章 21: Blessing's Worries

As Grace and Charles finished their meal, Grace suddenly sprang to her feet, moving with a determined energy that caught both Charles and Blessing off guard. She reached for her purse with a sense of purpose, her fingers swiftly flicking it open. Charles's eyebrows knitted together, a hint of confusion flashing across his face as he watched her.

"Grace, what are you doing?" he asked, tilting his head slightly, amusement glimmering in his eyes.

Ignoring his question, Grace grinned as she fished out some cash and handed it to Ebilade, her movements quick and confident. Ebilade paused, eyeing the money in her hand, then glanced at her with an arched brow, an unspoken question hanging in the air.

"Don't give me that look," she said, rolling her eyes but with a smile that was almost teasing. "I watched a show yesterday where they said women should take care of their men every once in a while, so here I am." She winked, her tone lighthearted as she pushed the money firmly into Ebilade's hand.

Ebilade accepted it, casting her a half-skeptical look, his fingers brushing over the bills as he counted. As he flipped through, his fingers brushed against something out of place—a small, neatly folded piece of paper tucked between the cash. His gaze flicked up, meeting Grace's with a knowing smirk as he shook his head, muttering a barely audible, "Women."

Satisfied, he gave a small nod. "The money's all here," he said with a casual smile, tucking the cash into his pocket and turning to head back to the counter. But not before he shot Charles a sidelong glance, a faint spark of mischief in his eyes.

Charles caught the look, his lips pressing into a line, but he remained silent, merely giving Ebilade a calm, steady look in return. With a shrug, he and Grace turned to leave the diner, the doorbell chiming softly behind them.

Once outside, Grace's demeanor shifted instantly, her face lighting up with an almost childlike excitement. She grabbed Charles's arm, pulling him forward as she pointed eagerly at a sleek Tesla Roadster parked by the curb. "Quick, take a picture of me on that car! Please!" she begged, her eyes wide and pleading, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Charles sighed, though there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Alright, alright," he muttered, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone, conceding to her enthusiasm.

Grace wasted no time, darting over to the car, her hair bouncing as she weaved her way through a small crowd of girls who were already taking selfies with the flashy vehicle. She moved with determination, flashing the other girls a polite but firm smile as she claimed her spot, earning a few exasperated looks.

The few girls who decided to stay simply rolled their eyes but adjusted to make room, while others moved on, leaving Grace with prime access to the car. She settled in with a triumphant grin, leaning against the Tesla, one hand on her hip as she struck a pose, her eyes glinting with excitement.

"Hurry up, Charles!" she called, her voice carrying a hint of impatience as she waited for him to take the shot. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, already envisioning the picture she would post online before the owner of the car came back.

Charles shook his head with a chuckle, raising his phone and framing her in the shot. "Alright, Grace. Smile."

Back At The Diner

Ebilade emerged from the back room, now dressed back in his own clothes. He adjusted his shirt collar with a quick tug, glancing around as if mentally checking off his exit. "Guess I'll call it a day, then," he announced, his tone casual but with a faint hint of satisfaction lingering in his words. He turned to Blessing, giving her a small nod, the hint of a smile ghosting on his lips. "See you next time, Blessing."

With that, he walked out of the diner, the doorbell giving a soft chime as it closed behind him. Almost instantly, the quiet murmur among the workers swelled, voices lowering and huddling together as everyone traded theories about the mysterious man who'd just left.

A young waiter leaned over the counter, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes wide with exaggerated excitement. "I'm telling you, he's probably the son of some big shot. You know, like in those Nigerian movies—rich guy wants to see how normal people live."

Another worker rolled her eyes, arms crossed skeptically as she leaned back. "That's too easy. What rich kid comes to a diner, really? No, I think he's up to something. Look at the way he was acting, disappearing then showing up out of nowhere like that."

"Oh please," another chimed in, her tone a mix of intrigue and disbelief. She looked around dramatically, as if someone might overhear her. "He's a fraudster, don't you see? Probably runs scams and just hides out here when things get hot."

Across the room, one of the older cooks lowered his spatula, his expression a mix of fear and fascination. "What if it's...you know, blood money?" he whispered, his eyes darting around as if the very mention of it could summon something dark. "Those rituals people talk about—fast cars, fancy clothes. It adds up, if you ask me."

Hushed voices traded theories back and forth, each more elaborate than the last. Blessing sighed, listening quietly to the gossip swirling around her. She bit her lip, her gaze drifting toward the door where Ebilade had exited. She knew there was more to his story than anyone here realized, and the rumors only highlighted how little they understood. Whatever Ebilade was up to, it wasn't their business.

While the others whispered and speculated, Blessing brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, feeling the weight of her own concerns. She had her suspicions about Ebilade's intentions. She'd seen the way his eyes sharpened whenever Charles was around. There was something deeper going on—something personal, and she suspected it had to do with the attack Ebilade had suffered, an attack Charles might have played a role in.

With a quiet sigh, Blessing glanced down, her fingers brushing the edge of the counter. She didn't care where Ebilade got his money or if he came from wealth. All she wanted was for him to be safe, whatever he was planning.

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