Three weeks later, on a Saturday afternoon, Felix cruised down the palm-lined streets of Beverly Hills in his sleek Tesla to the most luxurious shopping mall. The California sun glinted off the chrome, mirroring the disquiet in his eyes. Despite attending a prestigious business conference, Felix's mind was a million miles away.
As he drove back home, his mind couldn't help but wander back to Chioma once again. Thoughts of her had consumed him throughout his entire time in the States. He despised the idea of her being humiliated by Jessica's fans, especially after reading a report falsely accusing her of cheating. He knew Chioma wasn't at fault. If only he had listened to her, he might have known about her love for Michael. He couldn't help but question what was truly wrong with him. He had thought that being in America would make him forget about her, but it seemed impossible. Was it normal to obsess over a girl who was already in a relationship?
Time and time again, Felix had been tempted to return to Nigeria and run away with Chioma to a place where no one could find them. But where would that be? Perhaps to undiscovered planets, because with Michael's resources and connections, he could track them down anywhere.
'Don't be foolish,' Felix muttered to himself, his voice drowned out by the sound of a police siren behind him. 'It's incredibly wrong to entertain thoughts about your brother's woman. You fell in love with her because you didn't know she was taken. That's all there is to it.'
A restless sigh escaped his lips as he glanced at the bulging shopping bags on the passenger seat. They weren't filled with the usual high-end gadgets or designer clothes. Instead, they held an extravagant amount of seafood—a last-minute attempt to impress his friend Dra, the California branch director of Moon Corporation, who had a penchant for the finer things in life. He had stopped at a grand restaurant to purchase an abundance of seafood, knowing that a friend of his, the California branch director of Moon Corporation, was coming over and had a preference for seafood.
Upon reaching his mansion in Beverly Hills, Felix pulled into the driveway of his sprawling mansion, its emerald lawns boasting beautiful flowerbeds bursting with colour. Foreign security guards, with sharp gazes more characteristic of businessmen than brutes, stood watch by the doorway. Three Asian female servants approached Felix as soon as they saw him at the door, silently relieving him of the shopping bags. Felix shouldered his briefcase and entered, the weight of his unspoken feelings heavier than the leather case itself.
The neighbourhood was a picture of Beverly Hills affluence. Sprawling estates with manicured lawns and glistening swimming pools, with names that whispered of old Hollywood money lined the street, their facades boasting architectural grandeur. A gleaming silver Ferrari with vanity plates purred into the dealership across the street, catching Felix's eye for a moment. An older woman with a serene smile gracing her lips, impeccably dressed in a designer pantsuit and sporting a dazzling array of diamond jewelry, emerged from a chauffeured limousine, her destination likely one of the many upscale boutiques lining the nearby Rodeo Drive. A tiny, yappy white poodle, its fur perfectly coiffed and a rhinestone collar glinting in the sun, trotted beside her, oblivious to the world's opulence.
A few minutes after Felix's arrival, the doorbell chimed. Moments later, a well-dressed servant appeared at Felix's side.
'Mr. Dra is here, sir,' the servant announced.
Felix nodded curtly, a forced smile tugging at the corners of his lips. 'Thank you, please show him in.'
The servant bowed and disappeared. A moment later, a tall, handsome young man dressed in a navy fitted suit and matching shoes entered the luxurious living room of the grand mansion. His smile was genuine, but Felix couldn't help but notice a hint of hero worship in his eyes.
'If I may flatter you a bit, you look stunning, Dra,' Felix joked, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
'Well, if you're bold enough to say I look stunning, then you should be bold enough to serve me the seafood you bought,' Dra responded with a smile.
Dra genuinely liked Felix. Although they had only hung out once since Felix's arrival, he found him to be friendly and admirable. As the branch director, Dra had mostly interacted with Felix on business matters, but he felt honoured that Felix had invited him over to handle urgent files requiring his signature. Felix appreciated Dra for his intelligence and maturity in handling issues. Dra's rich, deep voice was captivating, and his warm brown hair perfectly complemented his half-smile while Felix spoke to him.
'I don't know why you're grateful that I brought you over to my home just to sign some important files. Besides, I like to think we are friends,' Felix added with a genuine smile.
Dra chuckled in response. 'Well, you see, everyone looks up to you like a god. So being invited to your home is quite a status boost.'
'Please, have a seat,' Felix said, taking the files from Dra as they both settled down.
Dra leaned in with curiosity. 'Well, boss, I've been quite worried about you ever since I read about your complicated love story. Who is this young woman that has captivated your fate?'
Felix took a moment before responding. 'Her name is Chioma Chima. She works as a waitress. I met her through my sister, Audrey. She tried to play matchmaker by asking me to pick up my younger sister from school, coincidentally having Chioma do the same. I'm incredibly glad I crossed paths with her.'
'If that's the case, why give up?' Dra enquired, genuinely interested.
Felix finished signing the files and examined them one last time as a servant approached, inviting them to the dining area. 'Because my brother met her before me,' Felix replied, looking up at Dra. 'I've tried to forget about her, but I can't seem to stop thinking about her.' He stood up, and they made their way to the dining room.
'This girl must be truly captivating for two influential men to worship her like a goddess. But I hope she isn't like the cliché lead actresses in romance movies, adored by the male leads, only to find out that she has a good heart but an ordinary appearance,' Dra commented.
Felix raised an eyebrow, intrigued. 'Do you watch a lot of movies?' he asked, taking his seat at the dining table.
'I frequent the movie theaters quite often,' Dra replied with a smile. 'So I've become well-versed in love stories.'
Felix smirked playfully. 'Then why are you still single?'
Dra chuckled. 'For the same reason you are,' he said knowingly. 'Our own love stories have taken unexpected turns.'
'Your love story died on you,' Felix teased.
'Sort of,' Dra admitted, a touch of sadness in his voice.
'Maybe you need a new gardener to tend to the love story that seems to have withered away,' Felix mused, speaking more to himself. But deep down, he knew that even if he were to find another woman, could he ever love her the way he loved Chioma?