Eva, splashed a smile as usual to the constant stream of customers as she attended to them with new found heartiness. The eatery was her source of living so she'd better pour in her best so as not to get kicked out like her previous job.

The angry sulking side of her had disappeared. But judging from the customer's countenance, the replacement was still not far from the other. It wouldn't go away in a day, she reminded herself, the beam still on her face.

Daniel, wouldn't show up again. Even if he does, she wouldn't let his need for revenge get to her like the last time he was there. The past was gone, and now the future. If she succeeded with the decision, he'd buck off and let her be. Maybe also lace through the bitterness she had experienced. Life would still go on anyway.

"You didn't contact me as promised."

Eva, focus on a short, chubby man staring at her with a mixture of frown and smile. "I'd been extremely busy," she lied. Needing not to tell him about his card deposited in a garbage basket, just like dozen others.

"That's obvious. Are you always busy, even at night? We could hang out some other time, don't you think so?"

Dragging on an unfriendly grin, Eva casted a look to the two sides. "This is not the appropriate time to talk about that."

"Can I come pick you up after your closing hour?"

"Thank you. But, no." She quizzical her gaze. "What would you like to have today?"

He frowned fully. "I'm surfeited. I was restless. Thinking why you didn't call as expected."

"Well, as you can see, there are people waiting to be attended to," Eva, informed him as politely as she could. Gestured to his back at the waiting customers. "Might call you later."

"Might?" He muttered stepping aside, at the moment recess bumped into a man.

"Are you blind?" The man, barked.

He turned, "I collided into you from behind and you are asking if I'm blind. How was I to assume you were at my back. You are the one that's supposed to answer the question." He brushed past the man and strode off sparing not even a glance over his shoulder.

"Sorry about that, sir." Eva, said to him when his snarling mouth gaped at his crushed toes.

"He should be the one to apologize, not you." The man retorted.

Eva, shrugged. Turned to another impatient woman who thrusted herself in front of him to be attended to. At the same time, baffled by how most men tackle rejection. Couldn't pronounce common 'I am sorry' to someone he hurt out of annoyance of a failed wooing. Just like, Daniel rubbed a woman to her face in retaliation and anger of what had occured three long years ago. His could be excused giving some reasons. But judging by what she felt, she wasn't sure it made any difference.

Absently, Eva looked at the door, mindlessly retrieved the glace... Snapped it back when her mind registered the presence of, Daniel. Or was it his look alike... Her throat dried up when their eyes met. He was outside, however staring at her through the glass door. Her heart tightened in her chest. Why was he standing there and looking at her like a statue? She asked herself with no expectations of an answer.

Involuntarily her eyes glued to his, her stomach lifted, then slammed back down with a crucial churning. His eyes were deadly cold, Eva noted. The frown decorating his face was murderous. What more had she done to deserve the wordless confrontation. Maybe he was aggravated by her reaction the last time he was here, Eva decided.

Like a flash, Daniel was out of sight. She stared at the glass windows but not a shadow of him was revealed. Like he had not been there a second ago.

Had she started hallucinating things? Eva, questioned herself. She was sure it was him she saw. So where is he?

Maybe he felt disgusted seeing her again. Hated to set his eyes on her. That would explain why he behaved that way. But that's so childish of him, and stupid, too. If he hadn't wanted to see her, why not avoid coming at all?

_________

"I'm sick and tired of him striking me with high blood pressure," Eva, complained as soon as she got into their room. "Why would it have to be now after all those years?" She blinked furiously. "I can't contain the way my heart jumps whenever I set my eyes on him. Maybe it's best I leave the job and seek for another where he wouldn't find me."

Find? A coincidence. With the look straightened on his face, told her he is nothing but apologetic for the concurrence. "If I can't have him back, then I won't stand the torture."  Flustered by her ever changing admitting, Eva centered her attention on which was best. "No more speculation for you." She scowled. "You've had enough already." She bit her bottom lip. "You can..."

Eva's voice fizzled out when a ferocious rumbling of thunder echoed accompanied by a lightning. Her thoughts of what to do and what not, evaporated. She jumped on the bed and shrieked under a heavy blanket. Thunderbolt always scared the living daylight out of her. Had it been, Favour was there, she'd tease her till her face swell with annoyance. But she would be more comfortable knowing someone was beside her.

Her irises watered immediately when she remembered the day, Daniel covered her with his body to shield her from the angry roar of atmospheric electricity. It had worked like magic. Its powerful echo had kept its assault all through night, as he had informed her in the morning, but she hadn't heard it. Daniel, evoked all her focus on him just as he...

Eva... She shut her eyes. Hating to remember the memorable night  surprised to still feel the pleasure that took place years ago. Why would it have to be now? She demanded for the hundredth time in a few weeks.

_______
Cursing himself dozens of times over and swearing in his mind, Daniel stormed to his sitting room. His brain spanking, his lips quivering. What the hell took him there when he had promised never to? Even though he needed her desperately and had initially decided to get her, what she had done to him was etched deep that he couldn't watch himself make the move. He would be a buffon if he ever tried.

He decided to cool down. He had never felt such a pull for a woman... Not... Not any woman... Eva... With her, he was just like a lost soul. If he had stayed any longer, he knew, trusted and distrusted himself to approach her simply to smack his lips on hers right there.

Daniel, laughed. Maybe he had it backwards. Maybe she would have done the same with all her heart. However, she might think of ending it once it's done and she is satisfied.

He knew now for a fact that she was planning not to belong to him. Just as he wouldn't to her. It didn't matter if they were admitting it to each other. It was written boldly between them.

Judging by the look on her face two weeks ago, she'd made it plain she didn't want to see him or have anything to do with him. But the way she'd eyed his lips made it all a lie. She wanted him, needed him the same way he needed her, but she didn't want to love him again.

Are you making any sense now? A tiny voice in his head scoffed.

Does love even die?

Daniel, snorted at himself. If she'd fiercely loved him from the start, why'd she behave the same way she did. She never gave a damn about him. Furious, he stormed to his bar. Picked out a bottle of liquor and a beer-mug. Returned and dropped on a sofa, popped open the cork and watched as it foamed to the brim.  With a mix expression, he filled the mug, set the bottle aside and gulped the gin to half.

His face crinkled as it burned through his chest.

Why does she always drive him crazy? A lot of ways always bombard his mind, but it ended up not providing an answer for them. It would have been better if he'd never met her. He wouldn't have been experiencing the turmoil. He'd have been in his office, working away in his office. A woman blocked him from doing that. Not physically, but emotionally.

Daniel, decided to talk to somebody about it. But who? His mother would only worsen the situation. His baby sister might look at him as if he'd suddenly ran mad. His psychologist might advise him to let her be. Maybe tell him to find himself an attractive woman to enable him succeed in the process. He'd tried all that and failed. None of them would understand the riot.

Throughout the night, Daniel had rolled around his king size bed restless. Even when he managed to grab two hours of sleep, he'd awaken with a moan of want and slapped himself afterward for his weakness towards the enchantress.

She must be sleeping soundly in her bed, while he kept on an unwillful vigil like a drenched helpless goat. Pissed when he realized how hard it would be to rid her off. Impossible. She had a part of him he'd have to retrieve to live a peaceful life.

If only he hadn't decide to eat out that day, he wouldn't have met her. And the battle occurring in him wouldn't have surfaced. His stubbornness to listen to the first voice dropped him in the mess.

She'd always intercepted his mind since the breakup, but it hadn't been severe now that he'd seen her again. Maybe he could resist more of the torment if he stayed far away from the eatery. He'd survived just beautifully for the past year. Why wouldn't he now?

Daniel, scammed his bedroom with the help of the glow of a table lamp on the bedstand. Tantrumly he wearily spotted the room to be lonelier. Worsened when he saw the time to be three-fifty then. All he needed was to abandon the loner he called a room.

Dragging a resilient breath, he shut his eyes and quietly prayed for a resound sleep to engulf him. Failing to achieve that, he dismissed himself from the bed and went to the wide window. Threw it wide open and marveled with eyes shut as cold breeze bathed his face and available body, proceeded into the massive chamber.

He had intentionally acquired the mansion a year ago because of the available sumptuous view of outstanding buildings and pastoral life of being sprawling to their various destinations. The dazzling glows of mixtured lights spread as far as his eyes could sight. His old duplex was accommodating, but lacked the  panorama he required.

Another reason he'd abandoned his old house was to splenish his troubled mind with property satisfaction. Only to end up being whipped to the abandoned state just when he'd declaimed the mysterious feelings. Now he was pressured into dumping his question and random muddled up lumbering lunacy.

Whether the ache liked it or not, he was never stepping his goddam foot in that eatery ever again.

_________
Well, Daniel couldn't lie to himself for at two-thirty-three pm, he gravitated into, Rights Donald food joint. Gouging himself mentally with a mental nail and hammer, trying to find out if he got an ant brain in there. Furious to have failed in carrying out his swarmy decision, slumbering his reasoning into ease, breaking his travailing rule.  And he swore to make her pay for it. Right now, he had to meet with her in private to trash out his utilized mind.

He feasted his eyes on her and there he took in the presence of another lady occupying Eva's position. He marched towards the lady who wore a smile that was not valid as that of, Eva's. When close, he remembered her to be the lady that had taken over the other day when Eva left abruptly.

His heart that raced to devastation when he saw her leave. Bunched when she halted in front of the door, a hand flying to her forehead. He'd wanted to be happy with the outcome, it had quickly settled to self-pissed after he enquired from the lady why, Eva had left and she'd told him, Eva had to leave for an emergency call at home.

Emergency call? He'd for the first time; squirmed, on his way back home. Could the call be from a waiting boyfriend? Who was so in a hurry to see her without waiting for the closing time to click.

Furry had stabbed at him when he'd left. The anger generated to rambling hot steam on perceiving the aroma wafting from the kitchen. He'd gritted his teeth so hard it almost shattered on getting a mental picture of another man learning the details of Eva's body. His woman... No! Ex.

He'd forced himself to belly it after he'd stabilized the wandering of his mind. Felt irritated with himself later for having thoughts of strangling any man he caught intent on being with her. He alone knows the enigmatic button to use to start up her endothermic equipment.
That... was how he liked to put it for civil sake.

At the last thought, he'd let a consolation titter play on his mouth, when he feared she'd been pretending the few nights they'd feasted on each other. The pretty lady behind the counter, smiled at him. He tapped his car key gently on the surface distractedly. "Good afternoon. What'd you like?"

"Eva." Daniel, voiced out the only word in his head.

"Huh?" She pulled her brows together.

"I'm looking for, Eva."

She frowned mystically on figuring the attraction on his handsome face... That wasn't meant for her. "I'm not her keeper."

"I know. Still I demand to know where she is."

"We don't disclose personal details here. So excuse me." She rudely tore her gaze from his and landed it on a young man beside him.

"For your information, I am a personal person that deals with personal people." Daniel's voice rose a notch. Irated by her insultive reply. He'd already measured her: Some you intimidate, some you flatter, some you bribe, and others you just roll over.  "The name's, Daniel. And I need to know her where about. If there is a problem with that, you should speak with your manager." He said the last part deliberately. The waiting customers gave, Daniel a surprised side glimpse. The lady returned her focus on him. Her bearing unfriendly and stiff. Her eyes narrowed. 'You are a troublemaker' look on her face "I'm too busy to do that. It's a policy not to..."

"What's going on here?" A man demanded as he slipped out of the backroom. His gaze resting on her.

"This man came asking for, Eva." The way she'd referred to Daniel as 'this man' made him smirk.

The man who was probably the superior among the staff and had rushed out on hearing the exchange, turned his head to Daniel. His breath withheld the moment their eyes met. "I'm afraid she didn't understand. We weren't expecting..."

"Where is, Eva? I take it you understand now?"

"Of course, of course..." He nervously clasped his fingers.
"Sir, what a pleasure to meet you in person. I'm so honored." His mouth expanded to the top of his head.

"Likewise," Daniel, returned. Unsatisfied.

"I heard about your volunteering to repair the road along Ikeja. You are a good man with a big heart..."

"Not the reason why I'm here." Daniel, cut in impatiently.

"Oh, yes, sir. Absolutely, sir. How may we be of help?"

Daniel's brow moved up in an arc.

"Sorry, sir. Let's talk outside, please."

Daniel, casted a look at her before marching out leaving the man to follow. The lady eyed the chief of staff confusedly as he hurried around and right behind Daniel, almost knocking a chair down.

"That's weird..." She murmured.

"You've got some nerve girl." A client whispered, throwing a hesitant glance over his shoulder to the retreating backs of the two men. One an older man, the other a money bag. Lather anxious, the first excited.

"My job is not to reveal information." She snapped, her tone flattened with uncertainty.

"Varies who demand for it. He is the owner of, Fexi oil company." The customer retorted, feeling offended on Daniel's behalf. The scowl on his face, deepened.

She inhaled abruptly, fizzled out. Her eyes were huge. "H-how is that possible? It can't be true. Billionaires don't go around in public places. I remember seeing him last week..." The corner of her mouth turned up. "People with such a large amount of wealth, hardly eat in cheap places..." She shut her mouth in time to stop from blubbering something that would get her fired at spot.

"Cheap places you really mean to say?"

"Jeez, no. I wanted to say, regular restaurant." She defended swiftly throwing a suddenly more timorous look towards the door making sure she wasn't heard. She contemplated going after, Daniel to apologize just in case he demands for her duty termination. Rich people easily pull that off. Her heart beat increased. What has she gotten herself into? Lose her job just because she couldn't control her jealousy.

"Well, I won't be punished for what I know not."

He giggled like a little girl watching her favourite cartoon. "You are afraid now, ain't you?"

_______
"I ask pardon on her behalf," the supervisor said once they had stopped beside Daniel's thirty million ride.

"Her return's applaudable as a loyal worker. I expect nothing less from my employees, except carrying that out recklessly." He fell into silence, mulled over his next word, then, "where is she?" He asked causatively.

"Is she in trouble?"

"Never mentioned she is. Now tell me."

"I am equally unhappy with her. Tell me what she'd done and I will..."

"Nothing that concerns you.

"Exactly, Mr Daniel. You see, Eva had been a diligent person since she started work here. So punctual you might sometimes..."

"I believe... " Daniel's eyes darkened. He drew closer. "That... Wasn't what I wanted to know."

The smaller man, swallowed.
"Eva... Resigned this morning."

Daniel's heart constricted.

__________________________________

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