Chapter 17 Catch Up

That got Brenda s attention. He might be fed up of the tension that thickens the air when both of them are in the same room, because she s tired of it. She wanted her friend back. She needed his calm support, especially now that she doesn t even know what she was doing taking on her Dad s firm. But nothing she felt showed on her face. "So shoot"

He looked at her with brooding eyes. "That day you came by the office… I mean the hotel, did you come to see me?" his eyes darted away from her face.

Benda felt joy in her heart. She was right, he s also tired of the fight, clamping strong reins on her feelings she answered "I actually came in to appreciate you for the flowers you sent to me. But I turned out to be wrong" she said in a matter of fact manner.

"Why would you think I sent the flowers? We practically fought that day at your welcoming party." He sounded irritated.

"I don t know? Maybe I was stupid to think you were the same Dave I knew" she snapped. Brenda was beyond understanding her own feelings. Dave makes her feel low and high or maybe it was the stress of working for almost nine hours straight or even the frustrations of not being able to show what she felt for the arrogant man sitting across from her but she needed to vent so she did.

"Oh sorry to burst your bubbles, that Dave is no longer here. Thanks to you and your stuck up Dad" his voice rising with every word he uttered, sitting up straight in his chair, he hit his fist on her table for emphasis.

"Don t you dare talk about my father in that manner David Campbell," shooting up from her seat, she said with the intensity of a lioness protecting her cub, clenched teeth and low voice.

Dave must have gotten the message from her stance. He backed down. "You know what? It makes no sense talking to you" he stood to his full height towering over her 5ft 9. Leaning towards her, he said through clenched teeth, his face beautifully contorted, anger flaring in his eyes. "And for the record, contrary to what you and your … Dad believed, I will never steal anything from anyone. Not money, not wristwatch and definitely not another man s fiancé. Whatever I ve got, I earn, even if it means working my butt off"

He turned and strode out of her office.

Brenda watched him leave. She slumped into her chair; the steam had blown off her. Does that mean her father had wrongly accused Dave all those years ago? But she saw the evidence with her eyes.

***

"I still can t understand the reason you don t want to join the team" Dave popped one of the spiced shrimps into his mouth, closing his eyes in ecstasy. "And by the way this shrimps are good, how did you know about this place? Daniela"

Ella watched and smiled at her older brother affectionately as she dug into her own plate of juicy spiced shrimps, he seemed to be sincerely enjoying his meal. Dave worked too hard, and hardly ever has time to really take care of himself. Sometimes she feels for him, carrying so much weight on his young shoulders. So once in a while she takes him out for a treat, which is the least she could do, given everything Dave had done for her. He was never this free with anyone except maybe Aunty Cecilia, seeing him this free without any worries even for a short period of time gladdens her heart. All they endured in life together made brought them closer, since they have no one else but each other. "To your fist question, you know how much I like to prove I can be successful on my own terms. Besides you know I enjoy being a realtor."

Daniela giggled as David mimed the last part along with her.

"Gosh! Don t I know that, you have said for like how many times? More like one thousand times"

"Yeah Dave because it s true, but I can promise to come running to you if I ever have a change of heart, which I doubt" she rolled her eyes at him. "As for how I got to know this place, my very good friend brought me" she dragged the words out with glee.

"Oh God Daniela, I know that look" he cleaned his mouth with a napkin. "Is he a male friend right?"

"Why did you think he is a male friend." she asked keeping a straight face.

"Because I know you Daniela… and I know that look"

"What look are you talking about?"

"You know, "the" I have caught the love bug kind look"

"Dave Campbell you are so impossible"

"You are the impossible Daniela" He said affectionately "But I must say he s got good taste"

"Aw… so sweet, big brother" Daniela draw out assuming Dave was talking about taste in women.

"Don t Aw… me, did you taste those shrimps? They are amazing. He must have good taste to know about this place. And trust me when I say that." He said feigning innocence

Daniela pouted "And here I was thinking you re referring to me as the good taste"

"What… I pity the guy, he doesn t know what s coming"

"Dave…."

"What? But it s the truth"

"You are not being nice right now."

Dave laughed teasingly, b "I know I got you there" Dave looked seriously at his sister "Well he must be crazy if he didn t see you as the good taste, I mean look at you… smart, beautiful, daring, talented. The list is endless"

"Aw… thanks brother, you going to make you cry right now"

"Ok go ahead and cry… here is one shoulder you can cry on" he said as a matter of fact.

Ella laughed at that, and muttered "Just when I thought you are so sweet"

It s Dave s turn to laugh.

"Now, enough about me, what s going on with you Dave?" she asked him sitting straight in her chair. This is one of the many reasons she enjoys coming out with her brother. It s an opportunity to see through the window of that wall he built around himself so no one could move close. They gist, joke around but most importantly they talk.

"What do you mean?" he pretended he didn t know what she was saying.

Ella knew Dave understood her question quite well, and she also knew he liked playing the evasion tactics.

"You have been strung up, lately Dave, what is happening?" She looked at him willing him to tell her what was bothering him. "Is it business trouble?"

"No. You know I won t be too strung out with business"

"My thoughts exactly, which is why I thought it must be something deeper. Dave you know you can talk to Me." she watched as his expression tuned brooding. And the darkness he must felt descended on him. To lighten his mood a bit, she quickly added, "You might be older Dave but you know I m the one with the brains."

Dave looked at her and chuckled "Yeah, Yeah" he said in sarcasm.

Daniela smiled….

"I m fine Daniela really"

"Are you sure?"

He looked at her then, but quickly averted his eyes. "I m fine"

"You had me worried that night at the club. The more reason I decided I need to bring you out here sooner"

"Really, then I guess I should brood more often so I get to see my little sister more frequently" He said with a smile on his beautiful lips.

"Brooding or not I m always here for you. You know that, right" she looked at him funny a smile on the face that is the feminine version of her brother s.

"What?" Dave enquired observing her expression.

"I saw the way you looked at that friend of mine"

"Who were you talking about?"

"C mon Dave, I saw how you couldn t take your eyes off Brenda"

"You really do not remember Brenda?" Dave asked incredulously opting for diversion.

"No. she once said I looked familiar though."

"Well she was the Brenda whose birthday I went the day… mum…" he couldn t complete his sentence.

"Oh! That Brenda" she raised her beautiful eyebrows, and nodded in understanding. "I never did meet her you know, I saw her once from afar, and I always perceived her the disappearing act Brenda."

"Yeah, that she is" he scoffed.

Ella observed his expression and comment but kept mute. She knew the river runs deep, so it s best not to trouble the waters. He will fess up in his own time.

Ella took a sip of her wine, and changing the subject, she asked "So how s the hospitality world these days"

Dave lightened up, finally a very safe territory. "Doing great, you know we just acquired a business. Ok, maybe not acquired but at least we own 60% of it."

"That s great news Dave. I m so proud of you."

"Thank you. And I m running for office"

"You mean a political office?" Daniela asked wearily

"Yes. You don t look excited about that" he asked honestly seeking her reasons.

"You know how politics in this country goes; I don t want anything to happen to you."

He visibly relaxed, smiling that she was concerned for him "Don t worry I will be fine"

She looked at him not at all convinced but she answered "Ok"

"So in celebration we have a party holding soon and I will like you to bring that very good friend of yours"

"So you can interrogate him?" Ella asked with squinted eyes at her brother.

"Not at all, I dare not; I just want to meet him that's all" he said with a smile.

"Promise" she asked skeptically

"Yes I promise on my honor"

"Your honor you said, Dave your honor is non-existent, at least with the ladies"

"Ouch! That hurts" He said, placing a hand on his chest, but a big grin spread across his face.