Chapter 8 Bella's insecurities

Instead of going into the Kitchen as Bella had said, she went up to the fourth floor. When she got there, she just walked to her room and laid down. She didn't have the energy to do anything. She didn't even know what she was feeling. Fear? Sadness? Nervousness? She couldn't name her feeling at that moment. What would happen if Luke was to find out about her children? Will he take them from her? At the thought of her children entered her mind, she stood up from the bed and started pacing around the room. She would never allow anyone take her children away from her.

Why did he even come to look for her? He should have just forgotten about whatever happened that night and not bother her.

"What are you doing here?" Bella's grandmother who had just walked into her room asked. She had gone to the kitchen to check on Bella but she wasn't there. She checked the office and she wasn't there also.

"Oh! Grandma! You scared me..." Bella gasped.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to. What are you doing here?" She asked Bella after apologizing.

Bella stopped pacing around and sat down. "I am just thinking about how to handle everything. What would I do if he finds out about the children?" Bella said to her grandmother.

Her grandmother sighed and sat beside her on the bed. "Why are you thinking about that? Don't you want him to know about the children?" She asked.

"Yes. I don't want him to know about their existence. What will happen if he wants to take them away from me?" Bella asked.

"Bella, I don't want to disagree with you but, don't you think it'll be better if you tell him about the children? He is their father afterall. I am very sure he would not take them away from you. He looks like a nice man." Her grandmother said.

"Grandma, you just met him. How can you be so sure? I can't take that risk. I'll die If the children are taken away from me.!" Bella said while looking at her grandmother's face.

"Okay, you don't want to tell him because you feel that he'll take the children away from you. What do you think will happen when the children finds out you have been lying to them that their father had died? I was also shocked when you told me he is their father but, I believe you have your reasons. Please, think it through before you take such a step." Her grandmother said and tapped her shoulder before standing up. "Anyways, I guess we'll be having him around for a while. He told ne that, he'll be here everyday." She added with a smile and walked away.

"Haaaa! Why now!?" Bella shouted and pulled at her hair when her grandmother left the room. After a while, she calmed down and started to think. 'Grandma is right. What will I say to the children when they find out? How do I even explain to them that I lied? Jeez, that will be bad. I can't let them find out. I will not let them meet each other. I have to keep the children away from him at all cost.' She thought and quickly left the room.

She went out and started looking for her grandmother. When she found her, she was attending to customers. She hurriedly signaled her grandmother to make her know she was waiting for her. "What happened?" Her grandmothert asked after walking up to her.

"Grandma, I need to talk to you.." Bella said with a hint of urgency and worry in her tone.

Her grandmother didn't even know what to make of Bella's mood. "Okay... What do you want to talk about that you can't even wait till we close for the day?" Her grandmother asked her.

"It's about my children... I need to keep them away from here. I don't want them and their father meeting." Bella explained. Since she had made up her mind that she would never allow them meet each other, she would do everything possible to keep them apart.

"Why? Don't you think it'll be better to tell Oliver and Olivia the truth now?" Her grandmother asked her.

"No... There is nothing to tell them. I already told them that their father is dead so, he'll have to stay dead. I don't want to have anything to do with him... Let the past stay in the past..." Bella said with certainty.

"Is this what you truly want?"

"Yes... This is what I want. This would give me peace of mind."

"Then, I have nothing else to say. Your happiness is very important to me. Now, how do you intend to keep the children away from here?" Her grandmothert asked. She had never Liked to pressure Bella. She'd always stand by her.

"Well, I was thinking you'll help me to pick them up from school or, we ask Lucia to do that for us." Bella explained to her grandmother. Lucia is Bells's only friend. When her father sent her back to Nigeria, she was always on her own. She even tried killing herself before she found out she was pregnant. Lucia was her grandparents helper. Whenever she came around, she would always try to talk to bella. She tried till Bella eventually opened up to the friendship.

"If you really want to keep the children away from their father, Lucia is the best option you've got. Call her...'' Her grandmother said with a smile.

"Thank you grandma. You are the best." Bella said as she hugged her grandmother. Her grandmother was just the best. She thought as she hugged her. If not for her grandparents and Lucia, she didn't know what she would have done with her life. She called Lucia and explained things to her.

"Hey bes... What's up?" Lucia asked immediately the call connected.

"Hey, umm. Can you help me with something?"

"It depends on what that something is. But before you say anything, how are my babies?" Lucia asked. When Bella gave birth to the twins, Lucia had started to live with them. She took care of the twins like they were her own children.

"You'll surely love what I want you to do for me. Can you help me pick the children from school and take them home?" Bella asked.

"Is that it? You should have said so earlier... With that said, I get to kill two birds with one stone. I'll leave work early and I'll also stay with my babies... Make sure you always call me when you need these kinds of favor. Okay?" Lucia let out with obvious joy.

"Okay then, I'll see you at home... Thanks." Bella said with a smile. She felt relieved that things were going well. Now, what's left was how to get that man out of her work space.

She had glanced at the table he sat on in the morning and he was still there. He didn't leave. What was he still waiting for? She had told him that he had the wrong person so why was he still here. He should leave already. Bella thought.

Luke who had decided that he would do alll it would take to make Bella his didn't leave. He was satisfied with just watching her. He didn't want to rush her but he was hoping she would come around fast. He could see how other men were watching her hungrily. He felt Like plucking their eyes out of it's socket. How dare them. Did they know who's women they were staring at like that?

What gave him a little solace was the fact that Bella didn't spare them a glance. Thruth be told, she didn't kook hid way either. She and her grandmother went about their job without sparing him a glance. He stayed there till it was time for them to close up. Bella's grandmother went to him and as they cleaned up for the day. "You've been here all day.. Do you also plan to spend the night here?" She inquired.

"No ma'am. I'll leave soon. But I want to talk to Bella before I leave. Even if it's just a minute." He said.

"I'll advice you let her be for now. Your presence here has given her quite a shock. Just go..." Bella's grandmother said. "I don't know what happened between you two but give her time." She added after a minute's thought.

"Okay... I'll leave but I will be back tomorrow, the day after and every other day till she get comfortable with my presence. I won't stop." He declared.

"Well... Nothing I say will change your mind so, do whatever you like but don't disturb my business... I need to make money." Bella's grandmother said. Many people had chased after her grand daughter in the past and they had all given up in the end. She was hoping that this one didn't give up. He already had an advantage over others. They have children together. After watching him walk out, she turned was surprised to see Bella standing behind her. "Jesus!! Bella!! You scared me. Why were you standing behind me like that?"

"What did he say? Will he be back? No... He shouldn't come back here. He should go back to where he came from. Tell me. What did her say?" Bella bombarded her grandmother with questions. She had been watching them since the moment they began talking till he walked out. She also saw the smile her grandmother had on her face as she watched him.

"That shouldn't be your problem. Come child... We need to close up."

Bella was very curious but she knew her grandmother wasn't ready to answer her questions. She just hoped she didn't get to see him again.