69

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE.
After the conversation Adele had with Aliya, her mood worsened for the rest of the day. She argued about three more times with Grace and snapped at several of her coworkers. They finally understood that she was going through an emotional distress and decided not to bother her.
After work, she had expected Jamal to text her and tell her to come meet him in his private parking lot so they could drive home together, but he did not, so she had to drive home on her own.
On her way, she stopped by the grocery store to get some ingredients for the meal she had in mind to cook for dinner. It was going to be a special dinner because she was finally going to tell Jamal that she was ready to give him a second chance. She was already very excited.
At home she prepared dinner and set the table, waiting for Jamal. He has still not called and that was strange. As she went to the bedroom to take her bath, a call came through from a strange number. She instantly picked up the call, hoping it was Jamal, but a female voice sounded over the phone.
“Hello, is this Adele Mackenzie?” The calm and soothing voice asked.
“Yes, it’s me.”
“Good. This is Jamal King’s personal assistant. He had to go out of town for business and he said to call you. He also said to tell you that he won’t be coming back home tonight, so you shouldn’t stay up waiting for him.” The PA announced and Adele felt a painful lump form in her throat. She quickly swallowed it and replied to the girl.
“Thank you very much. Please tell him to take care of himself.”
“I will do just that, Miss Mackenzie, you have a good night.” Then the line went dead.
Adele angrily threw her phone on the bed and fell on it as a violent sob escaped her lips.
She was never going to get used to Jamal leaving for his unexpected meetings. She had gone a long way to cook dinner for him, only to be told that he would not be coming back home. She was mad!
She was extremely mad! But she knew she had to understand.
That was the nature of his job and there was really nothing she could do about it.
She picked up her phone and Dialed her grandmother’s number. If Jamal wasn’t going to come and eat the food, then she was going to enjoy it with her grandmother.
******************”********”**************
“Oh my! It’s such a shame that Jamal missed this very delicious dinner.” Grandma lamented.
“I know, right?” Said Adele, giggling even though there was a burning furnace of anger in her heart.
“I know how you must be feeling right now, darling, but not to worry, you have many other nights to cook him dinner.” Grandma tried to comfort her and she just smiled and nodded.
“I know grandma.”
“So tell me, how has it been between the two of you?” Grandma asked eagerly and Adele chuckled.
“Not too good, not bad. We argue alot, but we agree on a lot of things as well. Grandma, Jamal is indeed a changed person. He is not the Jamal I got married to two years ago!”
“What did I tell you?” Grandma asked giving her a knowing look. “Your husband has managed to overcome the challenges that life threw at him and he is bound to loosen up. I have always known my grandson could be a jovial man, I have always known that.”
“He is, indeed. He smiles now more often, he cracks jokes, he listens to me, he gives a lot of attention. Grandma there are times when I can’t believe it’s actually Jamal. There are times when his cool actions freak me out!”
“But you like it, don’t you?”
“Of course I do! This is what I’ve always wanted. A man who gives me his attention, a man who compliments me, a man who makes me laugh, who makes me happy! That is all I have ever wanted.”
“Awnn…I can see your eyes glittering from xcitement as you say that. You are indeed in love with Jamal, aren’t you?” Grandma asked with a raised brow and Adele shyly nodded her head.
“He makes it impossible not to love him, grandma. He is perfect!”
“Whoa! I didn’t didn’t expect to come here and hear such great news. I’m happy he finally found ways to treat you right.”
“You were right grandma. You were right when you said all Jamal needed was time to sort out things. You were right.” She nodded. “You won’t believe what happened today.”
“What happened?” Grandma asked curiously.
“Mrs. Dominick came to see me at the conglomerate today.”
“What? … I mean… wait! Mrs. Dominick as in Jamal’s mother?” Grandma asked, confused and Adele nodded her head.
“Yeah.”
“Why did you address her formally?”
“She warned me never to call her mum or mother or anything of that sort. I can’t possibly call her Aliya, that’d be too disrespectful, so Mrs. Dominick is how I address her.” Adele explained and Grandma shook her head in disappointment .
“Aliya will never cease to amaze me. Go on dear, tell me what she did.”
“She offered me a check of two million Dollars. She said to take the money and leave Jamal alone. As in, leave the country. Without his knowledge.”
“No, she did not!” Grandma flatly denied.
“Yes she did!”
“Two million dollars! Goodness! That woman is the devil!”
“I said the exact same words to her.”
“Where the hell did she get that kind of money?”
“Grandma, her husband used to be the owner of Dominick Co. I’m sure that’s chicken change to her.” Said Adele with a frown.
“How dare she? How dare she do such a preposterous thing?” Grandma was agitated. She knew Aliya to be a woman who would do anything to get what she wanted, but she didn’t think her ambition would make her stoop so low.
“I guess she is very determined to kick me out of her son’s life.”
“Tell me, Adele, what was your reaction? Please tell me you gave her the talk of her life.”
“When she first mentioned it, I laughed hard and looked at her like she had lost her mind. When she insisted that I took the check and fled, I took the piece of paper from her hand and tore it into pieces. She was petrified!”
“Perfect?”
“I went ahead to make her understand that I was skeptical about giving Jamal a second chance, but after what she just said, my decision has been made. I told her I was going to accept Jamal back into my life and once I returned back to the mansion, I would kick her out since my husband now owns it. She was dumbfounded and didn’t even know what to say or do and then I left. I gave her a piece of my mind grandma. She didn’t see it coming.” She explained enthusiastically and Grandma looked at her with pride filled in her eyes.
Adele was a very quiet girl and Grandma Devon had always been worried about the fact that she would not be able to face her life bullies, but Adele had just proven to her that she was capable of defending herself and she was proud.
“I’m so proud of you sweetheart. I’m happy you put her in her place. Next time, she’s going to think twice before doing anything stupid to you.”
“I’m ready for her anytime. I make sure to always put her in her place. I will make sure of that.”
“That’s my girl.”
There is a moment of silence.
“So…” Grandma breaks the silence. “This is to say that you are finally accepting Jamal back into your life, yeah?” Grandma asked and Adel broke into a wide smile as she played with her fingers.
“Yeah.” She replied shyly.
“Oh my dear!” Grandma exclaimed in excitement as she pulled her into her arms. “I can assure you that you are not going to regret this decision of yours. Jamal will be enthralled to hear that you are finally accepting him back into your life.”
“I know.” She cried. “Grandma, he told me everything he has been through. He told me what his father did to him. All the fraudulent documents he made him sign. Grandma, that was terrible. I felt so bad for him. And for Danielle, she had the solution to his problems but she used it to control his life. None of what happened was his fault. He was just a man trying to clear his name and he did what he thought was right. I have no reason to stay mad at him after hearing what he just said.” She explained in tears and Grandma gently caressed her back.
” I am happy you understand all that he has been through, sweetheart. I’m happy you have chosen to be by his side.”
“Grandma, Jamal is surrounded by evil people, he needs more good in his life.”
“Yeah, he does.”
Adele pulled out from her grandma’s arms and chuckled in tears.
“I honestly can’t believe this day has come. A few months ago, I could have sworn that I was never going to forgive Jamal, but here I am, feeling zero hatred towards him. I really want him to be happy again grandma. I want his nightmares to stop as well.”
“He has nightmares?”
“Every night! He told me it started from the day he pushed me down, but he doesn’t have nightmares when he sleeps by my side.”
“That poor grandson of mine. He has been through so much.”
“That’s why I’ve chosen to be part of his life again. I don’t ever want him to suffer alone anymore. I am his wife and I am going to share his burdens with him henceforth.”
“Bless you child, bless you.”
“Thank you Grandma.” She said with a smile.
She meant every word she had just said to her grandmother.