CHAPTER 8

LEO FINDS IT HARD TO BELIEVE that Claire could reject him yet again after he has told her about their daughter, that woman is stubborn has a mule, but he's more stubborn. He's bent on getting his way with her, his future depends on it.

He went to the King’s Court to check up on his father, he needs his guidance.

Leo met him in his study going through some papers, his reading glasses perched on top of his nose.

"Father."

"Son. You are back, how's my granddaughter and Claire?" He asked dropping the paper he was studying on the desk, relaxing on the chair, to give Leo his full attention.

"It's late Father, you should be in bed and Tonya and Claire are well." Leo said, dropping his weight on the couch adjacent to where his father sat. "What are you studying?" He asked.

"You know the kingdom is never asleep and there are matters that needs my attention before I call it a night. There's a land dispute that needs to be looked at, but I'm sure you didn't come here to hear that, what worries you son?"

Leo sighs, his father knows him so well. "I need your advice"

"I'm listening" the king rose from his seat, joining Leo on the big couch. "Go on"

"I asked Claire to marry me and she said no. This is the second time that I will—"

"Now you are getting frustrated because you don't want the curse on you or your daughter right?"

"Exactly father, I don't want that to happen." Leo mutters.

"I think you are missing the whole point especially in approaching the situation. You must remember that the woman in question is not your typical average woman. She's beautiful, have her own career and life in the US. She does not care about your money, she just want to do the right thing by her daughter and to keep her late mother's promise. You need to give her a good reason to want to marry you Son" the king advice.

"Is our daughter being bullied in school not reason enough? Or her having a curse placed on her" Leo said tersely.

"For her it's not enough, neither does she know about the curse. I bet she won't even believe in it if you told her because she does not understand our ways and tradition here. She may be half Nigerian but she's practically a white woman in her thinking, raised outside the country as well, she's independent. You want to get married quickly so has to avert trouble; she does not want to get married out of responsibility or duty." He pointed out to Leo. "A woman like Claire wants security, stability that only love could give—"

"But Father I can't lie to her by telling her I love her" Leo said with exasperation.

"Then give yourself a chance to, what are you afraid of? That you will lose control? Well losing control at times is good for the soul."

"Father see what it did to you. Loving mum almost killed you when she died and I'm sure you still miss her. I can't expose myself like that; I prefer to do things I can control." He said, running his hands on his face.

"I know and yes I still miss her, but you can't live your life wanting to control everything. My advice Son, don't approach this marriage matter with your head just because of what's at stake for you but approach it with your heart. I have something for you, give me a minute" the king walk to a safe lodged on the wall beside his book shelf. Punched in some random numbers and it eased open. He brought out a small velvet black box out, lock the safe back and ambles back to Leo.

The king placed the box in Leo's hands, "It's your mother's, I want you to give it to Claire when she finally agrees to marry you"

Leo opened the box and nestled inside is an exquisite diamond engagement ring. "Father" he whispers in awe. "It's truly beautiful, but why me? I mean why didn't you give it to Liam?" Confusion lacing his words.

"I'm sure your mother would have want you, her baby to have it." He mutters, smiling wistfully at him.

“Thank you." Leo mutters is eyes going misty. He felt close to his mother again, he can't deny that he missed her. With a new resolve he determine to win the heart of Claire, his mother's ring needs to be on her finger and he will do anything to make it happen. "Thank you, I will try my best"

"It's okay son. Now let's go to bed, it's late and your brothers and their families will arrive tomorrow so I need my rest before those tiny creature exhaust me" he chuckles, referring to his grandchildren.

"Oh like you don't enjoy it." Leo chuckles boisterously, rising from his seat. His father loves his grandchildren, he wants them around often and that's why they try to create time for family reunion and hangout anytime they are on holiday. "Good night father" he said with a bow.

"Good night Son" smiling at his retreating back.

The king too ambles to his bedroom, which is adjoined to the study room. Leo has a lot to learn, he will realize that when it comes to love and marriage, nothing can be controlled. He thought as he lay to rest, facing his wife's picture on the side table.

"Goodnight Pearl."

****

LEO HATE TO ADMIT IT, BUT HIS FATHER is right, he needs to approach the matter from a more subtle angle; Claire is not like any other women he has been with in the past. She is made of sterner stuff and she does not care about his money, from what the Intel he has gathered about her has revealed, her flower shop is thriving, and her parents also left her a small fortune. So she is comfortable enough. He needs to make her fall in love with him that way she will not be able to refuse is proposal.

He had already start making arrangement with a realtor for a house in California, LA, where she resides but Claire has no idea about it. All that remains is for him to sign the dotted line and he will own the house. She is in for a surprise by the time she and Tonya travels back to the United States.

He discarded is cloth and crossed the room to the adjoining bathroom, setting the shower dial to full blast he allows the cold water to cool down his overheated body, frustration of not getting his way will do that to anybody, he mused. He wants her and his body knows it, he can't even think of another woman not because of what his father told him but because his body wants Claire, only her. Leo left the bathroom after the water had calm his nerves, pulling on a drawstring trouser he tumbled on his bed, tomorrow he will face his brothers and their family.

****

His brothers and their families’ arrival brought a lot of excitement, and fun to the Palace, though Leo could not escape their teasing and taunts. Henry seems to be having a field day mocking him. Leo could not blame him, because few years back he did the same to him, when he was about to marry Kezia—the daughter of one of the palace staffs, who got pregnant for him. Henry had to do the honorable thing by marrying her. He remembered the way he teased Henry then, now his brother has settled to married life with three wonderful kids. It is now Henry’s turn to pay him back in his own coin. Karma is a bitch.

Leo had suggest that Claire and Tonya should move to one of the guest house in the palace. In other to make it easy for her and Tonya to spend time together with his family, without having to be moving back and forth. Surprisingly Claire agreed to his suggestion. Pointing out to him that she also wants Tonya to know her nephews and niece.

CLAIRE NEVER EXPECT TO HAVE SO MUCH FUN, the Gbadegesin clan are so full of life. At first she was a bit self-conscious when she was introduced to the family, when she met Liam and Henry with their wives and kids. The men were intimidating, their dark gaze accessing her, but she refused to be cowered. The two must have noticed her stubborn chin sticking out, as they broke into a knowing grin. Smiling at her like she just pass a test, as they welcome her into the family, but she knew they still have their reservations about her. Claire understand perfectly. They were totally different with Tonya; the love was instant as they all gathered around her, while she bombarded them with questions.

The rapport with the other kids were instant. They soon left the adults, running around the palace. She watch her daughter bonding with them and it makes her heart to ache. Wishing she has siblings to bond with.

Lola and Kezia were so excited to meet her. Claire got to know that Lola—Liam's wife is a nurse, while Kezia, Henry's wife is working alongside her husband in the family business. She was pleasantly surprised to know that the women are hardworking bunch, nullifying the step fords wives idea she may have had about them. It’s obvious that the men loves their wives enough to allow them do whatever they want. Claire yearn for that kind of relationship.

"Earth to Claire" Lola chuckles, causing Claire to come out of her reverie. The ladies had invited her out to what they term as just the women hangout, it comprises of Lola, Kezia and Eliza — younger sister of Kezia. It was a wonderful gesture on their part, Claire was not expecting it. They had it in one of the huge rooms in the palace. It was decorated with balloons and roses, with different finger foods that's more than enough to feed an army on the long table. She felt close to tears by the gesture.

"Sorry I'm still in shock, still taking everything in" she mutters, her eyes drifting around the beautifully decorated room, from where she sat. She sips her fruit juice with delight.

"It's alright we understand. Trust me Kezia and I have been there" at the mention of Kezia's name, the beautiful dark skinned woman gave her a wistful smile. She's more reserved, than Lola. The soft cushions were arranged in a circular form, with space in the middle. Music was playing in the background, giving the women room to hear each other. "I must confess that, I was surprised when I heard about you and Tonya. It’s good to have another addition to the family." Lola said; as they all sat down to relax.

"I’m glad to meet the family as well." Claire ask, her eyebrows raised.

"Yes, I must admit that I did not see this coming at all, Prince Leo surprised us all, and I’m sure by now you know He’s an incorrigible flirt," Kezia added with a chuckle.

"Well I’m aware of that, and that’s why I did not want to marry him out of any obligation or duty” Claire mutters.

"Wow, he asked you to marry him and you refused? That is something I did not believe could happen to Leo, but Leo is not the type that can be forced to do anything. In fact all the Gbadegesin men. There must be other reasons aside that—he must feel something for you" Lola said, giving her a pointed look. "I'm sure you will be fine. Kez and I, we both got married for crazy reasons. I married Liam for my family. To save them from debt."

"And I married Henry because I was pregnant for him" Kezia added.

"Well I'm not married, so I will just be here, eating these delicious samosas and sipping my juice" Eliza pouted, causing the rest of the party to laugh.

"But in the end, it all worked out for us. I'm sure you and Leo too will find your footing. You are just the right woman to tame him" Lola said, clasping Claire's hands with hers.

"Thank you. I really appreciate your support and all, but I’m not sure we will be getting married. I know I'm not that African and all—"

"Who cares? You are beautiful. I wish I could just have a white father or mother like you” Eliza gushed. Giggling when Kezia rolled her eyes heavenward.

"Thank you, you are beautiful too" Claire chuckles.

"So tell us how you met" Eliza asked, eyes twinkling. She's nothing like her reserved sister- Kez. Elizabeth is more outspoken and stubborn.

"At a restaurant, I think I acted out of character that night" Claire answered, Biting her lips in mortification as she recalls the night, she acted so brazen that night, going to bed with a man she just met.

"Wow tells us more" they all chuckled, listening attentively as Claire launched into how they met.

"Seriously I don't know what got into me that night because I definitely don't go around flirting with men, there's something about him that drew me to him"

"Trust me, we understand. The Gbadegesin men all have that magnetic draw to them" Lola replies with a wink.

****

"So tell us Leo, how did you end up with a beautiful woman that has refused to marry you and a grown child at once, again?" Henry ask, his mouth twitching with a wicked grin.

"Go on enjoy yourself, knock yourself out brother. You've been dying to pay me back. Let the taunting beginning" Leo sighs, rolling his eyes at his brother. He downed the red wine in his glass at a go. Placing the wine glass with a thud on the table where the three of them sat around under the Cabana beside the pool. They enjoy hanging out here, whenever they are all together.

"Uh poor Leo. He's getting married against his wish, yet the woman in question rebuffs his proposal. Our baby brother has finally finds his match at last, but no ordinary woman will do. He had to go for a biracial woman. You are something else." Henry continues to tease him.

"Henry it's enough. At least we can't fault his pick in women. Claire is a beautiful one" Liam said grinning, at him.

"True Liam, I wonder how a beauty like that ends up with a flirt like him."

"It's like you are both forgetting that you use to play the field once upon a time before you both got married." Pointing finger at Liam and Henry, "So stop casting stone brothers. We all know the two of you didn't get married because you want to deep down, nor were you ready, but circumstances and fate says otherwise like what's happening to me as well right now"

"Yea about that, Liam told me about the curse thing, is it true?" Henry ask, his brows drawn together in deep thought.

"Yes it's true. I don't think Dad will lie like that, besides I don't want my daughter to be seen as a bastard -."

"Or for you to lose the use of your prowess with women.” Henry chuckles.

“Well that too, so I need to persuade her to marry me. It’s for that reason, that I got a house in LA. ”

“Wow our baby brother is now all grown Liam." Henry laughs boisterously, causing Leo to hit him on his arms.

“I’m sure you are up to the task and Claire will eventually succumb to you, just take things with ease. Its good you are going to be in LA because in couple of month I will be traveling down to California for a meeting with a new client concerning the oil refinery. You will join me.” Liam said, as he saunters to the king size pool.

“Typical, just typical of you Liam, now that I will be in LA, you want me to accompany you. I’m not relocating because of your meeting” Leo replies gruffly. He hates those meetings and Liam knows it.