Chapter 273: The weather is cold...

Betty flushed and clutched her fists tightly. She looked at Andy, ''why are you defending someone you don't even know?'' she asked, but she still remembered the woman very well. She remembered how Andy had looked at her yesterday during the time they were going to have dinner. She didn't know why but she just wanted to say something ugly about that woman. She was beautiful and curvy but she was still thick. Didn't men love skinny women like her? She wasn't even his type so why was he paying so much attention to her?

''She isn't someone I don't know. She is a friend and she doesn't even weight more than 70kgs, calling her 'fat' is an insult''

''Boss, speak with Miss Betty first. I will find a table''

''You are the manager of this place, act like one and don't allow people who aren't involved with your business to dictate to you what you should do. If you leave this table, consider yourself dismissed from this hotel''

''Andy, how could you embarrass me this way? I am your fiancée'' Betty said as she bit her lips.

''Fiancée? Since when was I engaged to you? Last night you went overboard and I am not tolerating you anymore. If you mess with me or anyone I am close to, I will tell your elder sister about it''

Betty was the younger sister of Godiva. The latter didn't pamper her like their parents hence Betty was extremely afraid of her elder sister. She knew she would be grounded when her elder sister hears of what she did.

''Have a nice meal, Betty. I just lost my appetite'' Andy stood up and went away. Betty also stood up and went after him leaving Max alone at the table.

As they walked away, Paula looked at them confused. She didn't know what was going on.

When Andy entered the office, Betty followed suit. She closed the door before turning to face Andy who had taken a seat behind the desk.

''I'm sorry, Andy. I didn't mean to act that way''

''Is ok Betty, sit down. You see I know how you feel about me but please understand me, I've been with you since our childhood days and I love you, but I can never see you as anything else''

''I know and I've given up that thought already, but as my big brother you must let me go with you to the castle''

''I know and I've given up that thought already, but as my big brother you must let me go with you to the castle'' she said with a smile even though it didn't reach her eyes. She could just pretend everything was alright for the moment.

….

Later after their breakfast, Paula joined the other tourists and they went towards the bus. On her way, she saw Andy going over with Betty to his car. She looked at them for a short moment before getting into the bus when it was her turn to go inside.

Andy turned towards her, his gaze followed her all the way till she was seated by the window side.

Following his gaze, Betty took noticed of the way Andy looked at the woman and frowned. She realised, he was always looking at her and she didn't like it.

''Let's go, Betty'' Andy said and got inside the car.

'Okay'' she got into the car and Andy drove after the bus.

….

Paula was the last to get out from the bus as usual and when she did, she looked around her. they had arrived at the Coastal Castle.

History had it that, this particular castle was built and used as slave trade centre. Slaves were put into the dark dungeons and later shipped to all parts of Europe.

Paula believed that her father could trace his origins back to the Black community because he was a black man who married a blonde woman and gave birth to two daughters, the elder taking after himself while the younger had a much fairer skin. Her elder sister was more of a dark chocolate brown skinned woman while she looked like a half caste because of her mixed blood.

She suddenly felt an affinity to the place they were about to go inside. Her father used to tell her stories of how black people were shipped to all parts of the world and used as slaves. Her father's ancestral roots were from a country in Africa called Ghana which had a similar castle like this known as the Elmina Castle.

She shook her head, clearing the memories of her late father away and turned to go inside the dungeon with the other tourist when a car pulled over behind her. She turned and saw Andy and Betty getting down from the car.

Andy was about to say something to her when she quickly made her way inside leaving them alone.

''Andy, let's go. the tourists are waiting'' Betty said, holding his arm affectionately.

''En'' Andy said and walked away.

Betty smirked and murmured to herself, ''Andy I won't give you the chance to be with that woman, which will be over my dead body. I will cling onto you until she goes away''

They followed the tourists going deeper into the dungeon and listening to the explanations provided by the tour guide.

Andy looked around but still couldn't find the one person he was looking for, while Betty still clung unto his side.

Paula's phone buzzed and she scurried her way out from the people and met Andy and Betty at the end. She didn't say anything to them and went ahead to receive her call, leaving the dungeon.

''Hello mom, I'm doing well. I promise to come and visit you when I return from the trip. Oh, take care of yourself too, bye''

She smiled and hung up. Paula and her mother didn't have the best relationship but at least they didn't hate each other. Their estranged relationship started when they lost the only man in their life to the sea through drowning. She closed her eyes and opened them again. she didn't want to think about those memories. They were painful and the very reason why she and her family could never return to their happy days anymore. With her family, she felt that they didn't love each other that much but they didn't also hate each other too. It was more like they were just enduring each other. Just like how she and her sister had been doing all these years with secrets untold buried deep within them.

Walking to the open view of the building overlooking the sea, Paula suddenly felt nostalgic. The sea was her father's favourite place in the world. He would often bring them out to fish, and play while her mother did her work as an editor for a sports magazine. That was a long time ago. her mother had retired was living her life enjoying the moments by constantly travelling with her friends.

Before she knew it, she had walked down the stairs and was now standing by the shore. She stood closer and allowed the water to wash over her legs as the waves sent them back and forth. It made her reminisce on the times she had played football with her sister and father by the sea.

''Nice view of the sea from here'' a familiar voice said behind her and she turned and looked at him as he walked closer to her. Removing his trench coat, he placed it over her should, covering her body up ''the weather is cold, don't fall sick'' he said to her. He had come out to look for her after she left and after searching a lot of places, he finally found her outside here.

''Where is your girlfriend? Are you allowed to be like this to me when you are with her?'' Paula took off the trench coat giving it back to him, ''don't let her misunderstand our relationship, Mr. CEO''

''That is sarcasm at its best and she is called Betty. She is not my girlfriend. She is the daughter of a close family friend. You remember the lady who went over to your room that day at the hotel, right? That is her elder sister'' he pushed the coat back to her.

''Someone who isn't exactly a sister and not a lover are the type of characters I hate the most. Usually, one always thinks of the other as more than just a family Oppa and trust me, I don't want to get in the midst of an undefined relationship between people who are 'just' family friends'' she pushed the coat back to him, ''also, I don't feel cold''

He looked at her and wanted to say something but felt he didn't have the right, so he kept quiet and apologised instead, ''I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ignore you this morning. I was just a little angry with something''

''You don't have to explain anything to me. just one look at you and I could tell you were angry''

''Did you sleep well?'' he asked and looked at her.

''I would have but an intruder came in and suddenly the room was not so cosy anymore''

''Has it occurred to you that perhaps is because of the intruder you slept like a baby, even I didn't sleep at all. You snored the whole night''