Chapter 10 A WHITE LIE
DASHIELL
I checked the time on my wristwatch, worried. Nova should have been there an hour ago, but she was nowhere to be found. I tried her cellphone, but she switched it off. I even called the house to find out she was still at home, but was told she left this morning at exactly 9 AM. So, where the fuck did she go to?
I paced the floor, troubled as different thoughts went through my mind. I had always been a strong man and prided myself on thoughts of how calm and composed I was in times like this, but at the moment, I couldn't help the fear that gripped me.
What if she had met with misfortune on the road and lost the baby? According to the men at home, she left the house alone, without letting any of them drive her. I didn't think it odd because she always took a taxi or had my driver take her to my office. However, it had been bloody hours since she left, and no one was yet to know where she went.
"Dash," Lilith called out as she strode into my office, smiling. She walked over to my side and gave me a full pack on the lips, grinning as she hugged me. "God, you smell wonderful," she whispered. " Did you change your brand of perfume?"
"You have such a keen nose." I commended, leading her to the couch. "I got this as a gift from my granny a week ago and only used it today. I think I will be using this brand from now on."
I lied through my teeth. Nova complained about the sensitivity of the perfume, which was why I changed the brand. I had to lie, to avoid unnecessary questions and misunderstandings from Lilith, who might take it a different way since she was the one who chose my old perfume. She loved the brand, and I had been using it for years.
She stayed silent for a minute before smiling. "Your grandma Kaka surely knows good brands."
"That she does." Nodding, I checked the time once more. We still had an hour until I was supposed to join Nova in my granny's house. I guess I would have to wait an hour before I leave. Who knows, she might be on her way there, since Mama Kaka informed me she hadn't seen Nova since she left her house yesterday.
"What's wrong? Why are you checking the time? Going somewhere?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Yup."
"Where?" she pressed, acting like a kid, with a pout.
"To visit my granny."
"Mama Kaka??" She sat up, grinning as she took my right hand in hers. "Can you take me with you? It has been a long time since I visited your grandmother."
"I'm afraid I can't take you with me." I placed my left hand on our joined hands, smiling. "I'm going there with Nova. She wants to tell Mama Kaka about that baby." She said nothing. She remained silent for a long while, her expression not giving anything away. It made me worried.
"Are you pissed about this? Don't worry, I will let you meet Mama Kaka when everything is resolved, okay?" I tried to appease her so she could shed that look on her face. "I'm not pissed. I'm just worried about you," she whispered, squinting up at me with a sad expression on her face. She looked like she was holding herself from weeping. "Concerned about me?" That puzzled me. "Why will you be? Is there something I should know?" I sat up in the chair.
"I don't know how to tell you about this," she started, peering up at me. "You see..."
"What's it?" I gently pressed her palms. "What happened?"
I was worried about her. Her expression was enough to let me know that whatever t was she planned to tell me wasn't something good, which was why she was reluctant to part with the information.1 "Do you know where Nova is?" She asked, instead of replying to my question.
"Nova?" I shook my head, sighing as I leaned back on the couch. "She was supposed to head over to Mama Kaka's residence before me, but so far, no one has heard from her. She left the house by 9
and was yet to be seen. I tried calling her, but she switched her phone off."
"I know where she is," she whispered, nervously pinching her fingers.
"Where?"
"Not necessarily where she is. But I saw her around nine when I went to the hospital," she rushed to say.
"At the hospital?" Now that was news. "What was she doing there when you saw her? Which hospital is that? Did she tell you why she was there?" I demanded, trying not to sound concerned.
"I ..." She gulped, looking at me with that same sad expression. "Promise you won't be furious when you hear this."
"Why will I be? Did she do something embarrassing?"
Typical of Nova.
"She... I saw her leave with a man."
"What???" I squinted at her. "What the hell did you just say now?" I demanded, to be certain, my ears weren't playing tricks on me.
"I saw her leave the hospital with another man," she repeated.
"With another man? One of my men?" I tried to tell myself Lilith must have misunderstood. There was no way Nova could have left with another man. I had known her for the past two years, and she had given me no reason to suspect she was cheating.
"One of the guards?" She scoffed. "I saw her kiss the man before she got into his car, and he drove off."
"Fuck that bitch!" I gritted out, rising to my feet.
"Here." She passed her phone to me. "I only caught a headshot before that guy rode off with her. Unfortunately, I didn't capture the man's face. I was far from them to do it."
All the blood drained from my face when I looked at Nova leaning on the passenger's seat. Even with her eyes closed, she looked so peaceful.
"Stop! You will damage my phone!" Lilith yelled out in panic, bringing my thoughts back to her, and the phone I was gripping too hard. Scratches were already showing on the screen.
"Sorry about it," I apologized as I passed the phone back to her. "I was just carried away."
That I was. Knowing she left with someone else while carrying my child made me want to tear down the entire place just to get to her. And when I do, I will teach her to learn not to run from her owner.