Chapter Twelve

EVELEEN'S POV
I should be happy, but I was feeling gloomy. Every morning I woke up without a smile on my face. It had been two weeks. He didn't return yet. I thought to ask him his arrival time. Should I call him? ' No, bad idea.' My teachers studied me daily here. It took my half day. I woke up late and slept late. I watched Netflix in the evening. Thomas always engaged with his work. He played chess sometimes with me, When he found me sad. I wasn't allowed out of the house. I was missing my family, friends. Rose and I had a fight. Mini was back from Punjab. She talked to me on WhatsApp and called me daily. I didn't ask her to visit me. I didn't know this was allowed by my husband or not? I didn't know why he made the decision to marry me. I wasn't good for him, maybe for him but not for his Mafia world. People are cruel here. He didn't show me his worst side, but I had seen its little part a few days ago, I couldn't trust time. Anything might happen. It was my mistake. Thomas took all the blame for me. When I thought about Anita, she had lost her half family, Because of that beast who laid his eyes on her to ruin her. I was glad, she was safe away from him. Undoubtedly, I couldn't do it without Duante and Thomas' help.
I picked up my phone. I was glaring at his number and thinking.
' Should I call him or not? I thought.
I would try it. I was smiling like a mad person. I touched the call button. It was ringing and my heart was also catching beat with it, beating fast. What if he would be busy and scolded me. I disconnected it and threw my phone away from him. I wasn't getting what was wrong with me. Indeed I was missing him. it was shocking for me. Mostly I smiled without knowing the reasons when he hovered in my mind. It started to ring. Shit! I hid my face under pillow and watched it, ringing. It stopped ringing, making me sad again. My eyes filled with water.
My room's door swung open, " Are you alright, Eveleen? " Thomas asked in a high pitched voice.
I removed the pillow from my face and looked at him. His phone was in his hand. I hugged the pillow. I nodded my head.
He glared at my face, " Did you cry? What's the problem? " he asked worriedly.
" I'm fine, seriously. " I lied. How could I tell him, his brother was the reason for my tears, I didn't know from where did this missing feeling for him came in me.
" You do not look okay. Why didn't you answer his call? " he asked, walking near me.
I bit my bottom lip, " Um, I didn't know. " I genuinely said and tears ran down my cheeks.
" Why are you crying then? " he asked, sitting beside me on the bed. I could see he was worried about me.
" I really don't know. " I said with more tears in my eyes.
" Are you missing him? " he suddenly asked, staring at me. Perhaps reading my expressions.
I pressed my lips together and nodded in yes.
" Then you should talk to him. " he suggested.
" No, I um.. " I hesitated.
He raised his eyebrows, reminding me of Duante.
" I never talked to a boy on the phone. " I replied.
" I'll tell my brother, you are absolutely fine. " he smirked.
" What's your mean? " I furrowed my brows.
" You didn't pick his call. He called me to look into the matter." he explained.
It startled me, " You'll not tell him. I told you that I'm missing him. " I asked him with big eyes.
" Sure! " he said and walked out of the room, closing the door.
I plucked my book from the night stand. I tried to concentrate on studying but in vain.
My phone pinged the beep, popping up a message. It was from Duante. My hands started to shiver. last time, I didn't receive his call. He broke the door of my room. Did Thomas tell him? Oh God! why I couldn't control my feelings.
Gingerly, I picked the phone in my hands and swiped to open it.
Hi, Are you okay? - Duante.
A small smile broke on my lips. I click on reply.
' I'm fine, tQ. ' I typed. Should I ask him? It was a normal thing, I could ask this.

' How are you? ' I added and clicked on send.
I was curiously watching three dots, which were telling - sending. Three dots stopped moving , showing me- sent.
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Duante's POV
She was blushing while calling me. She disconnected the call without talking to me. I called her twice. She ignored it as always. Instantly, I called Thomas to check on her. She must share her problem with him if she didn't wanna share it with me. She had hidden her face behind a pillow. When Tom goes into our room. She was crying. I was away from her. But I was watching her daily life through the camera installed in my room. It's part of security. I activated them when I went away, especially leaving my precious things back.
I could hear her on the phone as I didn't end the call with Tom. I skipped my heart beat, when my eyes witnessed her nod, that she's missing me. I could tell she's in love with me. I was waiting for this moment. I smiled the biggest. Tom came out of the room.
" Do I need to explain, brother? " He smirked.
" No. " I smiled and disconnected the call. I was actually smiling, I didn't remember when last time I was elated.
I waited to see her next move. I unlocked my IPhone and quickly sent her a text. She replied to me. I wasn't expecting a reply. Instead of replying to her text, I hit the call button. I was observing her. This time she picked it on the sixth ring.
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Eveleen' s POV
I was waiting for his reply. My phone started to ring in my hands. I glanced at the display. It was him, Duante my husband was calling. I was smiling ear to ear. What would I talk to him about? Although, I answered it. I didn't say a word. I waited for him.
" Hello.. " he said.
I was smiling and weeping at the same time, " Hey. " I said slowly.
" Why didn't you talk to me before? " he asked.
I was puzzled. What should I say to him? I couldn't tell him the truth. He must not have any space for such feelings in his life. He was waiting for my reply.
" Um, you're in New York City. I wanted to ask you to click some beautiful place's pictures for my Instagram. Then I thought, you must be busy. So I.. .. um " I whispered.
" Alright, anything else you want? " he asked.
I wanted to say to him ' you ' . I bit my bottom lip and picked a glass of water from the table and drank it in two gulps, " Nothing. " I replied.
I heard voices from behind the phone, " Wait. " he said.
They were talking about some meetings. It was telling, time to say bye to happy time, " Eveleen, I have to go. I'll call you later. Take care of yourself. " He said.
I wanted to know when would he be back but I was also fearing, " Um, when will you come back? " I asked and prayed not to rebuke me, putting this question.
" Before your last day of college. " He said.
I happily hopped hearing him, " Okay, bye. I love. . ... . " I covered my mouth with my hand.
It went silent on both sides.
Shit! What was I going to say, " I mean, you're busy. I love to say bye then. " I lied and pursed my lips, while smiling.
" Bye. " he slowly said as he was in astonishment.
I immediately pressed the end button. What was I going to say? I don't love him. But deep down I know, I deeply and truly love him. I hugged my pillow and laid back. Tomorrow is my first exam.
My exams had started. Full three SUV filled with bodyguards protected me. I didn't know why in black men troops were appointed to protect me. What could happen to me in college ? None was allowed near me. in fact, all scared to come near to me. This routine was repeated whenever I went out of my cage for my exams. Days were running as I was waiting for the last daY of my exams. He said. He'll come on that day. I didn't see my cousins during it. I called Mini but no reply.
I was waiting for him. He didn't show himself. My face was hung all day. I hurriedly finished my paper. It was the last examination of my post graduate. I remembered his words, ' before your last day of college. ' would he keep his words to me? I walked out toward my car.
" How did it go?" Thomas asked.
I busied myself in my book to check my mistakes, " Amazing, brother. " I told him.
" That's great." he said, it came from the back seat.
I ran my gaze on the driver seat. Huge smile spreaded on my lips. I bit my bottom lip to control my smile, " Hi. " I said shyly.
" Hi. " Duante replied and pecked on my cheek. I put my hand on his chest to make sure I wasn't dreaming and closed my eyes to feel him. I was elated to see him. He kept his words to me. I bent my head, my hair covering his view of me. I was extremely glad to see him. but I didn't want him to know this.
" Are you hungry? " he asked.
" Yes, We can eat in the college canteen. " I said.
" You wanna eat in the canteen? " he frowned.
" No, I thought. " I said, looking at my shoes.
" Okay. " he said. His men opened the door for me. I got out of the car. He was walking with me. More than half dozen of his men were walking around us, inspecting the crowd with there's eyes. All were staring as we were the main piece of the museum. We stopped in the canteen.
" So what's special here? " he asked.
" Um Chinese food, fast food. " I said.
All were gawking at us. All the girls were gawking at Duante and half were staring at Thomas, " I don't think I can eat. " I said, glaring around.
" Ok, lemme take you home. " he smirked.
I hardly got time to come out. He wanted to take me back, " Home. " I squeaked, " Um, Will you allow me to come out again? " I asked. Some girls were glaring at my man. I gave them my cold glare. Fortunately he didn't follow my gaze.
" Sure, Baby. " he said and asked for my hand. Which I gave him immediately, to make them jealous who were glaring at my husband.
I was struggling to keep my eyes on the road. He was driving. I opened my book and shut it. I was glad when we reached home. Luggages were carried out of the building and his men were putting it in black scorpio car. My heart plummeted, " Are you going somewhere again? " I asked him politely.
" No, We're going? " He said.
I snapped my head at his side, " What's that mean? " I asked in confusion.
" We're going home," he said.
" This is home, right? " I asked with bewilderment now.
He put out his hand from his pocket and rested it on the car, " México is our home. " He said, staring at me. We walked in.
" No, I'm not leaving my hometown. '' I said and went away from him toward my door.
" I didn't ask you. I'm telling you. We're leaving. We're your family. " he frowned.
" I didn't deny. I'm lucky to have you all as my family." I said. I didn't look back and shut the door behind me.
I knew I started like him. I wanted to spend time and life with him, on other hand I wasn't ready to leave my friends and family behind. I badly wanted my freedom back. My heart was cursing me for not being with him right now. I can't go with him. I've to do this. I heaved a deep sigh and decided to run away. I paced toward my cupboard and packed my backpack.