IV

One month later------

"There's an invitation for us," Samantha announces as she makes her way towards the bedroom. "The maid just brought it in," she further adds.

Cainan sits up in bed and turns to her, "Who is it from?"

"From the Attah family." She reads out the name on the card.

Recognising the name he asks, "What's the event for?"

"It's the fifth anniversary of Mr Hugo Attah and his wife Clara Hugo and we are officially invited."

Five years ago today, Clara married Hugo and it was the darkest moment of Cainan's life and five years later, it still hasn't healed the wound. The whole world knew he and Clara were soulmates and he has never attended their anniversary before. First, because it hurt like hell to watch the women of your dreams in another man's hand and now it is still the pain of seeing the women of your dreams in another man's hand and being reminded that she'll never be yours. So being invited is like rubbing insult to injury whether it was Hugo's idea or Clara's.

"We are not going," Cainan concludes and gets up from the bed and walking towards the bathroom.

"Why not?" Samantha demands, following behind Cainan.

Cainan picks the towel from the stall, wrapping the towel around himself. "No reason, I've got better things to do than go to some boring anniversary." He enters the bathroom and turns on the shower.

"It's not some boring anniversary it's the anniversary of a close friend and I want to go."

Cainan sticks his foam covered head through the door, "Then you go!" He says before closing the door.

"What's wrong with you?!" She pauses a little, "you know what? We talk about this when you come out."

Cainan sighs in the bathroom, knowing where exactly the conversion is heading, but hope it doesn't.

When he's done bathing, he walks into the bedroom to dry his but as he sees Samantha still seated on the bed he figured she's still waiting for the talk on why they aren't going.

"I can't go alone, so please tell me why you don't want to go?"

"I need to go to work its a big day today two of our investors are coming in from the United States."

He dries himself and walks to the wardrobe to pick out his suit.

"The party isn't this morning or afternoon, it starts at eight?"

"I'll be tired Samantha, I'd like to rest after work."

"I think it is more than resting, I think you don't want to go and there's a reason is it Hugo? Are you still in love with Clara is that it?"

There's no way he'd be able to escape this nightmare and the last things he wants is to see Clara in the arms of another man being paraded around like some trophy. But choosing not to go has brought Samantha this close to finding out the truth with the many questions she's asking and Cainan is sure she won't stop until he's forced to come clean about his feeling and their affair until a few weeks ago.

"No, I'm not!" He lies and he's grateful his voice doesn't crack under pressure. "Fine, we'll go when I get back."

"Thanks." She walks to him and kisses his lips before leaving.

****

"An eviction notice?!" Neriah exclaims staring down at the notice in her hand.

"Calm down, we don't know what it means..."

"This is to inform all tenants in the fifth avenue that there are expected to move out before the end of the week as the building has been sold out. Failure to move out before the fifteenth might face damages of properties and belongings. There would be a full refund of your rent in 48 hours.

Signed landlord; Cecil Kalu."

Neriah finishes reading and turns to Shawn, "It means I'm losing this house too." She answers, her eyes getting teary.

Shawn face drops, "Come here, babe." He beckons and Neriah walks over to him on the sofa.

"There's nothing you're going to say that will cheer me up Shawn," she tells him.

He frowns a little, "You don't know that."

"I don't want to have to move again, I'm sick and tired of moving."

"So what do you want to do?"

"I want to talk to Cecilia."

"This isn't something we can talk her out of, seems she's already made up her mind."

"I've seen this happen before Shawn, in my formal apartment and one man was responsible."

"You think Cainan did this?"

"There's only one way to find out." She gets up from beside Shawn and goes to pick her jacket from the room. "Are you coming along?" She asks as she shrugs on her jacket.

"Sure." He answers and gets down from the bed and walks to where Neriah now is at the door.

The walk was fast considering Cecilia house is just a ten minutes walk and Neriah does not hesitate to knock when she gets to the door.

A young man with dirty brown hair and grey eyes opens the door and walks out and his eyes light up immediately he sees Shawn.

"Hey, Shawn!" He calls out in disbelief.

"Andrew?!" There are surprise and a little bit of disbelief in Shawn's voice, "what are you doing back home?"

"It's Christmas time! I never spend the holiday away, you know that."

Shawn nods, "I kinda forgot sorry."

"Come here!" They hug for what Neriah likes to call a weird amount of time before pulling away. "It's so good to see you, bro!"

Neriah awkwardly clears her throat bringing the attention of the two men to her. "Sorry to break into what is happening, but I need to see Cecilia, is she in?"

Andrew's brows draw together, "Who are you?"

"Hi," Neriah says, flashing him a small smile, "I'm Neriah Gomez Cecilia's tenant and I want to talk to Cecilia."

"Oh hi, I'm Andrew. I'm Cecilia's son and yeah she's in, come in."

They all enter into the house, "Make yourself feel at home, Neriah, Shawn and I'll go call her." He tells them before going into the room.

"What the hell was that?!" Shawn demands.

Neriah gives him an outraged look, "What the hell was that? What the hell was that?!"

"Drew is a good friend of mine."

"I got that, so good you forgot to introduce me to him!"

"Neriah..."

"Was he the boyfriend you forgot to break up with before he went to uni?"

"What? Where is this coming from?"

She sighs deeply in regret, "A deep, dark, angry place. I thought you came here with me to support me through this hard time? Cause you quickly forgot about me the moment you saw him."

"I didn't forget you, Neriah and I'm sorry for making you feel that way. Andrew is my best friend and we probably would have dated if we both weren't straight, he only comes home for the holiday since he studies outside the country. But no excuse, I should have introduced you as my girlfriend, because you're the reason we are here now."

Neriah mood softens a little and she nods, "It explains a lot and thanks for clearing the wave."

"I really, really like you Neriah and I don't want to lose you over being too careless or insensitive."

This makes her smiles broadly, "You won't lose me for those reasons, I promise you."

"I'm glad you're smiling," he says, pulling closer to kiss her on the lips.

"Andrew just told me you are looking for me?" Asks Cecilia as she enters the living room.

Shawn and Neriah withdraw and they both nod and Shawn scratches his head and licks his lips as he sees Andrew giving him a knowing look.

"I got the eviction notice Cecilia and I don't understand because last month you promised me at least three months of living in before emergency can arise."

"I'm so sorry Neriah and you have to believe me when I say we didn't expect things to come the way they have. As you know, times are hard, especially in the city. With the rapid development of the neighbourhood, the standard of living is high now and the taxes have also increased I can barely account for any money I get from rent.

Andrew is in his third year in medical school and I want to be able to cater for him and provide him with the best."

"So who's the new buyer then?"

"I can't keep his name down, but I tell you he's a god sent. He paid me ten times the worth of the house and I don't have to worry about Andrew anymore and he promises to have all your money refunded so you don't have to worry either."

"His name? Is it by any chance Cainan Inferno?"

"Yeah it is, that's the name of the buyer. Do you know him?"

"Not really, but he's anything but a God sent." She says the last part to herself.