A woman's dilemma - Episode 47

 

Amy:

"Come on! We're going to miss him!" Claudia takes my hand and pull me with her through the crowd. Her excitement is bubbling right out of her. I don't even know who we're not supposed to miss.
"Our things!" I try to remind her.
"Leave it with them. They'll bring it out front to the hotel's car that's supposed to pick us up." Claudia drags me out of the crowd of people grabbing their luggages and she starts to look around for God knows what.
"What or who are you looking for?" I stand beside her with my hands on my waist.
"You'll love this . I have a surprise for you. Now where is he?" Her concentration lines crease her forehead as she looks around. I let her find whoever she is looking out for while I let my eyes take in everything in the airport. It's bustling with energy as people go to and fro. People of different race. Black, white, Asian and the likes. I take in the slightly musky air and smile. I can't believe I'm out of the country again. Didn't really think I'll be here right now. It's amazing how things change in months. My eyes are still perusing the space when it comes to meet a familiar pair of unique eyes. My eyes go wide as saucers as I hyperventilate.
 For a second I think I'm looking at the face of Benson but that scar

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/a-woman-s-dilemma

. I gasp and take a step backwards, hitting Claudia with my elbow.
"Hey, are you..." She trails off when Benedict starts to stride towards us with long steps. His basketball shorts looks great on him as he comes to tower over Claudia and I.
"It is you." He sounds breathless and as for me, I'm speechless.
"Hey Benedict, right? Heard a lot of you from my friend here. Amy, say something." She whispers the last part as she elbows my side. I yelp a little and laugh nervously.
"I don't know what she's talking about." I say from under my lashes as I bow m head from his gaze.
"Really now? Am I the only one happy to see the other then?" He says and I can't resist the urge to look up at him again. God I have it bad for this man. He's even more majestic than he was months ago. Is it the dark stubble on his jaws?
"You are happy to see me?" I ask with a frown. He chuckles but nod. His eyes stray from me to the crowd bounding for us once they notice him here.
"I'll like to finish this but as you can see, the crowd awaits. Wait for me to be done with this?" He asks and before I can say anything, he strides a few feet away from me to meet the crowd halfway. Three huge men surround him to control the crowd but he's all smiles as he signs a few things.
"He's amazing. You're welcome!" Claudia says besides me and I shake my head. I completely forgot where we are for a second. My narrowed eyes turn to face my smug friend.
"He is the one you have been looking around for." I say without question. She nods with a chuckle.
"Saw on his Instagram handle that he'll be landing in Los Angeles today for a friendly match with his team. I did great didn't I?"
"No! He's Benedict!" I point to him as he charms the ladies in the crowd with his grin. He never smiled at me like this before. Aside the scar, he looks like Benson with all those wide smiles. Benson, the man who's been nothing short of amazing to me. And this is his brother. I shake my head again.
"Maybe we should leave." I turn and start to walk away.
"But Amy! Just look at him with that kid. Look!" Claudia drags my arm and I turn around to see Benedict on one knee as he whispers a few things into the ear of a kid who looks to be nothing more than eight. The kid beams at him with starry eyes and the crowd cheers. Mostly the women though. I think I swoon just like the rest of the female population. I see various phones take different shots of the scene and I'm reminded of how far apart we have become. Not like we were close to begin with.
"He's charming." Claudia beams at me. I nod my concurrence with a smile of mine. Said smile falls when a white woman of about my age pulls free from the crowd and lunges herself at Benedict. Her barely there skirt hikes up as she jumps all over him. My mouth hits the floor when I catch Benedict's smiling face at the woman's antics.
"Yeah, I've seen enough." I turn around and this time I don't stop when Claudia calls out to me.
"Cavewoman." I grunt under my breath as I cuss the woman fan in my head. I shouldn't be acting like this. I'm actually as inconsequential as another fan to him. I make it outside the airport and the glaring sun greets me. I have to put a hand up to shade my eyes from the light.
"Here." Sunglasses are chucked into my hand before I can notice Claudia behind me.
"Thanks." I smile weakly at her as I put the shade on.
"Of course. I got you. Don't worry about earlier. We're going to have mad fun!" She hugs my side​ firmly and I smile for real this time. She's become somewhat softer since Francesca's death. Which isn't a bad thing in itself.
"I'm not concerned about what happened in there. Most basketball players are manwhore for lack of a better... A better...why are you shaking your head like..." I turn to my side when Claudia keeps shaking her head at me towards that direction like she's giving me some kind of sign.
"What the hell." Benedict is standing a few feet from me with a frown on his face. It actually reminds me of how grumpy I know him to be.
"Basketball players are manwhore. Really?" He takes the few steps to breath down my head. I drop my eyes to the floor and fiddle with the hem of my shirt.
"I didn't mean it like that. I... Claudia tell him." I grab Claudia and put her between us. She shoots me daggers with her eyes while I give her pleading ones.
"She meant other basketball players. She didn't mean you. Did you, Amy?" Claudia asks and I shake my head. Benedict raise his brow at me like he doesn't believe me.
"I told you to wait for me." He says when I think he's going to get angry at me and his features soften.
"I..." I look to Claudia for help but she just shrugs. I notice Benedict's gaze shift from my face to above me and his face harden.
"Sh*t." I hear him mutter before he grabs my hand. My heart beat accelerates maybe in panic or the somewhat electric feeling buzzing between our skin.
"Can I borrow her? I drop her off at your hotel. I promise." His eyes shift to Claudia and so does mine. The witch grins and nods.
"Good. Let's go." He starts pulling me with him.
"Wait! Claudia! Go where!" I can't help but hasten my steps to keep up with his long strides.
"Come on." Before I can register his movement, he pulls open the door of a big truck.
"Get in." He nods towards the truck that's so much higher than my head. I eye the truck then Benedict.
"You must be kidding." I laugh nervously and take a step back.

Read " Set me free " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. Benedict mutters some expletives under his breath when he looks to his side. I follow his eyes to see a huge crowd running towards us.
"Here we go." He says just before his arm comes around my waist. I stiffen.
"Relax." He breathes into my ear as he hauls me up like a sack of potatoes and dump me in the truck's passenger seat.
"Buckle up." He orders as his long legs carry him to his side of the car. A man catches up to him before he can open his door.
"Benedict! You still have a signing to get to. Come on, I'll drive you." Is this his manager?
"Tomorrow." He growls at the man who cowers back. Benedict takes the space to get into the car and as soon as he's in, he steps on the accelerator, pushing me forward in my seat. I quickly fumble with the seatbelt to stay strapped in. He looks so focused on the road as he drives through it like a lunatic. My grip tighten on the seatbelt. God please let me make it back to the hotel in one piece. Just so I can kick Claudia's ass!