UNMARRIED... SO? Part 3

 UNMARRIED... SO? Part 3

It took only 2 days before I got a text from a strange number while I was packing up from the office. It was a Monday evening and I was beyond exhausted, but the text made me postpone my 'no screen till I get back home' rule. 

"It cost me a little bribe, and a promise to be in my best behavior, but yes..she gave me your number"

Clinton. 

I stifled a laugh.

He's witty.

I like it. 

I contemplated holding off my response till I got home, but I was giddy, and before I responded, another text came in. 

"What do you say about that great food? Friday at 7?"

I locked my phone and drove back home.

When I got home, I shot him a response. 

"I'm not supposed to eat past 7pm but if the food is great, I can cheat. Lol. PS: I HOPE THAT BRIBE WAS GOOD."

We texted back and forth through the week, until Friday came. 

After much contemplation, I decided to take my car instead of having him pick me up. No amount of giggles and butterflies would make me let down THAT guard. 

No date has ever picked me up at home, at least not since Daniel dropped me off and texted me saying.. 

"If you can afford to live in such a place by yourself, then I don't see any other value I can add to your life"

And that was just one out of the many things he said or implied. 

What's the big deal?

So I live in a penthouse.. I earned it!

Why's that the only value he thought he could add?

What do they want? A homeless woman? 

They want to be needed, and not emotionality,.. Financially. Because that's all insecure men have to offer. 

I was lost in thought and almost did not realize I was close to the restaurant Clinton had picked. 

My heart fluttered for a bit. Not butterflies of joy.

Not excitement.

But a bit of dread.

Fear of repetition. 

Our conversations had been alright but what happens today? 

THE DATE. 

Clinton was already seated when I walked in. Draped in beautiful linen material, he looked good.

He stood as I approached and pulled out the seat opposite him, motioning for me to sit. 

"Did they teach you this in business school?"

I teased after I sat. 

"Absolutely not, I had to take extra classes in date étiquettes"

We both laughed. Ordered drinks and conversed. 

He had mentioned that he worked in his father's company as the Chief Operations Officer, so I wasn't surprised when he turned down my offer to split the bill. 

"My mother would slice me in half if she heard that I let a woman pay."

We both laughed. 

"What exactly did my aunt say that convinced you to come see me at the party? "

He paused, looked at me and chuckled. 

"She said you were prim, proper and doing well for yourself, so I was really curious to meet this awesome lady who somehow is still single in spite of everything."

I don't know how that last sentence made feel. But he was still smiling, so I probed. 

"In spite of everything? What do you mean?"

"I mean it's not news that many men tend to lean more towards women who are supposedly beneath them, and trust me, women have been fighting to get ahead and I'm truly impressed by them all, especially you. But even with all of that...the wins and success, somehow relationships aren't sticking."

I narrowed my eyes at him in utter silence. Watching him slowly shoot himself in the leg and spew everything. 

"So, you came to see me out of curiosity.. And what did you find?"

"Honestly, I think beneath that fierce facade, you are soft inside, sweet even. But maybe a little afraid of not being enough and so you try to fill up the vacuum with more and more success...until there's no room for anyone else."

Does he realize that he's still talking? 

"Look, Oluchi. I really really admire you and everything you have built, but I think you should let the girl in you out more often. She's dying inside of you "

I was quiet. He noticed, and reached for my hand. But I moved it. 

"Are you here to prove a point to my family, that you can penetrate this ice queen?"

"No, not at all..."

"So if you thought I was so afraid and impregnable, why are we here?"

"Oluchi, the only person I want to prove anything to... Is you."

He finally caught my hand on the table. 

"I want to prove to you that you do not need to hide behind all the acquisitions and success and pretend to be okay. I want to prove to you that not everyone is Daniel. That you CAN actually have it all.. "

I snatched my hand from his.

I didn't mention Daniel to him.

How did he know about Daniel?

"Who told you about Daniel?"

He realised what he had done and tried to take it back.. 

"No.. I was just.. Uhm--"

"I never mentioned Daniel and there's no way you could have guessed that. Who. Told. You? "

His eyes gave away the answer I dreaded. 

"So that's the real reason you came? To prove that you are not him? To check out the priced possession that he left, or to make a mockery of it? Or maybe to pull your own stunt!"

"Oluchi--"

"Aunty Ene has crossed a line and I will not have it."

I picked up my purse to head out and he followed me, walking closely and trying to not make a scene. 

"Oluchi.. I promise you that was not my intention.. I didn't mean to --"

"--- to throw my past in my face? To tell me of my fears? To mansplain to me what you think my life is? Who died and made you my therapist?"

He was quiet.

Unsettled.

Apologetic.

But I could not stand him and the thought of he and aunty Ene sitting and discussing me made me shudder in embarrassment and annoyance. 

"I hope you and Aunty Ene have a good conversation tonight. I am sure it'll be premium gist"

I said as I got to my car and unlocked it. I didn't look back to see if he was standing here. 

Blinded by anger, I drove out of the parking lot and parked on the street. Screamed my lungs out before continuing my drive home. 

To hell with them both. 

Comment for part 4