Chapter 76

The first and only meeting Brains and Olivia had was that of Paris when Brains went on his leave vacation to the city. Although they had good time and one thing led to another which resulted to their having sex, there was no serious commitment on the side of Brains which was supposed to solidify the relationship. He merely threw the alleged proposition at her as if it was a suggestion or a wish. There was no ring nor engagement of any sort. Olivia never counted what happened serious, she knew and understood men to go all out promising heaven on earth when they found a new lady. That was at the back of her mind while they were together, she was only waiting for him to leave Paris so that she would appraise him. It looked like Brains passed the first level test, when he left Paris, he never seized to call and chat with Olivia and that drew her attention towards him the more. She began to reciprocate the gestures too, calling and chatting with him at any given opportunity. It was when Brains began to speak the language of taking the relationship to the next level, that she felt it was also time to check him out on the next level of appraisal. That was how the entire journey to Africa started. She had read a story of how a lady set out secretly to a far country where her love was, without letting him know she was coming and she unraveled a lot of hidden things about the young man which saved her from an impending doom had it been she married him. She decided to try the adventure, little did she know her story would change the way it did indicating that fate are different. She hadn't set her eyes on Brains since then and even if she wanted to turn back the hands of time, Mike had seized the clock, so it would be impossible to ask him for it knowing he wouldn't, as it meant he would be shooting himself on his feet. Sometimes she would want to blame herself for taking off on that journey, but after giving it a thoughtful time, she would resolve and accept it as fate at work. Her meeting Mike had changed a lot in her, it was mostly the reason for the diversion as regards the search for Brains. Even when she had paid agent chase some amount of money to follow up on him, she at a point began to search for things that would help her cut off from him. She saw the opportunity when she heard that Brains was dating Mira. Without finding out the reason, and blinded with the longing for Mike, she capitalized on that to erase him in her heart. Part of her sad mood that night was that she wasn't expecting to see him around her again, had it been she was aware of his coming or being around, she would have made sure she avoided him all through. One thing she knew was certain being that he came to see Mike, and it mean she should be proactive so he doesn't spoil Mike's mind towards her. Having Carefully thought of that, she made up her mind that as soon as Mary takes off to the airport, she would go to the hospital and discuss it with Mike. 

After spending a long time with Mike in the hospital, she wrote him a note stating, it was time to leave. Then they left the hospital in the car, back to the Hotel. When they got back, every one of them was so tired. Lucy hurried to her room to take a quick shower, Olivia did same. She told Mary how everything thing went and she was happy that they made progress. Mary had always gone for that duty before Olivia took over, so she understood what it entails and the stress inherent. She welcomed Olivia back, before telling her she was set to go back to Paris. Olivia could not believe it, she was planning that both of them would go back together when she was to go for the primary election. She had wanted to insist, when Mary told her to check her message. She opened the message file on phone, there it was, a message from her Dad asking for her permission to have Mary back for a new assignment. She had never refused any request from her Dad, and she knew her Dad would always ask her anything in a request format thereby taking and of her weakness. She had to tell Mary that she should prepare her things then but they had dinner get together to attend that night. She helped Mary pack her things, they had rest for sometime, before they began preparation for the diner outing. The way they were going about the dressing and makeup, made it seem it was a big occasion that would have many dignitaries present. Olivia's attire was selected by Mary when she saw how confused she had become. In fact from the way she was behaving, it was as if she was sensing that something may happen at the venue. She would take a particular attire, try it on and remove it. She would complain that Mike was not around to make choice for her. All thanks to Mary who came to the rescue when she selected one and insisted that one was perfect for the outing. When they were through, they checked themselves out in the mirror and confirmed how elegant they were looking, they proceeded down to the pool side. By the time they were leaving the room, Lucy was also engrossed in the business of makeup and dress choice too. Hers being that, there was no one to help her make a choice. She had only the mirror to tell her how she looked. She had wanted to dress on a trouser and shirt but something in her told her to change her plan, which she did. After a final look in the mirror, she felt the confidence that she was looking very gorgeous, then she stepped out of her room, locked the door and headed for the lift for downward movement to the ground floor. When she arrived the pool side, there were many people sitting on their different tables in twos and more, she knew exactly the number she was given as the table reserved for her and her guests, so she didn't waste time locating the table. There was no one sitting nor present when she got there, so she took a seat and relaxed waiting for others. She didn't stay long before Olivia and Mary came to the table, they took two other seats which made it three occupied seats, remaining two. 

James was the next to arrive, when he was coming towards them, Mary tapped Olivia to see him, Olivia looked up and smiled, she knew that Mary was tripping for the handsome dude, at that time, James hadn't even got to their table, he was busy greeting and responding to those greeting him also. He wore a two piece suit which was perfect on his body, it was a grey color which he matched with a brown shoe. He looked sweet. By the time he was through and came to the table, Mary was so uncomfortable sitting by his side. James greeted them with a hand shake, while he pecked Lucy on the cheek. While this was going on, Brains was standing some where not too far from them, answering a phone call. It looked like he and James made a plan to be on suit, as he was also on a two piece suit just that his was a black suit with a beautiful black shoe to match it. From his position, he could only see the back of the two ladies being Olivia, and Mary. Lucy and James were facing him, so he cou identity with their faces. Olivia and Mary kept wondering why they had five seats when they were four in number, she never wanted to ask Lucy she had no need for it. All she needed do was have fun and get back to her room. Lucy seized the opportunity while they were waiting, to introduce James to Olivia and Mary and vice versa. One of the waiters who saw that the seat was occupied, approached their table but he was told that a reservations was already made before that day. He sought to know details so he would follow up and make sure the got a good and quality service, this was given to him, and he left. He did not take long as he came back with some bottles of drink and few packs of cigarettes and lighter. That was how the evening started, with cigarette smokes hitting the air and cups of drinks gulped down the throat amidst chats and laughter. When Brains got through with his call, he turned and walked to the table, but because he was coming from the direction that Olivia was backing, he was only seeing Lucy whose face was so serious. He wondered who the other two guests were. He finally got to the table, went straight to James and had a hand shake with him, the he turned to Lucy amd pecked her on the cheek, immediately he turned to the other two ladies, his jaw dropped on the floor. He was shocked to the marrow, he felt Lucy planned it, but thought about the possibility when she actually wanted him too. He refused to tow that line of thought, he didn't know what to say, many questions that needed urgent answers filled his head at once. Could it be that Mira left Paris to the US? Was it fate that brought them together? Was his eyes seeing wrongly? These were but few of the questions that he needed answers to and immediately. He didn't know the name to call, Mira and Olivia was already two names that kept confusing him. While that was happening to him, Olivia on her part, was busy smoking and drinking. The cigarette smokes kept flying up high an high. She made up her mind it to talk to Brains rather she initiated a conversation with Mary.  Brains gathered himself together and with boldness, asked her if she was Mira or Olivia or even both. Lucy did not take time to understand what was going on, Mary did not know nor does she understand, but she was more interested in knowing why the young man asked Olivia if she was one of those names or both. James who didn't know them, was engaged in a conversation with Lucy. Olivia responded to the question by telling Brains, she was Olivia. Even with the efforts she put in place to show and respond to Brains from the area of strength, part of her still reminded her that everything that happened was not totally Brains fault. That meant, she was to share part of the blame. Brains felt uncomfortable at the table, so he stood up, excused himself and walked out from there back to his room. When he got to the room, he paced around for a while and thought about all he had passed through from the time he made that trip to Paris in search of Olivia to the accident that almost took his life, his long stay in the hospital and the embarrassing abandonment by Mira which led to his return. He was just recovering from all that trying to forget them, have fun and move on, now it looked like it came back to hurt him. Again he remembered the dream, that made him sat down quietly for a while, this could be the confusion, he had just resolved Lucy's angle to it, now it's Olivia or Mira. He had to be strong enough to pull himself together and make the right decisions he told himself. He decided that he would make sure with or without Lucy's help, that he saw Mike the next day, and that would be the very first thing he would do. Then he would hit the city to make new friends and increase his contact data base. He consoled himself with the fact that he was a handsome young man, full of life and energy. Every woman would love to have him, so why allow himself to be reduced to a low level. It might be true he thought to himself, that his relationship or marriage to the Harts, would have been a plus to both his career and financial capacity, but be it as it may, he wouldn't allow it make him less than a man. These and more words of encouragement helped him come out of the sad and disappointing feeling that had engulfed him.

When he left and the way he did, Mary sensed that somethings weren't alright, so she turned to Olivia for explanation. Lucy who didn't know that Olivia had something going between her and Brains initially, couldn't understand why Brains behaved the way we did, she was actual thinking James' presence may have been the problem. She had wanted to follow him and find out what the problem was but for James who she wouldn't want to feel embarrassed. Olivia took time to explain to Mary what happened. That she was able to do in that shortest period of time, making Mary cold. While they were contemplating and analysing the entire issues, Olivia got a call, an international call, she felt it might be her Dad, so she picked the call, the voice at the other end sounded excited, it was Pat's voice. She called to let her know she would be on her way to the US the next day. Olivia who didn't want her friend to notice her mood, smiled and congratulated her, she told her she was happy and would be expecting her arrival, as she would be waiting for her at the airport. With that, Pat sent her the flight arrival time. Olivia seemed to be a little bit confused, she seemed so because she couldn't understanding the reason all of a sudden it looked like all of them were gathering together in the US. The only person missing in their midst, was Philip. He had been missing in action for long, and no one had been able to know his whereabout. All efforts to reach him on phone had not brought successful. His both lines were shut down including his social media handles. There was no way she would get to know from Mike if they were communicating. She made up her mind that she would ask Mike once she goes visiting the next day. It seemed on that table that the get together had gone sour, as no one spoke to each other, everyone was occupied with their phones. With that, Mary and Olivia took excuse from Lucy and left. James and Lucy were then left alone.