Just like Adel 6

That weekend I stayed indoors. I wanted to have some me time. I would admit that I missed having a boyfriend to share things with but because Dean was always available I never felt it until Adel came. My phone rung and I couldn't believe who it was. It was Henry. I stared at the phone and contemplated answering it. I shook my heard and decided that if he called the second time I would answer. I watched the phone quietly to see if it would ring again but it didn't. Instead there was a knock at my door that startled me. I walked to it and saw Gilly standing there with a rubber bag.

"I hope this isn't a bad time." He said with a smile. I shook my head and stared waiting to hear his agenda. He handed me the rubber bag which contained a bunch of goodies. Gilly said they were from Henry. He was a bit busy at the office so he asked him to bring it over as a thank you gesture for the other day. I was surprised. To be honest I had a deep feeling Adel was behind this.

I asked Gilly why they were working on a Sunday and he said he had to work on something with Henry urgently. He said a workaholic joke and we both laughed. Before Gilly rushed off he turned to me and said "This is the first time I've seen Henry buy something for someone." I smiled and laughed to my head. I dumped my sympathy gifts in a corner and walked to my room.

After lots of convincing during the week Dean managed to get me to go to Adel's birthday party. I really didn't want to go but I realised I had to get over Henry and maybe this was my chance to have some fun and meet some new guys. I went shopping the day before so my outfit was spanking new. Just so I wouldn't look lonely I went with my coworker, Sedem. She felt so under dressed when she saw me. We got to the party just in time for the fun parts.

"Isn't that the Henry guy Dean is setting you up with?" Sedem asked. I turned around and saw him. He was in a black long sleeve shirt and a pair of jeans. Black really suited him. I turned around immediately he turned our way and Sedem laughed. I think her laughter attracted him because he walked to us. "Hi." Henry said. Sedem conveniently excused herself to get another drink. He was looking a bit pale. Probably from over working. He looked straight at me. "Hi." He said and I nodded. He went ahead and complimented me. I smiled briefly and excused myself.

I saw Sedem eating a slice of cake. It looked so good. I asked her where she got it and she pointed to the kitchen. "I got lost and saw a huge tray of cake so I picked one." She said. I scolded her for not getting a piece for me as well and made my way to the place she was pointing to. Adel's house was so big. I saw an opened door and walked into it. Unfortunately it wasn't the kitchen. It was a little office.

Just before I turned around to leave something caught my eye. On the desk there were a bunch of old pictures of what looked like Henry and Adel. Some had their parents in them. I smiled when I went through them. Henry looked very happy and normal. Time had really changed him. I heard a sound and instinctively turned to look at who it was. I saw Adel and her father. He handed a big brown envelope over to her. "That's the expenditure list for the new branch." He said. What kind of father brings work to his daughter's birthday party? That's right, Henry's Father.

I hid behind some bookshelves where I could hear more. "Dad this could have waited till Monday." Adel said shaking her head. "You need to learn to give the company importance. When you take over the company next year you will have to make sacrifices. " Her father said. My jaw dropped. It was true Lestor Brock was old but Adel? "Is Henry here?" Lestor asked and his daughter nodded. "He still won't talk to you?" She asked. He turned away. "Dad, I'm sure he will come around. You need to understand how he feels." She added. Her father nodded and walked away. Adel walked into the office and my heart missed a beat. I sat very still behind the bookshelves. She dropped the envelope on the table and walked out.



To be continued... 

Changes

Angela looked at her watch. Her brother was 20 minutes late. She played around with her drink uncomfortably. She didn't like where she was. She didn't like shabby public places like this. She just had to give her brother some money and he suggested they meet there. She was contemplating leaving when she saw an old friend of hers. He was called Henry. He walked straight up to her and sat down. "Wow, Angela how are you? It's been so long." He said. Angela nodded boldly. She told him why she was there and they did a little catching up. She enjoyed his company even after all those years. "Where is your Rosary ring? You always used to wear it." Henry asked. Angela looked at her empty finger. “I don’t believe in those things anymore. I’m now an atheist. Henry was surprised so he asked why. "I don't think God exists. If he did he wont let evil things happen to good people." She said and sipped on her drink.

Henry was even more surprised. He remembered Angela was one of the most dedicated Christians in school. "Well I can't say I understand all God does but..." Henry started but Angela cut him short. "I watched my dad lose everything. First his job, then his wife and finally his life. I had to wait tables just to pay for his funeral. There is no God, just luck." She said. Henry could feel the bitterness in her voice. "I'm sorry about your father. He was a good man. All I can say is things happen for a reason." He said. Angela was about to reply when she felt the floor underneath her shake. She looked down immediately and saw that the building was collapsing. There were screams all over the place.

People rushed to the exit but the stairs were the first to cave in. The screams got louder as one pillar underneath them fell causing the whole floor to tilt. The people on that side fell to their doom as others held on to anything they could find. Henry grabbed a table leg and pulled Angela to it. As they hung there they could see another pillar about to give away. Angela looked down. They were 3 stories up. Her heart beat hard. Was she going to join her father wherever he was? "Angela we might not make it. Please accept Christ now before it's too late. Just pray." Henry yelled. She was surprised he was thinking about her at this moment. She looked up and saw that the table leg was about to break.

Just as it broke and they slid down to the edge of the floor she closed her eyes to pray. "We are glad to have you back. You will join us in heaven but not today." She heard a voice say. She opened her eyes. She was inches away from the edge when she grabbed on to a decorative light pole. Henry got a hold of it too. She looked around and saw a roll of water hose attached to the wall. She turned and saw 7 people holding on in fear. She turned to Henry. "We can use the water hose to climb down!" She yelled. He looked at it and understood exactly what she meant. She stretched her hand and dragged it towards her. "Ok, go down before the pillar gives away! " He screamed as she gave the hose to him. She smiled and said, "not today, I won’t die today." She gave him the hose and unrolled enough for Henry to climb down. Everyone cheered when he got down safely. Angela turned around and gave the hose to a child.  Henry and a few people downstairs helped the little boy as he came down. One after the other Angela helped all 7 people down. She climbed down as fast as she could herself and met a host of cheers.

Minutes after the area was cleared the second pillar collapsed. Angela was safely out of the building looking for Henry. She didn't find him. Wherever he was she wanted to say thank you for those few words that gave her back the life she lost: a life in Christ.

Eli's wife 5

Enyonam paced in her office. She wasn't happy with what the journalist wrote about Eli in the papers. She noticed her phone was ringing and answered it immediately. It was her father. He wanted to know if she had spoken with her little sister. "Dad I don't think Sena can do this. She doesn't even think the article is a threat." She said rubbing her eyes. Her father could sense her worry. He told her the president had an idea. Enyonam sat up immediately. "Is he going to pay the journalist off?" She asked curiously. "No, that is too risky. We don't want to add blackmail to this. He didn't give me details but he trusts his plan. I leave for a meeting with German investors. I will call you after." her father answered and hang up. A minute later, Enyonam's personal assistant came into her office. "I found the information about the journalist you wanted." he said. Enyonam nodded and took the papers he was holding.

   Sena left work very early. She couldn't concentrate much after what Enyonam said. She realized her sister had a point and it affected her too. If she wanted to ever have lunch with Charles again she had to fix this. She called her security man to find out if Eli was home and rushed to the house.

  She met Eli in jeans and a Tshirt just sitting in the hall with his phone in his hand. It was when the phone slipped and fell that she noticed he was asleep. She put the newspaper into her bag and walked closer to him. He heard her and woke up immediately. His eyes were red with tiredness. His eyes wanted to close again because he lacked sleep. "Hi." Sena said and Eli nodded. His phone rang and he rushed to answer it. "Yes, ok. I'll be right there." He said and grabbed his car keys. "Where are you off to?" Sena asked. Eli stopped and stared at her. He was a bit surprised at concern in her voice. "I'm going to the hospital. My girl..ex girlfriend had an accident and has been admitted." He said walking past her. "I'll drive you there." Sena offered. Now Eli felt strange. "Why? I have a car you know." he said sarcastically. "You are a mess. We don't want another accident." She said taking the keys from him and putting it on the table. He knew she was right he had had very little sleep and a lot of alcohol so he agreed.

  Sena sat on a bench at the hospital while Eli went to Tina's room. She looked around and saw that the sick people around made her mood worse. Then she thought about Charles. Was there any hope for them? Should she tell him the truth? She was going to wait in the car when her phone rang. It was the president, her father in law. She wondered if she would ever be happy about that. "Hi Sir." she said. He went on for a few minutes about how Sir was too formal and suggested Daddy or his first name. Sena pretended to giggle. He asked how she was doing and next to speak with Eli. She blinked. He had never done that before, call her phone to speak with Eli. Maybe this was his way of bringing them closer.

 Sena walked to Tina's room. Eli saw her signal for him to come out. He said something to Tina and left the room. "Your dad." Sena said and handed the phone over to him. He walked a few steps to talk to him alone. It was less than 10 minutes after Eli walked out when the machine Tina was on started beeping. A nurse rushed into the room and a doctor followed. Eli tried to get inside but the nurse held him back. "Save her, please." he pleaded with tears in his eyes. Sena just stood there staring. She did not know what to do.

 To be continued...