Never Matter is the true love story of a thirty-five-year-old lady who found love in the least expected place …. with her boss. Doubts, distance and difference in social and family status set in, but love they say always prevails.
Let me officially welcome you to a new inspiring weekly penvoice blog series of ‘Never Matter’ which is a partnership content with Life of a Woman Naija TV.
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Blog Series: Never Matter – EP 13
Hauwa stood by Betty’s table with her arms akimbo trying to digest the news that her friend had just broken up with her. “You guys didn’t use protection?” was the first question Hauwa could ask.
“We did. But before he called the reception for that, we had…you know…done once. And I thought he was fast enough.. to..to…” Betty tried to explain before her friend cut her off.
“It doesn’t even matter right now. What are you going to do?”
Betty sank into her office chair staring at the ceiling. “I honestly do not know.”
Hauwa pulled up a chair and sat in front of her. “Well, it’s not as if you are too young to have a baby. And besides, you have always been talking about having a child of your own even if marriage never came.”
Betty looked directly at her friend, “I know I’d always said that. But not like this. Not with a boss that doesn’t want to see me. Especially not when his very influential mother is threatening me. He will definitely think that I want to trap him.” She covered her face with her palms. “Jeez!…Why did I allow myself to get into a mess like this.” She said to herself.
“Take it easy Betty. I know everything is not looking good right now. But I’m sure we will figure something out. Your priority as of this moment should be about your well being.” There was a little moment of silence before Hauwa continued talking. “So, has Richard known about this?”
Read also: Blog Series: Never Matter – EP 12
“No. I have been avoiding his calls since three days ago when I found out.” Betty said quietly.
“But you can’t avoid him forever you know. The earlier he knows about this, the better. So everyone can know where they stand.”
Betty took a deep breath before responding to her friend, “I definitely will.”
Blog Series: Never Matter – EP 13
Ajoke just broke her fast with a cup of fresh orange juice. This was the third time that she was doing a three days fasting and prayers since the disappearance of her son. She had been pleading non stop to the Almighty to look upon her with favor and safely bring Demilade back home.
Theo had spoken to her hours ago about the outcome of the rescue team’s first parade. Not long after take off from El Nido, they discovered the debris of a crashed private plane. After searching thoroughly if there had been any casualties, they couldn’t find any body of the three passengers that was supposed to be occupying the jet. The news alone had been scary but she decided she was going to keep her faith. She would hold on to the belief of her answered prayers. She decided that she would not let fear ruin her trust in God.
She sat on a heavy couch in one of her living rooms. She had just finished her juice when her mobile phone came to life. She wasn’t in the mood to speak with anyone either on the phone or physical. But the code she sighted which indicated that the call was international changed her mind. She thought it could be Theo. She immediately pressed the ‘answer’ button. “Hello….”
“Hello mother!” Her son’s thick voice sounded in her ear.
Never Matter – EP 13
The boat trip to Manila was less than twelve hours. They had gone to one of Chung’s numerous hotels to freshen up before another one of his planes had taken them to Taiwan. In less than two hours, they had landed in a private hanger and due to Chung’s influence, few of the airport officials they had met in a private passage had not requested for any form of traveling documentation from either him or Demilade.
They had arrived at Chung’s private home which was seating on over twelve acres of land space. He had no wife or children who had met up with him to indicate they had missed him. Although Chung was older than him by almost eleven years, being divorced or having zero marriage was a common thing or situation among influential businessmen. That life of loneliness was what Demilade was now very sure he didn’t want to live. He wanted to have a family that would feel his impact if he wasn’t around.
Chung had told Demilade that he would have to stay with him for a few days before he would be able to ensure his travelling documents were processed after placing a personal call to the Taiwanese president. He had been escorted to his room by one of chung’s house butlers. He decided to rest for a few hours before finally speaking with his mother on the phone. He was almost in tears when he heard his mother break into tears of appreciation to God for his safety. He had narrated his experience and he was very right that she would have been worried sick.
She had also told him of what Theo had been up to. Demilade requested for the number he could reach his PA on which he got so as to let him know that he was okay and to stop all search. He was glad to have made it this far. He knew it was in a matter of days that he would be in his home land again. And he couldn’t wait. Wait to go back to his world. Wait to hold a certain beauty in his arms.
Never Matter – EP 13
Richard had gotten to his appointment venue earlier. He didn’t mind. Because if he hadn’t escaped from the hospital as at the time he did, he may not have been able to make the meeting with Betty. He knew something was wrong with her. But he just couldn’t lay his hands on it. If she hadn’t reached out to him the previous night requesting that they hung out, he would have said she was avoiding him. He knew he said he was going to give her time but maybe it was time they finally put a definition on their relationship. No more hanging in limbo. He needed to know where he stood with her once and for all. Yes. He may not have been too available for her but he was liking her already. A lot. He knew she was still a little hung up on the person before him. But he needed to let her know that all she could do was let him in and he would be there for her no matter what.
He had waited for a few minutes when he saw her enter the restaurant. In no time, she was seated across his table. Although, she had once mentioned that she was a little ill on one of the days they had spoken. But seeing her now, he noticed she was a little pale. “Are you alright?” was the first question he asked. She told him that she was, he somehow found it hard to believe but decided to let it go. They had chit chatted a while over fruit wine. Just then, Betty reached out and held his hands on the table.
Read also: Blog Series: Never Matter – EP 11
“Richard, you are an amazing man and any woman would be fortunate to have you. I also know that I’ll be lucky to have you if the circumstances had been different. That is why I need to let you know this in time so as to free you.” Betty said subtly.
Richard had a little fold in his temple while trying to understand what he was hearing. “What exactly are you saying?”
Betty took a deep breath and continued after a short pause, “I’m pregnant Richard. It’s for the previous person I was with that I told you about. I found out about this just days ago.”
It was like a huge iron bell had hit Richard’s head. He didn’t believe his ears. The woman he had come to adore so much was carrying another man’s baby. What was he going to do? He liked her so much. Or could he say he had started loving her. Although, she had never gone into details of what happened between the said man and her. She had once told him that although their relationship was very brief but she was never going back to him. The pause was a little longer as he didn’t know what to say.
“Please say something.” Betty said.
“What do you want to do about the baby?” He finally asked.
“As much as it’s not an easy decision for me in any way based on the circumstances,…but I’m keeping the baby.”
Richard relaxed his back on the chair and took another long pause before speaking again. “Which means, you are going to do this alone.”
“Well, pretty much …yes. “ She responded.
Being with Betty meant so much to him. For the first time in a long time, he found a woman who he truly appreciated and cared about. Should he now let her go because she was carrying another man’s baby? If she was going to be alone with pregnancy, he could as well be there with her. He decided. He found himself asking, “Let me be there for you through this then. I don’t mind raising this child with you if you will let me.”
Betty was surprised to hear Richard say this. This was like an answered prayer from above. To find a man who would be there despite the fact that she was carrying another man’s child. That meant she was never wrong about how great Richard was. But she didn’t want to do that to him. She felt she had used him enough. And the earlier it stopped, the better. “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that Richard.”
“Why can’t you?” Richard asked.
“I agree that the father of this child treated me unfairly. But the crazy part of it is that I’m still in love with him. I have been from the beginning and I’ve never stopped even though I have tried so hard. That’s why I never moved on the pace you wanted with me.” She got up from the chair and stood beside the physician who was now looking dazed. “Any woman will be lucky to have you Richard. Let me go and pick up the pieces of my life….by myself. That way, I’ll have time to heal in preparation for the arrival of this child. I’m so sorry if I’m hurting you. But this is better for the both of us.” She moved closer to him as she placed her palm on his shoulder, “I wish you well Richard and have a wonderful life.” She said. Betty turned and walked out of the restaurant as Richard watched her go.
