He put his hand on her forehead checking her temperature. What he did was only a simple gesture but it made Chloe notice his presence, it made her insides feel strange making her giddy all over.
“Am okay now” she said pushing his hand away.
“You were almost ki||ed and you were scared. So it’s all right to be sick” Bryan told her caressing her head and that was how Carmen found them when she arrived.
“I came as soon as I finished my work” Carmen said moving towards Chloe.
“How are you?”
“Better” Chloe replied sending her a smile while Carmen tuck back a strand of her hair.
“This is all my fault. I didn’t think that the guys who had ki||ed Valerie will come back to hurt you. It’s all my fault, I should have found a way to protect you” Carmen said.
“And in what way do you plan to protect her when you keep decieving her?” Bryan asked from behind and that got the two ladies starring at him.
“What do you mean?” Carmen asked.
“We know the truth. Valerie isn’t dead” Bryan said In a straight forward manner which got Carmen looking shock.
“Wh….at….what …..nonsense are you …spewing?” She said starring at Bryan and then at Chloe.
“It isn’t nonsense, the truth is that you lied to Chole, you made her believe that Valerie is dead when she isn’t” Bryan said again.
“That’s impossible,Valerie is…..”
“Explain this if Valerie is really dead like you claim” he said giving her his phone.
“This shows that Valerie called me just some few weeks ago, that was how I know that Chloe is not the real Valerie. If you want us to help you in this task then you’ve got to be honest with us and that is by telling us what really happen to Valerie” Bryan demanded.
Carmen let out a slow sigh before she began to confess.
“Valerie didn’t die like I claimed but she was indeed attacked. It led her to be in a hospital for weeks. When she finally woke up, it was to be told that she could remember nothing and since I kept calling, one of the nurses picked up informing me of her whereabout”
“When I got to the hospital where she was admitted, Valerie didn’t even recognize me and so to keep her safe, I kept her whereabout hidden and when Chloe showed up, I decided to lie because I didn’t want to put Valerie in danger again”
“So it’s been confirmed, Valerie is indeed alive” Bryan said.
“Yes. She is and am sorry for keeping it hidden, I just didn’t want her to be exposed to danger. Take what happen to Chloe for example, if we don’t find the culprit then Valerie will keep on being exposed to danger” Carmen said.
“So must Chloe be put in danger too?” Bryan asked defending Chloe.
“Am not saying that, what I meant is that…..”,
“Is that you care more for Valerie that you wouldn’t care if some one else gets hurt” he said cutting her off.
“I wouldn’t want Chloe getting hurt In all of this” Carmen replied getting angry by his insinuation.
“Then why not just bring Valerie back and get Chloe out of this mess” He suggested.
“Not that! You need to understand that Valerie isn’t prepared to be out side. She has amnesia, she doesn’t remember who attacked her neither does she remember anyone, I can’t bring her out here where the wolves will make use of her illness and strike” Carmen said looking very worried.
“She’s right Bryan. We can’t bring Valerie back when she’s ill” Chloe said hoping he wouldn’t force the issue.
“So it’s best for you to be in danger right?” Bryan asked.
“I can take care of my self, I know the score but Valerie doesn’t. So let me keep on being Valerie until we catch this culprit, please Bryan” She said hoping he would listen to her and he did.
“Fine then. Let’s keep up with this until we find the culprit but if Chloe gets in danger again. I will have to call this off” Bryan said as Carmen nodded In relief.
He got a text and when he read the content in it, his expression changed.
“Have got to go” he said moving towards her bed pat her on the head.
“Take care until we see again and make sure to protect yourself whenever am not around. Don’t get in danger, okay” he said which got her nodding and blushing in return.
“I will” she replied smiling up at him and reluctantly he left the room.
Carmen who had stood watching the whole scene between the two went towards Chloe as soon as Bryan left the room.
“Am sorry my child, I didn’t mean to lie to you” she said apologizing.
“It’s okay Carmen. You did it out of fright and I understand, so you don’t have to apologise” Chloe said in return which got Carmen smiling in relief.
“And also I noticed some thing between you and Bryan earlier, are you perhaps dating him?” Carmen asked.
“Dating? Of course not! We are just friends” she replied hoping Carmen hadn’t notice the sweet look she kept giving Bryan.
“I hope it keeps on being that way” Carmen said suddenly which got Chloe wondering why she said something like that.
“You are here to help me find Valerie’s attacker and nothing else. Please, don’t be distracted by your heart or any other thing” Carmen said taking hold of her hand while reminding her of the real reason why she’s here.
“Please,Chloe. Don’t be swayed by your feelings and help me achieve my goal. Valerie safety relies on you ” Carmen added while Chloe nodded in return.
“I will keep that in mind Carmen, you don’t have to worry” Chloe replied and immediately Carmen pulled her into a hug.
“Thank you Chloe, thanks for all your help” she said holding onto Chloe while Chloe wondered how she will get rid of her feelings for Bryan cause there’s no doubt that she feels some thing for him which will only be a distraction for her and a burden to Bryan since he is in love with some one else.
****
<15 HOURS LATER ~ KARAOKE BAR >
“Let me go Bryan, you are hurting me” Chloe said trying to pull her hand out of his but he didn’t let go until they got to the back of a room.
“Now tell me why you’ve been ignoring me” he demanded.
“I told you that am not…..”
“You are! ‘” he yelled looking furious.
“You are and it’s bothering me, so just tell me what I did wrong and I will try to make amends” he added more slowly this time around.
“You have nothing to make amends for, it’s me who is the problem here” she said truthfully.
“Care to elaborate on that”
“I can’t….I came here solely to help find the perpetrator who is after Valerie’s life and not to be entangled in a relationship whatsoever but here I….here I am falling for…..” She stopped when she realized what she was going to say.
“Finish what you were saying” Bryan pressed but she ignored saying some thing else.
“The fact is that I can’t get involved with any one and falling in love should be the last thing I think about. Am an imposter after all and I…..”
“Who are you in love with?” Bryan demanded holding her by the arm.
“Am not in love with…..”
“Tell me the truth, i know when you are lying and when you say the truth and right now, you are lying to me” he said cutting her off again.
“Bryan I….I….I” she didn’t get to finish her word when he claim her lips.
They kissed on for a while and when Bryan let go to stare at her face, he got the answer he wanted.
“It’s me right, am the one you love?” He asked and when she said nothing, he kissed her again.
“I love you too, I love you so d@mn much that am going crazy” he admitted and once again he claimed her lips…..
To be continued ✌️✌️✌️