I Swear, Let Me Love You Again

NATHAN’S POV.

I lazily dropped my bag on the couch, losing my tie and dropped the key to my apartment on the table. I yawned, opened the fridge and grabbed a chilled bottle of water.

I was exhausted, all I wanted to do was to go to bed. It was currently 11pm and I had stayed in the office longer glancing through reports, I approved some ideas and threw out others. A young lady whose job was simply to assist assistants, making coffee, and basically being an errand girl, had approached me a few days ago.

She looked scared as she spoke to me, but after taking a few breaths and wasting my time, she told me with confidence that she was not just an errand girl, she was good with drawing blueprints. She wanted to go into details but I stopped her telling her to send her original designs to my office. When I saw it, I was astonished that I was planning a position for her.

I switched on the Television while whipping up something little to eat as I hadn’t had anything to eat all day. I settled for ramen, especially because it didn’t take time to get done. I found the last one in the cupboard and placed it in the microwave, setting the timer for about ten minutes.

I went upstairs and stripped out of my clothes, getting relaxed in the cold shower thinking back to Lydia and her behavior last night. She looked like she hated me and I was hurt by that, the guilt every time I looked into her was overwhelming and I did in fact think I deserved it. But on the bright side, the deal my company had just signed allows for me to see her often and get on her good graces.

After showering, I wore blue pajama trousers and a white shirt. I grabbed my food and took a seat in the living room watching the headlines of the news. My eyes almost bulge out of my socket when I saw a headline and the clip following,

Ex-Wife of Nathaniel King arrested for alleged theft of diamonds.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

The clip that followed after was a clip of Lydia being led to the police vehicle. I sucked my teeth instantly, losing my appetite.

What diamonds? Who would even….

I trailed off feeling like my mother could possibly be behind this especially after her encounter with Lydia the other night. I searched my phone in order to get the lawyers ready to get Lydia out. The thought of her having to sleep the night at one of those cells when I knew for sure she was innocent, fueled my anger.

As soon as I found my phone, I realized I had a ton of missed calls from my friends and business acquaintances. Now Jacob was calling again,

“Where have you been and where did you put your phone?” Jacob questioned as soon as I picked up.

He didn’t wait for a reply before he proceeded, “Melissa has already gotten a lawyer for her, I have sent her contact to you, she’s one of the best in the city. Just discuss with her and keep me informed.”

Seeing him and Melissa always standing behind Lydia warmed my heart and it added to the list of things I was sorry for. They had seen her while I didn’t.

“Thank you Jacob.” He hummed and hung up. Instantly, ignoring other messages and phone calls, I began the discussion with the lawyer Melissa had found.

“If the police do not have sufficient evidence to hold a suspect in custody, they may be released the next day after their arrest. This is called ‘release on own recognizance’, and it means that the suspect is released without having to post bail. However, this does not mean that the case is closed or that the suspect is free from prosecution.” She explained and I nodded in understanding.

If my assumptions were true, then even the case would be close.

********

6 A. M NEXT DAY.

Unbeknownst to me, even before 6 a. m about three different prominent lawyers were already beside Lydia. Prepping her and ensuring she was feeling okay. She hadn’t even slept the whole night, her mind wasn’t at rest. She kept beating herself up on everything that had ever happened to her.

When I arrived there at 6 in the morning, in my black suit and looking more than ready for the day, Lydia was already getting escorted out of the building speaking to the lawyers next to her. I walked in a haste towards her, and her attention reverted towards me.

“Excuse me.”

“Thank you again sir.” She smiled warmly at the lawyer.

“You’re family Lydia. My daughter wouldn’t allow me to sleep well if you stayed in this hell hole any longer.” They both laughed and he gave a fatherly hug. He glanced at me before heading towards his car alongside another man.

“Good morning Lydia.” I greeted her trying to keep a confident demeanor but the look on her face had me as nervous as anything else. Her eyes held mixed emotions such as anger, sadness and hate.

“What are you doing here Nathaniel? You found out your mum and ex-girlfriend wanted to embarrass me and now you feel guilty right? Tarnishing my image over diamond earrings I could afford for every single one in your family?” She spat angrily, throwing her pearl earrings on the floor.

“I regret ever meeting you, falling in love with you and staying in a home where maltreatment and continuous disrespect was the order of the day. As if all the embarrassment I had received was not enough, you all decided to take it to the media, to the world…I wouldn’t wish anything that happened to me in that mansion to even my greatest enemy, even to your mother who caused it all. But you know what y’all are going to pay for everything, and I’m not going to make a single move.”

Her every word cut deep and deeper into my soul. I never realized the level of suffering she had experienced and it seems deeper than I imagined.