CONCEALED - Episode 4

 

"No he did not!" Anna my friend since I was five exclaimed.

"You bet he did, and then some." I affirmed, turning another page on the documents uncle Eddie had asked me to go through before he traveled.

Besides I wondered why Anna still got surprised at Zion's ill treatment towards me, nothing Zion did was a surprise to me anymore. It so happened that this morning he had promised Aunt Martha that he would drop me at the grocery store and get me back home . But on getting to the T-junction leading to the villa, he had asked me to come down with no explanations and drove off without even sparing me a backward glance, I never knew he hated me that much. I thought he cared… Aunt Martha had been livid, so here I was at home, waiting for him to return and having video conversations. It was in moments like this I missed Ashley.

I sighed turning another page of the heavily bound document.

"But that was a callous thing to do, how could he have dropped you at such ridiculous distance. Has he forgotten that we have a killer out there trailing you. Remind me to give him a piece of my mind when next we meet, goodness!" Anna fumed,

As much as I appreciated her loyality towards me, I didn't want this information spreading around. " It's alright babe, I am doing just fine, it will take a thousand of Zion's in this world to break me and I have just one to contend with." Uh scratch that, his indifference did shattter me into tiny pieces, but no one had to know right?

Anna nodded sympathetically, " That's the spirit babe! Who needs him anyways."

Unfortunately I do.

" So how was your date last night?" I inquired as Anna's face brightened, I knew Zion's case was closed for now.

                                                â˜…★★★★

Later that day.

So Zion had budged after Aunt Martha, diturbed him no end with calls

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/concealed

. The drive to the grocery store had been tense, and I finally felt at ease on getting to the store.

I checked the list as I got each items needed, transferring them into the shopping cart Zion was halfheartedly wheeled, "Oh, we forgot to get the bags of potato chips, let me quickly go get them." I told him briskly.

He turned tapping away on his phone, talk about being petty. I quickly made my way towards the shelves holding the potato bags in place, I grab some bags, scrambling down to get the bag that escaped my grip. I noticed another hand reaching for the same bag, looking up I was confronted with a somewhat coy face shaded in designer Rayban's  " Venus right? I am Josie, my friends calls me Jo." He introduced removing his shades,

Oh dear, fancy meeting the playboy of my faculty when I was in school, Josie Alberto the only son of business mogul Alex Alberto here of all places.

Read " Anjola " by the same author ( Ruthie O )

. It wasn't news that the Alberto's came from old money and many frolicked around them so as to stay in their favor. Girls in my faculty back then beefed and fought themselves to gain his attention, Anna even disclosed that he had dated almost all the ladies in our faculty, yeah he was that bad.

I scoffed " Like I don't know who you are, girls in my class cry themselves to oblivion whenever you send back their letters and gifts unopened." I teased

He chuckled, " I am not that bad. I just hate clingy women."  He added, brushing his fingers on my forehead

I stepped back " You ain't my type stupid." I fired at him.

He shifted his head to the side and I was rendered speechless by his laughter, it was so carefree and full of life, reminding me of a particular someone. " I am everybody's type, Princess." He gloated

" Don't call me that!" I snapped,

The corners of his mouth twitched like he was in on something I wasn't on to yet. " You keep deceiving yourself Princess, we all know who has the heart of the Ice queen, it's no news." He said, tilting up my chin to scrutinize my face.

" Drop your hands off my sister this instant Alberto." I froze jumping away guiltily from Josie, how had I not noticed that Zion had joined us, he looked really pissed and I couldn't understand why he was.

" Hello to you too  Rok, it's been ages." Josie greeted smiling, but I could see his eyes were conveying another message, his eyes were as cold as Zion's as they both continued their battle of stares "And last I remembered, Venus is not your sister, you only have one named Ashley right? Such a beauty I must add, right princess?" Josie asked

I knew better than to reply him, looking at Zion he was ready to explode " Stop it the both of you!!" I cautioned

Zion shook his head, " Scrap all this." He grabbed my hands the potato chips falling to the ground, as he dragged me towards the exit, the bell boy running after us with some shopping bags,

" See you soon princess." Josie waved, winking at me. Zion shut the door to the car firmly behind me and went around to resume his seat at the drivers side. I noticed his hands were shaking as he tried to hold them still.

The car roared to life, bringing me out of my daze. " Stay away from Josie Alberto, he isn't somebody you want to mess around with." He warned

" You ain't the boss of me Zion, I have the right to choose my friends. You stopped being one remember?" I was beginning to get tired of his overbearing attitude.

The car screeched to an halt, my gaze meeting his as car horns blared behind us. His gaze somewhat softened as he leaned closer lifting the tendril of hair that fell unconsciously to my face and tucking it behind my ears.My heart soared at that moment as I leaned briefly into his hand closing my eyes, I wish he could be this gentle with me, just like old times…

His hands brushed my cheeks looking me in the eye, " Why don't you always listen? Do not tempt me Ven, Stay away from Josie, its a warning."

I nodded, as he kept back his hands on the wheel, driving us back towards the villa his cold stare back in place. I leaned back on my chair, dreamily gazing out the window.

Had Zion just showed me a part of him he hadn't showed me in years? And why now when Josie Alberto came into the picture?