7. Compensation for cheating

The restaurant was so filled up with people everywhere that Alicia had to assist the waiters in taking orders from customers and serving them as well. She also helped clear the tables and checked the kitchen once in a while to see if they needed any assistance.

When she returned from the kitchen, after one of her routine checks, she saw a couple approaching an empty table and hurried over to clear the table before they reached it. She returned for their orders with a bright smile on her face. Her smile was magical, and could make customers order what they don't even want to, Braden always said.

After writing their orders down she went to the counter to drop it but suddenly felt like she was sinking to the ground, so she took the nearest seat and shut her eyes. A gentleman rushed to her and inquired if she was okay. "Just a little dizzy, Jeff. I think it's the heat from the kitchen." "Or you're tired. Please go to the office and rest for a while the pressure has gone down, we can handle it now." Jeff suggested. "But -" "please, we don't want you to collapse on us here. We can't face your husband." He insisted and Alicia only chuckled but agreed to go to the office and sit for a while.

As she rose from her seat she saw Patricia enter the restaurant, "Show her to the office, please." She said and went inside.

The moment she sat down, Patricia entered. "Good afternoon, Mrs Lartey." She teased. "What do you want?" Alicia leaned in her seat behind her office desk and tried hard to keep her eyes open. "I thought you might be wandering why I haven't been to your place in a while." "Why will I when Nii hasn't bothered me about it?" Alicia stated calmly and squeezed her eyes shut for a while. "Are you okay? You look too pale." Patricia observed. "Mind your business. If you have nothing to say then you can leave me alone." Alicia said and rose to her level but had to sit back when she felt dizzy again. "Brad and I kissed and since that time he's been asking for more intimacy. I felt bad about it that's why I stayed away for a while." She blurted out deliberately trying to infuriate Alicia, but she was too tired to even show any emotions.

She opened a folder on the table and glanced through. "Are you not saying anything?" Patricia asked. "Are you done talking?" Alicia asked instead still reading through the papers in the folder. "Yes."

"Then you can leave now." Alicia said calmly to Patricia's surprise. She stared for a while then stormed out of the office angrily. That moment her cell phone started ringing, she took it from her bag and checked the caller, her mother in law, she placed the phone on the table and let it ring and stop then start again. She muted the phone and rested her head on the table.

~~~A while later~~~

Alicia met Esther in the hallway when she arrived in the house. "Where have you been? We've been calling you all day." "For?" Alicia asked instead. "Mum had a meeting to attend and I had to meet some clients." "And only Alicia has nothing to do." Alice passed by her, heading to her room. Esther placed her hand on her left shoulder to stop her, "You won't walk away without an explanation." That instant, Alicia's phone rung and, she took it from her bag and answered it.

"Hello Kuuks," she listened "... yes, Jeff mentioned it. How's everything?" She headed back to the living room, "... I can meet you there in a _" "You're not going anywhere." Esther cut in and rushed out, making Alicia chortle then turned back towards her room. ... "I tasted it and it was superb. Mum would have loved it." She reached her door and opened just when Braden came out of his room. "Alice?" He called and she turned "Let me call you back Kuukua." She called off the line, closed her door and walked to him. "Did you need something?" He shook his head and asked how her day has been. "Fine and yours?"

"Hell!! I_"

"What?" She interrupted. "And I thought you would have enjoyed a blissful day in my absence."

"Mum and Esther kept nagging, it was so irritating. I asked them to go."

"Esther was here when I came, she just left." Alice informed him.

"I'm sorry for my crappy behavior, it turns out you're the only one who can tolerate me." Their eyes met. "Dr Darteh said you'll give me your accounts details, so I can deposit your salary in. I'm doubling the initial amount." He said making her eyes teary. "No need I'm just doing my job."

"You go the extra mile."

"Tell me, do you not remember anything about me at all?" She asked instead, confusing him. "You're the daughter of the restaurant owner, the one across the street from my company." He said and she nodded her head. "Of course I remember you. You were always bubbly and full of life," he had a far away look in his eyes. "Customers favorite, because of your infectious smile." The tears trickled down Alicia's cheeks. "Your smile always lit up the place." His gaze fell on her now, his lips had turned up in a smile. Alicia couldn't help crying and smiling at the same time.

She wiped the tears, "Then, you should know that, I'm who I am today, thanks to you and your connections." She said "I'm just giving back what you gave to me." She said and excused herself.

She entered her room, locked the door and went down on her knees in tears. "God I can't take this anymore, I love and miss him so much." She wept.

Braden stood behind her door, knocking. He held the door knob and was about to open when, "hello little brother." Naadu walked over with a smile. "Hello, when did you return?" He met her half way.

"I came straight from the airport. Where's Alice?"

He gestured to her door, "Maybe you can help me find out why she's crying?" He said and she stared at him, "what did you do this time?" He only shrugged his shoulders. She rushed to Alicia's door, pushed him aside and knocked, "Alice, it's me Naadu. Open up." She said and gestured to her brother to go away, which he reluctantly obeyed. When Alicia opened the door and Naadu entered, she went straight into her arms and they embraced. Naadu gently shut the door and comforted her then walked her to the bed and sat her down. She poured her a glass of water, from the table top fridge in the room which Alicia drunk then thanked Naadu after wiping her face with her palm. Naadu replaced the glass where she took it and sat beside her.

"Will you tell me what happened?"

"I don't know what came over me but I couldn't control myself. I guess I just lost it. I'm so sorry."

"Don't be silly, why'll you be sorry. It's not easy, you have a right to breakdown once in a while. I'm even surprise it took you this long. Please hold on, things will fall in place soon. You should see how worried Nii was." Her words caused a chuckle from Alicia.

"He wants to pay me for my services." "So? Take it. You deserve it. Mum can't even spend thirty minutes with him. But you put up with him and even have to put up with Patricia." Naadu smooth her hair backwards. "You deserve compensation, if not for caring for him, then for cheating on you in his heart." Naadu added.

Alicia bowed her head but Naadu raised her chin up so she could look at her face. "Take the money, Patricia is not modest with his money." "But he's my husband."

"Then take it as an increment on your monthly allowance. I'll drop your account details with him."

***

A couple of days later, right after dinner, Naadu retired to the study with her brother and discussed some work issues. When they were done, he asked her why she was so attached with Alicia. "I'm just protecting my brother's interests." "She's just my nurse. For God's sake, I pay her."

"Not for your crappy behavior." She waved a finger in his face. "But she copes quiet well. I guess that's why you wired that huge sum into her accounts."

"She told you?"

"I manage your accounts, did you forget?" She smirked at him. "Don't tell me you're monitoring my expenses?"

"If you mean, have I seen the huge sum you transferred to Patricia? Yes. But what can you do? Whores need their payme _" She stated with a knowing smile.

"Whore? She's my girlfriend." He cut in on her. "Was, until she run off with another man." Braden only shook his head. "She left because she was pregnant and needed to think." Nii said to her shock. "Preg- what?" She exclaimed and rose from her seat. "I do remember clearly, if you don't, at that time you'd proposed to her, and you were both planning your wedding." Naadu stated but he shook his head. "She needed to think it through, you know how she cherished her career." He explained and Naadu nod her head. "Yes I do. She cherished it more than you and your unborn child." Braden only stared. "So what happened to the baby? Did she trip and fall and lose it?" She teased but something in her brother's eyes said she was right.

"She did?" Her eyes widen and hand went to her mouth in surprise. Braden watched his sister keenly. "She lost the baby and was ashamed to see me."

"So she stayed away for four years."

"Come on Naa, she's sorry and I forgive her." He said and, "you're a lost course little brother. I'm going to see Alicia. I _"

"Why do you care so much about the nurse?" He cut in. "Like I said earlier, I'm protecti _"

"I heard you the first time."

"Good." She smiled playfully. "When you recover you'll thank me for ensuring all your special people remained by your side."

He scoffed at her words and his sister stared in surprise, "I can't believe this, you don't think She is pretty?" Naadu asked. "What?" He exclaimed and his sister crossed her arms on her chest. "Why'll I study her if I want to get rid of her." "It's because she's beautiful inside out and I know such traits attract you." "I feel pity for the less privileged but I don't get involved with them. Do you want mum to behead me?" He said causing a laughter from his sister. "You're not serious are you?" His reaction said it was so, "come on Nii, you're better off not following mum's steps. I'm here to give you all the love and support you'll ever need. Just do what makes you happy." She said and their eyes held and he nod. His thoughts had strayed away to Alicia, and he realized his sister was right, she's extremely beautiful.

That moment he had a flash of memory which caused him to scream in pain. Naadu who had the door opened and on her way out, heard his scream and rushed back to him. "What's it, Nii?" She held the hand which he had on his forehead. "Arrgh my head." He cried out. "Ruth!!!" Naadu rushed back to the door and called. "Ruth!! Call Alice, tell her to bring my brother's drugs!" She said and went back to Braden. "Is it still hurting?" Braden nod his head in answer. "But it's gone down a bit."

Alicia came in with Ruth, who brought a bottle of water. Alicia was beside Braden fussing over him. "What happened? Are you okay?" Braden watched how worried she was and wandered what he doesn't remember, Alicia's worry was more than that of a nurse or out of gratitude. He took his drugs and drunk the entire bottle of water as instructed by Alicia.

"I'm okay now," he said to assure Alicia especially because she looked like she was about to cry. She gave a sigh of relief and asked what happened again. "I had a severe headache after having a flash of memory." He said to their surprise. "What? What did you remember?" Naadu inquired. "A voice whispering 'my beautiful Alice'."

"You remembered how you call _" Alicia gave Ruth a shut up glare. "I remembered what?"

"That's how her husband calls her, excuse me." Ruth blurted out and rushed out of the room.

"You're married?" He sounded more disappointed than surprise. "You shouldn't have forced a memory. It'll only harm yo _" "I didn't force it, it came by itself and don't change the subject!" He grunted and startled Alicia and Naadu. His sister touched his shoulder to calm him down. And he looked back at Alicia's teary eyes. "Yes but my husband turned into a stranger so we're separated now." She said and rushed out of the room