Chapter 19

As I try to speak I burst into real tears. I started crying like a baby as if somebody beat me. I bent my head from the embarrassment I was causing the young man. I couldn't even stop the tears this time as it wash off the make up on my face, I did not give it a second thought. All I wanted to do was to cry out my sorrow and feel better when I'm done. I used do that and I avoid crying in public but today was different, I couldn't even stop myself. I wish Ohio was not there, I was feeling ashamed that he was watching me as I cry. I try to get a tissue to wipe my face but the one I had was soiled. Ohio bent over and took my hand, he lifted me up and draw me into a hug. I struggled to get away but he held me tight to his chest and did not say a word until I was emotionally stable. His cloth was stained with my tears mixed with the dirt from my face. Ohio did not care about his well ironed starched shirt getting messed up. All he cared was for me to be fine. He led me to his car. His driver was sitting inside the car, he told the man to excuse him for some time and the man stepped down obediently. He sat at the driver side after opening the door and guiding me in. I sat beside him. As I checked the time, the one hour break was already over, I need to return back to my office seat and continue my work. He stopped me from going and told me not to worry about working for the rest of that day. He said I was safe with him and no one will question that. 'Relax Becca, can you tell me what made you cry… talk to me. I may be able to help. Don't be shy…I'm only a friend, trying to help another friend….if you will let me. 'I need a man to present to my parents as my fiance. A man who will play a perfect convincing role and pretend to be truly my fiance. I'm ready to pay or do whatever you want me to do as a form of payment. I just want my people to leave me the hell alone. I want to have a peace of mind, I'm tired of everything that life has thrown at me and want out. I will do whatever you want me to do or even pay any amount. But please don't charge me too high, I'm not much of a classic fat earner. I'm just a 29years old lady struggling to live in a world filled with unknown enemies. I don't even know who to trust anymore. Very soon another date will click and I will be 30years old. That is how time will be moving and before you know it, I'm close to the grave with neither a husband nor children. Life has dealt with me in a different way and I just want everyone to let me be. If I can convince my parents about the man in my life, they will let me be for the main time. I wish to…to… I quickly recovered from running my mouth without thinking. I actually said everything without a real thought to it and when I saw the shock on his face I couldn't proceed. I have said enough already. Ohio may want to know why I'm looking for a man when I'm already engaged to one. He will really think I'm dumb and crazy to have engaged myself if I confess the truth to him. I have being lying so much this days and I did not want that to become part of me. I quickly apologized to him for running my wide mouth and asking him for the impossible. 'I'm so sorry sir. I…I wasn't thinking. Please forget everything I said to you. Maybe I should really get back to work. I don't want to bother you please. He was looking at me strangely, not with his usual smile but with a surprised face which made me ashamed. 'Why…why are you looking for a man to play such a sensitive role Becca? I'm surprise to hear you say those first sentences. What happened to the man you have being engaged to? I mean, is your parents not aware that you are engaged already or they just want something different? I don't understand Becca. I picked my word carefully as I try to reply him. 'Is a long story sir. You will not understand. That is the only help I needed but I will find a way out of my dilemma. You have being helpful enough by listening to me. I appreciate sir. He looked away from me and did not say anything for some time. He did not force me to start explaining what I meant, he just went all quiet. I got so uncomfortable with his quietness and was ready to get down from the car and disappear into thin air with my shameless self. 'I will help you Becca but…if you are sure that no man will come to harass me after or during the whole act. I hate drama and I try as much as possible to stay away from relationships drama. I will do whatever that will make you happy Becca, anything that will bring smile back to your face. Trust me…I'm not like all the bunch of people who betrayed you in the past. Tell me how many days we will be spending? The time we will be leaving? What does your parents likes so that I can do small shopping for them. Tell me what you like too. Give me details of how your parents will want their supposed son inlaw to act or behave and I will try and do exactly that. And you have to be precise about the days so that I will know how to reschedule any appointment. I'm not asking you to pay me with anything yet…you cannot even pay me if I ask for money. I can't take you to bed as another means of payment just because I decide to do you a little favor. no, I'm not that kind of man. I once told you I'm a straight forward person and don't like beating around the bush. If I wasn't going to help, I would have said so clearly. If I wanted something from you I would have also make that known. my main payment is to see you smile. And basically, I will be doing this as your true friend. Start seeing me as one. My name is not 'sir". My real name is Ohio Jacobs. And I will give you more details in case they ask you about my background. And you will also tell me things I need to know about your family so that I will be prepared for whatever is ahead. By the way you look 20years to me not 29 or 30. You are beautiful and young. You are smart and I know you have a cheerful heart. Don't let anybody make you feel inferior about yourself Becca. You can be 30 or 40 or even 60years old and it will not matter to those who truly care about you. Love can find you at any point and at any age. You need to start living your best life without any apology to others who feels you are either too old to laugh or too old to drive your first car, too old to get married or have your first child. Do not pay attention to people who feel you are too old to even complain over anything. Don't let them get to you Becca. Your heart is pure and you deserves to be happy. I will help you in any way you want to be helped but you must be open to me and keep no secret. Alright? Please smile for me, I love to watch you smile. Give me your usual smile before we start executing our plans. You can count on me…. I was dumb founded, I couldn't believe that Ohio agreed to help me. I smile and even began to laugh at same time. I felt like hugging him to show how grateful I am but I held myself from doing that. he was smiling too as he watch me laugh. I wanted to jump and dance happily immediately he agreed to help me and I saw that he meant every word he just said. Finally, I got a man who will play the game of convincing my parents. and he is doing it without payment of any kind. I thought I will be disgraced if I failed to provide a man. It was one of my new developed trouble, it worries me day and night on how to go about it but surprisingly, help just located me. It made me very happy and I can't wait to proceed with Ohio to pay my parent's a visit.