Pearl
"Don't worry Gee, the mechanic will soon be here," I said to Geraldine, who had been on the phone with me since my car broke down. It was already getting late, and her worried ass thought being on the phone with me till the mechanic comes, was the right thing to do.
"Wait, let me get Angel's bottle for her dad."
"Okay." I nodded, took a few steps back and perched my ass on my car hood. I crossed my free arm, edging my elbow, with my phone held to my ear.
It was already the weekend and just like I promised Geraldine, I would be staying over at her place. But then, my car decided to tie me down, when I was already close to the housing estate, where she lived with her husband.
I had been driving for the past three years but still, I didn't know Jack about cars. Anytime my car broke down, I always had to call the mechanic and thank God, he was someone I could trust.
"I'm back baby, so is he there yet?" Geraldine's voice seeped through the speaker but my attention was drawn to the car, crossing the lane in my direction. When the car halted in front of me, I realized whose car it looked like.
"No, not yet," I sighed.
It better not be who I thought it was, because there was no way on earth, I was in the mood to face him.
"What, why? Why is he taking time?"
"I--" my voice hooked as the door of the BMW was pushed open, "I don't know," I said. Immediately the figure stepped down from the car, I huffed and rolled my eyes in exasperation. "Wait Gee, let me call you back."
"Huh... Is he the--"
I moved the phone away from my ear and tapped the end-call bar, my eyes fell on Kachi as he walked towards me. I folded my arms across my chest, equipping myself, for whatever he would say.
As he trailed closer to me, I noticed his aura which was gloomy. The air around him brushed past my skin as he halted two steps away from me, rousing my brain to its new favourite cologne. My gaze fell on his face which was etched with a visible dark expression, under the illuminating road light.
His lips pursed in a smirk, attempting to conceal his mood. "What are you doing here, Madam?" he said, shoving his hands into his perfectly fitted black pants pockets. The arms of his sea blue shirt were perfectly folded halfway. He slightly glanced around the place, "Is there a problem?" He asked, settling his gaze into my eyes.
Madam? "Can you not call me that?" I scoffed, deciding to let my guard down. Why did he seem chill and gloomy today? "Are you okay?" I couldn't help but ask.
He nodded, itching the tip of his left brow. "I'm fine," he said with his hand, sliding back into his pocket. "What about you?"
"I'm okay just that my car broke down and I'm waiting for the mechanic. He will be here soon, though." I glanced around, noting that the mechanic was still not in sight. For how long was I going to wait?
"It's getting late already," he pulled his hand out of his pocket and peeked at his wristwatch. "I can spare some of my time and wait with you if you wish."
Wait with me? Something must be going on with him.
"A gentleman will offer to check the car," I scoffed.
"Who said I was a gentleman?" He smiled. "Moreover, I only deal with human bodies and not cars."
"What are you? A serial killer?' I teased and this time he chortled.
"Yeah, I kill and eat humans and judging by your body, you are going to be one delicious meal." He said, his eyes licking the curves and edges of my body.
"Eww," I crunched my nose up and his mouth curved in a smile. His face eased up and I felt happy, realizing that I was able to make him smile. I decided to continue talking. "What are your criteria for judgment."
"A beautiful body like yours." He said, once again eyeing every inch of my body before meeting my eyes again, "I am quite sure that you're going to be a delicious meal."
I smiled coyly, pressing my lips together. I struggled to hold on to his unwavering gaze, which was on me. His words sounded like nothing but a compliment to me. As I opened my mouth to say just anything, a voice came shutting me up.
"Madam."
We shifted our gaze simultaneously to the man, whose gaze was on me.
"Is he your mechanic?" Kachi asked.
"Yes," I glanced at him and then moved away from my car.
I inched closer to my mechanic and we started discussing what happened to my car. After that, he went on to check it out. He pulled the car hood up and after trying a few times, the car still didn't come to life. That was when he decided he would have to tow my car to his workshop and I would have to come and get it, the next day. We waited for some minutes before the towing truck came and took my car away. After they left with my car, I swivelled in the direction of Kachi, who stood behind me and had not said much the whole time.
"So?" I said, taking three steps closer to him. "I--"
"Where are you headed, Pearl?" He ran his hand through his neatly cut hair. "Home?"
I shook my head "No... My friend's house. Her place isn't far from here, I can just use a--"
"Let me drive you," his gaze stayed on me while I contemplated whether to protest or accept, but he took my silence as a yes and started walking to his car. I turned and for a second, stared in his direction before sauntering to the other side of his car.
I settled in the passenger's seat and while strapping the seat belt on, I asked. "So, do you live around here?"
He ignited the car engine and glanced in my direction, meeting my gaze which was now on him. "Not really," he said and shifted his gaze back to the road. He made sure it was clear before reversing his car and trailing off the road, he continued. "I had something to do around here." Once again he glanced in my direction, meeting my eyes which had been on him the whole time. "Where does your friend live?"
I tore my eyes away from him and back on the road, I blurted. "Phillips estate," and for the first time, I processed the name in my head. "It belongs to your family, right?" I glanced in his direction and then, went on, listing what they owned in my head. "I wonder what it feels like to be born into a family where everyone is super duper rich," I added, earning a glance from him.
"There is nothing special about that." He said while halting at the traffic red light.
"Oh please, don't hit me with that rich people's anthem." I trailed my gaze to the traffic light and my brain automatically started a countdown. Something I did for fun when I was younger, turned into a habit that I could not get myself to stop.
"You don't look like you know or have met rich people," he said causing me to snap my face in his direction. "Just kidding," he chuckled lightly. When he noticed I wasn't laughing nor did I have an amused look on my face, he glanced at the road and then shifted his gaze back to me. "It was a joke."
"You have been doing so well since this evening, Why do you have to annoy me now?" I watched as he stared at me like he didn't understand what I was trying to say.
"Why are you looking at me like you don't understand what I'm talking about? Unlike other times we have met, you have been kind of nice with your words tonight."
His eyes danced around my face, with a blank expression etched on his face, I couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind. I was expecting him to at least apologise but it seemed like arrogant Kachi wasn't cut out for that. I opened my mouth but before I could say a word, the person behind us blared his car horn loudly causing me to jerk. I huffed as I took a glance behind before settling my gaze back to the road.
Without saying a word, he made a turn and drove into the road, leading to the housing estate and since we were getting closer, I decided to shut my mouth and not say a word anymore. It wasn't long before we approached the particular building where Geraldine lived.
"Here," I pointed, glancing at him. Following my direction, he slowed down the speed and finally halted in front of the building.
I gripped my bag handle and then turned to him, "Thank you," I managed to flash a smile at him.
I turned to the other side, and simultaneously, my gaze and hand darted to the door handle. I pushed the car door open and as I was about to step down from the car, I felt his grip on my wrist.
"Hey," he started and slowly, I turned my gaze to him. "I'm sorry about earlier, It was only a joke."
"It's fine, Kachi. I am already getting used to it but I wonder if this is how you address people in general or is it just me?" I paused. He slightly shifted his gaze away and then back to me. "I mean if it's just me, what did I do to deserve that?" I asked.
"I--" he paused. "I will do better."
For a minute, all I did was stare. "Thanks for the ride once again," I was about to turn to the door when I realized that he still held onto my wrist. My brows slightly rose as my gaze travelled from his grip to his face.
"Oh--" he mumbled, quickly releasing his hand from my wrist. I flashed him a smile and then stepped out of the car.
As I ambled to the entrance of the building, I could feel his gaze trail behind me. When I decided to take a glance in his direction, my eyes locked halfway with his intense gaze. His lips pursed in a smile and I quickly shifted my gaze from him.
Why was he looking at me that hard?
Thinking about his stare, my knees slightly weakened and my legs felt wobbly as I walked into the building. I paused in my tracks, let out a breath and then made my way to the elevator. I pressed the button and when the doors clicked open, I stepped into the elevator. As my finger rested on the seventh-floor button, the elevator moved up and my mind sank into the ocean of my thoughts.
I sighed, my mind clouded by the thought of none other but Kachi Phillips, a man born with a silver spoon and to add to that, he got good looks for days.
One could say that he had it all.
Even though I had worked for some rich people, making clothes for them, I never in my twenty-eight years of life thought about entangling with one, all in the name of a fake relationship.
I only hoped that I would stick to the plan because, if things went south and my emotions mistakenly got tangled in this, arrogant Kachi would break the remaining part of my heart, that I had left. He was handsome and yes he was kind of my type, but I would only dream if he was in my social class.
With the type of money, his family possessed and the type of respect their name commanded, there was no way, I would have a chance with him.
And oh, let's not forget that he made it clear that I wasn't his type.
My mouth curved in a smirk as the picture of his arrogant face clouded my mind but as the elevator clicked open, the image disappeared with the unending thoughts.
I walked down to the unit where my best friend lived and when I halted in front of the door, my finger rested on the doorbell. It didn't take long before Geraldine opened the door, her face plastered with a huge smile.
"Finally, I was beginning to get worried," she said as she trapped me in her embrace.
"Oh my God," I winced. I struggled out of her embrace releasing the knotless braids I had just gotten done, which were trapped by her arms.
"Sorry baby, the braids are fine and neatly done too." She said touching on my hair.
"Thank you," I smiled as I pulled my shoes off. I slid my feet into the house footwear and we walked to her living room. "I'm hungry," I announced. I dropped my bag on the couch and made my way to the kitchen.
"What about your car?" Gee queried, her steps pattering behind me.
I pushed the kitchen door open and walked in."Oh, it's at the mechanic now, will get it back tomorrow. "
"So you ordered a taxi?"
"Yes... No," I opened the pot on the gas stove but it was empty. I shifted my gaze to Gee, "Kachi brought me here. Now, where is my food?"
"What?!" Her eyes widened, just like the smile on her face. She quickly moved and stood right in front of me, "Oh my God baby, how did it happen?" She asked excitedly.
I stood there wondering if she didn't hear the last part. "Girl, where is my food?" I asked, shooting her a questioning look.