Chapter four

"life is 10% what happens to you and  90% how you react to it. Change your thoughts and you change your world." _ Norman Vincent peale

ACE'S P.O.V

I had gone to the library to return the novel I had taken. On reaching there, I saw that the library was. I was sad on seeing that, my first thought were "was she alright?, was she sick?, why was the library locked?" these thought went to my mind. I went to the neighboring shop, it was a grocery store run by a woman.

"Excuse me" I said to draw her attention

"How many I help you?"she asked

"Do you perhaps know why the library is closed today?" I asked the woman who seemed to be in her early forties.

"She doesn't open the library today and tomorrow every week, I think she's sick or something, there was a day she came to work on a day like this and she nearly fainted so ever since then she doesn't come to work" The woman replied and continued with her work and I went back into the Car. "What sickness does she have?, " is it severe?" I thought myself.

I felt like my heart was being torn with needles. I just can't think or get anything straight. I can't stop worrying about this same woman I'd met few days ago, Why am I so curious about her, her life, her experiences, and do I have this urge to be with her every single moment. I haven't had this feeling before and it's eating me up, I'm worrying so much about many things. Is this love? is this...is this... what love is?, I'm not understanding it anymore. Is she just another I want to have wrapped round my body? do I just want a one night with her? I don't so.

I reached home, not wanting to go out , laid down on the sofa and closed my eyes. I need to cool off my mind for a day or two or maybe a week.

"Grrrrrrr" my phone rang which woke me up. "Hello" I answered not checking the caller.

"Where the f*uck are you?" the voice yelled over the phone which made me check the caller and it was my Manager.

"I'm at home" I replied

"How can you forget the meeting we have with Mr Jones, do you want to miss this contract? have you forgotten how hard it was for us to get this contract?" My Manager Mr Ben shouted

"F*uck How can u forget such important appointment" I said as I got up from the sofa hurriedly and headed out to the office. Few minutes later, I had reached the office. My manager and some of our important members were already waiting for me before I got there.

"I'm sorry ...something came up, I..."I tried to explain but couldn't find any excuse so I went mute.

"Sorry won't solve anything cause Mr Jones has already cancelled the contract" Ben said with pure anger on his face. I Bounced on the bench besides me. I was really looking forward to this appointment for a long time,only to miss it within a twinkle of an eye. I had to go through one of my close friends who had connections to Mr Jones, I asked him to please make up an opportunity for me to talk with Mr Jones which he did. He told me to come back in two days time and with that, I retired back home.

The Next two days, which was my appointment day with Mr Jones, I woke up early and rescheduled myself. I went to the office at the scheduled time for the appointment and waited for Mr Jones to arrive. I waited for Two hours before he arrived. I got up from my chair and greeted me and we went into his office.

"Good day Sir, I'd like to start by apologizing to you for missing our previous appointment, and I promise you that I'd make up for it" I said confidently to reassure him that I meant each and every word I had just spoken.

"You know I'm a business man and I keep to my time. Time is very precious for business men and you should know that. I accepted this second appointment because I just wanted to have a face to face discussion not because I wanted to give you another chance. I know how influential and competent you are and I believe that if this job is given to you, then you'll deliver it perfectly....But your chance has passed, there are many others before you and you're aware that in business, there shouldn't be partiality and everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves, Subsequently Mr Ace, it's very detrimental to inform you that I can't sign this contract with you not withstanding the fact that you are a potential candidate for it but as you know everyone deserves a chance" Mr Jones said and I stood up with a smile on my face. We had a handshake and I went out. Mr Jones has always been know to be partial and doesn't joke with his business so I knew my chances of getting the contract again was slim but still I wanted to give it a trial.

I headed to the library to see the woman who had me sleepless for nights, My Cara Mia, something tell me that seeing her will make me forget how sad I was feeling. I had taken some bottles of Alcohol before going to meet her so I was a little hit tipsy. I saw her from afar closing up for the day, how's it that I'm always meeting her when she is closing up? I guess it must be fate.

I waited for her to come out of the library before coming down from my car. I still couldn't believe the woman I met four to five days ago has so much control over me. I came down from my car and leaned besides it while waiting for her. In some minutes, she came out of the library and walked up to me.

"Why do you keep meeting me and wanting to drive me home?" she asked curiously

"I don't know but I feel happy each time I do so" I replied putting my hands into my pocket.

"Really? .... you've got a sweet tongue, I wonder how many women you've said that to" She said while laughing

"I haven't said this to any woman , I don't make efforts on them and they already fall for me" I said as I exhaled

"wooo.... I see you catch them with your handsome face" she said and again with a smile on her face. That smile always captivates me. She looked so ethereal with that cute smile of hers.

"You think I'm handsome?" I asked already aware of how handsome I was, and she nodded

"if I was like ten years or eleven years younger, I'd have fallen for it" She replied. That sentence made me happy and sad at the same time. I was happy because she finds me attractive and I was sad because she said if she was ten or eleven years younger she would have fallen for me so that means she didn't fall for me. I didn't expect her to fall for me so soon too cause she isn't some younger girls that are clingy to me.I tried so hard to keep my emotions in check.

"At least you find me attractive so that's one point... " I said smiling..."You hungry?" I asked cause I was too

"It's okay, I'll eat once I get home" she answered but I think her stomach doesn't agree with her cause it found a wrong time to growl and we burst into laughter.

"So what are we having ?" I asked as I opened the door for her and she entered

" Some steaks would do" she responded as she entered the car. I entered the car too and we zoomed off. We got to a five star restaurant was made our stop.I didn't bother asking her why she didn't open for two days because I didn't want to pry into her private life.

"This place looks so expensive, I think we should turn back" She said not wanting to go in

"It's okay, it's my treat, c'mon" I said dragging her by her hand and we entered the building. We were given a couple seat at the far end of the restaurant near the window. A waitress was assigned to us, as she came to explain their menu for us.

"You know it isn't too late to go back now" she said looking around

"I'll have a double set of steaks please" I ordered, pretending to ignore what she had just said. She looked around feeling uneasy as she noticed many eyes were on me.

"Is this the point where I'll ask you if you are famous?" she asked and I just smiled

"When you said you were a singer I thought you didn't mean it or you weren't really popular.. never knew you were" She said

"Well I am " I replied

"Since you are popular, then is it okay with us eating out in public?... I mean ...you...you entertainers don't like being seen like this, having dinner with an older woman and stuffs, it can destroy your image and I know how important it is for you guys" She said looking worried. I understood what she meant but that was the least of my problems at the moment, all that matters to me was my Cara Mia.

"it's okay ...I Can handle it" I reassured her and she felt relaxed a bit. The waitress came back with out I orders and placed them on the table.

" Excuse me please, can ..I get your autograph?" she asked happily and I nodded and wrote down my name on her palms and she left.

"wow.... can't believe I'm having dinner with an Artist" She said smiling. Once again that smile that captivating smile that I can't seem to get enough of. We are in silence until we finished eating. I must admit, she looked beautiful while eating.

We paid for the food and headed out.

" Thanks for the food" she thanked as we came out of the restaurant and stood besides my car.

"My pleasure" I said. " let me drop you off"

"you've already done enough and I appreciate it, don't worry I can find my way back home.... You must be busy, you ain't my driver so you shouldn't be taking me home almost everyday " she said with a smile on her face which meant she appreciated my help and not willing to waste any of her time, I agreed

" Then let me watch you enter a cab before I go" I suggested and she agreed. She later on entered a cab, waved at Me and they drove off. I in turn entered my car and zoomed off. I was right,seeing my Cara Mia was indeed a good idea.