The One Who Holds Me (Sovereign Love #4)

33. Olanna

33

OLANNA

NOW

I t feels so good to be chased and it feels even better to be chased by someone you love. Sitting back and watching Alex jump through hoops for me the last three weeks without fail has not only softened my heart, but it has also reminded me about the man I fell in love with two years ago.

He hasn’t read his cheesy love notes out loud to me, but reading them for myself has helped me realize one important thing—he still loves me. It’s evident in the way he talks about the memories we had and the way he describes how he feels.

I believe him because his words always leave me feeling like I’m the only girl in the world. Maybe it’s time to let my guard down a bit more, put him out of his misery, and finally let him tell me the last piece of his story.

“Morning, boss.” Lerato’s voice pulls me back into the present as she sashays into my office, smelling like tropical flowers and wearing a smile as bright as the sun.

“Well, someone had fun this weekend with her boyfriend.” I tilt my head as my gaze drops to her left hand, which she’s hiding behind her bag. “Or should I say…fiancé?” I gasp when realization dawns on me.

“How did you know?” She whips her hand out and we both squeal.

I rush to her side, admiring the shiny rock of a ring on her finger. “Only a newly engaged girl would wear a smile like this.” I pull her in for a hug. “Girl, I’m so happy for you. I know how much you prayed for this, and this is proof that we serve a God who answers prayers.”

“Amen,” she responds as we break the hug and she holds me at arm’s length. “He sure does, and I believe the same for you, too.”

“Oh, please. We’re not talking about me today.” I wave a dismissive hand and I take her hand in mine again, caressing the diamond. “You’ve got a wedding to plan, and I’m here to support you all the way.”

“Aww, you’re so sweet. But before you whisk your planning powers my way,” she looks at her watch and fluffs her afro, “it’s lunchtime and time for Secret Santa.” She runs in place before linking her arms with mine and we both walk hand in hand downstairs to the communal room.

The last three weeks have been busy with finalizing the plans for HearCare’s launch in the New Year. Dad is also back from Nigeria after his extended stay there. I missed him so much and I love having him around the house again.

I love listening to him tell stories about his Naija adventures and every time he talks about Mom’s charity organization, A Widow’s Comfort, I get a tugging on my heartstrings to throw caution to the wind and join Manny and Heather on their next trip to Nigeria. I’m sure they’ll be happy to have me on board since I’ve been declining their invitation for two years.

I also got a message from Heather over the weekend that Amara delivered her twin girls safely. Now Lerato is getting engaged and Christmas is next week. It’s good news galore and I have nothing to complain about.

When we walk into the communal room, Neil and Melissa are standing by the lit-up Christmas tree handing out the presents that were laid out beautifully underneath the tree for weeks. Today, not only is Neil back to wearing his Santa suit, but Melissa is matching him with her Mrs. Claus outfit. These two will never cease to amaze me.

My eyes scan the room, looking for the one person I know makes my heart skip around like a child in a candy store. When I find him standing next to Yin, our eyes meet and he sends a smile my way, maintaining our eye contact until my shyness takes over and I avert my gaze. Heat flushes my face as Lerato and I make our way to the front of the crowd. Thank God for melanin.

“And last, but certainly not the least,” Neil and Melissa, say in unison, holding the last present together. “Our one and only chief executive.”

Everyone cheers as I step forward and take my present from Mr. and Mrs. Claus . I’m about to step back to my place in the crowd when Melissa stops me.

“Where are you going, boss? You know you have to give a speech.”

Of course. This girl loves speeches. I take Neil and Melissa’s place at the front before smiling at the employees who have their attention on me. “This week, I’ve had so much good news and my heart is literally swelling with joy. You already know how incredibly proud I am of every one of you, so thank you again for your hard work this year.

“The last year has tested my character and my faith in different ways, but I’m glad that you all have made this journey worth it. Thank you for believing in me. It has been an honor serving you and I pray that we would have so many more amazing memories here, even as this year ends. I wish you nothing but a merry Christmas, and don’t forget our Christmas party tonight. Melissa and Neil have worked really hard to plan this for us, so y’all better be there.”

“Woop!!!” Everyone claps and cheers before Mr. and Mrs. Claus announce we can open our presents. Christmas music and chatters fill the room as Lerato and I take a seat at a desk.

“ Psst . Your knight in shining armor is coming your way,” she whispers in my ear. “Nine o’clock.” She winks at me and a butterfly feeling settles in my stomach. Before I can say a word, she abandons me and walks over to meet Yin.

I feel his eyes watching me and his scent teasing my nostrils before he calls my name with that voice, which makes my insides melt. “Olanna?”

I turn to look at him, his brown gaze so intense I could stop breathing just to take in the view. Never have I seen someone look so handsome in a Christmas sweater.

“Merry Christmas,” he says as he takes the seat Lerato has just vacated.

I’m pretty sure my heart is beating drums in my chest right now, but who cares? Get it together, Olanna. Come on.

“I thought I’d come clean and say I picked your name, so I’d love to be here when you open your present, if you don’t mind?” he says, still looking at me with those charming eyes.

I smile subconsciously. “Of course, I don’t mind.” I pull the present close to me. “And I picked your name as well.”

Alex laughs and leans back before rubbing his beard. “Don’t worry, I figured that out already. Apparently Mr. and Mrs. Claus over there are also playing Cupid.” We turn to look at the culprits as they both give us the thumbs up and wink at us.

“And they’re not even being subtle about it.” I chuckle. “Please, you can start by opening yours first.”

“Okay.” He gently pulls at the strings and, in one swift motion, unravels the present I spent a long time wrapping last night. He smiles as he takes out the box of his beard grooming kit, complete with a beard hedger, shampoo, conditioner, oil, comb, shaper, and balm. “Wow.” He stares at it for a few moments before looking up at me. “You remembered.”

I nod as memories of that night come flooding back into my mind. The night he comforted me after I had the nightmare about Mom and how he mentioned on our drive back home that he wanted to get a beard grooming kit to help him grow his beard. “Of course I did. I was hoping you didn’t already have one.”

“Even if I did, I’d toss it out the window tonight and start using yours right away.”

He draws a smile from me, and I bite my bottom lip. “Also, I don’t think I ever got the chance to say that I really love your beard.”

“Really?” He smiles and leans forward. ”Is that your way of saying that you’ve been checking me out, Miss Madu?”

Is he flirting with me? I suppress a smile. “Maybe?” Did I just flirt back?

“I knew it.” He laughs and I smack his arm gently before he nods at the present in front of me. “Please, open yours.”

“Yes, sir. But before I go on, I want to say that your love notes are cheesy, but beautiful. You even remembered that I love pastel colors when you were choosing the envelope. I love them, but I gotta say, you and Lerato are terrible at keeping secrets.”

The sound of his laugh soothes my heart as I stare at him. “You can mock the delivery all you want, but we accomplished what we set out to do, so I count that as a win.”

“Of course. A win is a win.”

“That’s right.” He concurs and we both laugh.

Unlike Alex, who was more gentle opening his present, I tear through the wrapping paper to reveal two boxes. Starting with the rectangular-shaped one, I untie the ribbons and open it to reveal a necklace, but not just any necklace. It’s the one shaped like an African map with a cross in the middle.

“Oh, Alex. This is so beautiful.” I lift my head to look at him. “How did you get this?” He told me his mom got it in Ghana, and he promised he would get one for me when he goes to Ghana himself. “Did you…”

“Please,” he cuts me short. “Allow me?” He extends one hand and I place the necklace in his palm. He walks behind me and clasps the necklace around my neck before letting the warmth of his fingers graze my shoulders long enough to send tingles traveling down my arms.

“Thank you,” I say when he sits down again.

“Can you open the next box, please? I’ll answer all your questions after that.”

“Okay.” I open the square-shaped box and when my gaze lands on the content, the tears that were hanging thick in my eyes finally break free as I bring the personalized snow globe closer to me. It’s a photo of my parents, Manny, and me at the airport. The last photo we took with Mom before she traveled to Nigeria. It was the last time we were ever together as a family.

“How…how did you get this photo?” My voice breaks, and I dab the corner of my eyes.

He shrugs and says, “Let’s just say I have connections in high places.”

I smile through my tears as I try to figure out who could’ve given him the photo. Only Manny and Dad have it, but Manny hates Alex and Dad knows nothing about him.

“Baby, please stop trying to figure out how I got the photo.” Alex takes my free hand in his. “Do you like it?” He shuffles forward and as he gets closer, the warmth of his body radiates to mine.

“I love it, Alex. Thank you so much.” I pause as we look into each other’s eyes and my instinct is to hug him, but I stop myself. “You said there was something else that happened after your surgery. I’m ready to hear the end of your story now.”

He lets out a sigh and plants a kiss at the back of my hand before looking over his shoulder. “Should we get out of here?”

I nod. “I thought you’d never ask. Let’s leave before everyone finds out Lerato is now engaged.”

Alex’s eyes widen. “She is?”

“Oh, my goodness!!! It’s a rock. A huge, sparkling rock.” Melissa points at Lerato’s finger as her squeals travel across the entire room. In less than thirty seconds, everyone flocks toward the poor Lerato, clapping, cheering and hailing her.

“Here’s our chance.” Alex places his hand on the small of my back and guides me toward the exit. “Go, go, go.”

I feel bad for Lerato and I should probably try to save her from the claws of Melissa and her thousand questions. But I have a date with this handsome Ghanaian prince who makes my heart do azonto and I won’t miss this opportunity for anything in the world.

Alex and I meander through the crowd, slipping away from the commotion and going up the elevator to my office, where I’m hoping to finally get the closure I’ve been craving, so this battle between my head and my heart can end.