"You live your life with a sense of guilt. You have to do something good. You have to earn the right to be here."
~Thomas

I open my eyes and I'm in a comfortable king-size bed and my eyes scan the room that I'm in Anna's room. I sigh and sit up on the bed. I barely did anything before falling asleep last night. I was too exhausted to even think about everything that took place at the dinner or the little talk I had with Eli. Maybe I shouldn't have said a thing about Keffi because even he was oblivious to how she felt about him until I blurted it out last night. As far as I know, Eli's heart and commitment to the wedding is what Anna told me to keep them constant, even if she might not make him happy at the end of the day.

He seems happy with the idea of her though.

After putting on my shower cap, I make my way into the bathroom and after a quick debate about whether or not to use the bathtub or the shower, I decide to go with the shower and I move closer and turn on the shower. The warm water descends on my skin and I cannot help the moan that escapes my mouth at the touch of the water against my skin. I finish up quickly and wrap the towel around my body before stepping out of the bathroom.

I see Nneka in the room standing beside the bed and waiting for me, my brows pull together and I glance at her a little, wondering what she's doing in my room.

"Good morning, Ms Wilson," she greets as I make my way to the wardrobe and open it.

"Good morning, Nneka," I respond, my hand tightly gripping my towel as I sort through the wardrobe looking for a suitable outfit for the day.

I finally find a red gown that doesn't seem to be either too short or too tight and I pick it out.

"Breakfast is ready," she announces before adding, "Mr Wilson is waiting."

My head whip around to look at her so fast that for a moment, I thought it fell off my neck.

"Why is Mr Wilson at the table instead of being at work?" I said the last part of the question to myself though and I await her answer.

He did agree to cut down his working hours, to be around more and I completely understand, but knowing how much he loves work, choosing to stay at home was not part of what he would normally do and neither did he tell me about that plan yesterday.

She looks almost as clueless as I am, "I don't know, Ms Wilson, he just came downstairs in casual clothes instead of a suit and sat at the dining table waiting for breakfast." she explains to the best of her knowledge.

I straighten up and turn back around, not wanting to show off any much-confused emotions than I already have. Should I go or stay indoors and pretend I'm working? We've gotten well along with each other and he has put in a lot of effort being and I see and appreciate them, but some of his efforts are pulling me into awkward situations! I trained for just-in-case situations but having breakfast with him wasn't one of them.

What will Anna do at this moment?

Well, one thing is certain, she wouldn't be a nervous wreck about her fiancé wanting to stay home and have breakfast the way you're being.

She'll handle it like the boss that she is.

"Alright then, if he asks, tell him I'll be down once I finish."

"Okay," she nods obediently before stepping out of the room.

I purposely decide to use the next hour in getting myself ready. Usually, I am the type that does not spend much time in the bedroom dressing up and that's not going to change anytime soon, but today, I slowdown in my dressing up process, from the wearing of my clothes to the application of my make-up.

I glance through my wardrobe of shoes trying to find a flat one since I still feel a little sore from the sprain in my ankle from last night but I come up with nothing but a flipflop that looks anything but fashionable. If Anna could see me now, she'll want to shoot me in the head. I can't wear any of the shoes in this closet because that would cause Eli to raise an eyebrow and ask questions that I might not have answers to. So pushing Anna's rules aside, I put them on before finally marching out of my room.

I climb down the stairs and finally reaching the last staircase, I turn towards the direction of the dining room and there is Eli, sitting and waiting for me. Wearing a white shirt on a black jean and a white sneaker. Nneka was right, he looks causal which is not a look he carries often.

I am a bit taken back by the man who's a few feet away from me. He seems to get better looking every time I see him, which is only the beginning because I still have many more days left before all this is over.

God help me.

"Breakfast is going to get cold if you decide to wait any longer," he informs me, a little smile dancing at the corner of his face even though he doesn't turn to look at me.

"Why haven't you eaten?" I ask with my brows rising a little in curiosity.

"Well, I wanted to wait for you," he replies a bit happy for the morning even though one hour of his time has been wasted by me.

His usual happy self is usually a delightful sight, but considering I'm wearing a flipflop and scheduled to see a doctor today because of him, I don't think I should be so happy with him.

"Oh," Is all I say before taking up my breakfast filled tray and walking to the seat at the other end of the table to take my seat and doing this leaves a huge distance between us.

His lips pause as he silently observes me, but makes no remark regarding why I chose to sit so far away and I'm glad he doesn't.

"Let's eat then," he says before picking up his cutleries once I settle in.

I take a long drink of the water after finishing my breakfast and set it down on the table before me, only to catch Eli staring at me and I immediately become uneasy in my seat.

"Why are you staring?" I demand with a raised eyebrow.

He averts his eyes and an embarrassed smile comes on his face, "I just think you're beautiful, as always" he confesses and glances at me.

I remain quiet, partly because I don't want to be giving off emotions I shouldn't and in cases like this where a harmless compliment is being passed, Anna told me she would hold her peace and respond with a smile.

Eli gets up from his seat and walks towards me and just like always my heart picks up its beat, "I hope you had a good night." and when I nod he smiles, "how's your ankle?"

"It's all good, it was okay yesterday though but you chose to be over-protective with me," I say with a low and annoyed voice not because I am mad but because I should be.

"I'm only looking out for you, sweetheart and I'm sorry that I came out possessive." He apologizes.

I change the subject immediately because having him apologize for being a good and caring fiancé didn't seem fair or sit well with me. "You're not planning on taking me to the doctors, are you? Because you're not dressed for work and I know it's Saturday but you normally go."

He nods, "No, as much as I would love to, I can't. One of the drivers will be taking you to the doctors. I also didn't leave for work today because I got a call this morning from our branch in the UK," he pauses and stares at me, maybe hoping to see a particular expression but he continues when he sees nothing and realises he has my undivided attention. "Vision Optics, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies is offering to buy Sight and become its major distributors there. Their offer is also very good, hun and we will be making double of what we should in the first place."

That sound marvellous to my ear and not only is his creation being successfully received, it also means that it's making a very large impact, considering the fact that it was launched only a few days back, but if I'm to take notice of his tone it was a bit down and not as excited as it ought to be and that bothers me. "Then why aren't you happy?"

"Because I don't want Aiden losing Sight to anyone. Giving them right to Sight might be beneficial now, but in the long run, we will be under the authority of another and that's not what I want."

"What does Amade thinks?" I ask with my brow rising.

"He agrees with me, he called me up in the morning. In his words, it's a shit offer."

I couldn't help laughing, it sounded just like something Amade would say. "What do you want to do then?"

His eyes leave mine and a part of me already knows that's a sign that something isn't good.

"Since the birthplace of Sight isn't the UK, we can't control or completely explain it to them. I wish there was a way to communicate with the board members and investors in the UK from my office here, but such invention hasn't been thought of yet and the only choice I'm left with is to go over there and properly meet with the optical sectors already set up in order to make more awareness..."

"How long is that going to take?" I ask with interest.

"A week and a half at most, I think... I will be back at least a week and a few days before the wedding and that would mean leaving you behind and all alone. I don't want to leave because I've been away for so long and I know you're only just starting to forgive me now, that is why this is hard."

So much information in less than 30 seconds of speaking.

Being gone for a whole week comes as a shock but after the explanation, he just gave, I don't know what to do. I have learnt a lot about Sight in the time I spent with him and I know how much it means to him. It is good for me because having Eli so far away would let me breathe and be less edgy especially with the on and off emotions I keep having around him but I also know how much this wedding means to Anna and going away would mean Eli wouldn't be available for the dance rehearsal which he is supposed to take up from next week and some of his other classes and they might have to rush over everything and end up not having a perfect day.

I didn't train for what to say in cases like this, so I remain silent, making him speak.

After staying silent and not saying a thing, he suggests, "Unless of course, we shift the date of the wedding so that way we have time to do everything we are supposed to and by we I meant me, only me."

Eli has no idea the length at which Anna has gone through just to have this wedding take place in three weeks, the last thing she would want is to have it shifted and that's not happening on my watch.

I smile and reached out to stroke his cheeks, "We will still have a week and a half after you return Eli, that's enough time to sort out the preparation needed, besides I started planning after we picked a date two months ago, so we are good."

There is a genuinely happy face on his face which makes his grey eyes sparkles beautifully, "You sure you don't have a problem with me leaving." he asks with a sceptical yet hopeful voice.

"This is not just for Sight, it's for our future as well as the men and women that sacrificed eight months of their lives and I believe many others sacrificed more."

He grins widely, "I don't think I've ever loved you more."

"I'm doing my duty as a partner."

He nods and steps back from me speaking. "I will be leaving soon and I will keep in touch with you. I would ask you to come along, but you'd probably say no."

He is right, I wouldn't want to go along with him, that would be too much exposure besides that was never part of the deal I made with Anna.

I sigh, "It's fine, I need to stay back and keep everything together in your absence, right?" He nods and leaning in, he kisses my lips.

When we pull away, I bit my lower lips gingerly and shivers races down my spine while we stare into each other's eyes, "I hope Amade is coming with you; I need someone to keep an eye on you."

He straightens up and steps back from me, "Yes, Amade and Keffi will be coming with me and Yogi Chow our head of optical designs will join us from China. Don't worry, I will be in good hands."

As long as those hands aren't Keffi's hands, we will be fine. I say to myself.

An hour later, he has his bag packed and ready to go. Gabriel is standing beside the car and waiting for him. He leans in and kisses my lips one last time before saying. "You will take care and not do not stress yourself right?"

"That's supposed to be my line!" I exclaim with wide dramatic eyes.

He chuckles and wraps his arms around me and he pulls away and kisses my forehead before leaving.

Once the car drives off I take a deep breath and turn towards the house.

Eli leaving is the space I need to figure out what the hell is happening to me and why I am having all these mixed feeling towards him and most importantly how to get them under control.