Chapter 126 BOOK 2: CHAPTER 16

Chapter 126 BOOK 2: CHAPTER 16
—Amira—
The whole room floated away, desire blooming like a forbidden flower inside me.
When had he flown back? He was supposed to be in a meeting with the president.
“Mr. Rivera?” Joyce squealed and scooted to his side. “I-I thought you wouldn't make it.”
“It's simple courtesy to honor an invitation,” he replied, eyes still locked on me. Before he finally looked at her. “Happy birthday.”
She grinned and scratched her ear. “Thank you, sir.”
At the moment he looked away, it was as if my senses returned. But his cologne continued to unravel me... reminding me of the times I was in his arms.
I sipped my drink and fidgeted with the stem of my glass.
“So glad to have you, sir,” Joyce said, and led him to our couch. “Amira. Come over,” she beckoned.
I let out a breath and joined them.
Conversations resumed, and the DJ went back to work, throwing in an afrobeat that thumped the speakers.
“Good evening, sir,” I mumbled.There was a smirk in his eyes as if he were replaying how he’d messed with me yesterday.
“How are you today?”
Of course he asked. Like my pain was some sweet confession meant for his entertainment.
Was he expecting me to say I didn’t sleep? To admit he’d kept me up, replaying every moment like a fool?
“I'm good, sir.” I lowered my glass. “How was the meeting?”
He leaned in the chair. “It was a success.”
Joyce signaled a server over. “What would you like to take, sir?”
Nathaniel offered a small smile. “Anything is fine.”
“A bottle of champagne, please,” Joyce added.
The server left and returned with an ice bucket. A soft pop echoed as he opened the bottle and poured into Nathaniel and Joyce’s glasses.
“Amira?” Joyce called.
I emptied my glass. The server refilled it and left without a word.
Nathaniel repeated what he’d done at the banquet. He lifted his glass to his lips and, holding my gaze, he drank.
Heat bloomed in my core.
I sulked under my breath and looked away—only to hear her chuckle.
“The champagne is great,” she chimed.
The lights strobed pink as the DJ dropped a smooth amapiano intro.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “let’s give Joyce a round of applause… and now, the first dance!”
Joyce lowered her glass. She stood and walked to the dance floor amidst the cheers of guests.
She followed the rhythm: shoulders bouncing, leg work... then she dipped her knees and came back up with fluid.
The crowd went berserk.
“Go, Joyce,” someone shouted.
“Na me!” she shouted back and the room erupted with laughter. I glanced at Nathaniel and he was smiling.
He caught me and I shied away, fixing my gaze on Joyce again.
“Are we playing hide and seek now?” he teased.
My cheeks burned. “I... I–”
“What? Do I make you nervous?”
I met his gaze. “Please, don’t get all flustered. I was just… noticing the view.”
He laughed and lifted his glass to his lips.
“Come on, guys!” Joyce beckoned. “Join me.”
A ripple of excitement went through the room as couples trickled in—some swinging arms, others doing soft footwork.
Soon the hesitation broke entirely, and the dance floor came alive.
Tunde approached. He bowed to Nathaniel before turning to me. “May I have this dance?”
“Of course,” I said, leaving everything behind, and following him. I caught Nathaniel looking as we danced.
He gulped his glass, refilled it: all the while not breaking his gaze. It gave me joy to see I had an edge over him tonight.
Tunde looped his arms around my waist and I leaned into him. When I looked at Nathaniel again, he was visibly sulking under his breath.
“I was wondering —if you could hang out sometime,” Tunde spoke.
“Thanks but I'm busy these days,” I replied.
“Maybe another time?”
I shook my head. “I can't make promises.”
Gasps erupted in the room. I followed the gaze and saw Madam Grace and Nathaniel stepping onto the dance floor. She'd asked and he'd accepted.
The DJ switched to a slow, sultry jazz, as the pink lights caught Grace's smile.
My chest tightened. For a heartbeat, it felt like I’d been pushed aside all over again.
“Are you okay?” Tunde asked.
“Yes.” I turned my face away and rested my head on his shoulder.
We danced.
Just as I was beginning to enjoy the dance, the music faltered and the guests applauded.
We walked back to our seats— except for Madam Grace who took the chair beside Nathaniel. She refilled his glass and grinned sheepishly as he lifted it and drank.
Joyce glanced at me with worried eyes.
I swallowed hard and turned to the servers approaching with trays of sumptuous dishes.
My phone rang in my bag. I reached for it and froze—Mama.
I turned to Joyce. “Please, where's the bathroom?”
She pointed me the way.
I excused myself from the table. Tracing my way to the restroom, I dialed Mama.
She answered. “Amira, where are you?”
“Good evening, Mama. A colleague of mine was celebrating her birthday, so I stopped by. I’m on my way home now.”
“You had me worried.”
I smiled. “Don't be, Mama. I'll soon be with you.”
“Alright, my daughter,” she said and ended the call.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
My job here was done. Joyce had cut the cake and danced. I didn’t have to stay and watch Grace gloat over Nathaniel.
It was time to go home.
Grabbing my bag, I headed back to the party.
“Amira, there you're!” Joyce called as I approached the table. Nathaniel and Grace were still chattering.
“We were just about to start a Truth or Dare Game. Are you?” Joyce added.
I sighed. “Maybe some other time. My grandma needs me.”
Everyone froze: Joyce blinked and the smile on Nathaniel's lips faded.
“Is she okay?” Joyce asked.
“Yes. I'll be leaving now,” I murmured.
Without another word, I turned and steered for the door, my heels clicking on the marble floor.
“Good night, ma'am,” the valet said as he opened the exit door. I tipped him and his smile broadened. “Ah, God bless you, madam!”
I offered a smile and made my way to the driveway. But my ride was nowhere to be found.
“I asked him to retire for the day,” someone said behind me.
I didn't need to turn around, his cologne wrapped around me. Then memories of him dancing and chatting with Grace.
His security details kept tabs from a distance as his convoy rolled into the driveway.
“I guess I'll take a cab then,” I muttered.
“You won’t need one. I’ll take you home.”
I couldn't help the scoff that escaped my lips as I looked at him. “What do you want from me?”
“What?”
“Don't play with me,” I rasped. “You did this yesterday and now today. Yes, I get it— you don't remember me, you don't want to have anything to do with me. But can you tell me why you're torturing me?”
He went still. The smirk vanished like it had never existed.
“Amira...” His voice dropped. “No, I'm not torturing you.”
“Do you remember me?” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
I started toward the gate, but he caught my hand. A slow ache stirred in my chest.
“Please, let me drop you,” he said. “After this, I promise I won’t bother you again.”
“I'm not going home... I'm going to the hospital to see my grandma.”
“I only need the hospital's address. We'll locate it using GPS.” His gaze burned through mine.
I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath. Then pulled my hand free and walked toward his convoy.
We slid into the back seat of the lead car, and I told him the hospital’s name.
The ride was a quiet one. I gazed across the window, fighting the urge to look at him.
“I'm sorry,” he said.
I looked at him now. “Why are you apologizing?”
“I didn't mean to deny you that day or hurt you yesterday.”
Tears pooled in my eyes. I pushed them back and forced a dry chuckle.
“So you remember me? And why did you think you hurt me yesterday?”
He smiled. “Yes, I remember you. You're my first. And yes, I saw it in your eyes yesterday before you run off. You wanted it.”
My cheeks flushed. “I wanted what?”
“Don't deny it.”
My eyes dropped to his lips. I swallowed and looked away.
“Why did you deny me?”
“Because the reason I came here was to forget you. You weren't nice the first time we met, were you?”
“I'm sorry—”
“It's too late for apologies, Amira.” He leaned closer, until his breath fanned my ear. “I'm going to be breaking every work ethic I respect. I will ruin you over my desk, against the wall, in the bathrooms, the boardroom... in the car, just like now.”
He cupped my face and traced the curve of my lips with his thumb. “So either you resign or brace yourself from what's coming.”