Chapter 21

After eating dinner, there was the party in full and she didn't seems to fit in anywhere, she doesn't know any of them and no one even wants to speak to her and to make matters worst, Mira was taking all the attention and acting like a daughter of the family with Chris's mother introducing her to everyone and chatting together, Chris also look busy with men surrounding him and she seems left out

Someone who introduced herself as Chris's aunt came over to her and asked her to assist with some cleaning which she gladly said yes but after an hour she is still cleaning, she removed the apron on her and made her way into the bathroom to clean up and ease herself then she made her way back to the party and that's when she remembered that her phone is not with her.

She quickly went back to the kitchen to get her phone then went out again to see that everyone is settled down…

…Chris excuse himself from some of his father's friends who keep asking for business collaboration with him and went around to look for Laura in the crowd, knowing that she knows no one here and doesn't know anywhere but he couldn't find her

As he made his way inside the house Mira appeared in front of him to block him and held his hands

"Chris, are you really going to be like this? I know you have to pretend in the house because of your marriage but do you also have to ignore me here too?" she questioned acting cute but he shook her hand off

"i have always ignore you" he responded and made to walk away but received a message from Laura

"I have some urgent business, am leaving first" he read and sigh unhappily

"Is she gone? I knew she is not interested in you or your family at all" Mira said and held his hand again

"lets go back and have some fun" she drag him back to the party and keep talking and smiling

"you two look good together, why didn't you invite us to the wedding" one of the guest who happened to be Chris's father friend who heard that he just got married said when he saw them together

"you also think so" Mira laughed and blush happily holding Chris more closer, Chris shook her hand away and maintain a distance between them

"She is not my wife" he corrected and the man quickly apologized and left

"Why do you have to say it like that? Is not like I wont be in the future" Mira told him pissed off

"you wont, also stop making people misunderstand our relationship"

Soon friends and outsiders start to leave but most of the family members were around and soon everyone sat down at a long table, Chris sat down beside his dad and Mira sat next to him.

He was getting impatient and bored, he was informed that it was just a dinner but he should have known that his mom wouldn't organize just dinner for her birthday.

His mom called for the attention of everyone and the chatting stopped with everyone focusing their attention on her then she stood up with a glass of wine in her hand

"Am so happy to see everyone turned up here for my birthday and thanks for all the wishes and gifts, I know the two family hasn't been on good terms for years and this will be the first time everyone will gather together in one place like this so I will like to toast to that" she said and everyone raise their glass up to the toast then drink

"Am very proud of my son for bringing this harmony between the two family and also Mira.." she said, her brother interrupted

"I heard they just got married secretly although am angry you didn't inform me nor your father about it"

Mira and Chris's mother smiled at his words but Chris turned to him to explain but was shunned by his mother

"You don't have to explain anything, am sure my brother is just making a joke" she said to him and turn to her brother

"What do you mean secretly? It's just that somethings are complicated, Once everything is sorted out they are going to have a wedding" she explained to them up but Chris wasn't pleased

His mother's plan must have been to use Laura's absence to make it look like Mira is her daughter-in-law and show her to the whole family and everyone presence and it's one of the reason he bought Laura along

"We will look forward to your invitation then" another one of the family member responded and they had another toast while Chris dad keep signaling to him to calm down

Some of the people there also share drinks with Mira to congratulate her which she took willingly with a smile

"Why don't you have a couple's shot then to show your sincerity" his uncle suggested and everyone agreed with me

"We are…" Chris stood to clear the misunderstanding but Mira was more quicker

"Chris doesn't like something like that" she lied to cover up and smile nervously seeing how angry Chris looks

His father tried to hold him back but he was not having anymore of this from his mother, he had thought to bear with her attitude because it's her birthday but now she's going overboard.

Before he could explain and clear the misunderstanding caused by his mother, Laura appeared next to him looking tired and livid with anger and "Why are you here?" Chris manage to ask recovering from the surprise of seeing her, He really thought she left to attend to some business but seeing her face seems like she was around all along and his mom did all that knowingly

"Really? Why am I here?" Laura asked bewildered. She has been working her butt out just to satisfy his mother and getting drinks spilled on her dress while they are all here introducing his accepted wife and even planning a wedding

"I thought you left" he replied not understanding why she is angry and left his seat to meet her but she stopped him with her hand

What was she excepting, their relationship is just based on business not personal feelings and she already knows the relationship between him and Mira excepting anything else than that should be her fault

"Laura, did you come back for something? I thought you had an emergency" Chris asked confused at her silence

"Yes I got what I came for already so I should leave now" she answered forcing a smile.

Just a matter of weeks more for them to go their separate ways, she should get entangled with unnecessary feelings, she must be a fool to read meanings to his actions

"okay.. but if you are not in an hurry then wait a minute, I will take you home" he said and wanted to go and wanted to properly inform his parents but Laura stops him

"No need for that, my driver is waiting outside" she said and forced a smile again before turning away

Chris watch reluctantly as Laura leaves, he wanted to ask her if she heard what his mom said but didn't, he doesn't know why she is upset but hope that its not because of his mother

His father calls out to him and he sat down to continue the celebration, although his mother and everyone stopped talking about him but he's still feeling bad and decide to leave early but his mom still insist that Mira should go with him and he agreed to avoid any other drama

Laura start to walk after leaving the compound, she tried to get a taxi but none was available and she called her driver but he told her his wife is in labour and he cant come. Laura told him not to worry and tried calling Ella but she wasn't picking up her phone, she tried Clara's number also a number of times but none of them answered so she decide to try Avan's number and luckily he picked the call on the second ring and told her he is near the area

She stopped and stayed under a shield around till Avan came to get her and they both left together, the both of them were quiet for quite sometimes before Avan break the awkward silent with a question

"Where should I take you?" he asked and continued before she could answer

"Will you prefer going to sunflower house or my place? Am sure you wouldn't want to go back home like this" he said and Laura turned to him questioningly

"What do you mean?" she questioned

"I don't mean anything but am sure you wont want to go back looking like this, you look bad" he answered describing her facial expression by raising his hand to her face

"What does that have to do with going back there?"

"Today is your mother-in-law's birthday and you are coming back alone looking like this without him that already explains it all" he said and chuckles

"How do you know that?" she asked further not showing any sign of being surprised

"Just did a little digging on the man that took you away from me" he answered and Laura found herself laughing

"take me away, as if" she thought before replying

"You didn't value what you have?" Laura responded

"What if you want to value you now and take you back?" he said and turned to look at Laura's reaction but she did nothing but close her eyes

"You don't want to cheat on him?"he asked after another minute have passed

"What are you on about?"

"Stop pretending, a lot of people knows that he's keeping another woman in the house with you, Mira posts things about the both of them online am sure you are the only one not aware of that or maybe you are pretending not to"

"We don't have that kind of relationship you are thinking about, its purely business" she defended and Avan nodded happy to get an answer from her

He soon stopped the car in front of the sunflower house and Laura got out of the car while Avan also came down together with her

"Thanks for tonight and goodnight" she said and turned to leave

"How about a date tomorrow to relax?" he offered and Laura just nodded yes and went inside

Avan waited till she entered and saw her light turn on then wave to her through the window before leaving, he smiles brightly happy that he's able to get her to agree to the date. After this, he's going to make sure to put everything back where they belong.