Chapter 36 Unspoken Truths
As what? Introduce Amanda as what? " Rowan questioned.
"As your girlfriend of course." Jack answered as if he was asking a question that he already had an answer to.
"But she is not my girlfriend." Rowan exclaimed.
"Then make her one." Johnny said.
"Or ask her to act like one. It is that simple." Jack added.
"And the pregnancy?" Rowan questioned further.
Johnny and Jack exchange glances. "I think I might have said the wrong thing there" Johnny whispered. They both remained quiet. "Now you won't talk" Rowan sighed in frustration.
"If you are going to ask her to pretend to be your girlfriend you can as well ask her to pretend to be pregnant." Jack explained.
"Exactly! It is as easy as that." Johnny affirms "but before you ask her to do that for you, please apologize for what you have done."
"I'm in on that" Jack said, his hand in the air.
Rowan nodded in agreement. "Let's see how that works"
"Now to the business of the day. It is Friday and we party hard." Jack swayed to the rhythm of his words.
Rowan rolled his eyes, "there is no way I am getting out of this house"
"Oh, we came prepared. You don't have to go out" Johnny pulled out bottles of two different wines out of a paper bag that had been beside his legs the whole time, "What is left is the multi-coloured light" he added jokingly.
Rowan joined in the laughter. "I can help you with that" They all laughed.
""
The following day, Amanda anticipated Rowan's driver. She did not intend to go to work in his car following what she had said the day before in anger. But she somehow expected the driver to come.
The driver did not show up till she left the house for work. "He probably was not expecting me to come to work after what happened yesterday" Amanda thought.
When she got to the office, it was a buzz with hushed whispers and sidelong glances as Amanda walked in
"I'm quite a topic." She mumbled. She was already used to people gossiping about her from the time she worked at the hotel.
Ignoring the lingering stares and whispers, Amanda walked straight to her office. When Rowan came in, he acted as if nothing happened.
"Hi, Amanda. I didn't expect to see you at work today." He said, smiling sheepishly.
Amanda was about to respond when he spoke again. "Since you are here, please send me my schedule for today." He didn't wait to listen to her response before he walked into his office.
This served to fuel Amanda's anger. She had expected at least a conversation or an attempt to address what happened the previous night.
"Why am I even angry?' Amanda questioned herself, her voice audible.
"Angry about what?" Belinda asked. Amanda was lost in thought she didn't notice when she came in.
"Angry that you came into my office without knocking" she snapped at Belinda
The latter rolled her eyes "I am not here for you. I am heading to Rowan's office." Belinda responded.
"Then please, mind your business." Amanda replied and focused on her laptop. Belinda hissed and walked away towards Rowan's office. In no time, she was out. Amanda saw her but looked away immediately.
"You know, Belinda began," if this is about what happened yesterday, I don't think you should be angry"
"And why shouldn't I?" Amanda asked, her eyes still glued to her laptop screen.
"You were already vindicated and I took the punishment for it." Belinda snapped.
"You took the punishment for what you did." Amanda snapped too.
"What I did?" Belinda rolled her eyes again. "It was a mistake!" Belinda continued almost immediately.
"So should I say thank you for trying to make that mistake look like it was mine?" Belinda did not respond so Amanda continued. "Excuse me please, I have better things to do with my time." Belinda got the hint. She left the office without saying another word.
The workday finally came to a close. Everything seemed normal except for the everyday chemistry, which was missing.
At home, Amanda was just complaining to her mother about what happened with Rowan. She didn't mention that he got angry because she wouldn't let him in but allowed Wills to come into her home. She was tired from what happened throughout the day and she just slept.
"Why didn't you let him in? He said he wanted to say hello to me. Besides, I thought you said you like him." Mrs Roberts questioned.
"I never said I like him," Amanda protested.
"So you don't like him?" Her mother pressed further.
"Of course I do. I like him a lot but I never told you I do" Amanda clarified herself.
"Well, now you have. So back to what we were talking about. Why did you not let him in" Mrs Roberts continued.
Amanda's gaze focused on her mother as if she was expecting her to say something. "Mother, are you asking because you don't know. If I let him in, won't he see the children. He will definitely ask questions. What will I tell him then?"
Mrs Roberts seemed surprised. "He doesn't know about the kids?" She asked.
"Mother! Did you not tell me not to mention I have kids when I wanted to apply for the job? How could he have known? Nobody at work knows." Amanda retorted.
"Yes, I remember I said that. But you two got closer and have been really close for how long now, three years? And you never mentioned that?" Her mother said, concerned.
Amanda sighed, "Like I said, mother, nobody at work, including Rowan knows I have kids. Four children."
Mrs Roberts sighed too. "It is what it is. What do you want to do now?"
"Mother, I sincerely do not know. He is not even saying anything to me. He just acted as if nothing of such happened and whenever our conversation diverts from work, he will quickly bring me back on track."
Silence took over for almost a minute before Amanda spoke again. "I am thinking of a way to stop him from coming here anyway."
"That does not seem like a good idea," her mother responded. Her voice was faint.
"What do you suggest I do then?" Amanda asked, frustrated.
"Why don't you talk to him? Tell him about your kids. That way you know what happens next or what do you think?" Mrs Roberts suggested.