Chapter 9
Rachel drove in with so much smile on her face because the night eventually turned out to be a pleasant one. Michael her coursemate was also at the bar and they talked about a lot of things. She couldn't help but notice the shock on his face when he came towards her trying to confirm if she was the one. He kept passing her this very quick side glances like someone who didn't want to get caught in the act. She held her block-heeled slippers in her hand, opened the door quietly and slipped in. Just as she was about to make it to her room, Aiden suddenly appeared from nowhere causing her to be startled.
“Aiden I know this is your house but you need to stop startling me especially when I come back late in the night.”
“Now that you know that I own this house, you cannot choose to walk in at ungodly hours creeping in like a child coming in past curfew. And I would not have you wear such clothes under my watch. Not under my roof. Do you know how many perverts would have been staring at you throughout with just one purpose to get a one night stand with you?”
“Is there a child around somewhere that you are talking to because I hope all these lectures are not for me? Aiden just in case you have forgotten, I am an adult and I didn't ask you to watch me. You begged me to come and stay here. I didn't volunteer to. This is not ten years ago when I needed you to defend me from bullies. I have grown past that. I can handle things myself. The sooner you realise that I don't need you, the sooner all these unnecessary arguments end. Also now that you have this notion that men look at me just to have a one night stand with me, don't you think I should scurry to my room to avoid that from happening between a brother and sister! All your words, not mine. Goodnight brother.”
She banged the door to her room so hard that it felt like the house shook but guess what, she didn't care. She quickly ran to open the shower while tears rowed down her cheeks. Aiden was very mean with the words he threw at her. He better thank her Mother. The promise she made to her was the only reason she tolerated Aiden for the long. If it was another person who had said those things that he said she would have dished him a slap. Just because she is a girl doesn't give anybody the right to disrespect her. She took her bath and went off to bed.
He kept thinking about every word she said to him. Maybe she was right. Maybe he was acting like her father. All he was going was because he genuinely cared about her. Oh please, you genuinely care about her but today's act just showed you were jealous. Jealous that another man would have his eyes raking all over her in her drop-dead gorgeous dress. Let's not forget the look you gave her when she stepped out of the car. You were angry that other men get to look at her like that too and here you are hiding under the charade that you did it all in the name of trying to protect her from perverts. You went all the way by ordering different types of drinks that she might like and even asked that John follow her and also try to find out the drink she was having so he could get it when coming back. Seems to me like you've become so obsessed with someone you claim to be a sister to you. His inner voice said.
Was his fighting his feelings for her. He wasn't ready to get into a relationship just yet. He was also scared of hurting her which was all he ever did. She doesn't deserve to be with a broken man like him. Who knew if this recovery was going to be permanent. He was one to never need anyone to talk to. He barely even shared things with Sabrina. He quickly grabbed up his phone and dialled his mother's number. She picked the call instantly like she had been waiting for his call.
“Hello Mother, I just called to say hi.” he lied, of course, he called to tell her what had been going on.
“My son let's not forget in a hurry that I am your mother. Your voice doesn't sound like you called to say hi. What is troubling you, my child?”
“I won't call it troubling but it's about Rachel.”
“What about Rachel?”
“I may have said something to her that she might never want to see my face. I mean I wish I could take them back but it's too late. ”
“What caused it?” she asked.
“She went out in this backless skin-tight dress and crept in at an ungodly hour. I have never seen her wear such before. Seems to me like she just got it. She makes it look like I am the bad person for trying to tell her to be decent. Now I sound like a teenager reporting his girlfriend to his mum. Arghhh.”
“Aiden, you need to calm down. Rachel is an adult. She can do what she pleases. She has grown past that age when you could tell her to go inside because it was already getting late. We both know she would have moved out if she had the money she needed to pay her fee. She still doesn't know you've paid for all her university years. You have very little say in life because you are not her father, boyfriend or husband. At least she hasn't brought any boy into your house yet so you need to chill. You can start by apologising to her first thing tomorrow and make it up to her. It could be a little outing, you can take her on a yacht ride we both know she never refuses a chance to ride on your yacht. Let her see a different side of you. One she rarely sees. She will come around and you never used to have a problem with those girls you brought home whose boobs could be seen from their dresses a from a thousand miles away. Good night my child. Sweet dreams.”
He was going to ask John to pick her up tomorrow from school and get one of his assistant to pick a fedora hat and the best floral backless jumpsuit they have where he regularly got her clothes from. He loved it when she wore jumpsuits. With his intended plans for tomorrow, he fell on his bed with so much joy for having made that call through to his mother.