Ruthless 💌 Chapter Forty.
Let's start our journey to forever.
The room was said to be as silent as graveyard, except from the sound coming from the keyboard that kept everyone busy in the office. Tacha had been punctual at the office ever since Nathan left the country. The perfect way to keep herself busy everyday. Everyone's face was glued to what they were doing that no one was in for side talks. They had said all they needed to say during the day that anyone who walked in would have thought they maintained the peaceful atmosphere since they resumed work. Now, they had to reach their target for the day, and the day wasn't over yet for them to leave, giving them room to finish up before they call it a day.
Tacha excused her left hand away from the keyboard she had been sitting with since morning, searching among the piles of paper sitting on her desk for her phone. For a million time, Tacha had been checking her phone from time to time. Not even some mothers monitor their kids like that. It was the only day she didn't get to laugh so loud, make a mistake or two while typing or lock herself in the bathroom, even sitting at the cafeteria pretending to be busy while going about her business. Nathan didn't call her today. He did since he left the country except from today. She tried to tell herself she shouldn't be so bothered about it since they talked last night and had plans for today.
So, majority of the time she checked her phone was to know the hours and minutes remaining for the day to come to an end. When Tacha couldn't place her hand on her phone, she stopped what she was doing, shifting her gaze totally to her busy desk. "My phone where are you?" Tacha whispered to herself, scattering her table completely.
"I guess you've forgotten you are charging it." Grace who was next to Tacha said to her, her eyes glued to her phone without a single glance at Tacha as she continued talking. "I noticed you've been checking your phone since morning. Do you want to check the time?"
Tacha chuckled. She never expected to be caught for something no one should even notice or care about, but Grace did and that made her smile not believing she was being serious. "You can't be serious. How come you were able to notice that? Anyways, what's the time now?"
"You were never like that." Grace cast her a quick glance, searching her eyes with a teasing smile on her lips. "Are you seeing someone? I notice you didn't receive any call during the break today. You've been hiding nowadays to receive calls. Before, you allow me to answer your calls before I give it to you, and that's only when you know the caller."
A smile appeared on Tacha's face, yet she was trying her best not to make her smile exceedingly wide like a teenager possessed by love spell. Tacha stared back at Grace. "You can't be serious. Jeez! God! Grace, you noticed that too?" Tacha said a lot more surprised despite how she never received her calls in the office. She cast Grace her look of surprise even more, not trying to even hide it. She rolled her eyes, looking around very quickly. Who else have been watching me Lord.
Grace laughed. "Calm down miss. The time is thirty five minutes past four," she said, returning her gaze back to her phone. Then immediately, she added. "Hot gist for you. I guess you are done right? I don't want to believe my eyes are deceiving me right now, cause...haha! I should better find the love of my life at this rate." Grace exaggerated, her voice coming out louder than she expected, getting few attention that pleaded for her to bring her voice down. A laugh erupted from her mouth. "Whao! Whao! Whao!" Grace said more quietly this time only for Tacha's ears, turning to Tacha who was curiously waiting for her to gist her.
Tacha managed to smile with the weary look on her face, raising her two brows at Grace in question. "This one you are singing like an ambulance. What's the siren sound for, cause once you are on Instagram like this, everywhere just goes whao, whao!"
Grace responded with a laughter, covering her mouth immediately before getting yelled at. "Tacha, ahh! You will just be doing gentle girl up and down, the way you speak sometimes ehnn. You should kuku call me miss wow detergent."
Tacha chuckled quietly, her gaze settling on Grace's phone which wasn't facing her yet. She knew Grace was in no other place than Instagram. "So what happened? Is it another American crush of yours getting married or what? Or is there any Korean actor for me?"
Grace eyed Tacha playfully, stretching her phone to Tacha who grabbed it immediately, laughing at Grace. Grace shook her head, switching to her unperfected pidgin English. "You sef your aproko too much. Na only you wan hear wetin I dey see for Instagram."
Tacha who effortlessly smiled since her discussion with Grace slowly stopped smiling. Her smile faded completely and nothing could grab her attention with the rate her maximum concentration was fixed on what she was reading.
Lola George who is the daughter to the famous textile maker took to Instagram to announce her pregnancy for one of the hottest and richest bachelors that have many ladies eyeing him for years. Lola said, he is taken, and the two parents can't wait for them to get married soon. Their engagement party is said to shake Lagos this coming weekend as Lola acquired the latest fish tail sequin gown of 5million naira which is over twelve thousand dollars. Hmmm...The man Lola George is said to be engaging to is none other than Nathan Brown. One of the sons of the business magnate and a billionaire. Nathan, who is currently one of the youngest top billionaires in the country.
A twinge of jealousy hit Tacha more than she ever expected, trying her best not to let her face succumb to how the news made her feel. She knew this had to be discussed once Nathan got back. She couldn't trust herself anymore. She really couldn't trust herself keeping quiet anymore. She felt so uneasy but didn't want Grace noticing anything, so she knew she had to stay quiet to herself for her voice could crack if she allowed herself to speak at the moment.
"Did you see that?" Grace added thinking Tacha's thoughts was just like hers with how Tacha's eyes couldn't seem to believe what she read. "Sincerely, the girl is lucky for the rest of her life. Like, a whole Nathan Brown that some of us are trying to manage on our wallpaper."
A small smile tugged on Tacha's lips at Grace's outburst. Did she just say wallpaper? Not her anyways. There was a hint of pride in her smile to think she actually knew this guy while there were many ladies dreaming of him. Despite how Tacha's chest was slowly tightened, and how she felt as if all the happiness that consumed her few hours ago disappeared so quickly from her, she maintained her calmness. She would wait for him.
Nathan and her had talked through out the three weeks and he never mentioned anything to her about Lola. Was he trying to hide that from her even when the internet knew about it? She couldn't bring herself to tell him which was the truth. She wanted to see him bring it up. She wanted to hear it from him. She wanted him to face her with the truth, and see how he was going to handle the situation, what he was going to tell her, because whatever his decision was, she was prepared to understand him. The day Nathan left was enough for Tacha to know she was in love with Nathan for real. The feeling had been there for a while, but the truth was, she was really giving her feelings the freedom to have the man of her dreams. A dream to be loved back by someone she had admired on a first day. Now that he had chosen her, Tacha hope this man was really going to love her just like the way she had fallen so bad for him. Despite all odds around them, would he still continue what they started? Now, she was certain to be in love with him more than she could have ever thought or imagined.
He was a sweet man after all.
Now greedy to know what other amazing parts of him he never cared to show the world.
Tacha checked her phone again.
Grace edged closer to her. A concern look towards her. "Tacha are you okay?"
Tacha's eyes twinkled, looking at Grace in amazement for how she noticed little things that she thought her eyes should ignore.
Grace burst into laughter seeing Tacha's reaction. "I notice things a lot. Sorry dear. Just worried cause your face has changed colour in just few seconds."
"Oh no! You are a witch and I'm saying it with my full chest. Get out!"
Grace made fun of Tacha, staring at Tacha's full chest with a nod that she really did have a full chest to say that with pride, and seeing how her gloomy look changed into a cheerful one pleased her. "You know, anything must not happen to you Tacha. If anything happens to you, the rest of us are doomed! No more menu menu package to spread around again, and if a witch from nowhere takes the throne. We are done."
Tacha didn't know how to hold back her smile this time, letting her braided hair in purple colour spread behind her back. A light chuckle filled the room genuinely, getting her warm smile spread wider for a longer time. She finally responded, with a hint of hurt in her eyes. "That shows how much you people love what comes in through me than me, but anyways, that's a nice story."
Grace laughed, but not too occupied not to notice Tacha didn't really like that. A graceful smile embraced her face slowly, raising her hand to push back some strands from her straight human hair wig. She held Tacha's hand to hers. "You know that's a joke right?" Grace turned to look at Tacha who was paying close attention to her. "You are amazing. I care about you a lot, so it's compulsory I show concern towards you when I think you aren't feeling well or being yourself."
Grace continued. "You inspire me with your dedication, passion to work, and your patience with people around you. If I haven't told you, this promotion I got was because I decided to work just like you Tacha. Someone who started from a receptionist earning thirty thousand naira, to representing the company outside there to bring in clients. Now working with the financial department to write in all cheques with close to two hundred thousand naira as a salary." Grace raised her hand above her forehead. "No cap, salute to the greatest and of the greatest commander I know."
Tacha's laughter came out a bit louder this time. Whatever was bothering her mind seemed not to have a place at the time Grace was praising her. Grace was never the type of person with sweet tongue and beautiful words full of praises. So, she was stunned. Tacha stopped laughing and looked at Grace. "Are you really talking about me. As in me?" She was surprised, but with a look of fulfilment emitting from her eyes. Being diligent with her work was because she had to survive, she had to live. She understood whatever your hand findeth to do, do it well.
Tacha didn't want to believe, but it was good. What we all love to hear. Sometimes we just need to hear it and let ourselves realise how awesome we are, how much we are loved, how amazing we are when we thought life is just all about how we look on the outside for three seconds compliments that follows immediately with; but she is that....he is this....
People's validation will make us different persons multiple times.
We will never be enough when we don't settle for one person's opinion. One's opinion.
Staring at Grace who confidently told Tacha again how much she admired her made her realise being physically attractive isn't just everything in life. People who crave to be intelligent want to be like you if you are one. People who see beyond looking good for the gram, and see beyond just the body and stature knows everything isn't just about what we see. There are people who are passionate about life, dreams, business, career, family, success, achieving goals, fulfilling purpose... These people don't have to worry about anything else than what matters to them. And there are certain people who needed to watch them to understand they should be happy living their lives because they have priorities and their bodies alone can't make them achieve that. Work, patience, prayer and loving oneself entirely.
Waiting for men's validation to appreciate what she wears, and how she looks just for her to believe she was beautiful was a dangerous path she had taken and had almost made her want to give up on herself, but when certain things we care so much about tries to diminish our values, make us think we are not enough, or feel small, we should really thank God for that certain thing that kept us going in life. For Tacha, it was her family, and her job. To make others feel satisfied, and get the best they deserve. It made her completely happy and fulfilled. If not, just like many, she would have given up in herself, her life. .
And whenever we don't give up on ourselves....
One day, God will send us someone who will help us realise, we are the best thing that has ever happened to ourselves. Someone who will appreciate the values we can't see in ourselves. Someone who will show us we are worth more than how we carry ourselves. It doesn't have to be a man. It could even be one's best friend. Or a friend that can never be forgotten for a lifetime. One's mother, father or an Aunty that prioritize us and constantly shows us we can be our best. It's a gift God gives to everyone. The gift of good men.
"Madam, it's finally five."
Tacha turned towards Grace and smiled. "Thank you." She got to her feet, packing the papers on her desk together. Grace stood up next to her and came back with Tacha's phone. Tacha collected it, throwing her a kiss to catch. "I love you. Thanks booboo." She dropped her phone straight into her bag, hurrying out.
"Aunty!" Grace yelled, getting to Tacha who almost reached the door but stopped.
"I forgot something?"
Grace laughed even before she could speak. "You forgot your legs."
Tacha hissed, trying her best not to laugh. She raised her hand up, trying to throw Grace a fist from where she was. "Tomorrow is your day of judgement." She promised her, keeping her hand to herself as she immediately walked out of the door.
Getting to the receptionist, Tacha was about to greet her when the young lady beat her to it. "Ahh! Someone has been waiting for you since, but he said I should not--" the rest of her words died in her mouth when she turned to where she was pointing at and couldn't find the person that was sitting there with her just now. The receptionist turned around again. Then again, her mouth gaped open before she could finally speak. "He was sitting there just now."
Tacha laughed at their new receptionist. "Sorry dear. He's very tall right?"
"Yes."
"That must be Ricko." Tacha whispered to herself. He had been chasing her about to help her get his job back without even trying to apologize to her for whatever he must have done to shame her behind her. Tacha turned to the receptionist. "He's not important. You didn't see me." Then she made her way out of the building.
The moment Tacha stopped to bring out her cowry card to board any available BRT, a familiar black car drove to where she was standing. It caught her attention, but she had to pretend she wasn't watching. She knew just one person who owned a Toyota Prado, but he couldn't be the only one in the whole of Lagos. Their clients came in with different cars too.
The car stopped at her spot and slowly, the window came down. Tacha stood motionlessly, gaping at the guy who rocked a crazy denim on denim like a celebrity model with a dark shade that made him much more breathtaking from afar. At that moment, Tacha knew her heart leapt for joy just by seeing him, but her left hand came up to her mouth to hide the huge smile that took over her face. "Oh, my God...Nathan." she smiled. "It's you."
A smile graced his face quickly, spending almost a minute to stare at her through his shade. He gestured to her with his hand. "Come here let me take you on a journey to forever. I don't care what's gonna cost me."
That was enough to expose Tacha's smile as she laughed out loud, hurrying towards his car door which with just few steps. She reached for the handle in no time. "Speaking in parables is the style you chose today?"
Nathan chuckled. "I miss you."
He then reached for her hand, bringing it to his chest.
"Baby, permission to set my heart ablaze."
The two chorused together and burst out laughing at the same time. Then Nathan gaped at her for mimicking him accurately. It was already few weeks, but Tacha knew what was coming next.
She smiled with her eyes, confident about what she had mastered about him already. "Should I say the next verse?"