The seconds stretched into minutes as I grappled with the whirlwind of emotions that his confession had stirred within me.
In that moment, I realised that my hesitation wasn’t rooted in doubt about David or my feelings for him. I was just afraid of getting hurt again. But as I looked into David’s eyes, I saw no trace of deception or hidden agendas, only genuine sincerity.
Taking a deep breath, I finally found my voice. “David,” I began, “I care about you deeply. I’ve spent countless hours thinking about you, and you’ve occupied my thoughts more than I’d like to admit.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and his eyes softened. “Chioma, I—”
“Let me finish,” I interrupted gently, needing to express my feelings completely. “But you know my history, my past relationship, and the scar it left. I need time, not because I doubt you or what we could have, but because I want to be certain. I want to be sure that we’re doing this for the right reasons.”
David nodded, his smile unwavering. “Chioma, I respect your need for time. Take all the time you need. I’m willing to wait, to prove to you that my intentions are sincere.”
Relief washed over me, knowing that David understood and respected my decision. “Thank you,” I whispered, feeling a weight lifted off my shoulders.
With a warm smile, he stepped closer, his hand gently brushing against mine. “We’ll take it one step at a time, Chioma.”he said, reassuring me.
The next day, David came to pick me up for the long-awaited visit to his house that Rowland had sabotaged. He came to pick me up in the Range Rover he drove when I reunited with him at the restaurant, the one with the windscreen damaged by Rowland. Of course, the windscreen had been fixed. I’m sure it must have cost him an arm and a leg. Though, he didn’t seem like one that couldn’t afford it judging from the view of his house from outside. He lived in one of the private estates by the seaside on the island. The security to get into the estate was so tight, but nothing prepared me for the house that awaited us. Just driving in through the gates, I struggled to hold my jaw closed to prevent it from dropping open and embarrassing me.
The cars parked in front of the house were a fleet of luxury vehicles, each one more impressive than the last. It was like a showroom for high-end automobiles.
As we stepped out of the car, David ushered me to the entrance of his house, opening the imposing double doors that led to a magnificent hallway. I couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment. The place was nothing short of a mansion. The grandeur and opulence were on full display as my eyes darted around, taking in the spacious hallway, the marble floors, and the glittering chandelier that hung from the high ceiling.
“Welcome to my humble abode,” David said with a playful grin, as if he could read my thoughts.
“Humble, my foot,” I retorted, a mix of awe and amusement in my voice. “This is incredible, David.”
He chuckled and led me through the hallway, giving me a house tour. Every room seemed more luxurious than the last. There was a cozy study with shelves filled with leather-bound books, a state-of-the-art home theatre room, a spacious living area with plush sofas, and a dining room that could easily host a banquet.
The kitchen was a chef’s dream, equipped with top-of-the-line appliances, marble countertops, and gleaming stainless steel. I couldn’t help but wonder if David ever cooked in this magnificent space.
Outside, the extravagance continued. The backyard was like a private oasis, complete with a sparkling swimming pool, a well-manicured garden, and a gazebo that overlooked the pool. It was a paradise hidden behind the walls of this grand house.
As we explored further, I couldn’t help but notice the expensive ornaments and artwork adorning the walls. Each piece seemed to have a story, a testament to David’s refined taste and appreciation for art.
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I turned to David, my eyes wide with amazement. “This place is beyond anything I could have imagined.”
He smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes. “I’m glad you like it, Chioma.”
As we continued our tour, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this world of luxury and extravagance was a far cry from the life I had known. Yet, as I walked beside David, I couldn’t help but feel like I belonged here, like maybe, just maybe, this was where I was meant to be.
After the house tour, we returned to the kitchen where David insisted on showing off his culinary skills. “Do you have any food allergies mademoiselle?“ he asked with a smile as he put on an Apron, I couldn’t help but notice how cute he looked in his apron. “None that I know of” I replied laughing.
Just in case you were wondering, Yes! It is possible to be allergic to food. Food allergy is an immune system reaction that happens soon after you eat a certain type of food. For some people, it could be eggs, fish, shrimp, cow’s milk. For others it is certain types of nuts such as groundnuts, cashew nuts, almonds etc. It could even be an allergy to certain spices in food like curry or ginger or garlic. People who have food allergies experience symptoms like itching, rashes, swelling of the lips, face or other parts of the body, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or even more severe symptoms like dizziness, fainting or difficulty breathing. Symptoms usually appear within a few minutes to 2 hours after eating the food. Even a tiny amount of the food that you are allergic to can trigger symptoms. Minor symptoms of food allergies can be treated with a certain type of drugs called anti-histamines which can be bought without a prescription while severe symptoms will need emergency treatment by a doctor. The best way to prevent food allergies is to identify the food that triggers the allergies and avoid eating it totally.
“Ok then! Let Chef Dee do his thing” he replied bringing out different food stuff from the fridge. “Would you like me to help you out?” I asked, getting ready to join him. “Oh no! Please, I don’t want you thinking the food came out nice because you helped out. I want to show you that I am badass in the kitchen. Sit back, relax and learn” He replied with a mischievous grin. “If you say so” I replied, shrugging.
I watched in fascination as David effortlessly moved about, preparing a delicious meal. He seemed so at home in this culinary domain, chopping vegetables with precision and expertly seasoning the dishes. It was clear that he was not just a good cook but a master in the kitchen.
We chatted away as he cooked, discussing everything from our favourite books to our most embarrassing childhood memories. The atmosphere was relaxed, and for a moment, I almost forgot about the luxurious surroundings of the house.
And then, in the midst of our easy conversation, a thought struck me, and I blurted out, “You know, it’s really funny, but I just realised, I actually don’t know what you do for a living.”
David paused in his cooking, and I could see a flicker of unease in his eyes. The room seemed to grow a bit quieter as an awkward silence settled between us.
I had touched on a topic that I probably should have asked about earlier, but it hadn’t seemed relevant in the midst of everything else that had been happening between us.
David cleared his throat, his expression shifting slightly. “Well, Chioma,” he began, his voice wavering just a bit, “I work in… I mean, I’m involved in…”
He hesitated for a moment, and then he started to stutter, a rarity for a man who had always appeared so composed.
Find out what happens next in episode 17 #checkwithdoctoro
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Interesting story