Chapter 81 A Ghost Between Them
At Rowan's house, news reached his parents that he had not been going to work as he used to. Madam Xi decided to reach out to him at home.
Approaching the front door, Madam Xi tried the password but it didn't work. She then pressed the bell firmly.
Moments later, the door opened, revealing a surprised Rowan, who clearly hadn't expected a visit from his mother.
"Mother?" Rowan uttered, a mix of surprise and shame.
"What in God's name do you look like? Madam Xi exclaimed, seeing how unkept he looked.
"Mom, please come in." Rowan said softly, dismissing his mother's worries.
Madam Xi exclaimed once again when she entered the house. "What? Rowan" she screamed, "what in God's name is going on here?" She looked around the disorganized house. "Where are your workers? Anna! Anna!"
"Nobody would answer you, mom," Rowan said nonchalantly. "I am the only one here. I have dismissed them all."
"What? Why? What is going on with you, Rowan?" His mother questioned? "You have been in and out of work and now this. Do you even see what you look like?"
"Is that why you are here, mom? Because that should be the least of your worries right now." Rowan responded, making his way toward his room.
Madam Xi followed him. "Why shouldn't it be? You are in a mess and we are worried.
"Worried about what?" Rowan yelled. "About doing my job well or about managing my house the way I deem fit? Come on mom, am a grownup."
"Is this still about Amanda?" Madam Xi asked when they got into his room.
"Mom!" Rowan exclaimed, his gaze avoiding his mother's probing eyes. "We have talked about this. Stop bringing her up all the time."
"Not when you are sulking." She yelled. "It's been a year now, but you are still here mourning a relationship that was never meant to be. The same with Wilson. He won't get his life together. Why are you two doing this to me?" She began to cry.
"Mom, please. Just stop already?" She didn't not respond.
"Okay mom, I will go to work. I will get someone to clean the house too. That makes sense right?" Rowan asked, trying to patronize his mother.
"No, that is not what I want" she yelled.
"Fine! What do you want?" Rowan asked.
"There is this girl, Aniya…" Rowan interrupted his mother with his reflex exclamation. "Not again, mom"
"You will like this one, I promise. Her dad is a minister and her mom of course is a friend of mine. She just finished her Ph.D. in Marketing and Advertising. She will be a good addition to the family and the company." Madam Xi explained.
"I am not interested, Mom," Rowan said hastily.
"Really? I have been doing everything just to get that Murderer out of your head but all you do is put my effort in vain." She lamented.
"She is not a murderer" Rowan protested.
"You are defending her now? Keep defending her while I continue to be unhappy" she began to cry again.
"Mom, stop doing this." Rowan pleaded. He knew she would not stop so he added, "I will meet your girl. So stop crying"
"You will?" She stopped crying abruptly.
Rowan nodded. "In as much as you stop bringing Amanda up. And please stop calling her a murderer."
"Good." Madam Xi exclaimed excitedly. "I will set a date for this Friday."
"Mom" Rowan protested but was too late. "You better get cleaned up before then. "She stood up and walked out of the door. "You should call back your workers too. This house is a mess." She screamed as she walked the hallway.
Aniya and Rowan came back from an outing. It was obvious that Rowan was forced to go out with her.
"Thank you for today," Aniya said, trying to break the tension in the air as they stood at the entrance. "I enjoyed our time together."
"You don't need to lie to make me feel better. I know it was horrible and I have no intention of improving" Rowan said nonchalantly.
"You can at least pretend to," Aniya said softly. She is hurt and disappointed. But despite her being emotional, Rowan seemed distant.
"Look, Aniya," he began, avoiding eye contact, "I appreciate the effort you put into making this work, but I think we should be clear about something."
Aniya's heart sank, sensing that the conversation was taking an unexpected turn. She knew where the conversation was going to end. Rowan had never been at any point in their 3 months of dating shown interest. "Clear about what?" she asked cautiously.
"I don't want you to waste your time," Rowan continued, a hint of discomfort in his voice. "This... us'' he gestured with his hands, "is not going to work. I don't see us having a future."
Aniya looked at Rowan with contempt, "why? Because I am not your kind of woman?"
"No." Rowan responded sharply. "You are a perfect woman. Your beauty is impeccable and you are highly intelligent. I honestly appreciate that."
"But.." Aniya questioned.
"But nothing. It's just me. I am not ready to get into any relationship at the moment."
"Why? Aniya continued. Hurt was evident in her voice. "It's Amanda right? It's because of Amanda. You are still in love with her."
"How did you know Amanda?" Rowan asked, shocked. "My mom told you about her?"
"So I was right. You treat me like trash because of that wretched woman?" Aniya exclaimed.
"What did you say?" Rowan asked, fuming. He walked closer to her.
"Listen to me well, Aniya. Let it be the last time you describe Amanda that way. Whenever the name crosses your mind, what should follow is respect and honor. If you dare describe her that way again, you will regret your existence." Rowan yelled but very softly.
Aniya nodded, swallowing her pride. "Let's see how that ends for you" she said and then walked away, slamming the door after her.