4. Inviting Trouble

Esther parked her car in the parking lot of a huge storey building and alighted from it. She locked up and headed towards the building. The security gaurd at the entrance poitely welcomed her. She smiled and asked how he was.

"I'm very fine, Miss Lartey." He replied.

She nodded her head and headed for the elevator. The staff members were very friendly and welcoming towards her as she walked towards the elevator.

When she reached the floor she was visiting she came out of the elevator and walked towards the receptionist behind a desk. "Hello, Miss Lartey. Good to see you." The lady welcomed with a broad smile on her face.

"Hello, Lily. Hope you're fine?" Esther inquired.

"I'm fine Miss Lartey."

"I've said it countlesss times that you should just call me Esther."

"Sorry, Miss Esther." Lily appologised with a smile. Esther nodded her head and walked on through the corridoors, passed several doors until she reached her destination. She knocked softly and waited till she heard a voice asking her to come in.

"Hello" Esther greeted when she entered and the occupant of the room looked up at her, taking his eyes from the papers he was reading through. "Esther?" He looked surprised to see her. Esther smiled and walked to the seat infront of his desk and sat down. "It's been a while." She said and he nodded his head in agreement. "How's Braden?" He inquired and she rolled her eyes. "He's fine." "So, what brings you here?". He asked. "I came to visit you." She said and added, "since you don't answer your calls."

"I've been busy as you can see. I ran my own firm while helping your brother out here too now that he's not feeling well. When did you return to the country?" "Saturday. You haven't even been to the house to see your bestfriend." Esther said. "Like I said, I've been busy. Besides, I heard he's not receiving visitors yet." He informed her.

"So, can we go for lunch? I'm hungry."

"Lunch?" He checked his time, "It's past 3pm already and I've work to finish." he told her. Her facial epression changed totally, "What? You're choosing to work over taking me to lunch?" She inquired sadly, 'this is all Alice's fault Damn her.' She was thinking.

Esther, I'm swamped with work and I've already eaten. I can call Kuukua and tell her you're coming over to the restaurant on my account." He suggested and read through the papers again. "How about dinner? Esther insisted. He took a long breath and exhaled while staring at her. He took the phone on the table and pressed a button, "Eva, please double my order for dinner and have it delivered to my office as soon as possible." He said and listened. ..."oo okay. Get me a bottle of soft drink right away." He ordered and dropped the phone in its cradle.

Esther smiled and cheered in her heart. In a short while there was a knock and a lady some few years younger than Esther entered carrying a bottle of malt and a glass on a tray. "Sir..."

"Set it on that table." He said and turned his attention back to Esther. "Take the drink as you wait for the food." The lady had set the tray on the center table. She placed the opener on the table as well and exited the room.

"Thanks" Esther rose from the seat and went to sit on the sofa then served herself with the drink. He only watched her enthusiasm and shook his head then continued his work.

Their dinner arrived about thirty minutes later and he joined her in the sofa as they ate. After the meal l, he went back to his work and she decided to keep him company quietly. Though he didn't like the idea, he had no choice than to let her stay. After all, it's her company. When he closed, he saw her to her car and watched her drive off before he went to his car. He sat in and made a phone call.

"Are you ready? ... I'm in the car, still on the compound ... It was Esther ... so I'll pick you at the entance." He started the car and moved it before droping the call. He drove through the gate and took a right turn then stopped, a lady by the roadside opened his front door and sat in then he drove away.

*** a couple of days later***

Alicia ushered Patricia into her house and offered her a seat. "Let's not beat about the bush. Where's Brad?" Patricia asked instead, still standing. "He's in his room." Alicia replied and she turned towards the hallway. "What do you think you're doing, Patricia?!" "The name is Tricia, I'm going to see him." She made Alicia laugh out loud. "You'll wait for him in the study and I'll tell him you're here. That place," she pointed to a door behind Patricia, "will be your meeting place always." Alicia added with a smirk and Patricia chuckled. "You're not serious."

"Am I laughing? This is my matrimonial home, Tricia, and you'll respect it or I'll cancel the deal and throw you out." She warned and Patricia sneered at her.

"You need me Alicia so humble yourself. otherwise I'll walk out and never return."

"Hahahaha, wait in the study for MY husband or that's the door." Alicia pointed to the main entrance. After a few minutes staring match, Patricia walked into the study. Watching her enter the study, Alicia smiled and shook her head while thinking, 'you have no idea, how much I wanted you to decline. I can't believe I've invited trouble to my home.'

When Patricia closed the door behind her, Alicia went inside to call her husband.

When she knocked and entered his room, "I thought we're not seeing each other until supper time?" He said without looking up from the book he was reading." "Sorry I bothered you but you've a visitor." She informed him and he looked up from the book he was reading with confusion written on his face. "Who's that? I thought I can't have visitors yet."

"Not really, we just don't want you hearing anything that might harm you."  She explained to him.

"So who's it?" He inquired curiously, "It's a surprise you'll appreciate." she smiled assuringly. "Surprise?" he inquired and Alicia nodded her head, "Your visitor awaits in the study, so hurry." she informed him and exited the room before he could ask another question. She went straight to her room.

In no time, with the help of his clutches, Nii made it to the study. Standing in the doorway, he saw her back and couldn't believe his eyes. He blinked twice then called her name. She turned towards the voice and smiled, "Braden" she walked towards him. He walked further in to meet her and the door slummed shut. They embraced happily and she helped him to sit down.

Alicia heard Braden's laughter when she entered the living room. She couldn't help being happy and sad at the same time. Happy because he was now laughing after so many days of being grumpy, and sad, because  he was happy without her but with his Ex who caused him nothing but pain and heartbreak in the past. Tears spilled down her cheeks.

"It's a miracle, your husband is laughing after so long." Ruth said coming in from the kitchen carrying a tray of snacks. Alicia wiped her face with her palm fast and turned towards her, nodded her head and forced a smile.

"You don't seem so thrilled about it, who's the visitor?" "Why don't you see for yourself rather." Alice said and Ruth nodded and entered the room using her body to push the door open. she returned shortly with a frown and an empty tray.

"What's that witch doing here?!" Ruth exclaimed in anger. "She has no shame coming here and taking advantage of Mr Lartey's condition." She added pacing angrily. "Relax Ruth and listen to me." Ruth stopped pacing and looked at Alicia. "She'll be coming here often but should never be left alone with Nii. Do you hear that?" Ruth nodded her head. "Their meeting place is that study, if she insists otherwise, throw her out." Alicia ordered. "But she's not trust worthy, what if she pollutes his mind against you." "She can't separate Nii and I."

Ruth was still not satisfied or okay with the arrangements but she decided to shut up. "Hmm okay. You should know what you're doing." She said and walked away.

"How I wish I know what I'm doing." Alicia muttered to herself.

Alicia lay halfway in bed with a picture frame on her chest and eyes closed. She was too engrossed in her thoughts to hear that someone was knocking on her door. Braden opened the door and, with the help of his clutches, entered the room without Alicia noticing. He walked closer to the bed and watched her. He couldn't help noticing how beautiful she was. He felt a sudden surge of strange emotions, as he remembered a beautiful smile which he couldn't recognize whose it was. This emotion felt more exciting than what he felt when he saw Patricia. In the presence of Patricia, he felt he had to be cautious with her.

He shook the thoughts away and called Alicia's name but she didn't wake up. He went closer and bent down to take the picture but she turned in bed and opened her eyes. His presence startled her and she quickly sat up on the bed. The picture frame fell on her lap the the photo showing upward. "Sorry for disturbing you -" he stood upright. "Did you need something?" She cut in on him, looking up at him.

"No, I just came to thank you." He bent again to take the picture that was now on her lap. She quickly took the picture and hid it under her pillow. "I just wanted to see it," "why? What for?" She snapped and he raised up his hands as a sign of peace. "Sorry for intruding on your privacy, but like I said I just wanted to thank you for finding Tricia and bringing her to visit me."

"No need, I was just doing my job." As hard as she tried, she couldn't take the anger out of her tone and he heard it. "Calm down, I'm just being nice." "Don't be." She said dismissively. "I'm in a good mood so I'll let it pass. Why're you angry when I'm being nice to you?" He asked curiously and she snickered then turned from him. "Isn't this sickening? The only time you're grateful and kind to me is when I bring your gruesome Ex-girlfriend, who never regarded your feelings and left you heartbroken and dejected and will probably do same again, isn't it annoying to be appreciated because of that?" She said and their eyes met and held.

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