Chapter 60

***Kenya.***

"What about Mike and Rory, what's their take?" I asked, disappointment evident in my voice. i had expected a few drags along the way. Still, encountering them now was unsettling.

"Mike and Rory are in for real. They have been the ones scouting and talking with the others. As a matter of fact, Mike sees the job as Dance director for male students, a great climb. The pay you quotedHe" Andrea hesitated, her eyes holding mine awkwardly. I watched her, wondering.

"What?" I urged, impatiently.

Andrea smiled. "He even asked me to marry him. Well, since that day, he has been asking, every time we make love." Andrea smiled. My eyes widened in amazement and adoration.

"Oh my God, Andy! Congratulations!" I crossed the table and hugged Andrea. We shared a tearful moment, before we pulled back. Sitting back in my seat, I sensed something wrong in Andrea's demeanor.

"What is it? Andy?" I raised my brow. Andrea hesitated, before she spoke.

"I don't know, Ken. I am not sure."

"What do you mean? Sure about what?" I asked, concerned.

"About the whole marriage thing." She shrugged, helplessly.

"But, Mike loves you, Andy. He adores you." I smiled, tenderly. My hands came to hold Andrea's. My eyes teary. I envied the uncomplicated relationship that Mike and Andrea shared. *Something I might never have with Levi*. Andrea's eyes watered, doubt, pain and fear, lurking beneath.

"Am afraid, Ken. What if he is a terrible husband? What if it doesn't work. You know I used to see my father beat up my mum. Broke my mum's eye socket. Caused her face to be distorted. If my step father hadn't been a God's sent, she would never have found a man with that face again." Tears slipped down Andrea's face. I understood her pain.

She had shared her childhood tales with me, when we became friends. A tale, which Andrea had reluctantly narrated. One which had garnered an admiration for Andrea's mum, from me. It had been a bold move to remarry, after enduring such a grueling ordeal in marriage. To trust again, after such hurt.

"Andy, your mum's story isn't your own." I quietly started, seeing facial features of Andrea's mum in my friend. "Although you have her spirit, her courage." We laughed. "Yet, your stories aren't the same. Mike is a good man. I have seen how much he loves you. He adores you, Andy. He wouldn't be the same as your father." A shadow of uncertainty still held in Andrea's eyes.

"ButBut what if I am a bad wife. What if I provoke him? Betray him? What if I cause him pain, Ken?" Andrea cried, softly. Doubt drowning her gaze.

My heart tugged, reminding me of last night. The way I had gone about pulling schemes to cause Levi as much emotional damage, as he had caused me. Manipulating Claudine, my sister and brother in-law, with their weaknesses. Manipulating Dave with what he loved best, money. Seducing Levi, just like he had seduced me, knowing the plans I had underway. Knowing the outcome of my seduction. Having a steaming, passionate night with him, which I could never forget. Getting into his heart; cooking for him, dessert, being his dessert.

It had all been worth it, seeing him manipulated by my own power of seduction. My power as a woman. Succumbing to his sort of games, to get even with him, as well as setting up an achievement for myself. After all, he had urged me to purchase whatever I wanted and I had chosen to purchase new businesses for myself.

Unfortunately, the end hadn't felt great. I felt reprehensible. A bad wife. A woman, I wasn't proud of.

"Why do you have that look?" Andrea asked, her brows raised as she guardedly watched me. I stared, helpless at the consequences of my own actions.

"It's nothing, Andrea." I felt a wetness on my face and dabbed it. I stared in shock at the tears. The guilt inside was torture. And there was something else, which I couldn't understand. "I stooped low, Andy, that's all." I muttered, sniffing. Andrea stared, confused. She couldn't understand my tears and just reached out to hold me.

"Whatever it is, Ken, it can be fixed, okay. Just tell me. Trust me, you've never stooped low. You are the best person I've ever met." Andrea held me tight, as I cried, softly.

"Am afraid, Andy, I am not as good as I thought. These days I don't even recognize myself." I confessed, pulling back to clean my eyes with a tissue.

Andrea watched me, wanting to question further, but she didn't. My friends knew my preference for my privacy. A quality that I have always upheld since I was little. Seeing my anguish, I was grateful that Andrea didn't press further.

"What do you think about having a collaboration with Byron's; J'aime becomes a learning extension of Byron's. In addition, having paid placement programs organized for the kids with other dance companies?" I asked, sniffing again. My voice hoarse. I had harbored the idea, since I sealed the deal with Dave. But I had wanted to develop it more. Now with the others unsure of my footing, I needed to give them a reason to trust my judgements.

"LikeI don't get you, Babes." Andrea looked confused. Her eyes gazing at me.

Inhaling a steady breath, I explained. "I mean, how about showing these kids something different. Like signing them up with Byron's to perform at the theater, say quarterly. We select some talented, mature students, they go to perform with professionals in small roles. Exposing them to the world of dancing.

"At the same time, sharing the spotlight with Dave. Giving the company more public recognition. Parents will see Byron and J'aime, as a formidable pair that promotes career growth in junior and senior dancers. An opportunity for the kids. Subsequently, other dance companies will want to hire the paid services of Byron's junior team."