Purple Romance

''Oh, this woman. I am sure you must have a lot to say?'' Mr. Bassey twisted and pouted his lips as he continued to read.

''Sir, Leslie is a good man, so stop trying to put him down. Since you came, you've said nothing good about him. Are you sure he is your son and not adopted?''

The old man pointed at Lisa furiously saying, ''you… are you lecturing me right now?''

''Lisa shook her head and beckoned on him with her hand to continue.

''Don't judge a book by its cover. Before you blame or insult Leslie, take time to understand him first and you will know that he is a wonderful person''

The old man chuckled and stood up from the sofa. He pointed at the table with the coffee and asked, ''did you really make those?''

Lisa smiled and walked towards the table with the man trailing behind her. She pointed at the different kinds of coffee in the mugs and took the paper from him.

''I made this myself but if you are still in doubt, I can make one for you right now, in your presence but, if I do that, then you have to also do something in exchange''

''What do you want me to do?''

''Accept Leslie for who he is and stop trying to control him''

''He is my son. What right do you have to tell me what to do?''

''Then, I guess I won't be teaching you how to make the coffee. Let's leave it at that, then?'' Lisa showed the message to him and he frowned.

''You are quite different from the women Leslie hangs out with. You seem to be bright. Where did you go to school? Which family do you come from?''

As they chatted, the door opened and Leslie rushed inside. He went to stand in the middle and pulled Lisa behind him as he said to his father.

''What are you doing here? If you touch Lisa, I won't forgive you, father''

Mr. Bassey looked at Leslie and sighed asking, ''am I that much of a monster to you?''

''Yes, I still remember clearly what to you did to Willow'' Leslie said and Lisa looked at him.

''That, how many times do I have to say that it was all a misunderstanding. Besides, did you really think she loved you? If she did, she wouldn't have left that easily?''

''You pressured her'' Leslie said and felt a tug on his sleeve and he turned to look at Lisa. She shook her head slowly before showing him her notepad.

''He didn't hurt or try to hurt me. Your father and I were just chatting about coffee before you arrived''

''He… he didn't threaten you?'' Leslie asked inspecting Lisa. Lisa held his hand and shook her head.

'I didn't know that I was such a monster to you. I will leave now. It was my mistake to come here wanting to make up with you'' Mr. Bassey said and turned to go. He and Andy had spoken a lot the other day and he was ready to talk things out. He didn't want to derive far away from his son.

When he got to the door, Lisa ran forward and stepped in front of him, blocking him from going out. Mr. Bassey looked at her and furrowed his brows. She smiled sheepishly at the man and looked ahead at Leslie who was still standing at the dining table. When he didn't make an attempt to move she sighed and shook her head before she walked over to him and held his hand, walking with him back to where Mr. Bassey was standing.

The two men looked at each other with none wanting to speak first. Lisa shook her head and took her notepad and started writing in it. After she was done, she gave it to Leslie and he took it.

''The younger one should give in first, he came all the way here. Don't let this stay for long, please''

Leslie sighed and turned to his father and said, ''I'm sorry for acting out first''

Mr. Bassey looked at him, with a shocked expression. He couldn't believe his ears. This was the first time that Leslie was taking an effort to apologise to him, ''let's sit down and talk''

Lisa smiled and went away, leaving them. She wanted to give them the privacy to talk. She went to the kitchen and watched as the two went over to the hall to sit and talk.

She suddenly had a wild idea and decided to go by it. She looked at the hall and picked up her phone to send a message.

…..

Paula smiled as she watched the labourers pack the whole wheat flour that Andy had secured for her. He had personally gone out to find ten bags of whole wheat flour for her and she was glad that he made the efforts to do something like that for her.

After they finished packing, she called out the chefs to get the quantity that they needed before she went to look for him.

As she turned to go, her food buzzed and she took it out and smiled as she read the message from Lisa.

''Up for family dinner?''

''Dinner, with me?''

'You wished, with you and your boyfriend. I'm trying to make things work between Leslie and his father. They are in the hall chatting the atmosphere is a little… anyways, I need you and your boyfriend over here''

''Look at who is ordering me?'' Paula smiled and typed her reply back.

''Okay, will be there with my boyfriend soon''

Paula stuffed the phone in her pocket and turned to go and bumped into someone and the phone fell down.

''I'm sorry, Miss are you alright?'' Felix asked with his hand around her waist.

''Yes…'' Paula was flustered as she stepped away from him. He smiled and bent down picking the two phones that fell.

''I should have watched ahead. I was going to get some refined olive oil from the stores, are you hurt?''

''No, I'm fine'' Paula replied and took the phone that he gave to her, ''you should hurry up then''

''Sure'' Felix smiled and bowed politely before walking away. He stopped at a distance and watched as Paula went away. He turned the phone and turned it on, revealing he picture of Paula and Andy which she had used as her screen saver. His lips curved up slyly.

When Paula entered inside Andy's office, she saw him reading and she smiled, ''did I interrupt you?''

''You can never be a destruction, come here'' Andy stood up and leaned against the desk as he pulled her into his arms, ''someone's cologne is on you'' he said and Paula frowned.

'Me?'' she smelt herself and remembered her encounter with Felix, ''I bumped into Felix on my way here. You sure have sharp nose''

''You are the one who thought me that. That Felix, you should be careful around him''

''Oh, are you jealous?'' Paula teased him.

''Not jealous per se but he doesn't strike me as a good person. He might be interested in you''

''Don't worry, in this world I have eyes for you only''

''Off course''

''Tsk, so confident?''

''Where can you find someone who treats you well like me? I am doing all that because I don't want to be replaceable''

''Lisa needs our help. She asked me to bring you over for dinner. It seems your dad and Leslie are over there, but, I am scared. The last time your father and I met, it wasn't so good''

''I will be there, what is there to be afraid''

''Yes, I have such a capable man. I will send Lisa a message, then we can leave. Are you free?''

''Yes, we can go now'' Andy said and turned put a few things in order.

Paula removed the phone and turned it on and frowned, ''oh… this, this isn't my phone'' she showed it to Andy. ''Did I get it swap when I bumped into Felix earlier on?''

The phone started ringing in her hands and she looked at it and exchanged gaze with Andy.

''Answer it'' Andy said and leaned in to listen to the call.

''Hello, is this Felix? Yes, alright, I will come there and take it. bye'' Paula hung up and looked at Andy, ''he said he is in the spare storeroom. I will go there for my phone''

Andy looked at her and took the phone from her, ''I will go and get your phone back''

'I can do that''

'Stay here and wait for me''

'Oh'' Paula handed the phone over and sat down.

….

In the store room, Felix smiled after hanging up the call. He leaned against the shelves as he waited for Paula. When he heard the door open, he spoke.

''Miss Paula, stop there. There is something I want to tell you but I don't know how to face you. I feel that I can tell you honestly if I am not looking at your pretty face.