The One Who Holds Me (Sovereign Love #4)

29. Olanna

29

OLANNA

NOW

“ T here you girls are.” Melissa’s shrill voice interrupts my conversation with Lerato and we both turn our heads toward her. I just finished my last meeting for the day, so Melissa skitters across the room, her heels click-clacking against the floor as she clutches onto her legendary Secret Santa shoebox.

“You left before I shared the Secret Santa cards.” She slides the shoebox across the table toward us, the red and green ribbons looking as intact as ever.

“Sorry, I had to drag her away.” Lerato straightens her back and plops in the chair next to me as Melissa walks around the table to stand between us. “She was running late for her meeting and you know I don’t like it when the boss is late.”

“Yeah, I don’t blame you. You did what you had to do.” Melissa says to Lerato before turning to me. “But it’s time to pick your card, Ma’am.” She opens the shoebox, which only has two folded cards in it.

“Everyone has picked a card?” I look up at Melissa, who is grinning at me. Do her cheeks ever hurt from smiling so much?

“Yeah, it’s just you and Lerato,” she responds. “Come on, the world is waiting.”

“Did anyone tell you you’re so dramatic?” Lerato stretches her hand to pick a card, but Melissa smacks it away. “Ouch, what was that for?” She recoils and rubs the back of her hand.

“Let the boss pick first, please.” Melissa smiles at Lerato before turning to me again.

Okay, that’s weird. “Erm…Melissa, I don’t think it matters who picks first.” I lean over and peer into the shoebox while Melissa’s intense gaze stays pinned on me. When I pick the card on the right, Melissa’s smile widens and then she turns to Lerato and hands her the last card. Very weird.

“Thank you, girls, for your wonderful cooperation. Remember, you’re not allowed to switch with anyone.” She winks at us before walking out of the room and closing the door behind her.

Lerato smiles and shakes her head. “She’s just a ball of sunshine, isn’t she?”

“She sure is.” I lean back in my seat before stretching out my arms and yawning. “I’m so glad it’s Friday. I need to sleep for thirty hours straight.”

“Sis, you need to sleep, period. But definitely not for thirty hours, because we have our girls’ day out tomorrow, remember?”

“Oh, yes. Shopping and movie night will lift my spirits.”

“You can say that again, but until then, you need to check out the name on your Secret Santa card.”

I scoff. “Girl, please. You know I don’t have time for this.”

“But you made Melissa a promise.”

“ Nuh uh . Last time I checked, I made no promises.”

“Come on. Don’t be such a Grinch. You skipped Secret Santa last year for the same reason. You’re not exempt from Christmas traditions just because you’re the boss.” She leans forward and picks up the card before opening it for me.

“Okay, you’re starting to sound a lot like Melissa and—” My words trail off when Lerato turns the card around for me to see the name written on it. Alex Obeng—The SEO Star.

Silence passes between us for a few seconds and my breath slows down as a warm and fluttering sensation travels from my stomach into my chest. “Melissa tricked me.” My jaw drops, and Lerato chuckles.

“That’s why she was acting all weird and smacking my hand, huh? It was rigged. She’s clever. I have to give her that.” Lerato supports her head with her hands as she stares at me, her eyebrows wiggling.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I suppress a smile. Get yourself together, Olanna.

“You know, if you were three shades lighter, your cheeks would be so red right now.”

“ Pfft .” I shake my head, choosing my oblivious stance even though I’ve been caught red-handed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“ Nuh uh .” Lerato clicks her fingers in my face. “I love you, boss, but as your friend, I think you’re a terrible liar.”

“What? No, I’m not. I…” The words catch in my throat as I try to spew out a lie, but I can’t deny it anymore. The warm sensation takes over my entire body as memories of all the good times Alex and I spent together force their way into my mind. “Okay, fine. You win.”

“Yes! I knew it.” Lerato squeals and taps her feet on the ground before running around the table and sitting in a chair close to me. “Please, tell me everything. How long have you had feelings for Alex? Was it love at first sight when you saw him a month ago? Or did you know when your hands touched as you put the star on the Christmas tree? Will you tell him about your feelings? Does he know about your feelings?”

“Lerato, calm down.” I grab her hands to stop her flailing them. “You need a chill pill, okay?”

She takes a deep breath in and out. “Yes, Ma’am.”

“Actually…we were college sweethearts.”

Lerato’s eyes widen. “You were what now?” She raises her voice.

“Shh!!!” I place a finger over my lips.

“You two have a history and you never told me?”

I cover her mouth before looking over my shoulder at the door. “Girl, what did I say about keeping your voice down?”

“Okay, sorry. But I’ll keep my voice down on one condition. That you tell me everything, ” she says, and that’s how I spend half an hour narrating the entire story to Lerato without leaving out any details.

I tell her everything from the first day we met at Ignite Fellowship, to the day he asked me out on a date, the horrendous break up, how terribly I dealt with it, and to the present day where he has made it clear he still loves me and wants me back.

“Aww, that is so cute. I love love .” Lerato tilts her head and pouts as I round up my story. “Why don’t you take him back? It’s so obvious that you love him, too.”

“Well, he doesn’t know that.”

Lerato shrugs. “So? Why don’t you want to tell him?”

I pause for a second as I consider her question. “Because…” I sigh and stand up before walking to my window and staring at the view of the Hudson River. “I don’t think my heart will bear it if he hurts me again.”

“Aww, but time has passed and the way he looks at you says a lot about his determination to make things right.”

I frown. “You’ve been watching him?”

“No, I’ve been watching both of you.” Lerato covers her face and giggles. “What did I tell you? I love love, so I’ve been very vigilant.”

I shake my head. “You are something else.”

“But it’s true.” She ignores my comment and continues. “It sounds like he really wants to make it up to you. Please give him a chance?” She makes praying hands and juts her bottom lip out in a pout.

“I’ve been praying about it a lot and something has shifted inside me. I didn’t realize how much I missed him until he started working here. But if he wants me back, the least he can do is show me, right?”

“That’s right, Queen. Hang on tight, and he’ll come to you.”

“Exactly.” We both chuckle as I pick up the card and stare at his name again. For the first time in two years, I can fully entertain the idea of the two of us being together without reprimanding myself.

If I wasn’t so scared about giving my heart away again, I would’ve kissed him right there in the corridor when he held me against the wall. I would’ve told him I never stopped loving him and I want to be in his arms.

But he’s going to have to show me how much he wants this. Until then, I’ll sit tight and keep praying that things turn out exactly the way God wants it to.