Chapter 22: Chapter Twenty one - Everything is gonna be okay
I stood up immediately and went to hug him.
"Andrei, where have you been?" I asked him.
"I just went -" he was saying but suddenly stopped.
"Brandon?"
"Long time no see bro," Brandon said in a laugh.
"Andrei, you know him already?"
"Cherry, how did you know him?" He asked me in a whisper and I did a quick explanation.
"So, how do you like my come-back? Did you miss me for long?" Brandon said with a smile, a suspicious smile.
"Stay away from my family,
stay away from Cherry of this time-" Andrei said and from his expression, he and Brandon were not in good terms at all.
"Andrei, why do I always have to like what you like," Brandon said in a whisper but I heard and was shocked.
"Brandon, stay away," Andrei said gnashing his teeth, I had never seen him look this angry.
"You know me very well, I never let you have your way. So Andrei, I'm telling you now that you have to get ready for a fight," he said, then whispered something I didn't hear into Andrei's ear.
"Let's go," Andrei said to me and dragged me away. We walked out of the hall and towards the car.
"Andrei!!!" I screamed when I missed my steps.
He stopped, squatted, took off my heels and carried me.
"Let me see, did you get hurt?" He asked when we were in the car.
"I'm fine."
"That Brandon, that Brandon, stay away from him," Andrei said stuttering. Then the drive begun.
"Calm down, tell me who he is? What happened between you two? And he called you bro, are you two brothers? Or were you once close pals?" I asked because I was so confused.
"Cherry, listen to me. You don't have to know about what transpired between us. It's better if you know less. But he's a bad man, my worst enemy, you have to stay away from him, and if you ever see him, inform me," he said very seriously.
"Okay."
I said it was fine but deep down, it wasn't. I needed answers, I wanted to know about Andrei's past, about his dad, about this Brandon, about why he uses his maternal family name, but I knew how much it would hurt if I asked. I felt angry with him, for how long would he keep me in the dark.
"Cherry, please don't mention his name to anyone, not Alex nor mum," he said and I nodded. It only heightened my curiosity.
"Andrei, everything is going to be okay. I'm with you," I said to the tensed Andrei.
"Baby, I'm sorry for always leaving you in confusion. I promise I'ld answer all your questions one day," he said trying to fake a smile.
"I love you," was what I could say because I didn't want to say it was fine anymore, it wasn't fine.
We finally arrived at my house, Andrei, still looking tensed.
"Would you like to spend the night here?" I asked and he agreed immediately, then he asked David, his driver to leave.
Daisy was still up waiting for me at the living room.
"Cherry, welcome," she said.
"Good evening, Andrei," she added.
"Daisy, Andrei would be spending the night with me," I told her.
"Dad was here today. He got temporarily discharged so he came to see us," she said and I smiled pretentiously.
"I'ld see him tomorrow."
"Thank you Cherry for forgiving him."
I looked at Andrei's face carefully as he slept. Perfectly shaped eyebrows, long lashes and a perfectly carved face, he was handsome even in his sleep. I touched his face again and smiled, this man right here was mine, my perfect gentleman.
It was the only thing that comforted me when I think of our problems. We're still trying to get global tech on track, dad's return was still there to handle, Stephanie was another problem and now this Brandon,the one who I think really is the worse.
There must be something about that Brandon, the impact he had on Andrei proves that he really is a threat.
"Don't worry Andrei, we'd solve all our problems together and that Brandon, we'd deal with him together," I said to myself before sleeping.
Andrei's POV
I yawned as I woke up that morning. I looked at Cherry by my side sleeping soundly like a baby. I took out my phone and took a picture, I could imagine her reaction when I show her. Then my thoughts drifted to Brandon. Now that Brandon has shown himself, I have to he careful and another thing, Cherry. Brandon liked my Cherry, it frightened me because I knew Brandon, how far he could go. This was the first time Brandon was confessing he liked someone and not the other way round, but why Cherry of all women.
I had to find evidence against Dad and Brandon, finally put them in jail where they belong. Another thing, why was Brandon at that party, what was his connection with Mr Tan or was he deliberately following Cherry? How long had he known Cherry?
Yes, Cherry just met him, but he might have known her first.
I dialed Kingsley's number.
"Send some of your best men to my house, I need my family protected," I told Kingsley.
I called Steve afterwards to inform him of Brandon and that he also needed protection.
I would personally watch both Cherry and Daisy because I knew Brandon, he comes after your loved ones.
"Did you sleep well?," Cherry asked me when she woke up.
"Yeah... With you by my side, how could I not sleep soundly?" I said and she smiled.
"Do you have any meetings today?" She asked and I gave a 'no' for an answer.
"I was thinking maybe-," she was saying.
"I was thinking the same, let's take the day off, let's spend it together and away from all our problems."
"And where should we go this time?" She asked expectantly.
"Hmm... Have you ever gone mountain climbing?"
"I'ld never climb a mountain, never," she said and moved away.
"But isn't this the same Cherry who's independent and brave?" I said sarcastically.
"Certainly, I can do it, I'm not afraid, I'm brave," she said and I smiled at her silliness.
* * * * * * * * * *
"I'm really sorry, Cherry," her father begged in sobs.
"It's okay, dad, I have forgiven you."
I listened to Cherry and her father's conversation that evening. Cherry and I decided to go see him after our outing that day.
Cherry bade him goodbye and walked towards me.
"Let's go," she said.
I held her hands when we were outside and spoke.
"How do you feel? If you're feeling pressured or sad, you can always tell me."
"It's okay, I'm fine. It's just that I'm wondering how long I'ld have to pretend before he reveals his true self."
"Cherry, if he really hasn't change, it would not take long for him to reveal his intentions. That's why you have to gain his trust faster."
"I know him. He is a greedy man, the reason he came back must have to do with money."
"Cherry, don't say that. What if he really changed, would you give him a chance?"
"Yes, I will but he didn't change, I just know it."
"Don't think about it too much, just relax," I comforted.
"Thanks."
"So let's go home?"
"Where?"
"Don't tell me you would mind another sleep over."
"Of course, I would, you pervert. Go home."
"You just broke my heart."
"Andrei, go home. Mum must be missing you."
"What? Am I a baby? See Cherry, if you don't agree for another sleepover, then I'ld ask Daisy, she'd agree."
"I trust my sister, she would not agree to you."
"And I trust my sister in-law, she would not turn me down, if she does, I could just mention Steve and you know what would happen," I said and we both laughed.
"I was only joking, I have to go home to get some documents for tomorrow," I said.
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