THE LOVE LETTER - CHAPTER 9&10
~ DIOR BOUTIQUE ~
“Your silence tells me you are going to refuse” Clifford said after assessing her like an eagle does to it’s prey.
It will be beneficial if she agree to accompany him as his companion but that will only lead him on.
He thinks she’s in love with him, which is why he’s asking her to be his companion, if her letter had never gotten to him, he won’t even know she exist.
Which is why she has got to put things back in order. The earlier they stay away from each other, the better for them.
“I need to tell you something, Clifford” she broke the silence. “It’s about my…”
He forestalled her by putting a finger on her lips.
“I know what you are going to say”
“You do?” Susie asked, wondering if he knew the whole truth already.
“Yes. You think am going fast with our relationship. It’s true that am trying to rush things between us but I won’t force you to do what you don’t want. It’s okay if you don’t accompany me to the anniversary as long as you don’t run away from me again, I will be fine” he said, brushing a kiss on her nose.
For a while Susie thought he knew the truth about the letter but he had meant something else entirely.
She watch him talking to one of the attendants and she knew then and there that she couldn’t bring herself to tell him the truth.
She didn’t know why she felt a protective urge where Clifford is concern.
He turned and their gaze lock, his lips tilt into a smile and then he winked at her before sauntering off.
She refuse his offer of getting her clothes and a while later they left the mall.
“You can stop here. My house is just a few walk from here” she said as he stop in front of the street that led to her house.
“Sure you don’t want me to take you there?” He asked and she shook her head before getting out.
“Susie” he called and as soon as she turn, she was drawn into his arms.
“What are you doing?” Susie asked against his chest.
“It’s hard to let you go” he confessed.
“But I have to go home, it’s late and you need to go…”
“Am tempted to take you back with me” He cut her off abruptly.
“I didn’t know you were a born flirt” she chastise, trying her best to hide her smile.
He held her jaw and forced her to look at him.
“If you think am a born flirt then you don’t mind me asking for a kiss. If we want to make our relationship work then we’ve got to know if we enjoy each other kisses” he said, looking at her naughtily.
“Am not ready for that yet” she said, trying to extricate herself from his arms but he pulled her back.
“Fine, I will respect your wish. Am a bit sad you won’t be going with me to the anniversary, I will be the only one there without a partner” He said.
“I doubt that. Just so you know, a lot of female workers are crushing on you, picking a partner amongst them won’t be too hard”
” I only want you” he said and kissed her forehead.
“G…goodbye” she stuttered and took to her heels.
He stood there for a while longer and when she was out of sight, he got back into his car noticing the jacket he wanted to return to her in his car.
“Will return it some other time” he said and drove off.
Susie got to the apartment she shares with Martha only to see Martha waiting for her in the sitting room.
“Is everything okay? ” Susie ask as she sat beside her.
“It is but then, someone brought this letter for you” Martha said, handing the note to her.
“Who?”
“Nina Knight. She said you have to read it since it’s important ” Martha inform.
Susie open the note and read it’s content.
The stricken look on her face got Martha asking.
“What’s it about?”
“I need to go see Nina, don’t wait up for me” Susie said and ran out of the house leaving Martha more worried.
*****
~ PK CLUB ~
Stanley sat alone in the VIP lounge sipping his wine while waiting for his friends to arrive.
“What’s up dude?” Adrian called as he join him in the large sofa, looking sweaty and dirty from his training.
“Couldn’t you freshen up?” Stanley asked.
“I tried to but then I realize that going back home will lead to me not coming back and so, I chose the latter since I need to unwind. The guards outside almost didn’t let me in” Adrian confess, looking smug about it.
“And am sure that you proudly told them who you are to let you in”
“Of course. After letting them know that am Adrian, the famous basketball player. They immediately let me in, there are times that am grateful to my profession since it makes me more popular than you and Clifford” He said, laughing out.
“But recently,Clifford have been stealing your line light. Didn’t you see the net is filled up about him?” Stanley asked.
“Of course. I even want to ask him who that girl is, it’s been ages since he’s been with a girl. I wonder how she captured his heart” Adrian said thoughtfully.
“Just ask him, he’s right behind you” Stanley inform.
“Clifford, my dude” Adrian stood up, wanting to hug him but Clifford dodge him.
“Go get a shower!” Clifford said, setting down a bag before sitting on an empty seat.
“For Pete’s sake. We’ve been together for years now, you should be used to my smell already!” Adrian complain.
“Not when you keep getting gross each day” Stanley replied and that got Clifford clinking his glass with his before gulping it’s content.
“Stanley just said my thoughts” Clifford said.
“There are times when I h@?? you two but am willing to forgive you both. Tell us about your love interest” Adrian said to Clifford.
“What do you want to know?”
“Everything but most importantly,how did she manage to get your attention when you’ve been ignoring all girls like a plague” Adrian replied.
“Let’s just say she earn my attention. She wrote me a love letter” Clifford confess.
“So old fashion”
“It is old fashion but I love it” Clifford said to Adrian.
“Is she working at the hotel?” Stanley ask.
Clifford nod in answer.
“Whoever she is, she’s certainly doing a wonder in your life. It’s been so long since have seen you smile” Adrian said.
“Was I smiling?”
“You were” Stanley replied.
“We can check the CCTV footage if you want” Adrian said.
“No need” Clifford replied, picking up his glass to take a sip while thinking of Susie.
“What about you? Anyone serious?” Clifford asked Adrian, changing the subject from himself.
“Hell no! The only thing serious in my life is football, the rest is just a play thing” Adrian replied.
“Never say never. Someone might show up and change your mind entirely” Stanley told him.
“There’s no lady in this world who will ever become a serious thing to me. Football is my only love” Adrian said proudly.
“What about you? Do you intend to be like Adrian forever?” Clifford asked Stanley, who chuckle at his words.
“I do have someone in mind. Though she doesn’t know how I feel ”
“Why don’t you tell her” said Adrian.
“I want to take things slow, I don’t wanna rush it” replied Stanley.
“Let me guess. She’s working at the hotel right?” Clifford asked and he nodded.
“Who is it?” Adrian prompt.
“Just someone. I have no intention of revealing her identity to you guys until she knows how I feel” Stanley said to them, ending the topic.
“I need to use the rest room, I think I ate too much earlier” Adrian said, clutching his stomach before leaving the lounge.
“What in that bag?” Stanley found himself asking.
“It’s a coat. I was meant to return it today but something happen and I had to take it out of my car since it’s at the car wash” Clifford explain just as he got a phone call.
“Need to go get my car, will be right back” he said to Stanley and left.
Not being able to hold back his curiosity, Stanley pick up the bag and pulled out the coat expecting it to be a lady’s coat but he was surprise to see that it is his coat.
“Why is this with Clifford?” He ask aloud.
******
After giving her name, the security man let her into the estate which led to the Knight mansion.
She was led into a luxurious sitting room and told to wait by the maid.
Susie was reading the letter again when Crystal and Nina arrive.
“I knew you were going to come after reading the letter” Crystal Knight said.
“How do you expect me to ignore you after reading this? ” Susie asked, taking a deep breath.
“Now tell me what you meant by Clifford have a few years to live?” She demanded from the two ladies….
➳ TBC ➳💙🤍🧡