Canada? To meddle in my affairs and find out if I am gay?” Michael finally said, sitting.
 
“Oh, you are not big enough to bring me from Canada” she said factually, looking disgusted. “But meddling in your affairs is my business just as stocking people’s phones with irrelevant and annoying offer messages is your business” she dropped.
 
“At least I don’t read my customers’ messages, listen to their telephone conversations or ask them to tell me about their private lives” Michael said as he dropped into his seat.
 
“Well, meddling is my business. But I am not here to discuss what I do; it is pretty obvious to everyone who knows me. I am here to talk about who you are… or rather, what you are” she grinned. “You know what? My being here is not only professional, it is also personal. Tell me, why did you go out with my cousin when you knew you were obviously interested in an asshole?” Michael raised his eyes to hers sharply. “You should have known what you were getting yourself into; I protect my own, I always do”
 
“Well then what are you doing here then?”
 
“To confirm if the rumors are real, there are facts; on net. I must say that you have a…” she ran her eyes from his chest to his eyes. “… nice physique.” She said with disgust.
 
“It does not look like you need a confirmation, it is obvious that you have drawn your conclusions, why waste time here? You can write your reports on all the rumors you have.”
 
“Oh no Mr. Coker, I don’t work that way. I have never come up with a broadcast that was later judged false and the same goes for ‘Tellers’. We speak the truth” she boasted proudly.
 
“Yeah right, well, you are just wasting your time because I won’t feed you with any ridiculous story”
 
“Oh, you will Michael Coker, you can count on that. You know me right? Truth cannot be hidden from me, especially, not one that is very open.” She stood up and made for the door.
 
“I wonder; did you dress so enticingly to seduce the answers out of me?”
Patricia turned speedily and pinned Michael with a glare but he raised his glass of juice to her in salute and she had to bring down her anger before it skyrocketed, she opened the door and went out, closing the door as gently as her temper could allow her.
 
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Alexander tapped her foot restlessly on the floor as she waited for Teresa at Regs Restaurant. She knew it was just a few minutes past twelve and she should not be so testy but she couldn’t help it. She checked her wrist watch again and picked up her phone to call Teresa again. She glanced through the large restaurant and saw few people. The restaurant was a good environment which also gave a certain level of privacy.
 
The call went unanswered and she almost jumped for joy when she looked up and saw Teresa coming into the restaurant. She waved at her and Teresa quickly saw her and made her way to the seat. “Hey babes, how are you? Sorry I am late” she said, dropping her bag and lowering herself to the chair without the usual hugs and kisses that the two ladies often shared. Alexa was grateful for this too, she was in no mood for pointless pleasantries.
 
“Better late than never” Alexa said.
 
“I’ll second that. Now spill it, I almost could not breathe since you called me, what is happening?” Teresa said hastily.
 
Teresa had thought a million times of how to tell her closest friend her predicament but now that it was actually happening, she was at a loss. “How do I tell you this?”
 
“Alexander, you better open your mouth and spill it” Teresa warned, already tired of the long suspense.
 
“I am scared Teresa, I am doomed.” Alexa ran her hands through her hair and bent her eyes. Teresa groaned and raised her eyes heavenwards. “I am pregnant”
 
“What?” Teresa yelled suddenly and heads turned in the restaurant to look at them. “Alexa, how can you say such rubbish?” she said, trying to reduce her voice.
 
Alexander swallowed heavily. “Control yourself idiot, people would hear you” Alexa took a deep breath as she tried to calm herself. “What do I do Teresa?”
 
“You are not being serious, are you?”
 
“I found out about two nights ago and almost died Teresa; my parents, how would they hear this? Our family name… oh God, this is worse than a shipwreck?”
 
“Have you told Michael?”
 
“No! Never! And I won’t tell that bastard anything” Alexa said with her voice rising.
 
“You never told me you both had problems, what did he do this time?” Teresa asked, not happy that a lot had happened and she was just hearing about it.
 
Teresa choked. “What?” this was the second time she would exclaim. People turned to them again and she swallowed. “What else are you hiding from me Alexa uhn? Too many things are hidden from me” she said bitterly.
 
“Does this look like fun news to you? Is it good news that I am pregnant for a gay?” Alexa took a deep breath.  “It is all over the net Teresa, it is not hidden”
 
“Wow… what do we do now?”
 
Alexa exhaled and put her head in her palms.
 
A waiter approached the two ladies with a smile. “Good afternoon madam” he greeted Alexa and proceeded to do the same to Teresa before turning to face Alexander again. “Ma, I was asked to give you this” he said and stretched a picture. Alexander’s mouth dropped open as she stared at the picture in the waiter’s hand. Teresa peeked and gasped. The waiter, seeing the commotion, dropped the picture and started retreating.
 
“Come back here, who gave you this?” Teresa asked, taking the picture in her hand.
 
“A lady did but did not tell me her name. Please excuse me”
 
The guy hurried off, leaving the two ladies to stare at the picture of a wedding which not only had Michael as an attendant but as the groom.
 
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Felicia had been about to enter Reg’s Restaurant when she sighted Alexander from afar and stopped. It had come as a surprise that Alexander was there but she did not want to meet the woman yet, it might ruin her plans, but she could not let the opportunity slide. A brilliant idea had struck her and she had opened her purse and removed the picture she always kept in it. She had called the waiter, tipped him and watched as he walked to Alexa’s table with the picture in his hands. When the picture was successfully delivered and she saw the reactions, she smiled and turned. She instantly called Sophia. “Hey babes… I know but Alexa is in the restaurant… yes, meet me at Tantalizers instead, there is a new development”

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Belina waited for Felix and her anxiety rose with each passing minute. She had a feeling that something very defaming was going on. The thought of the report that Felix would give almost drove her mad with anxiety. Her intercom rang and she instantly picked up. Her secretary told her that Felix was waiting and she heaved a sigh, telling her to show him in.
 
When Felix entered, he greeted Belina but would not meet her eyes. “How did it go? Did you get what I asked?”
 
Felix swallowed. “I don’t know if I should tell you this ma’am”
 
“Of course you would tell me what you found out, that is why I sent you”
 
“You would not like what I have to say ma”
 
Belina sighed. “I know that already, now spill it”
 
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Alexander got home about two hours later with a terrible headache. She did not think she could handle anything anymore, all she wanted to do was cry herself to sleep. She hadn’t noticed her mum’s car outside but as she entered, she saw her mum pacing the sitting room.
 
“Good afternoon mum” she greeted with a frown. “Is everything ok?”
 
Belina’s eyes shot her a thousand bullets as she stopped midstride to stare at a daughter she could not identify. She was glad that the maid was not home because she did not need to worry about being heard. Belina marched towards Alexander and watched as fear creaped to the eyes of her daughter but she couldn’t care less. Alexander shrank as her mum approached with a thousand thoughts floating through her head. Belina hadn’t reached Alexander when her hand swung out and connected forcefully with Alexa’s cheek. Alexa whimpered and even Belina’s hand vibrated from the force of the slap.
 
“How dare you?” Belina yelled. “How dare you do this to us Alexa? After all I taught you, after all the values I instilled on you, after all the love and care that your dad and I gave you; is this how you pay us? By dragging the family name in the mud? Tell me” Belina yelled.
 
“Mum, I am sorry” Alexander cried. There was no use pretending again, it was obvious that there was nothing to hide again.
 
“You are sorry?” Belina cried out. “Oh, so now you are sorry. When you found out, why did you not tell me? You lied to me, telling me that Teresa was traveling out while you went out to meet her and unburden yourself. What happened to the time you always came to me with your troubles?”
 
“I am sorry mum, how could I tell you such a thing” Alexa cried as she crumbled to her knees. “I was scared of what you would do if I told you that I was pregnant” Alexa sobbed.
 
Belina gasped and froze. What is going on? She wondered. For several seconds, only Alexander’s sobs filled the silence until Belina got her speech back. “You are what?”
 
“I am so sorry mum, I never meant for this to happen”
 
“You are pregnant?”
 
Alexander raised her eyes to meet her mum’s shocked and stricken gaze. “Didn’t you know?” Alexa was more alarmed now.
 
The door opened and Richard entered. He stood stupefied at the scene before him. “What is going on here?” he asked but no one could answer, they were all dealing with various levels of shock.

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