Chapter 9 Chapter 9

Nadia wakes up from sleep, checks the time the bedside clock reads 2:00 Am. What must have woken her up so early in the morning, and then she hears it, a slight movement as if someone is trying to move around unnoticed. She stands from her bed to check to pull the blinds to peep outside, but no one was out there. She pads out of her room barefooted, dismissing the movement to be a stray cat. She went sleepily to the kitchen to get water, she almost collided with someone she jumps and screams in fear. Switching on the kitchen lamp to discover it was only her Aunt getting water. You scared me, Nadia. Mrs. Darrel scolds. I m sorry, I got scared too. "Both of them burst out laughing" at their unwarranted apprehensions." "Come sit with me lets have early morning tea."Gwyneth invites her. Nadia smiles and sits as the older woman makes cups of tea for both of them. "I thought I heard movements outside, so I checked and could not go back to sleep." "It is nothing dear girl, it could be a stray." "Enough about nocturnal, I have been wanting to talk with you, about your relationship with Drew child." Nadia paused then drop the cup in her hand, giving the older woman rapt attention. "I know he is out of our league and Men like him sometimes take advantage of innocent beauties like yourself, but he seems to be genuinely interested in you so what is on your mind child? What do you feel about him?" Nadia looks at her fingers, suddenly shy. "I like him a lot. Although he is very infuriating, and I don t want to like him" she responds to the woman. The woman looks at her compassionately, understanding what love does to a young heart like hers. "Ok, in?time you will figure things out. Just take one day at a time, and know that whatever your decision, we will be here to support you." Her words brought tears to her eyes as she moves closer to Mrs. Darrel giving her a hug. "Thank you ma am you have been good to me." "That s what families do, stand by each other." Mrs. Nadia pats her back, then shoo her to go sleep, so she won t be too tired in the morning. Pam comes out of the house to dump the trash, she screams at the sight that greets her, causing Gwyneth to come out to check what the commotion is about. On their terrace is a golden eye doll and a note stuck on one of those eyes, written in a dripping red ink- "Nadia this is a warning!!!!" Pam puts a call through to Drew explaining how a doll was left at their door and the warning note. ******* Who could have sent the effigy? Drew thought to himself, only one name came to mind. Tracy. But can Tracy be that crazy? Whoever it was, Drew is not willing to take chances. He knows what to do. ****** "Give me that beautiful smile again," Peter speaks behind his camera, has he takes several shots of Nadia. She is beautiful and natural but something seems to be disturbing her. "Nadia honey, you have to do better than just smile," he says again as she tries out different posture. "Cut!? What is the matter girl?" "Nothing, but I think I need a break." She walks out of the shooting to take a breather, she lay on a makeshift bed her eyes closed, her face upturned towards the sky, a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, as she remembers the doll and the note. Who could be after her life? That s why she needed to avoid Drew at all costs. She has a feeling it has something to do with him. She knows that having anything to with him means trouble. "We are getting married!"? A voice says from somewhere behind her. She squints at the shadow before her, the sun behind him casting a shadow on him, making it difficult to see his face from her lounging position on the pool bench. Can she summon a person just by a mere thought? Drew! She hastens up off her reclining position, he is actually here in person, staring at her with those incredible blue pools, that currently look like a gathering storm. "What did you say?" she queries confused. Drew stands looking with irritation at Nadia; He has come up with a decision after the incident at her house. The best way to keep her from harm s way is to marry her. And he is going to do it either she likes it or not. He does not have the time to analyze his motives, but he knows he will protect her if it means marriage to keep her from whoever is after her. ?"I said we are getting married" Drew repeats himself, something keeps pushing him to do the outrageous anytime he is around her, all he knows is that he wants to keep her safe and if getting married to her is the way to go about it, then he is willing to jump the broom. "Maybe you want to get married, but I don t want to!" She says with defiance. "What?" Drew asks stunningly, most girls will jump at this opportunity" "I m not marrying you, and I m not most girls" "Do you really know what you are saying? I m trying to help you here." "I don t need your help! News flash I m an adult." She says angry, how can he come and propose marriage after what he did to her. She saw with her own eyes how he was two-timing her with Tracy. She even lost a job because of it. "I leave you no choice, but you can reconsider your decision if you wish." They already attract a crowd as they exchange words in anger. "I will marry you gladly," one of the other models present says with a wink at Drew and a lick of her lips to boot. Drew strolls out of the premises without a word or a backward glance, leaving the girls drooling over and the guys resenting him. "What was that about?" Peter asks Nadia worriedly, he decides to go in search of Nadia when she didn t return as promised and he witnessed the exchange between Drew and Nadia. "Nothing important, let s get back to business," she says walking out, leaving Peter gaping after her and muttering "She calls an argument with Andrew Sebastian something unimportant?"Peter smiles, and shakes his head in fondness, and follows after Nadia. ************ "Why did you have to tell him anything?" Nadia asks Pam, Clearing the plates off the table. "I had to, I was very scared, and I only see such in movies never in real life" Pam explains, talking about the horrific effigy incidence. "But you should have at least ask me first," Nadia says upset at her cousin s audacity "I m sorry Nadia," Pam says pulling her ears in childish apology. Nadia smiles and hugs her cousin. "It s ok, I was a little upset with you, but not anymore." "Anyways he asks me to marry him, but I can t" she continues "Wow!, I have been waiting for that!" Pam screams throwing her hands up in excitement. "Shush!!! Don t scream I don t want Aunt and Uncle to know about it." Nadia chides "Why?" Pam asks not happy about the way her older cousin is taking things with Drew. He obviously likes her a lot even if he is not saying so in words; his action says what his words couldn t "Because I don t just want" Nadia interjects. "But I have a feeling you will soon change your mind, I mean the guy is handsome and rich too." Pamela gushes Pamela Darrel!! Those are not good enough reasons to get married. Both girls giggle as they continue to the kitchen to do the dishes.