Wing Of Change
Chapter 21

**

“Girl….girlfriend?” The word had slipped out of her mouth in a whisper without anyone realizing it.

She turned and stared at his rather calm features while thinking to herself. ‘That was a joke right?’

“Aria and I are yet to make our relationship public but we are getting there pretty soon” Frank had continued before placing a quick k**s against her cheek and leaving her more confused than ever.

“Whoa. I knew you two look just great together. You guys are just fabulous” Mr Sam had said in excitement while Sandra on the other hand looked totally speechless if not shocked.

It was written all over her features as her shoulders grew an inch taller.

Was she angry or simply jealous because Aria could feel it. Sandra was quick to conceal whatever she could be feeling as she quickly put on a sweet little smile.

“You’re right honey. They look absolutely stunning”

Anyone could see that she wasn’t exactly pleased with the news. Something tells her she was expecting a different answer rather than the one Frank had given.

And with the sudden ringing of Sandra cellphone. Frank took it as a cue to get away from her as he quickly pulled Aria away.

“We will be heading over to our seat now. See you some other time”

“It was nice meeting you” Mr same had replied.

Frank simply replied with a nod before exiting their presence and pulling Aria along as well.

Frank was able to breath easy the moment they made it to their table and settled on it. He wished he could get his hands on a bottle of whisky to help calm his nerve.

He reached out and grab the bottle of water seating across their table and down it in two big gulp.

Frank just wanted to forget it all. He needed to block out every damn emotions rushing back at him. Every feeling he thought he had successfully buried deep under the ashes of his past came rushing back the moment he laid eyes on her again.

And to think that, his very own heart would betray him yet again at the very sight of her would be something he never saw coming. Not even in his dreams.

The thought of running into her again has never crossed his mind ever since she ran away from him six years ago.

Sandra still haven’t changed a bit. She was still as elegant as he could remember her to be. She still has the ability to unnerve him with those big piercing eyes of hers.

Damn!

Aria sat across from Frank with squinted eyes. Observing and watching him intensely as his face kept morphing through a series of unspoken expression.

Frank was saying so much without even saying a single word. The constant twitching of his little finger not to mention the unconscious shaking of his left leg that was causally placed against the other leg was word enough.

She knew him too well to also realize when he could roaring like a lion on the inside while putting up a straight face. But that’s was the least of her worries at the moment.

A fire was brewing in her mind as well. The word ‘girlfriend’ hasn’t stopped ringing in her ears even as she was beginning to get distracted by the comedian on the nearby stage.

Aria took a deep breath and cleared her throat loudly just to get him to look at her.

Frank raised a knowing brow at her briefly before sighing.

“So should I ask you what all that was about or you will tell me without me even asking”

He scoffed at her question, feeling irritated. “How about you don’t ask so I won’t tell?”

“Then I guess i have nothing else to do, just seating here while you sulk all night after lying about us to whoever that lady and her boyfriend could be to you”

She picked up her bag and was about to leave before she felt his hand against her wrist and pulling her back.

“Wait”

Pulling her hand off, she turned around to face him before shooting him a warning glare. “Why?”

“Because we just got here and I need you to stay” Aria scoffed loudly at his word.

Of course, he would say that and even try to change her mind as well and she wouldn’t mind staying either. All she ask is for him to be honest with her and not treat her like the fool she is not.

“You do not need me. If you truly did then you wouldn’t have lied about us in the first place. Do you think me to be stupid or what?”

“What? Of course not. Why would I even think such about you” Frank had stated feeling agitated.

“Well it does seem that way to me now even if you deny it”

Frank looked conflicted as he stood staring at her. Aria was hurt and he was solely responsible for it.

He took a step closer to her and reached for her hand again. This time, he was careful not to send the wrong kind of message across to her.

“Look Aria. Am sorry okay? I know I lied about us but I didn’t mean to. I was just…” He paused and just trailed off before shaking his head slightly.

“Just know am really sorry okay?” Frank had apologized yet again.

“Okay” Aria had said with a nod before putting a safe distance between them. She can’t seem to gather her thought anything he is that close in proximity.

Gosh!

“Stay with me until the end of tonight and I will tell you everything about that woman and I”

Aria’s eyes could only grow wider in surprise. She didnt see that coming. She wasn’t exactly asking for his life history with some stranger woman but she guess someone was in a mood to share and she doesn’t mind listening to all of it at all.

If she wanted to understand that man standing in front of her and affecting every bit of her senses then this was her chance and she knew it.

“Okay then”

“Thanks” Frank said with a smile.

He pulled back her chair and offered it to her to seat and she couldn’t help but smile at the gesture.

“Well, you didn’t have to. I was going to do it myself”

“Glad I did it first. So have a seat”

Aria gave him a quick sideways glance before settling down on it. “Thanks”

**

The book launch turned out quite well. Frank ran into some old friends of his from his university days at Cambridge.

They had a lot to reminisce about. The good old days and how far life has all taken them in their various careers.

Talking to them kept his mind off the unpleasant things like having Sandra across the hall. Even though they never spoke again, he could still feel her eyes trailing him like a nightmare he can’t seem to wake up from.

Everyone of his friends kept mistaking Aria to be his lady love and he couldn’t deny it either. He was even grateful she agreed to stay back after threatening to leave earlier. Her presence turned out to be more than he had bargained for.

Frank was beginning to have a second thought about sharing that part of his life with her especially now that they were just starting to get along just fine.

But then again he had was promised her and he can’t go back on his word now. A man was simply as good as his word.

His mother had always told him so and even though he had never admitted it before that very moment. Aria’s presence has law brought him some sense of serenity.

Their working relationship at the company had always been the very best. Knowing she was part of everything always boasted his confidence like a child whose mother was cheering him on to victory.

Frank smiled at the thought of her and took a quick glance at her direction only to replace her in the company of some guy not older than himself and smiling to God knows what.

The new guy seemed really invested in their conversation much to her annoyance. Aria on the other hand seemed to be comfortable talking to this stranger as she couldn’t stop laughing from ear to ear.

Do they know each other perhaps? Frank had thought angrily to himself as he continued to watch their exchange with a silent scowl on his face.

Aria looked so free and different as she kept laughing to whatever the new guy seemed to be telling her much to his annoyance. He never should have left her all by herself. Not even for a minute.

The more he stood watching from a far. The more he realizes it was really a bad idea. And as if she could feel his eyes on her, her head snapped at his direction.

He held her gaze for a moment as if to let her know he wasn’t comfortable with the presence of her new companion but instead of reading his mind as she had imagined. She only turned back at her companion yet again with a giggle and causing every hair on his neck to stand up straighter in pure rage.

Damn woman.

Frank quickly excused himself and went over to where she stood smiling still and wrapped his arms protectively around her waist and pulled her closer to his side and even startled her in the process as well.

“Hey Aria. Who is this charming fellow” Frank had asked, shooting her a toothy grin.

“None of your business?” Aria had shot back at him through gritted teeth while trying to break free from his grip.

“Hey man. Am Joe, Aria and I work in the same publishing house and you are?”

Aria actually beat Frank to it before he could reply him. “This is Mr Frank Okoji, my ex boss. The same one I was telling you about”

Frank raised a brow at her as if to say ‘really now?’

“And what might that be if I may ask?” Frank had turned to the new guy.

“Oh nothing crazy. I was just telling Mr Joe here how nice of a boss you once were” Aria had with a little bit of cheeriness.

Frank’s brow had furrowed in confusion not sure if she was telling the truth or not but the new guy seem pretty happy to be in his presence.

“It’s a real pleasure meeting with you in person Mr Okoji” Mr Joe had said and offered his hand for a handshake.

“Frank is just fine by me. Nice to meet to too” Frank had reached over and took the hand he had offered for a hand shake and lock palm with his in a firm grip before turning swiftly to Aria.

“I would have loved to stay and chat with you some more but am afraid we can’t stick around much further. We have to leave now”

Aria turned and gave him a sideways glance. “Are we?”

“Yes we are” Frank had deadpan and leaving no room for further argument.

“It’s Okay. I look forward to another encounter with you Mr Frank”. He turned to Aria and beamed a sweet little smile at her. ” I will see you at the office on Monday Aria”

“You too Mr Joe. Goodbye”

She waved at him before Frank led her towards the exit muttering incoherent words at no one in particular but Aria was pretty sure he was cussing at her colleague.