CHAPTER 154:TEN STEPS.

After leaving the company, Paul drove to a nearby florist and bought red flowers. He went to a supermarket and bought chocolates and a big tedbear. Although he was dismayed to go to the mansion, he had no choice but face his demons. As the saying goes If you don't face your demons they eat you alife.

So every item he had bought had a message on it. The flower had a note attached on it, the tedbear had some lovely words and the chocolates were wrapped in a paper that he wrote on a message. All this for just to seek an apology. If he only knew that he was already divorced with Ivana. He could have respected himself and went home direct.

Paul had a reached a point of being autonomous, that's why he was ready to face Ivana after almost one month of being apart from each other. He had tried reaching her through text and calls but Ivana never replied to his texts or picked his call. To her they already divorced so there was no need of being in contact with each other. She was ready to move on with her life even if she was pregnant. She didn't care what the society will say.

So Paul was ready to face her and tell her that in one to two weeks time he will be leaving for Nigeria for four or five years of study. So he was ready to apologise, making things right before he leaves. 

'We are still married so I hope you will forgive me. I hope you will want to accompany me to Nigeria, please just tell me you can't stay away from me. Just the way I am struggling to stay away from you, please Wifey' Paul thought as he reached the mansion gate. Before he could step out of his mercedes benz c300 and ring the bell, the gate man opened.

........

Ivana, Mish and Milka we're busy watching movie with popcorns. When they heard the sound of a car driving in the compound. Milka and Mish looked at Ivana who was busy eating popcorn and her eyes focused on the television.

Milka asked her,Are you expecting someone, like a visitor?

"Huh, why?

"We just heard a sound of car driving in" Mish said.

"I don't know maybe they are our neighbors, wharever. Can we just watch the movie in silence?" Ivana said her eyes not leaving the TV.

"Can I join you too?" Paul said from the door.

Ivana was startled as she looked at the direction that familiar voice was emanating. She was the only one who was startled because Mish and Milka had spotted him when he was in the porch. Mish wanted to notify Ivana but Paul shushed her.

"What are you doing here?I thought you should be with Slyvia now probably in honeymoon!" Ivana uttered.

"You just thought wifey, but that doest mean I am with her" Paul said unruffled.

Ivana wanted to tell him to stop calling her wifey because they are already divorced. But she remembered the presence of Milka and Mish. Even if they were divorced, she wanted to show him a little respect because of a life that was growing inside her. 'Even if you don't know that I am pregnant, I will show you a little respect' she thought as she looked at her belly. Fortunately for her she was putting on an oversized hoodie so Paul didn't realize anything.

"Mish and Milka please give us some privacy" she said as she looked at Paul who was still holding flowers, tedbear and chocolates in a carrier bag.

"Okay ma'am" Milka said.

"Okay Ivana, we will be in the ochard." Mish said as she paused the movie then walked outside through the kitchen to the backdoor. After Ivana had confirmed that indeed they have left he sat down as he asked him again.

"I will repeat my question again, What are you doing here?" 

"Is that the way to welcome me,Wifey. Can't you even pick the gifts I have brought you?"Paul asked as he walked to the table and placed the gifts there.

"We ended things Paul, about the gifts I didn't tell you to buy them for me. You can as well gift them someone else, is not like I can't afford them" she said as she leaned back in the couch to relax her back.

He walked to where Ivana was seated and sat on another couch infront of her. Taking a bold step without even being welcomed. So they were facing each other. Paul was embarassed as he remembered what he had said in press conference. He had trouble maintaining eye contact with her. He didn't know where to start as he scratched his head and cleared his throat. This time Ivana was looking at her in a tranquil mood.

"How have you been, you are glowing" Paul said as he tried smiling.

"As you can see you are glowing." She answered in polite way. She didn't want to get angry now that she is pregnant, she didn't want her pregnancy hormones to start misbehaving.

Paul was surprised the way Ivana have changed over a short period. He remembered the day he came with Paul to seek for forgiveness. Ivana was not calm as she is right now, she didn't want even to listen to what he had to say. Paul creased his brows then leaned in forward and looked at Ivana closely.

"Wifey, I don't know how I can say this," he wiped his eyes  then said, "I am sorry for what happened, I didn't mean to I do regret hurting you." He said apologetically.

"There is no need of you wasting your time and apologising to me. I am okay with whatever happened, as you can see I am happy. Me and you we are done, I guess three weeks ago." She said with a serious tone.

'if you think you will sign divorce papers then come here to joke with my pschology young man. I am ten steps ahead of you.' She thought as she smiled smugly. She stood up and walked to stairs that leads to her room.

Paul wanted to ask her what she meant by they were done three weeks ago but restrained. He had never seen divorce papers as she had promised.

"I am sorry for wasting your time wifey, but I came here to let you .....