Chapter 57: And the Journey begins…

And may the journey begin...

It had been four years now since she set her eyes on him. Nathan Brown, the guy the universe brought into her life by chance on her heartbreaking night. A night that sat deep in her soul. A night she wasn't sure would have turned out great if she had stayed in her room to cry over her heartbreak. Maybe if she wasn't wasted, her night would have been splendid. Maybe if she never spotted him, she would not be where she is today. Maybe if she had not made the first move.

Maybe she wouldn't have a share of what motherhood is by now.

That very night, she met one of the dangerously fitted, smoking hot, dashing-looking men, walking on the planet Earth without a mask. Maybe one would have prevented her and many other ladies, from falling straight to his feet. Men like that were better off admired from afar. The grievous mistake she had made.

Breathe.

She told herself, placing her left hand on her chest. This is not a big deal. Not at all. Tacha reminded herself.

But her heart was giving her no option to decide on how to feel with the whole situation at hand. She wanted to feel nothing, feel blunt, feel harsh, still mad. But knowing Nathan was outside her gate, right there waiting for her, Tacha felt anxious. Nervous. Watching him on Instagram seemed to be different from knowing he was waiting for her. And she was going to see him face to face again.

Tacha wondered how he looked now. Was he taking enough rest and not too busy with work like when she met him? For him to be outside her gate by this time of the day, Tacha wondered if everything was alright. What does he want? That couldn't wait till the following morning.

It was almost eleven. And for someone who must have worked all day, she expected him to have gotten to his house, resting his head.

Tacha unlocked the padlock of the small gate and stepped out onto the quiet street. It was extremely quiet and peaceful. No single human being was walking on the road except the street light that hung above the houses, illuminating the dark road with light that wasn't quite bright enough but one could manage to see where one was going.

The Ferrari. The same black car that parked opposite her apartment some days ago.

Tacha's eyes widened.

She watched the black car coming to where she was standing in a slow movement. The car stopped and the door opened. With her hands wrapped around her upper body, and the cold breeze embracing her body, her breath seized. A rush of feelings, images, smiles, and laughter, charged through her mind. He made it difficult for her to think properly like she had planned.

Tacha couldn't help herself to stop what was going on in her head. When Nathan successfully stood before her, his height towered above her. His body shielded her. His smell made her almost lose her sense of reasoning. He smelled luxury. She was deeply intoxicated and here he was again, without a mask. Showing his absolutely gorgeousness before her. He doesn't know. That his presence set hearts ablaze. But not her heart. Tacha had to remind herself.

He seemed to have grown taller than Tacha. His body looked so toned and Tacha could tell he added some weight. His appearance triggered emotions Tacha couldn't handle. Feelings she couldn’t even hold back. Voices she couldn’t shut down. Whatever power he had back then, he still had it. And she was fighting seriously hard not to be affected. But...her heart was shaking that she couldn't even utter a word.

Nathan stood not too far from her, but still very close to his car. He stared at Tacha with obvious admiration. His eyes remained fixed on her, pouring out the sweetest stares Tacha had received in a very long time. That was it. How he lured her completely to him. He was born to be sweet to his lovers and his eyes ate her deep, raw, affectionate that she could feel them all over her body.

He wasn't even trying too hard beneath his eyes.

There was a long pause. Their eyes on each other.

Three seconds was long enough for Tacha, unable to catch her breath. Her heart was pounding as the atmosphere thickened and old feelings were running wild, tempting both of them with many thoughts on their minds. She looked away first.

“How are you?”

The sound of the deep voice reached Tacha's ears and she held her breath. Maybe they seized. But she looked forward to hear him more.

His voice was calm, like a fountain of water flowing smoothly down. Down to Tacha's heart. The three words made Tacha's heart collide with the wall of her chest, pounding and longing to reach for him. It wasn't normal, she knew. It wasn't normal to hear someone's voice and then her heart beat rapidly.

Someone's voice?

Wasn't she deceiving herself?

Shy and uncomfortable, Tacha managed to push her eyes up, straight to the corner of Nathan’s eyes, trying not to look him in the eye. As much as she managed not to, how firm his chest was and how his muscles were ripping off the brown satin shirt made Tacha's heart skip a bit. The two buttons left open on his chest revealed his gold necklace that sat on his bare chest.

Here was Nathan Brown, after four years, in the flesh, standing right before her.

“She's asleep,” Tacha responded. “She goes to bed early.”

Nathan raised a brow at Tacha. His eyes rested on her lower pink lip, tracing it up to her eyes that hid from his. "I meant you. It's been years since I saw you. How are you?” He crossed his arms and rested his feet on his car. Their eyes crossed for a brief moment. Nathan didn't seem to mind, but Tacha's heart was thudding in her chest, and immediately to save herself from embarrassment, she found a poll in the middle of the street that was worth being stared at.

Tacha managed to avert her eyes back to him and gave him a wary look. She knew she was going to make a scene out of nothing if she attacked his question.”I'm good. Doing better.” Her response came out very quickly. This time, taking extra care to avoid Nathan's eyes.  “You could have waited till tomorrow. Isn't it late for you to drive.”

“I'm travelling very early tomorrow."

"I will still be here when you are back."

"I didn't want to leave without seeing you,” Nathan said. “Who knows if I might ever get this chance again.”

“But you came unannounced.”

Tacha held his stare. He gazed at nothing else but her. “I'm sorry,” he whispered.

His calm voice once again pulled a stunt in Tacha's belly. “Oh!” Her shallow tone was enough to disrupt the butterflies strongly building up inside of her. “How about Tito?”

Nathan shook his head. “No longer with me.”

“I guess you sacked her?”

"I stopped her from being my assistant,” Nathan said shortly. He didn't blink his eyes. They stayed on hers. He understood what she thought of him. Even though he never cared, but not with her. “She's married.”

“Really! Do you still hear from her?”

“She heads my hotel in Abuja.”

“Wow,” Tacha mumbled to herself this time. Not shocking. But surprised he had maintained such a long relationship with Tito. Tacha was sure this wasn't the conversation they both wanted to have. This was not what they had in mind. But knowing Tito was doing well was good to hear. And heading a place like that at her age was a top-tier achievement.

“Thank you for tonight.”

“I did something special?” Tacha mumbled.

A smile finally crossed Nathan’s face as he watched her lips. “Seeing you is one.”

“Hmm.” Tacha averted her eyes. “I don't want you to leave here too late.”

“I didn't just come here to see you.” Nathan moved away from his car a bit. “I also came here to thank you.” He waited but did not get a response. He continued. “Will I be able to get this chance again?”

There was a deep pause. This time, Tacha didn't even give a sound. Unwillingly, Tacha raised her eyes slowly to his. “I will let her know about you and you both can meet.”

Of course, Nathan was aware she knew that wasn't the answer he wanted. He smiled a little more. His smile exposed the exciting face of a grown man. Possibly only Tacha could make him smile that silly outside, also on a cold night. He moved closer to her. “I could barely recognise you. You changed.”

Nathan's voice penetrated deep into her head. She caught him staring at her and immediately she felt shivers down her spine for staring back at him. Tacha took a small breath. Now, she didn't look away. “I’m now a mother. It's expected that my body will change a little. Do I look that big?”

For those seconds she stared at Nathan, he held her eyes. He wished she didn't make her response that short, but she did, in haste to put an end to their conversation.

Tacha caught him again, this time, he had a light smile on his lips. His eyes were lively. His face looked happy.

“What's with the smile?”

“I never thought I would see you again,” he confessed. ”And I meant you took my breath away when I said you've changed.”

He wasn't expecting any response, but this time. He was the shy one. He could barely see her reaction.

“Do you not care if anyone could take a picture of you and send it to bloggers?” Her voice was shaky. The few words came out in a struggle.

He didn't bulge. His stern expression showed he didn't care. “Maybe not yet, but with you, I would.”

“Nathan.”

“Yes.”

“It's late.”

“Will I be able to get this chance again?”

“You will see her if you come during the day.”

Nathan had a little smile on his lips. He turned around and opened the back door of his car. “What about you, will I be able to see you also?”

He came out back.

Two bundles of red roses were held in his hands.

“This is for my princess,” he handed a small bundle to Tacha first. Then the full one. “And to the best Mum. You.”

“Thank you.” Tacha stared at him and succeeded not to smile. “She can't wait to meet the best Dad in the world.”

“Nice meeting you after a long time." Nathan dipped his empty hands into his two pockets. "I will be back in a week.”

Tacha nodded. “Thank you. You should go now.”

"After you are in."

Tacha counted four steps with her back before she turned around and opened her gate. However, she has refused to close it.

Nathan brought out his hands from his pockets and reached for his car door. Tacha watched him climb into his car. Slowly like he moved his car towards her, he moved out of the lane he parked his car, and drove off.

Well, Tacha bit her lower lip trying not to smile. And then she eventually did. This was the Nathan she knew over time. He never really changed. Everything seemed funny. What she told herself to believe but her heart declined.

Now, she needed to tell Anna about her Dad.