AFTER A BROKEN MARRIAGE .

chapter5

"So what was the handsome architec doing in your office if it wasn't work?" Aliyah asked
"I thought you had shut up about it" nelisa said
"Not yet" aliyah said
Nelisa smile "Well it was work but not renovating" nelisa said
"And you're not going to tell me"
"You're my best friend no one understands like you"
"OK I know" aliyah held up a palm "waiter" she called signals him to come over, he came over "ladies" he said how may i assist you?" He ask, Both of them look at each other then back to the guy
"We would like one of your fine french wine" nelisa told him, smiling up on him, he exchange a quick smile at her, he turn and both ladies roll eyes and grin, "he is cute" they both express childishly when he walk away,
"Do you think I should leave him my number?" Nelisa ask
Aliyah widen her eyes on hearing her say that for just few minutes ago she believed she is dating the architecture,
"That depends on if the wine is something we find interesting" Aliyah said they both giggle  look his way as he came up to them he came and rest on the table a bottle of Le' pin pemoral one of the top ten most powerful branded bottle of wine from top shelfs something a highly professional business man would go for they both roll their eyes aliyah nod as he pour two glasses for them, "is their anything else I can assist you ladies with?" He pleasantly inquire,
"We'll call you if we need you" nelisa said
"This is good" aliyah said nodding pleasingly,
He smile
"We should probably order something to go with this" she continue as she picked up the menus handing one to nelisa,
"I think I'll have some pigtails strew with spanish rice" nelisa said
"I'll go for the pineapple chunks garlic and ginger rice and sweet and sour oxtail" aliyah said "you do serve that here don't you?"
"It is on the menu" he said
"I'm just teasing checking to see if you can take a joke"
The man nod and smile as he took their order,
"Is it ok to call you by name?" Aliyah ask makes nelisa widen her eyes,
"Odane Royce" he pointed to his name tag that says royce,
"That's a cute name odane  it suit you" aliyah said
"Thank you"
"That's my friend nelisa" she said he turn to smile at her, you can call me aliyah"
"Would that be Alessandra?" He asked
"Ah! Look at that some one knows me" she grin,
"You got a billboard right around the corner"
Aliyah smile over at nelisa who roll her eyes,
"I'll get your order" he said turning to leave.
"You don't waist no time do you?" Nelisa ask as they both giggled, "you should ask him if he's married"
"I don't want to know that" aliyah said
"I like him" nelisa said
"you like him I'm more interested in the architecture" she finally confessed
Nelisa grin "now i see why you were so intrested in knowing why he was in my office you were afraid we were into some thing,  well he's married" nelisa said leaning back in the chair resting her arms gently up on the arm rest
"Ah!!!" Aliyah said smack her forehead twice.
"You sound disappointed"
"I am it's been a while since I haven't shown interest in a guy and when I finally do he's married, oh dear he do that to me"
"It is better that than seeing me"
Aliyah sigh,
"He is having some marital problems though,  but  he's trying to fix it  from what I'm gathering his wife has another man"
"She's cheating on him?"
"Mhm"
"Who cheats on such a cute guy, I can bet it's the money"
"I always think all architecture were rich"
"Doesn't seem so at all his van is something around sixties, seventies and is phone probably around the same time, it smashed and he's still using it"
They both giggled
"And yet you say you like him"
"I do!" She express but what now he's married and trying to keep it that way"
Odane came with their meal set each order before them "thanks" they both said he nod before going off once again,
He was standing somewhere were nelisa has to turn to see him and each time she did they met eyes, by the time they got through with dinner he came to clean the table, nelisa hand him a napkin with her number on it and tip him they bid him goodbye and went out, they could see him going back inside his pocket to look at the number look towards the entrance with a smile,
Nelisa huck her arm under aliyah's arm hugging her close to her as they walk back to the plaza to get their car,
Aliyah live in paulding and nelisa home was right here in rockdale she was on 38st block eight
"Thanks for dinner" she said
"That's not even an option" aliyah said as they share a tight hug sending each other off,
Aliyah could breathe easily for the guy she like isn't seeing her best friend, although he's married and trying to keep his marriage going she has a feeling she might have a chance especially now he's face with problems in his marriage she thought of using it to her advantage for she really find something special about him,
Monique came in the drive way while Lloyd was sitting in the living room, he got up and went out to meet her,
"Hey" he greets her
She held up a hand as she went by him,
"Baby we should talk"
"You always want to talk but I have work, so don't even bother" she said she went inside the kitchen heat some thing from the refrigerator then came to sit in the living room, Lloyd sat with her, she looked over on him,
"Baby I realize we are having some problems" he said
"We, I'm having problems but I'm facing them on my own"
"Then what should I do"
"I don't know"
"If we don't talk about it we're going to be face with the same problem"
Monique look over at him,
"I made an appointment for us to see a marriage counselor she's right here in rockdale her office is in middle town 38 street",
"You're telling me like I care, don't let me stop you from seeing who you want to"
"I want us to do it together so we can fix our marriage"
"What is it you want from me?"
"I only want to make it right baby"
"You already know that you're the problem just because I work and sometimes I'm a little tired and can't give you sex you're thinking I'm seeing someone I caught you other day looking under my clothes"
You started acting strange and I was just concerned to know if you were pregnant"
"You could just ask, and If I was wouldn't I say something, you didn't have to lift my clothes to see for I was bound to show?" She hissed,
"I'm sorry for letting you feel uncomfortable, but I would never think about you having some one else, baby I know you wouldn't do that" Lloyd said Monique look at him caring not one bit what he was saying, he just think he knows her all that well but he didn't the fact that she was with laurence and getting far much better treatment than she's with him make her want to leave him,
"The appointment is on Tuesday" he told her,
To get him to leave her a lone Monique nod,
lloyd believed it was OK and that she would really go to counseling with him in order for them to fix things,
Thought they haven't talked since she was home for the weekend,
Home from work early on Monday he stay the night on the sofa once again,
Tuesday morning she was getting dressed when Lloyd walk in "the appointment is at nine" he told her
"What do I care about any of it you make your appointment you deal with it" she hissed
"But baby I thought you agreed"
Monique look at him cross her eyes, "and look at you, you look a mess and you want me to be seen with you" she walk away with him following behind her to the front porch,
"Baby please I am just asking that you give it a try"
"I never said I needed counseling, you're assuming I do you're the one who makes it look as if we're having problems so you deal with it"
Lloyd watch her drive off with our thoughts he sighed and could kick himself he ran his hand through his hair feeling frustrated that they were even going through this they once had a good marriage but it took such a dramatic change he himself didn't see it coming, he curse himself for ever going wrong, much as the appointment were for him and his wife he decided to go anyway, he has no idea how much she'll charge to see him checking in his wallet hopefully she'll have a payment plan and if his wife isn't willing to make the next visit he won't go back.
Nelisa invites him to sit, "Are your wife going to be late?" She asked seeing it was just him,
"I'm afraid she got tied up at work"
Nelisa was no mind reader but she could tell she wasn't willing to come,
"This is supposed to be between you and your wife, but tell me a few things"
"A few things like what?"
"How is the relationship with you and your wife now I mean in this present"
Lloyd look out of space he thought he had explained it from the other day,
"Are you going to record it?" Lloyd ask
"You want me to record this conversation?"
Nelisa ask him reaching out for the small recorder on the table,
"No I would rather if you don't record if"
"OK, so I won't write I won't record I'll just listen"
"I don't know what happened but things are bad" he said from the look on his face it was nelisa could tell he was sadden by his wife sudden behavior, she recall aliyah saying the guy must be broke she wonder if it was so when he ask about a payment plan,
"This session is free and your next appointment is next Tuesday" she smile at him as they both smile, he was handsome now that she get to notice but needs caring for she overall him looking at the multicolor shirt he wore and faded jeans, a bad idea of a decent dress code,
"It was a good session today" Lloyd said as Monique entered through the door
"I didn't ask" she said
"The next appointment is on Tuesday same time nine am"
She look at him and shook her head,
He left the kitchen in order to let her have space, trying day after day to give her as much as he could at the sametime trying to fix things, Monday he reminds her before he stepped out into the living room where he now spend his nights, he thought she would try but she still refuses to go he ended going a lone once again, he talk to her base upon his feelings,
She allowed him another free session as she fix another appointment
"How about Saturday your wife doesn't work on Saturday does she?"
"On Saturday? No she don't work on Saturday" he told her though these few days she's going on weekends so she's not home on Saturdays,
"Let say you come in on,Saturday, will Saturday be good for you?"
Lloyd nod, "Thank you" he told  her again,  she watch him walk out another disappointment for him, nelisa wonder what he has did so wrong for her to be treating him so wrong,
She didn't work Saturdays but was just seeing to his need and to see what his wife will do, if she'll show up this time,
Thought Monique wasn't working she decided not to go with him as she told him before she tells him once again she did not need to have a counseling session, Lloyd went in seeing him nelisa sigh she invited him to sit and they talk like two people who long to have a conversation, she didn't want to just say I believe your wife is seeing someone else, he refuses the next appointment "I already wasted your time"
"You want to fix your marriage isn't waist of time I admire you for that" he thank her then left, nelisa pick up the phone call up aliyah soon as he turns the door,
"Aliyah was surprised her friend was in office today, inquire of her reasons
"How about dinner we'll talk then I'll call up Odane to get us a table"
Aliyah grin at the sound of Odane's name remember her friend was getting into him
"I'll see you soon"
Aliyah rumble through her closet for a simple dress and a slipper to go with it,
She went to the office to meet nelisa and they took a walk spending sometime in the park nelisa fill in aliyah on,the little session with lloyd though it was confidential she couldn't help it and to know she like him very much,
"I think she's doing all she can to not let it work" she said
"You think he will be back"
"I didn't fix another appointment he refused this time, saying he already took up my time"
Aliyah wonder if she would run into him again anytime soon hoping to for she really like him he was going through an ordeal at this time where probably nothing will be comforting to him, they went back to the plaza to get their car drove to the restaurant odean saw them and wave with a smile, they both greet him with a hug he then show them to their table they sat and he bring wine another bottle from the top shelfs now and then he would come over and sat for five minutes before going off again, dinner was over for a while but they sat talking it was getting to the hour odane gets off work nelisa decided to wait on him, they bid aliyah good bye as she climb in her car,
Aliyah find that she was thinking hard up on the architec wishing to see him and wondering when she'll see him.
Lloyd found the weekend to be longer than any other weekend he knows long and devastating he was still trying to see where he went wrong still trying to fix things with his wife but it was just like a battle feild, he wondered why, why is it that love always feels like a battle field, Monday before going to work he stop to see about his van, they haven't started working on it as yet for he's to come up with a certain amount of money to buy a parts but he didn't want to touch that money in the company account to take so much, he left saying he'll be back,
"I know it sounds bad but I need some money to borrow to look after my van" Lloyd said to Monique on coming in to the kitchen
"What you want me to lend you money you must be crazy" she hissed she walked away laughing turned to look  at him and laugh once again,
Lloyd wonder why he was such a big joke, he thought of asking mark but he was sure mark himself couldn't find it plus he got his family he had to help out his mother, he didn't think his business was up to date for a loan from the bank,
Tuesday on his way from checking at the bank and told he would need some one else to stand by him but he wasn't  about to bother anyone about it, he was on the road when he over heard a few men talking in a group about a refurbishment he aproch them telling them that he's a architecture one of the guy took his number, Wednesday he got a call to come in and look at the building he made a estimate and draw up a blue print,
"I got a job" lloyd said when Monique came home,
she turn and look at him but said nothing
"I'm expecting you to say something"
"I can bet it's nothing big, just like the other here and there job that you got"
"it's refurbished but I think it's better than the ones before"
"what makes you think that?"
"I've reason with the man who owns the building I think is name is laurence Deer"
Monique was stunt on hearing that laurence was the one offering her husband a job, she sat across from him trying not to look too shock but she was she wondered how he became to know about him much more to be getting a work with him,
"I'm thinking about getting myself a new van, probably buy myself a phone one of those now adays" he said with a smile, but Monique think it hard to share in his sentiment she got up walking to the kitchen leaving him staring after her,
Friday morning before work Monique meet with laurence they were having breakfast he got a call and was discusting business with someone over the phone,
"you're renovating?" she question once he got off the phone,
"I am the pool house some guy working on it"
"are you sure he's good enough?" she asked
"I'm not, I do business through my men and it was one of my men who brought him by"
"have you seen his work, I am not telling you how to do your work but think about it you need to see more than one person"
"you're recommending someone else?" laurence ask with a smile,
"Don't get me wrong" she said holding down her head, "but you know sometimes your men might not pick the right person, there's this man on north avenue his work his excellent"
"he did a job at your apartment?" he asked
"My parents"
"I'll look into it" he picked up his phone and call one of his men "about that repair guy i want you to for get about him check out this guy north street"
"north avenue" she corrected him with a smile,
"north avenue" Laurence said
"Are you sure boss for this guy seems like the one"
"just do it, when you find him cancel this guy and let it be today"
he hang up and smile over at her she smirked at him "I got something for you?" he said taking her hand on her risk he place a diamond bracelet
"thank you" she placed her palm over her mouth and giggles,
"a real man always give to is woman what his woman loves"
Monique giggle he kiss her hand and she giggles more,
"I have a proposal" he said
"what?"
"we'll have dinner tonight"
"that sounds nice, your place?"
"tonight will be a special dinner you'll go home fix yourself and come back to me"
he hand her a bag she peek in and it was a tiger disign quilt coat with shoes to match with a black strapless mini dress,
"you're going to spoil me" she said getting up to kiss him good bye,
Monique was living the life all the fancy things her husband couldn't buy she got them from her lover he was giving her the shine she believes she deserves and she was taking it she was not going to let her husband ruin it for her not like this when he was hardly making any money and is asking for a loan from him,
Lloyd walk in as monique was getting dressed he noticed the expensive quilt on the bed and her diamond settings, he saw also her dress was new and revealing
"going out?" he asked
"Doesn't it look that way?" she asked frowning at him,
"ok, i have some drafting up to do for Monday have fun" he said sighing deeply as he walk out the bed room going down the hall to grab a bath, leaving Monique to wonder if he haven't gotten the call, she wouldn't ask Laurence or wasn't her place to ask she didn't want to be showing too much interest for she didn't want Laurence to question her interest so she won't bother with nothing but to go out and have a good time as he's been letting her have the past couple of months since they started dating,
Lloyd still haven't thought of the possibility that his wife might be seeing some one else with hope to fix it he thought of everything, it was why he wasn't about to say anything about her going out if that's what makes her feel better, he was coming from down the hall when he heard her drive away much as it was weighing on his mind he did his best to cope with the believe it will be OK.