Chapter 26: Nick's real mother
Despite the all seriousness she harness earlier, Cecilia still got home and practised her scripts till late evening untill she felt dizzy but was jerked awake with the sound of the doorbell.
"Yuck! Who's that?"she groaned wearily as she opened the door only to meet Japheth Ramos and his Outlandish daughter.
"Mr Japheth??"...... "Nicki???"
The father and daughter duo smiled mischievously before saying hello and went in..... And immediately they landed into the small living room, Nicki cuddled up to Cecilia's laps and slept off in a jiffy as if she had been waiting to sleep in her embrace.
Japheth Ramos broke the ice tension between them after Nicki fell asleep and everything Became awkward. "Sorry to disturb you Miss Cecilia but Nicki didn't rest all day and insisted on sleeping beside and I have no other choice"
"No you don't have to apologise Mr Japheth, Nicki is still a child Maybe she loves being here the most" Cecilia replied with a smile as she patted Nicki's head with such affection.
Japheth didn't say anything but sipped the glass of water he found on the table. After making sure Nicki was sound asleep enough, Cecilia took her to the room and laid her gently before going to face Japheth Ramos.
Cecilia sat down obediently like an elementary school student.her face looking as if she wanted to cry.. She was nervous, is not that too late of a nich to sleep yet what else can she do?
Sensing her nervousness, Japheth Ramos held his head in one hand, "you're scared of me?"
To Cecilia, Japheth Ramos is more devilish of a person than the normal day, although she had been with him before but not this privately and with this tension evident in the air.
Cecilia shook her head vigorously, then nodded carefully, "There's probably not a single person who isn't scared of you in this entire city right?"
Japheth Ramos's slender fingers played with the cup in his hands as he slowly said, "So you're scared of me all these while because others are scared of me? Then why don't you marry me since others can't wait to be on my bed?"
The question frightened Cecilia to the point that she almost slid off her chair.
She had just thought that she had escaped this trial in the day with her stepmother and when he asked her to marry him at the hospital. Clearly she had been too naive
How on Earth was she supposed to answer such loaded question with the burden of her family and her career in he shoulders?
Cecilia trembled as she raised her hand like a high school student ready to answer a question, "Then can I ask you Mr Ramos why are you being chased that night? I mean someone of value like you being Chased is absurd",
Japheth Ramos raised his hand as if to tell her to stop... "Can you skip that question and move to another one please? I don't want to talk about it am sorry"
Still not giving up, Cecilia asked again.... ""Why me? Is it because Nicki is reliant on me?or Because she talks only to me? I think that's only temporary and because she had been with you all her life maybe that's why she's being clingy to me for a change. He'll be fine once her emotions have stabilized. Even if she's always like that, you don't have to..... I mean you don't have to Inconvenience yourself in this manner......"Cecilia painstakingly persuaded him afraid of what his reply might be.
Japheth Ramos put done the cup and raised his eyes to look at her "I thought I have said it at the hospital. I don't mind reminding you again if you have forgotten. I am going to repay you with my body Because you saved Nicki"
Cecilia sighed in anger like a little child deprived of the right to his sweet. "That's exactly why I rejected you dummy!" she roared in her mind.
Cecilia felt that she had to make herself clear to avoid more of this insistent from him, she also raised her eyebrows to him also and voided out.... "I am sorry to say this Mr Japheth but I have to reject your marriage proposal, so....."
Japheth Ramos raised a brow, "So you want to only sleep with me without taking the responsibility of marrying me?"
"Yes that's exactly what ...... No, no no.... That wasn't what I meant I never had the intention of sleeping with you at all",She quipped
"Then what is it then
Cecilia felt she could kneel for his just as her stepmother did. Could he be more choosy and more explanatory with his words?
"Unfortunately, I can't accept premarital sex"
"Who would believe that?" Cecilia couldn't help but mumble under her breath after hearing that.
"You've already gotten someone pregnant before marriage okay? She said again.
Japheth Ramos's expression was a little confused after hearing that, he looked out of the window, his expression distance as if remembering something memorable.....
"So your reason is Nicki?"
"Yes....... I mean not really" Cecilia replied. Why did this sound do terrible?
Japheth Ramos smiled, many women out there will want to be Nicki's stepmother even if it's for a day and here she was rejecting his marriage proposal Because he had a daughter?
"Then are you minding that I have a hidden wife somewhere? Or Maybe I am not good enough for you?"
Cecilia rose to her feet in a jiffy and faced him with anxiety. "No... I mean.... Nicki's real mother...."
Japheth Ramos interjected her "Don't you worry about Nicki's real mother.... Nicki is just an accident..... Her real mother is....
"Daddy, Where's mommy?"Nicki's little voice was heard from the room. The both adults looked at each other.
"Yes, continue what of her real mommy?"Cecilia asked inquisitively
"Nicki's real mommy... She... She....."