Chapter 57

CHRISTOPHER'S POV
As I got outside the building, I saw Louise standing beside my car so I walked hurriedly to her and when I asked her why she was standing there she told me she came out so that she does not miss me because she wanted to go out with me.
"I'm sure you know where I am going so there is no need to bother yourself. " I said to her that she might let me be but she insisted on going out with me.
Running out of options I had to allow her to follow me as much as it was not part of my plans.
The goal was to go out all by myself, look for Mr James, have a conversation with him again and then spend some time with myself.
This is something I have not done in a long time now. I have been busy around people whom I don't know if they actually have my best interest at heart. I barely spend time with myself.
"I'm definitely not going to follow you to where you're going, I just want you to drop me by the mall." She said while we were driving and that came as a relief to me.
At least I will have all the time I need in the world to spend alone without any interference from any other person.
"That's okay you can remind me when we are about getting there so I don't speed past it." I said to her and she gave me a beautiful smile while I took her left hand that was lying on her lap and squeezed it.
The drive was actually quiet for a while before she began to bombard me with stories. Most of which she has told me before and I was beginning to get bored. I just drove as fast as I could praying to get to the mall so I could drop her off.
"So what do you want to go get at the mall?" I asked her in a bid to change the topic that was already making me doze.
"Nothing much, just some personal effects and toiletries." She responded with a voice that sounded like that of a child and she began to bite her finger immediately.
"Stop doing that."I scolded her just to make sure she stopped biting her finger. I actually find that irritating.
"What am I doing?" She asked me looking blank and then slipped the finger into her mouth again.
"You have to stop biting your fingers." I said to her since she could not understand what I had just said before.
Immediately she dropped her hand and used a handkerchief from her bag to clean them.
"Good girl." I commended her and she smiled.
We drove a little longer and she asked me to stop and I wondered why because we had not gotten to the mall.
"This is not the mall, what are you going to do here?'' I asked her as I looked around the place and saw that it was more of a residential area and it looked reserved also.
"I want to drop by a friend's house. I will proceed to the mall as soon as I'm done with her." She replied and I pulled the car and parked at a spot where she could easily go down.
"Thank you, I'll see you when I get home," she said as she came down from the car.
I gave her a smile and a nod while she kept waving at me even after getting down from the car.
I continued my journey to the hospital although I did not know why I was going to the hospital. I just felt like dropping by before proceeding to Mr James house.
While I was driving down I kept reminiscing about the incidents that took me to that hospital recently.
Then I remembered Louise's friend and I wondered how she would be faring by now.
I think I had promised her that I would stop by to check up on her while she stayed in the hospital but I totally forgot and never did.
Soon, I got to the hospital and without even honking the gate man opened the gate for me.
He had seen me from a distance and guessed I would be coming here and just like he predicted this was my destination.
"Good morning sir you are welcome," he greeted me and I waved him from the car.
I noticed he was trying to stop me so I had to park properly and go to see him first.
"You seem to have something to say to me,'' I said as soon as I got to the spot where he was standing.
"I'm surprised to see you because to the best of my knowledge you don't have a relative here, or are you sick?" He said with so much concern and I assured him that I was not sick.
I asked him if the doctor that attended to the people I had brought in the last time was around and he told me he wasn't on call at the moment.
Nevertheless I still went in and inquired from a nurse at the reception of the details of Mr James and Louise's friend.
She reluctantly released those details to me and as soon as I got them I drove out of the hospital as though I was in a haste.
I wanted to go to Louise's friend first but on second thought, I have unfinished business with Mr James so I thought to go see him first.
On my way I kept observing the environment and everything around and I found that a whole lot was actually going wrong.
It then dawned on me that I needed to get on my feet and work as hard as I can just so I can protect my people and the pack.
The drive to Mr James house was really hectic because I found it difficult to locate it.
When I finally did he never gave me a warm reception but that did not bother me.
"I thought you wouldn't want to have anything to do with me, why are you in my house?" He attacks me without even letting me state the purpose of my visit.
"I never said I didn't want anything to do with you, I only said I was not interested in your offer." I retorted and he began to laugh sarcastically.
"Come on Mr James there is nothing funny here. I came here to make it clear to you that I can't do what you are asking me to do. So in case you are harbouring the thought of coming back to me to persuade me kindly discard it because it's not going to work." I stated but he was not moved by anything I said. He just kept on laughing and that really annoyed me.
"You should get going now I don't want to lose it on you."he advised me and as prudent as I was I took his advice without a second thought and moved out of his house.
I entered my car and started the engine just as I was about to drive out of his compound, I saw him wave at me telling me to wait.
So I stopped the engine and waited for him to meet me up.
When he got to the car I brought down the window and turned to face him.
"Did I forget anything?" I asked him because I never expected him to call me back. And I didn't have an idea about what he was going to say to me.
And to be honest I didn't want to hear anything from him. I just wanted to leave his house having made it clear to him that I was not going to work with him.
"I felt you would have a rethink and you have all the time in the world to spend.
What we have to do is not something we won't rush so I would advise you to take your time and give this a thought." He tried to convince me but I already knew the answer was going to give to him however I decided to play the other side to see if it would be more interesting
"What do I stand to gain from all of this?" I asked him because I was beginning to get curious. I need to know my stake here so I can weigh the options available to me and know whether or not I would embark on this with him.
"You would have nothing to lose. I will just try my best to make sure you are one of the most powerful alphas that will walk on the surface of the earth." He gave me an offer that sounded really exciting and juicy but that was actually not what I wanted at this point in my life, the only thing I thought of was peace and I hope I get that someday.
"I'm convinced you would give this a thought and change your mind. So when you do I will be right here waiting for your response." He said and snapped his fingers and started walking towards his building.
I kept looking at him until he entered the house and I began to wonder what kind of man he was.
He had enough power at his disposal already and to think that he wanted more was something I found awful.
Well I decided not to judge him because I was also guilty of this.
I had been power hungry before and I did not rest until I got it in my hand.
It's only surprising how I got tired at the end and I wish I never got it in the first place.
Snapping out of my thoughts I drove out of his compound and I tried to think about a place I could go to and have a good time with myself.
I needed somewhere that was very quiet and serene, a place where you could hear your spirit talk to you and your soul would respond to the question that you only can ask yourself even when you can't answer them.
I needed somewhere surrounded by trees so I could sit under one and listen to the birds chirping. I needed to have a place with plenty of sand so I could take off my shoes and brush my feet through the sand and even bury my legs in it and reminisce about those old days when mom would take us to the beach and dump us there.
I need a place that has water too so that I can easily wash my face when I get tired before making my way home.
This place also has to be empty because it can only accommodate me and my thoughts.
I began to comb through the resorts we had here but none of them could meet this expectation of mine because they are not just a public place they are actually crowded with people.
While driving I got to the bridge and decided to stop by it so I parked by a corner and stepped out of the car, removed my shoes and started walking barefooted. I looked down and the beautiful movements of the water amazed me.
I wish I was somewhere very close to it because that serenity is actually what my head needed right now.
I noticed that people who drove past kept looking at me like someone who is thinking of jumping over the bridge into the river.
Some even slowed down to ask me what was going on and I assured them that everything is fine.
I just needed something that would distract me and here it was.
Having spent so much time there, I decided to go to see Louise's friend but first of all I had to call her to confirm her address so that I don't make the same mistake I made while trying to trace Mr James' house.
She picked up the second ring and she told me that she was not in town. She also assured me that she was in perfect condition and that was all I really needed to know.
After that I decided it was time to go home although I was not ready for any drama that I was going to see because I am sure that there will definitely be something to talk about by the time I get home.
As I got into the car and turned on the engine my eyes caught my watch and I was surprised to see that it was evening already.
I never knew I had spent so much time outside it feels like I just came here and I was in a hurry to leave but I have actually spent so much time already.
In order not to be disturbed for a long period of time, I started driving slowly just so I could get to the house very late, and maybe all I would have to do is eat and sleep.
But the interesting thing about all of this is the fact that I didn't get to rest as soon as I got home.
First the gateman gave me a look that suggests there was trouble and an impression that it was something grave.
"I will need to ask him why he gave me that look." I thought to myself as I drove into the compound but I decided against it. I should find out from those inside and not the gatekeeper.
After pulling in the parking lot, I sat in the car for a while taking deep breaths with my eyes closed.
All of a sudden, I heard a knock on the car window and as I opened my eyes and turned the direction where the knock was coming from.
And there was Emily looking angry as usual and I wondered whether she ever took out time to go to the mirror to see how horrible she looked wherever she wore a frown.
I decided not to open the door for her, pretending I did not see her. Yet she didn't leave so I was forced to come out of the car.
"Tell me what the hell is going on." I queried her as soon as I stepped out of the car without even closing the door.
"Where have you been?" She answered my question with another question and I just started laughing.
"When did you start bothering yourself about my whereabouts?" I said to her and pushed her slightly so I could have some space to close the car door.
"There is a lot to be done and you must get on your feet immediately." She roared and I couldn't just help but laugh at her expression.
"You think this is funny?" Her anger heightened and I was shocked because I did not expect to be this bad no matter what.
"You need to smile more, this frown doesn't look good on you." I replied in a mild tune and moved away from her.
As I opened the door to the living room, I felt very usual and I was beginning to wonder what was wrong.
Walking through the door, I saw Louise pacing from one corner of the living room to another with her fingers in her mouth.