Purple Romance

''Why? We are almost there'' Kobby said and Calia shook her head.

''No, just stop the car''

Kobby pulled over and turned to face her ''what is it Cal?'' he addressed her rather intimately.

''How could you not have told me we were coming here? Not only am I not prepared but I don't also have any flowers. What would your wife think of me?'' Calia asked angrily.

''Is that why you are angry? flowers? I have her favourite flowers at the backseat'' Kobby said and Calia turned and saw the flowers.

''But, still… didn't Maria tell you? She was my muse. I can't come empty handed''

''That's why I also have this'' Kobby said and removed the anklet that Calia left at his office the other time. He looked at it previously and saw the letters 'M.U.S.E' engraved on it. after hearing from Maria that Lexis was Calia's muse, he connected the dots together.

''This is mine. How do you have it?'' Calia asked and took the anklet from him.

''You left it at my office the day you hurt your feet. I kept it with me since then but didn't get the chance to give it to you. later on, I found out about the connection between you and my late wife. I figured it was what you wanted to give to her'' Kobby said.

''Yes, this was what I originally prepared to give her but I made a different one two days ago'' Calia looked into her bag and removed a new pair bracelet. She kept one on her hand and gave the other one to Kobby. ''I made this to give to her''

''Lexis really loved bracelets. She will love it'' Kobby said.

''Then, shall we go and visit her?'' Calia said.

''Sure, let's go'' Kobby drove ahead a bit and found a suitable place and pulled over. They both got down and went towards the grave yards.

--------

Calia stood before the grave of Lexis nervously with shaken hands. She followed Kobby's lead and also placed the bundle of baby's breath flowers on the grave and smiled anxiously.

''Lex, I brought someone here to see you. her name is Calia. Say your greetings Cal'' Kobby touched Calia's hand to calm her nerves.

''Hi, pretty sister. Sorry I found you too late. I didn't know that the next time we would be meeting will turn out to be here. Truth is, I am really nervous out of my wits right now, because I don't know what you will think of me. thanks to you, I was able to create the kind of future that I wanted for myself and in the end I met Maria, Kobby and Tiana. I don't know whether, my presence and the fact that we actually knew each other will change my feelings for Kobby but I want you to know that I am really sincere with my feelings. I really like Kobby and I like Tiana too. I hope that you will give me your blessings to date Kobby'' Calia said and smiled as tears formed in her eyes. Her heart suddenly felt heavy from watching the smiling face of Lexis from the gravestone.

''Lex, I brought Calia today to meet you because I found out that you two met each other 8 years ago. You must have left a pretty good impression on her. She calls you her muse and I think you deserve that name. when I was in my darkest moments, you came along and helped me cope with life. Your presence in my life was short but very impactful. You will almost remain a special person to me. I will come here to visit you often, so don't feel alone and don't worry about Tiana and me anymore. We will be fine and we will miss you often''

''I will come here often too and visit you. I will make sure Tiana receives all the love she deserves, pretty sister. Rest well and leave them to me. I will make sure I treat them well. One day, when I finally succeed in making this stubborn man my man. we will visit you as a family. Off course, as your family'' Calia said and smiled. Kobby looked at her and held her hand making her to blush.

''We will visit together soon. Let's go, is about to rain'' Kobby said and Calia looked at the sky.

''Is already spring, why won't it stop raining for a while? I wanted to spend some time with my muse'' Calia said.

''Don't worry, we will visit Lex again. I'm sure she will want to hear about how you succeeded so next time, tell her everything. Lex likes to listen to people's stories'' Kobby said and led the way and they walked back to the car.

It was already drizzling when the entered the car. Calia looked at Kobby as wiped the water from his head with a small towel and he spoke ''do I look that handsome?''

Calia blushed and looked away. She suddenly thought of something and turned to look at him again asking ''since at the café, you have been holding my hand. Is there a special reason? Even when we were at my muse's place, you held my hand''

Kobby put the towel away and picked a different one from the backseat and moved closer to her. Calia leaned back on the seat and stuttered ''listen, we are still at my muse's resting place. You can't do anything here, okay?''

Kobby frowned and looked at her. he just smiled and placed the towel on her hair and started cleaning her up ''I only wanted to clean the water on your head and face because I'm scared you might catch a cold' he finished and looked at her adding ''what did you think I was going to do?''

Calia brushed his hand away saying ''I wasn't thinking of anything'' she really felt like digging a hole and hiding inside. Why did she always have to say such embarrassing things in front of him all the time?

''Really?'' Kobby asked. ''I thought you were thinking I was going to kiss you?'' Kobby said and pulled the seatbelt out, he leaned even closer to her and buckled it before going back to his seat. Calia's face turned red and she blushed. This man liked to tease her.

Kobby arrived at the Denarius mansion and pulled over. Calia leaned on the seat asleep and he smiled as he watched her. it seemed her jewellery show was taking up her time. She looked really tired. Kobby sighed. She was working too hard and he couldn't even help her.

Kobby's phone suddenly rang and he picked it from the car's dashboard and frowned at the unknown digits before answering.

''Hello, this is Kobby speaking''

''Is me, Rihan. I took your number from my uncle'' Rihan said over the phone.

''What do you want?'' Kobby sighed and spoke softly, he didn't want to wake Calia up.

''Are you with her?'' Rihan asked. She was standing at the giant glass window from her hotel room wearing a red lingerie gown and held a glass of red wine.

''What do you want?'' Kobby asked rather impatiently.

''We have a dinner date with my uncle tomorrow, you remember, right?'' Rihan asked.

''I have an appointment tomorrow. I already told your uncle that'' Kobby said.

''What appointment? Oh, is it Maria's proposal party?"

''You know that and you still ask?''

''Kobby, are you with Calia? I saw you two leaving the café together this afternoon'' Rihan asked as she walked back to the bed and sat on it, crossing her leg in the process.

''Are you stalking me?'' Kobby asked.

''Not exactly. I was just curious. Kobby, you should stop confusing her. it will only hurt her when she finds out you don't like her''

''What makes you think I don't like her? Rihan, I told you to stop whatever game you are playing. You and I ended 10 years ago. you were the one who left first, what right do you have to interrupt my life and plans with your presence?''

''I know, it won't be easy to forgive me, but I know you will because in this world, no one understands you like I do. Calia is just having a teenage crush on you. You and her are in two separate worlds. She is just a woman who hasn't faced any hardships before. do you think her family will accept for her to be in a relationship with you? A man with a child?'' Rihan said.

''I am not mad, Kobby. I am just stating the fact. In this world, I am the only one who can accept the fact that you are a single father and still be with you. Calia's family will never allow their precious daughter to be with a single father. I am telling you this because I love you, Kobby. Leave Calia. I am my uncle's only relative. When he retires, the hospital will be yours''

Kobby let out a sarcastic chuckle and turned his head coming face to face with Calia. He didn't know when she woke up or how long she had stayed in that position watching him. Calia smiled when their eyes met.

The sound of the phone's speaker was a little loud even though it wasn't on loudspeaker. Calia seemed to have heard everything as her eyes burrowed into him.