Chapter 22 Signed

Song Recommendation: No Drama by Alder, Jasyln Edgar

Delia sat at the kitchen's table, having her legs crossed with a headsets on as she tapped on her phone.

Dilen walked in; fully dressed in a shirt and pair of jeans. He padded up to the table before pulling a seat opposite hers.

Delia slowly looked up.

"Fancy seeing you here, Delia", Dilen offered her a polite smile.

She carried the same fake smile, "You're welcome".

She scanned him from his head down, smirking, "That was fast".

"A business interruption came up", he tilted his head.

"Aw, cute. Next time I'll try to come early before it goes too far".

Dilen was amused, "You are always welcome".

Delia chuckled, turning to the side of the table. She stretched down and pulled out the folder from her bag

"Here", she slid the folder towards Dilen. "Sign, sagn, sugn", she supported her cheek, looking at him.

Sing, sang, sung. Funny. Dilen shook his head as he pulling the folder closer.

He then opened it to skim through for a moment before closing it shut.

"You're stupid", he grinned.

"Excuse me!?" She cocked her head.

"You. You said I'll find a girl stupid enough to sign this. And you did", his eyes gleamed with mirth. Delia slapped her head, "Oh yeah. Shet!"

She exhaled, "Well, I guess I am".

"What made you change your mind?" He pushed the folder aside.

Delia shrugged, "My intuition. No specific reason. Maybe I'm just bored". Dilen stared at her for a few seconds then nodded.

"Robert!" He called, still looking at her.

Robert ran in, dropping his head as he stood next to his master, "Yes master".

Dilen handed him the file, "Drop this in my study, and prepare us some tea".

"No thanks!" Delia retorted with a smile, "I'm okay, Mr. Robert", she directed her words to Robert instead of Dilen.

Robert rose his brows at her. It was not the fact that she was talking to him — but the fact that she referred to him as 'Mr'. Most people who knew his master called him by just his name, as if they paid him a dime in his salary.

He blinked at her then lowered his head, "Um. Ye- Yes", he bowed and walked away with the folder.

Dilen and Delia turned to each other. Delia asked, "Are you British?"

"Not entirely".

"No wonder. Who drinks tea at two in the hot afternoon", she looked back at her phone, remaining quiet. Dilen let out a silent chuckle.

Robert walked back in, making his way to the counter to make the tea. Dilen continued to stare at Delia with her head locked on her phone screen.

Feeling his eyes on her, she looked up, cocking a questioning brow.

"Do you have a passport?" Dilen asked suddenly.

"Nope".

"Ever been out of the country?" He asked without changing expression.

"Nope".

"Hm". Robert came with the tea, placing it in front of him. He looked down at it, waving Robert off as he stirred it.

Delia asked, "Why did you ask?"

"Because you'll be traveling back to the States with me".

"EH!!?", Her American accent evaporated, "You say weti!? (Say what!?)"

Dilen gave her a surprised look, "What?"

"Uncle! You say we're traveling to where!??" She was more shocked than excited as her Nigerian accent kicked in.

"Uncle?" Dilen gave her a confused look.

Delia rolled her head, "It's a Nigerian thing. I don't actually mean you're my uncle. But! What did you say?"

"We're traveling--"

"Of course I heard you! But why!? I thought we're just going to the studio and stuffs to take pics to post and to prove you're not racist".

Dilen chuckled, "Didn't you read the contract?"

"Yes! And it didn't-", she froze, biting her lower lips. "Oh shit! I saw it but I didn't think you'd be taking me all the way there!"

"What is the problem with going to the States?" He cocked his brows.

"I'm a seventeen years old who still lives under my family. A protective one. How in God's name do you think they'll let a stranger take me halfway across the world, just to go and lie!?"

"I have my ways", Dilen shrugged. Delia narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously, "Ways? Hope you're not going to try and approach them or pay my family!? Because they will never accept".

"Don't worry yourself, Delia. I'll handle it without any drama", even though he was very tempted to caused drama for the young girl.

He had more pressing matters to attend to.

Delia stared at him as he sipped his tea. She exhaled, "Okay, if you say so". She looked down at her watch, picking up her bag.

"I guess I'll be on my way now", she stood up, putting on her bag. "Robert will drop you home".

"Okay", she put on her face cap and shades, walking out of the kitchen. Dilen froze immediately she walked out the door, staring at the door from the corner of his eyes.

He chuckled.

• • •

"DELIA! WHERE DID YOU RUN TO!?" Eboh engulfed Delia in a hug. "We were so worried!" She pulled away, "Why did you rush out of class like that!?"

Eboh stepped back as Beatrice and Yusuf walked out of Yusuf's front door, "Delia! Ah thank God you're alive!?"

They all surrounded her with a relieved look. Delia gave them a quizzical look, "Sorry, I had something urgent to help Jacob do at home", she lied.

"What happened? Why are you all doing as if I died?"

"Didn't you hear what happened? How is that possible?!" Beatrice asked.

"What happened? I came late this morning so I didn't gist with anyone, then I didn't have data to be online yesterday".

"Kai! Babe! Things are happening oo! They found that man", Eboh said.

"What's man?".

"Dr. Muhammad Usman! Half dead! Yesterday on road alongside main gate", Eboh continued to answer.

"Eh?!? Half dead?"

"Yes! Mumu come inside! There is so much to tell you!" Yusuf motion them inside.

After sitting down and explaining how the old man was found naked, unconscious and bartered, Delia looked at them with a bewildered expression.

"I can't believe this! He's still in the hospital?"

"Yep! They even said something about closing school for some days to investigate the matter, but we're not sure", Beatrice said.

"I think it's just a rumor. They can't just shut the whole university. Can they?" Yusuf asked, unsure.

"They probably can. It's a security threat. They are worried about the students", Eboh responded.

"Hm! There is God oo. I wonder why someone will do that to him. It's not like they collected money, car or anything. Just beat the innocent man to such state!? Dang!" Delia rested back on her seat.

Eboh nodded, "Aswear the thing is scary! I hope the monster or monsters are caught and punished!"