Chapter Sixty-Seven

Chapter Sixty-Seven
Good sex, that was all I needed to clear my blurry vision and stressed body.

After the first night at his house, I'd spent several others getting good meals that I didn't have to prepare (he always got take-outs for both of us) and good drilling which was always the highlight of the day.

I loved to cook but he never let me use the kitchen. “I don't want you stressing yourself babe, you've already experienced the heat of the bakery all through the day,” he would say as he handed me the take-out that he bought from the fast food or restaurants. 

Whenever I was having a bad day, I either stopped by his place or I called him to pick me up, and usually after we'd eaten and talked for a bit, we would delve into the act, exploring each other’s bodies and discovering the nerve endings that would almost send our souls packing from our bodies.

Nelson was so good, he had me thinking about the last night all through my day at work and even subsequent days. 

The way he held me and thrusted carefully but firmly could never seem to get out of my head, I kept getting flashbacks from every scene when I worked and while I was idle. The way he held me firmly and did the act intentionally, staring deeply into my eyes as he did, made me experience the feeling of belonging.

He was never hurrying just to be done, he was present and made sure I got my own fair share of orgasm. 

If Hayley were not a baby who barely understood what happened around her, she would have probably asked if everything was okay with me. Sometimes I acted strangely and other times I was overly excited and all over the moon. 

The way I blushed hard and giggled whenever I remembered every single detail during my day, the little happy dances I did, the happiness and clarity I felt during my work hours was amazing. The tension and stress that usually had me bearing a long face all through the day were nowhere to be found. The quality of my life greatly improved.

It was like we’d sealed the business deal that we’d been talking about for weeks, with even subsequent ones. I felt calm, I felt peace, I felt wholeness.

Now my whole thoughts centered on my business, my daughter, and more importantly on my man, Nelson.

I had fallen more in love with him not just for the words he said but how he treated me. He was one hell of an intentional and caring man. 

The other day, I casually mentioned on the call that I had no plans for the weekend and that I was going to spend it rotting in bed and enjoying my rent before it expired, and following that, Nelson credited my account with such a huge sum without asking me specifically for the required amount. 

He was on some generous drugs that had him spending with no limits, no second thoughts, no complaints, no regrets, and no delays. 

He sent me money without me asking, and when I asked him what it was for, he always said that a beautiful woman needed money for her maintenance and upkeep but I didn't need such large amounts for mine, now I was left with the choice of slowly learning to live in luxury. 

Gradually, I quit settling for the cheap and very affordable brands and started patronizing the very expensive stores without too many thoughts and calculations.

The rich living was good.

The thoughts of Drew no longer tugged at the back of my mind like they randomly did; I was gradually forgetting about his existence and his absence, Nelson now held my daughter and me and that was all we needed. 

At the back of my mind, I prayed every day that this joy would remain, maybe not forever because life itself was temporary, but for a long time.

But even as I did hope for it to last, somewhere at the back of my mind, I doubted his genuineness. Nelson looked too good to be true. 

He was too patient, too kind, too caring, too involved, too generous, in fact he was too much of every good thing, and that left me wondering who he really was.

While I jollied in his love and providence, I sometimes questioned myself about his intentions. What if he was just here for a good time? What if he were a spy from the opposers? What if he had a mission that he was just waiting for a good time to execute?

What ifs, what ifs, what ifs? These were the thoughts that occupied my mind sometimes. 

But I'd done my underground work. I'd introduced him to my aunt and she said he wasn't someone she’d seen anywhere around town before. I'd also dug deep into his past by asking questions which he genuinely answered, except he didn't like too many details, of which I let him be. 

I didn't want to bore him or make him uncomfortable with my many questions.

In the game of life, all is fair, and whatever will be will be, and not even my questions or investigative acts would change that.

I was determined to enjoy it while it lasted and not break my neck over worrying about it. 

It was a few minutes past mid-afternoon and my employees and I were already done batch-making pastries for the day. 

They were tidying up and packing up to leave while I arranged each packaged order for the clients who were already walking in for pickups.

An old-time customer, Ken walked in to get the birthday cake which we’d baked for his mom’s 50th birthday. 

We didn't take large cake orders every single day of the week because it required a lot more work than the usual but we made sure to cater to the needs of our old clients. 

When Mr Ken, a young man probably in his late twenties, reached out to us two weeks ago to request a cake for his mum whose birthday was coming up in two weeks, I contemplated accepting it based on the fact that we barely had time on our hands to bake the regular pastries which walk-in customers would purchase while also attending to online orders, but he immediately promised to pay double the price just to get it done. 

That was how much he trusted our services. He patronized the brand regularly and tipped a little too much despite my continual refusal. 

The giant sea green cake was stationed on the table, with a transparent covering when he walked in.

“That looks like a masterpiece. Oooooouuuuuuu,” he exclaimed, beaming with smiles as we walked towards the table. 

Ken was tall and muscular, with the perfect frame of an athlete. He was handsome and very attractive. He had a very charming smile and an Adam's apple that moved whenever he spoke.

Sometimes I wondered who his girlfriend was and how lucky she was to have him. He was very soft spoken as well as respectful. 

He had a sugar-coated tongue and a good manner of approach, the kind that made people change their minds quickly about age-long rules and traditions. He had his way with words and that was such a dangerous combination of characteristics for any individual.

“Oh, Ken, you're here. Welcome.” I said, turning to face him.

“Yes, May. I told you I'd arrive in time.”

“Of course, I knew. You always keep to the time.”

“This is massive and very beautiful,” he said, his eyes moving round the cake. 

“Yeah, I chuckled. Your mom will like it.” 

“Like? Come on, she’ll love it. Sea green is one of her favorite colors. She would be so impressed.”

“Then I'm so lucky to be the reason such a classy lady is impressed, she has really good eyes.”

“I have said the same to her several times too since my childhood. She owns an outrageous number of outfits and items in the same color, like she's really obsessed with it. I can't wait for her to see the cake, she would literally go insane or even lose her mind because of its beauty coupled with the fact that it's a surprise.”

As Ken conversed with me, making many references that related to the cake’s colour and the birthday plans for his mom, Nelson walked into the building, his presence instantly shifting my mood of excitement. 

His face was tight, his jaw clenched and his eyes unreadable. Unlike before, he didn't greet me, nor did he smile. I became disturbed.

“Hi Nelson,” I greeted, smiling at him to see if his expression would change. He usually carried a long and uninterested face whenever he was tired and worn out from work and I thought that was it. 

Of course, Ken had no idea who he was, so he just waved at him shortly and continued talking with me without checking to see if he returned his pleasantries, but I couldn't care less.

Nelson ignored my greeting and that of Ken, staring at us with obvious annoyance as he drew out a chair from one of the tables to sit.