Chapter 34 When Jealousy Finally Spoke
"I mean, erhmmn, we should…" Amanda stuttered.
Rowan nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions. "I should take my leave then."
"Rowan!" Amanda called.
"Please, take care of yourself." Rowan added before he jumped into his car.
Amanda watched silently as Rowan's car zoomed off. She sighed in frustration.
"I didn't know you were a thing," Wills said, distracting Amanda.
"Sorry?" She asked.
"You and Mr. Rowan. To be sincere, I sensed your closeness from the beginning of this case but when you didn't tell him about your kids, I felt you guys weren't together."
Not knowing what to say, Amanda scoffed. Wills continued, not allowing the silence to tarry.
"I'm sorry about today and yes, I saw all your calls, not at the moment you called though. I got your voicemails too."
"I thought you quit being a detective," Amanda said, sarcastically.
"Never! I was caught up with something." Wills answered.
"Something more important than your job?" Amanda asked.
"Family" Wills smiled.
"I see. I didn't know you were married." Amanda teased.
Wills chuckled loudly. "No, Amanda, not family like that.
"Family like what then?" Amanda continued to tease. She met Wills's gaze. She traced his focus to her body, her bruised arm.
"I didn't see that before. That happened today?" Wills asked, concern etched on his face.
"mhmmmn" Amanda nodded.
"I am really sorry I wasn't available at a time like this." Wills said, his face apologetic.
"It's alright. I'm alive as you can see." Amanda said, trying to make a joke out of the situation.
Rowan got home angry. He met Johnny and Jack waiting for him at home.
"Oh ye night walker." Johnny exclaimed.
"The prodigal son is finally back" Jack added.
"What are you two doing in my house? Rowan asked, transferring aggression.
"Easy man, we are not your employees." Johnny said, snapping at him but jokingly.
"I just asked a simple question, Johnny." Rowan said, bringing down his tone.
"Rowan, today is Friday and we should be partying." Jack responded.
"Who made that rule?" Rowan questioned.
"There is no rule, it's the norm" Jack added. "But what's up with you though?
Rowan sighed heavily as he settled onto the couch, his frustration and concern still evident on his face.
Johnny and Jack exchanged glances, sensing that something serious had occurred. Johnny leaned forward, his tone more serious now. "Rowan, you look like you've had a rough day. What happened?"
Rowan sighed heavily. Johnny and Jack could see the frustration etched across his face.
Rowan hesitated for a moment. "Man, it's been a hell of a day," Rowan began, his tone more somber. "Amanda got kidnapped today and I had to save her from some psycho. We were at the hospital, she might not like me as much as I think or maybe hiding something from me, and Detective Wills showed up at her place. It was a whole mess."
Johnny and Jack exchanged worried glances. "Slow down Rowan. Let's process it one after the other.
"Amanda got kidnapped? I am lost here "Johnny asked, genuine concern in his voice.
Thinking he does not know who Amanda is, Jack tries to tell Johnny about her.
"Amanda is…" Jack started but was interrupted.
"I know who Amnada is." Johnny responded.
"Shut the fuck up bro." Jack snapped, pained.
"What did I do?" Johnny protested. Jack didn't respond so he continued. "So you said Amanda was kidnapped.
Rowan nodded, his anger dissipating into worry. "Yeah, she's fine now. I got her out in time, and she was at the hospital to get checked out. But it was a close call guys and we didn't get the perpetrator.
Jack leaned forward, placing a hand on Rowan's shoulder. "Man, that's crazy. You must have been terrified."
Rowan nodded again, his voice quieter. "I was. I've never felt so helpless before. It was like my world was falling apart."
"Sorry about that, Man. Is she okay now" Johnny asked.
Rowan nodded again. "So why do you think Amanda does not like you the way you thought she would ." Jack asked. "And you said she is hiding something from you" he added.
Johnny chimed in, "And Detective Wills showed up? Who is detective Wills?"
Rowan hesitated before explaining, "Okay, you know that case from the hotel?
Jack nodded his knowledge but Johnny did the opposite" No, I don't"
"Finally, there is something he doesn't know." Jack mocks.
"Shut it, man," Johnny snapped.
"Guys!" Rowan called out frustrated.
"Sorry" Johnny and Jack echoed.
"The case that involved the murder of our hotel manager." Rowan continued. He got a positive nod from Johnny that he now knows what he was talking about. "Detective Wills is in charge of the case.
"Okay, I get that. Why was he at your woman's house?" Johnny asked.
Jack seemed surprised. "Hold up, your woman? When did Amanda become your woman?
"There is no way she is not. I see the way he looks at her, the way he cares for her, she keeps him on his toes. There ain't no way that woman is not his" Johnny said, looking straight into Rowan's eyes for answers.
Rowan did not say a word. He just shared glances between Johnny and Jack.
"Except for the fact that this motherfucker right here has not dared to ask Amanda to be his woman." Jack said, more like mocking.
"You are kidding, Jack," Johnny exclaimed, still surprised.
"I kid you not, man. This fine as woman has been in his life for 3 years now. All he has managed to do is give her mixed signals." Jack complained.
"What? That fine woman! " Johnny describes Amanda's body shape with his hands. "If I am that woman, I promise I would be married with kids by now. She is a hot cake."
"Maybe that is what is about to happen" Rowan found his voice.
"What do you mean?" Jack asked, concerned.
"She won't let me into her house. That has happened like 3 times now. She becomes uncomfortable the moment I pull up at her driveway. Her excuse was always her mother. She claimed she isn't welcoming. But I saw the detective come out of her house with the mother, cheerfully." Rowan explained.
"Isn't he a detective?" Jack asked.
"Exactly! She lets a detective into her house but there is no way for me. Why is he even coming to her home?" Rowan sighed?
"That is not what I meant. He is a detective while you are her boss with an undefined relationship. She can't possibly restrict the detective from coming into her house since he is doing his job. She can do that to you because you are her boss and your job stops at the office." Jack answered.
Confusion was evident on Johnny's face. "I still don't get it though. Why was the detective in Amanda's home?"
"Apparently she is somehow involved in the case" Jack said, retiring on the sofa.
"Her kidnapper today might be the killer. She was kidnapped because of that case. Somebody wants her to take the fall for it and since the investigation has revealed she isn't the killer, they decide to kidnap her. They even threatened to kill her mother." Rowan explained.
"That's some fucked up shit man" Johnny exclaimed.
"I tell you," Jack added.
"This girl has enough enemies just because she is associated with you. Was she not just bullied by your secretary?" Johnny continued.
Jack took over from him "If you really want this girl then you have to make her yours. Maybe that way, they will stop bullying her."
"Not with Detective Wills sticking around." Rowan said.
"Can you please leave the poor detective out of this. He is only doing his job" Jack responded to Rowan
"He is not innocent. You need to see the way he looks at her" Rowan rolled his eyes.
"What are you insinuating? That he likes her? Come on man, I feel you are just unnecessarily jealous. If you like her that much to be this jealous why isn't she carrying your child already?" Johnny questioned.
"That is not my concern right now." Jack exclaimed. "I want to know how you handled that situation because this man right here can be very petty"
"What do you mean?" Rowan asked, guilt flushing through him.
"I'm interested too." Johnny added. "What did you do?"
Rowan ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his voice. "Well, I didn't do anything. I just called him out. Gave him hints that he isn't doing his job well.
Johnny and Jack exchanged glances. " Amanda didn't even see what I was talking about. She told me not to make a big deal out of that. That hurt me the most."
Johnny and Jack exchanged glances again, realizing the situation Rowan has found himself in.
Jack spoke softly, "Rowan, you can't blame Amanda for this. She doesn't know how you are feeling. You didn't make your intention clear enough. And if I were in her shoes, I would entertain anyone I dim fit."
"Please Jack, stop trying to sugarcoat this." Johnny said before adjusting his position on the sofa so Rowan can see his face clearly. "Man, you've got some pleading to do. You were in the wrong there and if you want this woman, you fix it."
Anna's presence interrupts Johnny. She walks swiftly to Rowan, more like a tiptoe. She whispered into his ears.
"What! This night?"