Hidden Feelings
EPISODE SIXTY FIVE
THEME: Hidden feelings
CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
THE GOLDEN RESTAURANT
TWO MONTHS LATER
“Can I get a plate of shrimps and grits?” A waiter asked.
“Coming right up!” Raven replied as she moved around the kitchen swiftly.
As usual The Golden Restaurant was busy as ever in the morning. And they had their hands full. The day got Tiana less talking and more work plus she didn’t seem like she was in the best of mood for a chitchat. Raven had decided to postpone the probing till they had a brief break.
“Here you go!” She said, handing the order to the waiter as more orders came in.
“Can you at least take a break? You have been everywhere since you came in.” Tiana smacked her lips in annoyance.
“Oh Lord, I actually thought you went mute.” Raven taunted in reply as she cleaned up her hands by the washing basin.
They eventually got some time to take a rest while the other orders coming in could be handled by the others kitchen staffs with less supervision.
Tiana rolled her eyes. “Tch you wish.”
Not minding her saucy response, Raven dragged Tiana by her hand to the store room. “Care to share what’s eating you up?” She questioned.
Tiana sighed before pouting her lips. “He has been acting weird for a week now.”
Raven looked confused. “Sorry, who?” She asked.
Tiana rolled her eyes again and made a can’t you get it look. “My boyfriend of course.”
Raven arched her eyebrows in surprise. “Tiana, you have a boyfriend?”
“Unbelievable!” Tiana scoffed. “Well of course I do.” She shrugged.
“Wait a sec, I hope it is not that guy from the grocery store?”
“Yeah, it is that guy from the grocery store and his name is Kendrick.”
“Hmmn, sounds like he knows some Lamar.” Raven taunted with her tongue out.
“This habits you are learning from me doesn’t suit you one bit.” Tiana laughed.
“I really thought it has always been a dicknified appointments.” Raven mumbled but didn’t get a response from her friend. “So, tell me. Why has he been acting weird?”
“He is moving out to New York and I really don’t want him to go.” She whined.
“Is it bad? Oh! You don’t want a long distance relationship?”
“At all!” Tiana groaned.
“But you do know you both can work it out right?”
Tiana sighed. “I know, I am just going to miss seeing him for the next six months.”
“Hold up! He isn’t going forever?”
“No, he isn’t going forever. He just needs to handle a project for the next six months.” Tiana responded.
Raven groaned and facepalmed herself. “Why do you have to be such a drama queen?”
“Isn’t it worth brooding over? I am fucking going to miss his dick! Or don’t you get it?!”
“Nah, I don’t get it. And I really do not want to get it. Are you both even dating for real or it is just a regular dick appointment?” She asked again.
“Yes, you got it right. It is a regular dicknified appointment every day!” She giggled like a child.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.
Raven groaned in despair. “Tiana seriously? You just called him a boyfriend few seconds ago. Wow! You never cease to amaze me my dear friend.”
“I am so full of surprises!” Tiana laughed and Raven joined in too.
“Tell me something, you both haven’t had sex yet?” Tiana blurted out when the laughter faded off.
“Who?” Raven asked.
“Who else is here with us?” Tiana looked around. “I am talking about you and the heir!”
“What the hell Tiana? Have you forgotten it is a contract marriage.”
“Does blood not run in you both veins? Oh my goodness, I feel so hurt for you.” Tiana faked a cry.
Raven chuckled at her childishness. It had been two months since she got married to Christopher Crawford and it hadn’t been eventful that much. Raven and Christopher had a comfortable relationship whereby they exchange calls when it was needed and sent messages to each other.
Since Christopher had become the chief executive officer of Crawford Corporation, he was much more busy at work and came back just few minutes before dinner or after. Their greetings were always curt at home but they acted like high school lovers in front of their families. He also turned out to be a lover of children as he spends time with his nephews and niece not leaving out Rowan on weekends when he wasn’t working.
Benjamin also makes visit to the house whenever he had the chance to and it all seems okay. Aside not being on good terms with Ashley, Raven couldn’t complain about the marriage, she always looked out to spending time with the Crawfords. She had nothing to worry about and it was all going as planned.
However, she had become closer with Ava and they had outings together with Tiana. She was having the best time of her life and she couldn’t complain.
Tiana studied her friend as she kept smiling to herself. She could bet on it that Raven had something she was hiding and she was going to get to the root of it.
“Is it safe for me to say you find the heir attractive?” She teased.
“Can you stop calling him the heir?”
“Okay. What about next in line?” Tiana giggled.
“His name is Christopher Crawford.” Raven replied.
“I know his name. But my titles suits him better. So back to my question, you find Christopher Crawford attractive right?” She asked.
“What are you even talking about Tiana?” Raven blushed turning to the other side.
Tiana moved past her friend to see her face. “I was right! Wow! How in the world did you start liking a man who doesn’t even spare you a minute?”
It might sound silly but Raven was having the time of her life as she enjoyed being in Christopher’s embrace whenever they were out. She liked him doting over her during family dinners that she had started looking out for their outings with the family. The kisses they share and the way he held onto her protectively in the midst of their families made her crave for those moments.
For the past six weeks they meet with their various families at least twice a week and for whomever they meet with they had to put up the loving couple sight. His smell made her want to lean into him every time. Her nights were molding up with dreams of him. But Raven had decided to keep her feelings to herself and away from Tiana because she knew her and Christopher ever getting together was a mere fantasy.
The man didn’t seem like he was any attracted to her and his cold attitude at home hurts her most times. However, she wanted to enjoy every outside moments while it last. They still had four months to go and it wouldn’t be fair to ruin the joy of it due to the end of everything.
“Earth to Raven, hellooooo!!!” Tiana called out, seeing that her friend had moved past the current planet.
Getting her thoughts back together, Raven sighed. “You are out of your mind, Tiana. You know that would be absurd of me to even think of. It will all end in six months so I don’t think it is right for me to put my heart on the line.”
Tiana raised her hand up. “Yeah I know, I know. But you do know a little sex won’t hurt right?”
“Get the fuck out, Tiana. How am I suppose to want sex with a man who hardly looks at me?” She snorted.
“One thing I know that I am certain of is; no man resist sex. So why don’t you try seducing him? Seduce him!” She mouthed.
Raven looked frustrated. “Oh gracious Tiana! What is all this talks about getting laid? I am not interested and he isn’t either. That’s the end of-” She was interrupted by a phone ringing out from the bag space.
Knowing it was her ringtone, she jogged the few feet to reach out to it. Raven grasped her phone and her heart fluttered at the message from Christopher.
‘We would be having dinner with my parents tonight!’ It read.
Biting hard on her lips to control her emotions, she turned towards her friend. “You might have to cover up for me tonight, Tiana. I have dinner with Christopher’s family.”
Tiana smirked. “Well you seem more excited to be with him than having dinner with his family.”
“Back off!” Raven screamed at her as she stepped out of the store room. Unable to hide the smile that crept up her face.