Purple Romance

''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''

Paula turned to look at him and frowned, ''no I don't snore. I didn't snore, right?'' she distorted her face and gave him a look that seemed to say it was the most impossible thing in the world.

''You did'' Andy liked seeing her act so carefree with him. The way she smiled made him feel that she was back to her normal self again.

''That's a lie Andy, I won't listen to you'' Paula covered her ears and shook her head

''I should have taken a video, then you wouldn't have to call me a liar'' when he said that, Paula stopped shaking her head and asked him seriously.

''Did I really… snore? Because that would be so embarrassing'' As they were chatting, Betty walked up to them. when she got closer, she called out to Andy.

''Andy, you are here?''

Both Andy and Paula turned to look at her, her heels getting stuck in the sand as she walked up to them.

''I looked for you everywhere?'' she had tried to keep him from getting closer to this woman, she didn't know when he had escaped from her sight and was with this woman again. She had looked for him after not seeing him again. He had told her he was going to the washroom and that was the place she couldn't follow him to, so she had let him go, but he had escaped to come and be with her here.

Betty stood in front of them and sized Paula up, she admitted that she wasn't really fat at all, just curvy. Beautiful curvy. Her face looked cleaned even with the minimal makeup that she had on, but she wasn't going to admit that out loud.

While Beltty was sizing Paula up, the latter couldn't help but do that same. In her eyes, the lady before her was pretty but her makeup was excessive. She felt that if she reduced the amount of makeup cake she put on, she would glow with little makeup. She was slender and beautiful, the type that most men liked. She subconsciously turned towards Andy and wondered if this lady was the type of women he preferred?

Andy furrowed his brows as he looked at the two ladies who seemed to be checking each other out. If he didn't know better, he would have thought those two had a different sexual preference. He was totally clueless about the silent war of hostility between the two women. It wasn't that they had a different sexual preference; it was that they felt threatened by each other.

''Ladies'' Andy broke the silence with his voice making them to look at him, 'Paula, meet Bella my kid sister. Betty, meet my friend Paula''

''Hi, nice to meet you Paula. I am Bella, actually, we are not blood related but Andy and I grew up together'' Betty said with a bright smile. With such simple words, she had made Paula understand that even though Andy introduced her as a sister, they weren't blood related and that anything could happen between them. it was clear.

''nice to meet you Betty'' Paula smiled and shook the hand that was extended towards her.

''Pleasure is mine'' Betty turned to Andy and held his arm, clinging herself to him tightly and affectionately as she said to him, ''Andy is almost time and I'm really tired. Take me back to the hotel''

Andy looked at Paula. He knew what Betty was getting at with her actions but he didn't want to call her out because they were outside. He didn't want Paula to also find out about that incident which made him go to her place to spend the night.

''Go on, I will wait here a little while and then join the bus''

''Then, we will meet there'' Andy said to her and she nodded her head.

''See you later then, Paulina'' Betty said and Paula furrowed her brows.

''Sure Bella''

'Bella? My name isn't Bella but Betty''

''Right, my name is Paula and not Paulina''

Andy stifled a chuckle seeing how subtly savage Paula was towards Betty. He was pleased that she wasn't easily bullied.

Betty nodded and walked away hurriedly and pissed off. Paula smirked and folded her arms around her chest and muttered.

''Take that bitch!! See how it feels to be called by a name that isn't yours'' Paula glared at her as she walked away with Andy.

Not that she didn't like the name Paulina, but, that name is sacred to her. Her grandma was called Paulina and after giving birth to her, she was given the name Paula. The name Paulina to her was a reverence in memory of her grandma and the way Bella said it made her feel that she was been insulted and looked down upon, that was why she retaliated in that manner.

She felt a softness on her shoulders and looked over finding the trench coat on her again. she removed it and looked at it. She remembered giving it back to Andy, when did he put it back on her without her knowledge?

She put it closer to her nose and smelt his scent and smiled.

…..

When they returned to the hotel, Andy had some work to do at the office to do and Bella followed him. It was like she was determined to be around him all day today.

Andy was busy looking at the financial statements when he heard Betty ask him.

''So, that lady. Who is she?''

''Which lady?''

''The one we met at the bench?''

''She has a name and I thought I already introduced you two? She is my friend''

''Is she just a friend? You seem to fancy her''

''Betty, what's with the questions? After pulling that stunt, you seem to be getting bolder just because I am giving you little space, right?''

Betty's face distorted. Her smile stiffened. She didn't think that Andy will see through her act that fast, ''Andy, what are you talking about?''

''You know better what I am talking about and also, whether I fancy her or not is none of your business. I am not obliged to answer that question. Also, your sister will be here tomorrow to pick you up''

''But, the tour is until Friday?'' she looked at him densely.

''I don't think I can tolerate you until then, Betty. You keep making me want to be far away from you. You are becoming someone I don't recognise anymore''

''What?'' she clutched her fists tightly and Andy looked up.

''Stop preparing rumours around and making people think that we are engaged or a couple. Even if Paula didn't appear, it wouldn't work between us''

''Andy… I wasn't the one who spread those rumours in our circle. I really don't know how people found out about the engagement?''

'Really, Betty? Really?'' Andy shook his head. this was something he had been ignoring for a while now but he felt he couldn't do that anymore. The rumours of the two of them being a couple was fast spreading and a lot of people were asking him about it. He knew very well the one who started it but he didn't want to say it to her face. He was considering their long-time family relations and her senior sister's reputation but he felt he couldn't do that anymore because she was getting out of control.

''Andy? How could you say these things to me?''

''Stop instigating my father to get us engaged or you will not believe I am the same person you've known for all your life''

Betty stood up and picked her bag and left the office, banging the door. She met Leslie on the way and pushed him aside.

''Wow, who spit in your biscuits, princess?'' Leslie said and shook his head before going into the office. He sat on the chair Betty sat on and smirked looking at Andy, 'looks like you finally blew up on her?''

''Are you that free to be coming here?''

''I am quite busy, you know. I just came to hand over something to you'' he placed a wedding invitation card on the table, ''Joel asked me to give this to you. He said he wants you to be there, so he can introduce you to Jordan Attoh, the man you want to do business with''

''Jordan Attoh is getting married?'' Andy took the card and opened it, ''it was about time he and this lady got married. I heard they've been through a lot''

''And you and him are so much similar. Remember, his first girlfriend also went MIA on him. Mali did the same thing to you too''

''That wasn't a funny joke, Leslie''

''Chill, my bad. It's next week Saturday''

''I will move my schedules and give him a call today''

''So, I saw a certain pretty woman around the hotel while I was coming in. She was going into the restaurant'' Leslie said knowingly.

''You saw Paula?''

''Andy, do you like that woman?''

''So what if I do? So what if I don't?''

''That isn't exactly an answer but all the same, I like her for you. She seems like a nice person. She even greeted me''