Chapter 14.2

Jeff watched on as Tina pulled out excuses and his family elders countered them. What truly surprised him was their trump card, Giselle. He found it odd that Giselle was anywhere near his company for a meeting. Who was she kidding? She was the laziest person ever, that was why she became her own boss.

The only time she wasn't lazy was when she was busy pulling pranks. She always had the energy for those. It seemed like his mother and granny were fully prepared, so there wasn't much convincing for him to do.

"She brought quite a lot, so anytime you need to stay here overnight, you don't have to worry about change of clothes," granny Sia said as she winked at her grandson to take over.

"Mrs. Strider, granny Sia, I don't think this is right. I already told them back home that I would arrive within the hour," Tina could only say helplessly.

Jeff acknowledged Tina's excuse. Since she already informed them back home, she needed to go. The excuse was great and all, but Tina was forgetting that only Lina knew about their relationship. So, when she said she had called home, he knew she meant that she called Lina.

As the two women were cracking their brains to make up another excuse to keep her, Jeff took out his phone and sent a quick message.

"Your sister will be staying over tonight. It's too late."

Ten seconds later, he received a reply.

"Okay brother-in-law *wink*."

After getting Lina's approval, he looked at his girlfriend who had a complacent look on her face.

'Sorry babe! I'm about to ruin your plans.'

"I've got it covered, so just stay here for tonight, hmmn?"

As Tina's terrifying gaze landed on him, he knew that he had a lot of explaining to do later.

"I was never going to send you home alone anyway. I was going to drive you home, then hitch a cab ride back home. Stay here for tonight. Everything is prepared."

Seeing how she didn't reply immediately, he knew she was angry. She just didn't want to show it in front of his mother and Sia. He squeezed her hand that was in his gently and tried to look as pitiful as possible.

Just when he was about to tell everyone to dismiss their idea and drop her off anyway, he heard her take a huge breath in and out.

"Okay, I'll stay. Thank you for your hospitality. I'll go rest now since I have a busy day ahead."

He then saw that she looked at him, then he hurriedly said goodnight to his elders before taking Tina to his floor.

"We can only help you until here!" the elders said softly before they went about their businesses.

This was the second time that Tina's ever stepped into his space. The first time was on their first date. She didn't talk to him on the way to the room, neither did she look at him. She had withdrawn her hand from his when she agreed to stay.

As he watched her lead the way, he took out his phone to text Lina again.

"Sister-in-law, save me *crying face*"

He got an immediate reply.

L: "She's pissed, isn't she? *smug face*"

J: "Yes yes."

L: "Understandable. You cornered her into staying the night?"

J: "Not be. My grandmother."

L: "*rolling emoji* okay. I'll help you out just once."

Jeff was elated at Lina's reply.

"I owe you one, sister-in-law."

Tina sat on the bed and stared at him.

"Change of clothes and toiletries," she spoke.

Remembering that he didn't take them yet, he rushed back downstairs to get them.

When he returned, he noticed that his girlfriend's fierce look had returned to normal and he couldn't help but thank Lina a million times in his heart. As he handed them to her, he put on an angelic look.

"You called Lina?"

He nodded obediently.

"When did you guys exchange numbers and become bff?"

He answered truthfully, "although Lina was fierce when we first met, the first thing she did was exchange numbers when she saw me, so she could threaten me anytime I make you sad."

She smiled knowingly. Deep down, he was glad that she had a protective sister like Lina and didn't grow up lonely. His girl was so blessed that she blessed his life too.

She didn't say more and turned to go to the bathroom. As Jeff headed to the bed to lay down, her voice stopped him.

"Where will you be sleeping tonight?"

He looked at her, then at the bed that was big enough to contain 5 people, then looked at Tina again. His answer was obvious.

'Babe! We are sleeping on the same bed,' he answered inwardly.

She raised her eyebrow at him, and he was helpless. All he could do was grab a pillow from the bed and hug it miserably to lie on the couch next to the bed. She smiled satisfactorily before closing the door to the bathroom.

He was ready to hug her to sleep and rest well. Unknowingly, this cruel woman of his just poured cold water all over him and dashed his hopes. He wasn't resigned. He grumbled for a while until the door to the bathroom opened, then he played dead.

He heard her beautiful chuckle and was tempted to open up his eyes, but he held it in. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable. The main reason for getting her to stay over was for her to get more rest. So, like the gentleman that he was, he maintained his stiff position.

He could tell when she lied on the bed and switched off the lights. He waited for some minutes before he opened his eyes. Not perceiving any movement from the bed, he turned his head and looked at her.

He instantly shut his eyes back. Tina was staring right at him.

"Even a child could tell that you were faking it," she said.

He didn't open his eyes out of embarrassment.

Tina spoke up again.

"I didn't tell you not to sleep on the bed, so why are you sleeping on the couch?"

Hearing that, Jeff's attention was alert, and he tuned to look at her.

"I only asked you where you were sleeping tonight."

Looking at the wicked smile on her face, he just knew it.

He was played by her!