Chapter 18 Classes
Chapter 18 Classes
Linda's POV
The persistent ringing of my phone woke me up. I was held tightly in Charles' embrace while the latter was fast asleep. I carefully unwrapped his hands round my body and reached out for my phone.
The caller was mom and I picked up immediately.
“Hey mum”
“Hi Linda” her voice sounded somehow cheerful but you could still notice the difficulty in which she let the words out.
“Happy Birthday in two days baby” She sounded so happy and excited
Mum never joked about my birthday even though I forgot to about it, she was always excited and happy.
“Mum-” I tried saying but she interrupted me
“”You thought I'd forget right? You'll always be my precious little baby” She said excitedly before a terrible cough
“That's so beautiful of you mum, I love you too” I replied softly
“Oh, lest I forget, make sure you wish Nikki a happy birthday too. You guys were born on the same day remember” she said
“You had to kill the whole energy by mentioning Nikki” I muttered beneath my breath but she somehow heard it.
“What do you mean?” She asked and I noticed disappointment in her voice
“Oh, nothing! I just wanted to tell you that Nikki's wedding is coming up in two days too.” I replied covering my earlier talk
“Oh my god!! What a birthday gift for her. She's so lucky dear, extend my warm greetings to her” Mum exclaimed happily
I shook my head angrily, how happy my mother was for Nikki but the Jenkins family would never reciprocate this goodness.
“Okay. How's your health mum, I hope you're getting better?” I asked changing the whole topic
She hesitated before speaking
“I'm fine Linda, don't worry about me baby. The only thing I want you concerned about is nothing more than your education. Remember your promise to me, get your degree, build a house for me and take me out of the Jenkins house” she said and coughed harder this time
“Mum, I can't stop worrying about you. You're all I got in this lonely world and I promise to make sure you get that Kidney transplant, no matter the cost” I swore restraining back my tears
“I love you baby” she said almost in a whisper.
I knew very well that tears were already rolling down her eyes by now.
“I can't love you less mum, take care of yourself and promise not to leave me alone in this world”
“I promise, baby. Enough about me, tell me honestly, how are you doing at the Jenkins home?”
I paused and took a deep breath. It's useless to tell her what has been going on , it would only do more harm than good.
“Linda?”
“I'm fine mum. The Jenkins are always good to us” I reused her phrase, letting the lie slip out of my mouth coldly
“Linda, I know it's not easy..-” she coughed and her voice broke
“Mum, please call the doctor!” I almost screamed frightened by the incessant coughs
Don't worry, it's a minor stuff-” she tried dismissing but I cut her short
“Mum, call the doctor!” I insisted and Charles stirred beside me and sought for me with his hands.
“Youre up already” he mumbled drowsily
“Mum, I have to go. Take care of yourself” I whispered and hung up.
Charles sat up staring at me with those peering eyes.
“So who's the early caller” he asked curiously
“That's my mum. She was wishing me a happy birthday”
“Today's your birthday?”
“No. In two days time, your wedding day” I replied and he fell silent.
After sometime, he pulled me towards himself childishly
“I don't want to get up from this bed. Why did the night end so soon?” He grumbled, removing a strand of hair from my face
“Don't you have class today Professor Charles Kane?” I teased
“Come on! Not you too” he exclaimed burying his face between my breasts
“I'm ready to forget about classes today and spend the day with you” he continued rambling
I patted his head as though he was a child and lifted his face with both hands.
“It's not really about you. I can't afford to miss my class and my work at the Jenkins” I said
I don't still understand why you work–”
“Shh” I said and stood up from the bed heading to the bathroom.
It was after having my shower that I realized I had no clothes to change in. How was I supposed to go to class?!
I tried the towel around my body and stepped out of the bathroom.
Charles was not in his room so I walked out and headed to the kitchen, perhaps he would be there.
The strong aroma coming out of the kitchen blessed my nose and my mouth watered.
“I was just preparing breakfast,” Charles said as he sighted me.
“Yeah, um, when you told you were a cook, I didn't expect you to be a great cook.” I complimented and he smiled
I walked up to him and tried lifting my head to see the magic inside the pot and suddenly, the towel which I tied round my body, loosed and fell to the floor.
I was standing stark naked in front of Charles.
I was too shocked to do anything, I watched as his mouth opened, then he bit his lower lips and kissed my nipple sending shivers down my spine.
“Don't tell me you came to seduce me after all your scolding inside” he teased and I came back to reality
Before I could reach out for my towel, he already bent and picked it up wrapping it tightly round my body.
“No, I …came to tell you that I don't have clothes to wear for class” I found my tongue
He looked at me for a while then nodded and continued cooking.
“That's not a problem, we can always order”
And that was how I got clothes for classes. We ate breakfast silently, I was filled with guilt, guilty of sleeping with Nikki's fiancee, Guilty of loving him.
We went to school together in his car.
He clinged to me all the time, playing so childishly that one would doubt it was Charles Kane.
When we reached the door, I removed my school bag from his back and comported myself immediately.
“What's wrong?” He asked surprised by the change
“Pretend as if you don't know me in school” I said, my voice sounding formal now
“Why?” He asked still confused
“You're engaged to my boss’s daughter for one and you're my professor for two.” I replied keeping my face straight avoiding his eyes.
“Last night didn't change anything for you?” He asked, his expression shifting
“Did it change anything for you? You still have to complete that merger” I said and walked inside the class.
I imagined the disappointment and pains that washed over him but the truth is bitter.
I strode casually to my seat and Tina grabbed my arm immediately.
“Did you come to school with Professor Kane?” She whispered
“It's nothing,” I replied, brushing my hair from my face and focusing on bringing out my notebook from my bag.
“Really?” She pressed on and I turned to her
“Because, he's looking at you right now and he looks very pissed” she said and my heart missed a beat.
“You sure?” I whispered and she nodded her head
I kept my head bent and pretended to read my books.
Then Charles cleared his throat and began his lecture.
“A strategic plan should include?” He asked and I pretended to be absent.
“God please! Don't let him pick me” I prayed in my heart
“Linda!” He called out and my heart stopped
“Umm” I stammered “A statement of goals and objectives for a long term” I answered looking straight into his eyes.
I saw defeat flicker across his face but he didn't relent.
“Define Normal distribution” he ordered
“Most values clustered near a central point” I answered, anger welling up inside of me.
Then he paused and tucked his hands inside his pockets.
“Why is he coming after you, did you piss him off?” Tina whispered
“One more question!” He said walking towards where I sat.
Then he removed his hands from his pocket and placed them on my desk. My stomach tightened with fear as he came closer, the tension between us becoming more tighter.
“Linda” he spoke loudly then his voice reduced into a whisper
“Why the fuck are you pretending like we didn't sleep together last night?” he roared, rage visible in his voice
I turned round in shock and I saw the disbelief in Tina's face.
“Charles?! Why would you bring such matter..-”
“Don't leave after class” he commanded
“But Char-, Professor Kane, I can't. I have work” I protested
“Stay or you fail the class” He commanded and the whole class fell into to whispers
I felt the weight of their eyes on me but if there was anything I liked about my Coursemates, they always minded their business. After all, they were all grown-ups who just enrolled for a part-time program. If there was someone I owe an explanation to, it was Tina.
He walked back to the podium and straightened his clothes. Then a smile crept into his face.
“Turn to page 136, we are going over corporate mergers today” he told the class professionally
The flipping of pages couldn't ease my uneasiness, or the peering eyes of Tina on me.
I stared at Charles who's demeanor has changed from the little boy that clinged to
me to a professor sounding all formal and giving this smile that unfortunately made my heart flutter.