Chapter 106

Pat didn't know how to handle the news, she found herself in between happiness and confusion. She was happy on one side, which was basically Mike's, because she knew how glad he would be once he got the news. The confusion was that Lucy had told her not to make it open to anyone yet. She wouldn't have known about it, and Lucy who although felt she should have the knowledge decided to tell her having considered her as an insider. What Lucy didn't know was how close she was with Olivia and Mike. She thought of telling Mike, so he would plan reaching out to Olivia and possibly reconcile their differences, but she held back, so as to avoid failing on her promise to Lucy. She was yet to understand why Olivia wouldn't be joyful about this and why she wasn't thinking towards telling Mike. There must be something behind it she reasoned, whatever it was, she must find out. 

She was dressing up to leave for work that morning when Olivia walked into their room, she asked her to give her audience as she had something she had wanted to let her know. Even though she knew it was about the pregnancy, she made sure she feigned ignorant of it, believing it would make her get the details. Olivia took time to apologize for telling her at this time, she made her understand that she was overwhelmed by the news, and wouldn't know how she would feel about it. She mentioned that she was sure that Mike was responsible, as she hadn't seen any other man since she met him. She went as far as telling her she was surprised when the result of the test came showing positive to pregnancy, it wasn't the test she opted for but the doctor according to his own discretion decided to do that. She finally asked her for a favour which was that she wouldn't let Mike know yet, she would want to give him the news herself. Pat felt that it wasn't the right time to discuss the issue, being that she was running late to work, so she accepted not to tell Mike, she had wanted to ask her friend why she was taking a long time to reveal it to him, but that would be for another time. 

Olivia thanked her, left the room but with some kind of concern, she knew her friend so well and wondered why she never said anything nor did she ask any question. Something must have been going on in her mind she thought, she hoped Pat hadn't changed, she wasn't the type that failed to keep her promise, but the way she accepted her request hook and sinker left her in doubt. She went to her sister Mira to give he feed back on what transpired between herself and Pat. Mira was the one who advised her to open up to her friend, for her, it was better Pat heard it from Olivia than finding out herself. When Olivia told her Pat's response and her worries, she told her Pat wouldn't fail her. 

When Pat got to the office, she pondered over the discussion, it ended the same way Lucy ended hers too. They were asking for the same thing, that she shouldn't let Mike know about it. She felt bad that she didn't ask Olivia questions on that, it would have been the right thing. She felt it was wrong for her to promise keeping such secret when she was the one pushing for it all the while. She was contemplating on what to do next, whether to call Olivia and discuss it further or reach out to Lucy to ask for further clarifications, when she got a call that a client was waiting. 

Mike arrived the pool side where he sat down watching the few people enjoying the comfort of the pool. He had his cigarette and some can Heineken on the table. He had been in touch with his company and they were satisfied with the level he had attained concerning the business he was handling, even with the unfortunate incident that happened to him. They had asked him if he would love to be replaced by someone so he could have time to heal, but his response got him more endeared to the executive board. He hadn't spent much time alone before Cindy walked majestically towards him. She was dressed in a jean trouser and a polo, the jean was so tight that her hips were like the side mirrors of a car. This time, she had a dark designer speck on her eyes. She sat down opposite Mike, took a stick of cigarette, which she lit up and started smoking with Mike. Mike opened and  pushed one of the can beer towards her, she took it and gulped down a little after thanking him. 

They discussed at length about business and work, talked about their stay so far and how they were fairing. Finally Cindy opened up to Mike on how she had made several efforts to get his attention, she wanted to know why Mike refused to give her attention. She asked him if she wasn't attractive enough for him, or if she wasn't his class. While she spoke, Mike couldn't say a word, it was as if he had hurt her so badly, he could see it on her face even as her voice sounded so too. Cindy told him how long she had been observing him and having seen that there wasn't any woman around him, she felt at ease to gain his attention, hence her approach that first day. By the time she was through, mike felt guilty, he was dumbfounded. Her words were like bullets hitting him directly on his forehead. She had ended her speech by asking him to tell her he never admired her. Mike took some few minutes thinking the best possible way to handle her, he never saw this coming, in his innocent mind, all he wanted was to have a chatty timeout with her and make her forget whatever she must have been holding against him since the incident in her room. When he finally found his voice to respond, he stuttered a little bit, before he steadied his voice. He apologized to Cindy, telling her that all her observation weren't intentional, he confirmed to her that she was a very beautiful lady who every man would desire to be with. He also told her that he was always tripping at her shape and how seductive she looked. He finally told her he was being careful not to hurt her, just as she had told him, he was also having trial times in his relationship. 

Cindy listened to Mike as he spoke for a long time, explaining in details about his issue with Olivia and the implication it might have if he started a relationship with her. It was true that she heard all that Mike said, but she was much more lost in her admiration of his straightforwardness, his sincerity and kindheartedness. She felt Olivia was the luckiest woman on earth, for a man who had issues as that to openly speak of it in such manner. She knew most men would seize the opportunity to have fun with any woman they came across. His admiration for Mike increased from that moment, and she promised Mike that although she would love to have his shoulder to lean on, she wouldn't come between him and Olivia. She added that she wouldn't in any way coerce him into doing whatever he wouldn't want to do. Mike was deeply touched at her sense of reasoning, his mindset of her changed immediately, he felt at ease the more sitting with her. The waiter who had taken their orders, came around with them. The drink was shifted to one side and dinner served. The meal was fried plantain with egg sauce for Mike, while Cindy ate chicken wing only. When Mike asked why she made the choice, she jokingly responded by asking Mike if he wanted her to 'blow out of proportion.' Her choice of words in the response, almost got Mike choked with the food in his mouth, as he couldn't help but laugh out loud. They ordered some grape wine to go with the meal, this was also served. The preceded minutes were spent enjoying the food as the only sound was the faint one that came from the cutleries.

When they had finished eating, the music that was playing on the background had changed to something danceable. By then people had already filled up the entire space around the pool and beyond, many of them dancing to the wonderful tunes from the speakers, most of the visitors in the hotel happened to be from outside America, this Mike suspected due to the kind of music they played. Cindy took the opportunity to demand for a dance from Mike, he didn't waste time to oblige her. They stood and danced beautifully well that some of the other guests admired them. While they danced, Mike this time saw Cindy from a different perspective and felt more at ease to have a taste of her, meanwhile Cindy was already dreaming of herself in his arms.