Purple Romance

After showering and changing into a pair of black pyjamas pants and top, Lisa went out to the hall. as she walked towards him, she kept pulling the sleeves of the top to cover all her hands. She didn't want to leave her scars bare for Leslie to see. She felt vulnerable being seen in her scars. Though she knew Leslie wouldn't judge her, she still didn't have the confidence to let them be seen.

''You are here, it down. I am almost done with lunch'' Leslie pulled out a chair for her to sit before he brought a cup of coffee to the table, ''you must have missed the scent of coffee. I asked the doctor and he said you are allowed to drink coffee but it shouldn't be hot, so I didn't make it so hot. It's just at an acceptable temperature. Paula said that you always drunk coffee before lunch''

Lisa smiled and took the mug in her hands. She sipped it and looked at Leslie who was watching her with an expectant gaze.

''How does it taste? I have never made coffee for anyone besides myself''

Lisa nodded her head and blinked her eyes.

''Is it nice?'' Leslie asked and Lisa nodded her head. ''Alright, I prepared French pasta with vegetables and sea crustaceans''

Leslie picked the two plates that he had portioned the food in on the table and fetched a glass of water for Lisa before sitting down across her, ''I specifically called a doctor that I know and asked him. he gave me a list of the types of food that is good for you, so we are going to be eating healthy from now onwards. No more midnight snacks, they are unhealthy for you. instead, I will make sure I prepare enough healthy snacks but you must never eat those packaged snacks ag…''

Lisa stuffed a fork of pasta into his mouth to stop him from talking. When Leslie looked at her, she pointed at the food and frowned before taking out her phone. She wrote a text and sent it to him.

''The food will get cold at this rate'' Leslie read the message on his phone and flushed.

''Sorry, I won't talk again. let's eat''

Lisa smiled and started eating the food. As she ate, Leslie watched her for a while before he also started eating his.

...

Paula entered the kitchen to check the ingredients for the day's food preparation and saw that the chefs were already inside, getting ready.

''Good morning, everyone'' Paula greeted before going to the fridge. Since that day that Amara and Ama were caught trying to harm Paula, everyone has become more careful and also minded their own business.

''Miss Paula, how is your friend now?'' Mr. Lucius asked Paula when she got to his side. She had called him earlier last week to let him know of her absence.

''Yes, she is fine now. Thanks for asking''

''Paula, I made potato balls, would you like to try some?'' Felix walked over with a plate of potato balls.

''Yes?'' Paula smiled and nodded, ''sure. Thank you'' she took the plate from him and turned to Mr. Lucius, 'do you want some, Mr. Lucius?''

''No, Alex made this for you. enjoy it'' Mr. Lucius said before walking away.

''I will enjoy it, Felix. Thanks a lot'' Paula walked away with the plate of potato balls.

At the reception, Mali arrived at the hotel and was walking towards the office of Andy when Godiva saw her.

''Mali'' Godiva stopped her.

''Oh, hi there, senior Godiva. Is Andy in the office?''

''What do you want from Andy?''

''What?''

''Are you still going to keep pretending that you don't know that Andy has a girlfriend and that she is your younger sister?''

''Oops, does Andy know that too?'' Mali asked in a mocking tone, ''or did you decide to bury this one too? Like you did back then?''

''What are you talking about?''

''Weren't you the one who told Andy's father about me that year. If you hadn't run your mouth around, then Andy and I would have still been together by now''

''That… back then I didn't know he was going to oppose your relationship with Andy. Also, how dare you speak to me like that?''

''Senior Godiva, let's just pretend that nothing ever happened that year, okay? Now, can I go and see Andy?'' Mali asked and turned to go when she saw Felix walking out of the restaurant with Paula. They were busy chatting about something and didn't see her. She smirked and took out her phone.

Andy arrived from a meeting outside and was entering the hotel when he saw Paula and Felix chatting as they walked towards the spare storage room which was outside, at the back of the hotel. He paused in his strides and looked at her. Paula smiled at him and nodded her head before walking away.

Andy frowned as she looked at the way Felix was walking closely beside Paula. He was about to call them when he felt someone touch him and he turned immediately and saw Mali.

''Hi, you told me to come to the hotel if I wanted to see you'' Mali said with a smile.

''Is there anything I can help you with?''

''They look good together, don't you think so?'' Mali pointed at Paula and Felix. They are both in their early twenties''

''Let's talk in my office'' Andy said and walked away. Mali smiled and followed behind.

Inside Andy's office, he sat across Mali with a straight face and asked.

''Tell me, what exactly do you want? Don't beat around the bush and just tell me what you want?''

''I want you back'' Mali replied.

''I have a girlfriend''

''Paula, my younger sister I know. But, Andy, is it really Paula that you want or you are simply finding someone similar to me which is my younger sister?''

''You are sick. Do I look like that kind of person to you?''

''It took you ten years before you started dating again and it so happened to be my younger sister. Andy, have you thought about this… that the reason why you felt connected to Paula out of all the women in your life was because of her connection to me? she and I are siblings and have a lot of things in common. Maybe you are just momentarily confused about your feelings. You are still angry with me for leaving. Doesn't it mean that I still mean something to you?''

''Stop been​ delusional. I am not with Paula because of her connection to you. Paula is different from you. Unlike you, she knows what loyalty and honesty are. Those are virtues I hold dear to my heart and she knows that very well. I am still angry with you? Is that why you are trying to come between Paula and I? Because you think that I still have feelings for you? Mali, if you don't stop playing dirty with me and Paula, I will make sure you regret it. You know me, I have little patience towards people who test me time and time again. You wouldn't want to be someone that I hate, Mali''

''What if Paula falls for someone else? You two have a lot of difference and you are 10 years older than her. Andy, do you even know how old she was when you and I started dating?''

''She is old enough to make decisions for herself. Also, you and your mother abandoned her in the first place, what do you care who she is with now?''

''We didn't abandon her. do you even know what Paula did to our family? Because of her, our father passed away. He passed away trying to save her. Because of her stubbornness, our father passed away trying to make her happy. I grew up without a father. My mother became a widow at an early age. She owes us a lot of things''

''So, she must live her life paying for that particular thing, right? Mali, nobody knows when or how they will die. Your father could have still died even without trying to make Paula happy''

''What?''

''You and your mother had a victim mentality towards Paula and I won't sit back and watch you torment her. I will protect Paula even if I have to take extreme measures''

''Extreme measures, do you like her that much?''

''I love her. She us the only woman I would die for''

''What if she cheats on you? You saw how closed she was with that male chef. He is young and handsome, are you confident that Paula will not fall for him?''

''What?''

''Do you want to bet, that, that male chef won't make Paula waiver? Should we bet on that?''

''Paula will never waiver in front of any other man. she is my woman and I have absolute faith in her. I won't bet on anything; it will only make you want to prove something. Leave this place and, the next time I see you here. You will be receiving a restraining order from my lawyer''

''You are going to regret treating me this way. I am going to prove to you that even Paula can waiver'' Mali took her bag and left the office.