During noon the following day, a sleek black Rolls-Royce slowly pulled up in front of Star Restaurant. Audrey gracefully stepped out of the car, accompanied by two bodyguards and a chauffeur. One of the bodyguards held a purple-trimmed umbrella over her head, giving her a regal appearance.
Audrey was typically someone who enjoyed driving herself, but today she had chosen to make a grand entrance, perhaps to subtly emphasise her status to Chioma.
She looked incredibly stylish, dressed in wide-legged trousers paired with a purple pussybow blouse. Completing her look were a small top-handled bag and black pumps. Audrey had her usual radiant face and exuded an aura befitting a duchess or princess. She had always admired the fashion sense of the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, and occasionally took inspiration from the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.
When Chioma spotted Audrey at the restaurant's entrance, she glanced at her and smiled, slightly lowering her head. She was genuinely happy that Audrey had come to see her, despite initially refusing.
Audrey approached Chioma and stopped a few paces from Chioma. Her voice, usually warm and inviting, was clipped and cold. 'Chioma,' she began.
Chioma lifted her head, meeting Audrey's guarded gaze. 'Audrey,' she replied, a hint of hope lingering in her voice.
'Miss Chioma, I didn't come here to befriend you,' Audrey continued, her eyes flitting away for a moment. 'I came to…' She hesitated, then forced out the words, 'thank you for hurting my brother. I'm sure you've seen such scenes in movies. Anyway, I don't intend to waste time bickering with you. I'm going home to relax,' Audrey stated matter-of-factly.
Chioma's smile faltered slightly, but she held Audrey's gaze. 'I understand,' she said softly.
Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken emotions. Finally, Audrey spoke again, her voice tinged with annoyance. 'Look, I don't have time for this. I'm going home.'
A hopeful smile flickered across Chioma's face. 'Aren't you going to pick up Celine from school? I could help you with that while you head back home and relax.' Her voice held a genuine warmth that contrasted sharply with Audrey's icy demeanour.
Audrey seemed surprised by the offer. She narrowed her eyes for a moment, then looked away. 'Chioma,' she began, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her voice, 'I know what you're trying to do. You want things to go back to normal, like we were friends.'
Chioma nodded. 'I can understand if you blame me for everything,' she said quietly.
'Thank you for your understanding, but I won't bother being your friend again,' Audrey responded, her face showing no signs of warmth, yet not completely cold either. 'As a human being, you didn't consider the feelings of others. So what's the point of being friends with you anymore? You succeeded in hurting everyone,' Audrey expressed, her voice tinged with disappointment.
'If you can't or won't forgive me, can you at least forgive and accept Daniel back?' Chioma pleaded, her voice trembling slightly.
'Did you want to see me just to tell me this?' Audrey questioned, crossing her arms over her chest as she gazed at Chioma. 'You were the mastermind, and he was your accomplice. How can I easily forgive the both of you?'
Chioma sighed. 'I know... I know that after hearing that I have a beau, you have become prejudiced against me. I don't blame you, really. I'm still asking for your forgiveness, Audrey. I didn't lie to you when you asked me if I had a boyfriend...'
'Which means you belong to my brother, and not Michael?' Audrey questioned.
'Actually,' Chioma began, then stopped. Taking a deep breath, she continued, 'I met Michael before I met your brother…'
'I understand everything now. You met my cousin before you met my brother, and in your heart, you've been hoping Michael would choose you as his partner,' Audrey concluded.
Chioma nodded in agreement.
'You wanted his money or his love?' Audrey enquired.
Chioma met Audrey's gaze head-on and replied, 'I suppose you already know the answer because you're also seeing someone.'
Audrey turned away, her face hidden by the shade of the umbrella. After a long moment of silence, she spoke softly, 'My brother is a man desired by every woman, a gift from God. But you rejected him. Instead, you dream of another man.'
With a loving tone, Chioma expressed, 'In my heart, we are the same... I would be happy with Michael even if he were poor. His prestigious status doesn't matter to me. I simply love him more than anything in this world. I know you love Daniel in the same way.'
Audrey offered a small smile, a radiant warmth replacing the coldness in her eyes for a brief moment. 'Thank you for that, Chioma,' she said softly. Then, with a lingering look that held a hint of newfound respect, she turned and began walking towards the car. The chauffeur, ever attentive, hurried forward to open the door for her. As she slipped inside, the car door closed with a whisper, enveloping her in a cocoon of silence. A visible sigh escaped her lips, releasing tension she hadn't realized she was holding. Her anger towards Chioma seemed to have dissipated. Audrey had encountered numerous people in her life, but during her interactions with Chioma, she consistently felt the sincerity emanating from her.
Inside the car, the chauffeur stole a glance at Audrey in the rearview mirror. Her earlier angry demeanour had softened, replaced by a thoughtful frown.
'You don't seem mad at Chioma anymore,' he ventured cautiously, his voice a low rumble.
Audrey sighed, the sound echoing softly in the plush interior. 'I admit I felt sad when I heard she had a boyfriend, but that doesn't mean I'll hate her for the rest of my life. Besides, quarrelling with Chioma wouldn't give me any advantage,' Audrey explained.
'That girl must have a high IQ and a high EQ. No one can gain the upper hand when confronting her,' the chauffeur remarked, starting the car.
'What do you mean?' Audrey enquired.
The car smoothly pulled away from the restaurant, leaving the chatter and clinking silverware behind. The vibrant colours of the city blurring into streaks of movement as they entered the main road, joining the bustling flow of traffic.
'She won Sir Michael's love because of her qualities, and no one would dare challenge her,' the chauffeur elaborated.
Audrey rolled her eyes. 'You're being silly.'
The chauffeur chuckled at Audrey's comment and asked, 'Ma'am, are you going home or...?'
Audrey glanced at her watch; it was only 1:30. 'I don't have any classes left,' she announced, more to herself than the chauffeur. 'I was thinking of seeing Daniel, but...' she trailed off, her voice laced with uncertainty.
'But what, ma'am?' the chauffeur prompted gently.
'What if he thinks I've forgiven him already?' she blurted out, a hint of defiance clinging to her words.
The chauffeur raised an eyebrow in amusement. 'And what's wrong with that, ma'am?'
Before Audrey could reply, she received a video chat request from someone named My Heartbeat, along with a charming photo of Daniel on her phone screen. Of course, Audrey had saved Daniel's phone number under the name 'My Heartbeat,' so when she saw it was Daniel calling, her heart began to beat faster for him. She couldn't deny how much she missed him, even though she pretended to give him the silent treatment. Each day, she yearned to hear his voice and longed for a warm, rapturous embrace from him. Blushing, Audrey accepted the video chat request and lowered the volume. To make herself more comfortable with the presence of the bodyguards, she put on her earpiece.
'Hey, Daniel,' Audrey greeted casually. Her gaze, however, refused to meet his on the screen. She kept it fixed on a passing car outside the window, the cityscape blurring slightly as if through a veil of unshed tears.
Daniel was relieved that Audrey didn't give him the silent treatment today. 'Have you had lunch?' he asked with a gentle and loving voice.
'Not yet,' Audrey replied, her voice a touch softer than intended.
'Let's go to a restaurant and have lunch. You need to eat,' Daniel suggested, his eyes filled with a warmth that made her stomach flutter.
Audrey toyed with a stray strand of hair, a playful counter forming on her lips. 'Do you want to hang out with me and secretly show off to your friends? Why don't you go home and eat from your mother's pot?'
Despite the playful banter, a flicker of longing crossed her features, a yearning for the normalcy they once shared.
Daniel chuckled, the sound warming her despite her attempts to remain aloof. 'Even if I go home, I'll still feel like eating out with you. That's because I really want to talk to you and explain things. I want to see you, not just in a video call, but in person. Please, let me see you,' Daniel pleaded, his tone filled with sorrow and a sense of being wronged.
A blush crept up Audrey's neck, a physical manifestation of the emotional turmoil within her. She bit her lower lip, torn between the desire to see him and the lingering anger that kept her walls firmly in place.
'Maybe, when I can truly face you, we'll hang out together,' Audrey replied, her voice barely a whisper.
'I'll patiently wait for you... I miss you,' Daniel expressed, his gaze fixed on Audrey through the phone.
'Maybe I miss you too,' Audrey responded, a hint of vulnerability softening her features for a brief moment.
'Just maybe?' Daniel teased, a sliver of hope flickering in his eyes.
'Well... I'm still giving you the silent treatment,' Audrey countered playfully, a forced defiance clinging to her voice.
'I know... but please, make me happy,' Daniel pleaded.
'I miss you so much, I miss you to death, but I'm still alive... Does that make you happy?' Audrey pouted.
'Very much,' Daniel chuckled.
'That's the end of our friendship, bye,' Audrey declared.
Daniel chuckled even more, about to respond, but Audrey abruptly hung up the call, expecting him to call back. However, to her disappointment, Daniel didn't call back.
'Why didn't he call back? Don't all men woo their women like that? I hung up on him; he should have called back to woo me even more,' she grumbled. 'Maybe he's busy,' she tried to convince herself, although she couldn't hide her disappointment.