Forty four

Those words hung in the air like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over everything. I felt like I'd had been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me. My mind reeled, trying to process the impact of every word he'd just uttered.

If he knew everything about me that means he knew everything about me. Including the fact that I'd been sent here to orchestrate his downfall. And worse of all, everything about me was a lie. I wasn't related to Bobby in any way.

But then, why wasn't he reacting like every other human who had found out that he had been sleeping with his enemy would react?

Why was he seated here with the kind of smile he would wear if he'd discovered that I'd planned a surprise birthday party for him?

"I'm glad that I've managed to stun you, sweetheart".

And why was he also calling me sweetheart?

My eyes fluttered as I gathered myself past the fear, shock and confusion that were threatening to crumble me.

"Why would you run an investigation on me?"

"Because I wanted to know you better".

"When you could have just asked?"

His lips tipped up before he dropped his spoon and raised his hands in surrender for a brief moment. "Fine. You've caught me. I didn't run any form of investigation on you". His admission pushed away the invisible weight that had blocked my windpipe and I was sure anyone who was paying close attention to me would see how my chest heaved as air rushed back into my lungs.

Jesus Christ.

The way one minute you're here and the next minute, you're a moment away from jail was crazy.

Life was indeed fleeting.

"I just asked Suka a couple of questions". He continued in his admission. "Which ended up being a complete waste of time cause the only thing that motherfucker knew was your name, age, where you're from and that he wants to screw your best friend for eternity".

I couldn't help myself. I threw my head as I exploded in laughter. That sounded exactly like Suka.

"Well thank God that I'm neither dead nor an illusion". I shrugged as I took my first bite of the pasta. "You can ask me all you want".

"You go first".

"Why?" I chuckled.

He scratched the back of his head. "I don't even know what to ask. Ask first. Whether I'll get an inspiration from your questions".

"Fine". I didn't even need to task my brain. The question I've always wanted to ask ever since I met him but never got the chance to, waste no time to stream past my lips. "Were you a virgin before we met?"

His eyes sparkled and he picked up his glass and took a long sip, intentionally torturing me with the suspense.

"Two can play that game, you know that right?" I chuckled and he laughed as he dropped the glass back on the table.

"What do you think?" He asked. He rolled some pasta on his fork and my breath hitched when he slowly pushed it into his mouth and let his lips twirl on the fork with a finesse that provoked explicit images in my mind. Images that featured both of us in his room. On his bed.

I cleared my throat slightly, trying to focus on anything but the maddening thrumming in my middle.

We can't be getting horny, Tarila. I reminded myself. This man just said we won't be having sex for a couple of days and I have my pride to protect.

"So, why does everyone think you're a virgin?"

"Because I keep my business to myself. I don't talk about who I fuck to anyone and I also do my shit with mature women who know that whatever happens in the night stays in the night. Their phones are also seized by Dogo before they step into the hotel room just in case any of them try to pull something funny. That's what brought up the virgin assumption".

A hint of satisfaction blossomed in me from the mention of a hotel room and not a house. Yes, I wasn't ashamed to admit that I was highly pleased with the fact that I was the only woman he fucked in his house.

"Who is Dogo?"

"My driver and bodyguard".

"I knew he was more than just a driver".

"You were curious about him".

"Yes". I admitted. "He's always around you".

"He's my second most trusted worker after Manager Kufre. He's Kufre's nephew".

I turned to spare a glance at Dogo who was at a corner beside the door. He was also eating but his eyes were fully trained on us. Our eyes locked and I sent them back to Mene immediately not wanting it to be obvious that we were talking about him.

"He's handsome". The words were out of my lips before I could stop them and I laughed when Mene pinned me with a frown. My possessive lover. "Don't give me that look. I'm just stating the obvious. It's hard to see a bodyguard who looks that good. See Manager Kufre for reference".

He barked out a laugh. "You don't like him".

"He never liked me so the feeling grew to become mutual".

"He's just very protective of us. My father and him have a history that bought his loyalty to not just him but to every one of us. The only person he doesn't like is my mother".

"Dr Mary?" My disbelief was littered all over my tone. Why would anyone hate Dr Mary?

"She's not the angel you think she is". I opened my mouth but before I could speak, Mene shut me down with a feigned smile. "That's all I'm saying on that subject. Let's move on".

That was surely a hard pill for my curious fangs to swallow and it took everything in me to finally get them to rest. I shouldn't push it any further.

"Okay. It's your turn".

"Alright".

"Why did Bobby let you strip?"

"I wanted to do it". Smooth one, Tarila! "He's my uncle, not my father. He can't control my life. But I guess he eventually got tired of seeing his niece pleasuring strangers so he gave me this job".

"I don't like your uncle".

I love that you don't like him.

"He's a good man". That particular lie stung my tongue as it left my lips. My body could stand anything but me protecting that wicked wizard's reputation.

"Trust me, you don't want to know what that man is capable of".

I've gotten a glimpse and I didn't want to know the rest.

I was done with my food and drink so I wiped my lips with my serviette which had been on my tray before I relaxed on my chair. I was satiated.

"Can we not talk about my uncle? You didn't want to talk about your mother". I reminded him and he nodded regarding my decision.

"Alright. I believe it's your turn".

I would have asked him about his bad blood with his father if we hadn't indirectly agreed that questions about families were off the table.

"Why do you work so much?"

"Reality is too harsh". He said before downing every last bit of drink in his glass.

"So you use it as a form of escape?"

He nodded. "Most people use novels. Some use movies. Some music. But nothing gives me better peace than drawing houses and it also makes me fucking rich so I'm perfectly okay with it".

"Don't you think you're overworking yourself?"

"You worry about me, that's cute". He winked at me and earned himself an eye roll. He was doing that thing he always did when he was trying to dodge conversations. Crack jokes.

"Yes, I worry about you and I'm sure your parents do too".

He scoffed. "Trust me, my parents wouldn't give two fucks if I was dead". He told me, before signaling for the waiter who started rushing to our table immediately after he saw his hand.

"You say parents". I pointed out and he nodded.

"Yes, parents". He added, emphasizing the 's' so I'd know he didn't exclude his mother. "The only people who would care are Suka, Kufre, Dogo, Salome, my two bastard friends and of course, you". The waiter arrived at our table and he paused the conversation to attend to him, leaving me to dwell in my thoughts.

Surely I wouldn't know someone better than the person who has lived with that person all his life. What if Mene was neither joking nor trying to ruin Dr Mary's reputation? Why would he even want to ruin his mother's reputation in the first place? Could it be that she wasn't what she posed to me?

Damn, if she wasn't then I needed to fear her cause she played that two-faced game like a pro. No one would ever doubt that she wasn't an angel reincarnated.

Mene paid off the bills and we both rose to our feet, preparing to go home. Dogo who was also done with his food also stood up to leave with us. Considering how the waiter didn't approach him, it was clear that Mene had also settled his bill.

"That was a nice bonding session". I told Mene who laughed. He used his hand over my shoulder to pull me in and planted a warm kiss on my cheek.

"You're perfect for me".

"If you keep saying things like that, I'll start to think that you're obsessed with me".

"Is that a crime?" He grinned and I swatted his arm playfully as we passed through the door of the restaurant.

His phone rang just as we got close to his car and he dropped his hand from my shoulder to fish his phone from his pocket.

"It's Kufre. Wait here for me". He told me and I nodded in allegiance. He planted another kiss on my cheek before he left to answer the call.

I let out a sigh of contentment, sending my gaze to the sky. It had gotten quite dark but the moon and stars weren't yet out. As I stared at the sky, a resemblance of gratitude filled my heart. I was happy to be alive. To spend this moment with a man I love. To be in love with a man like Mene, even though I didn't know how he would take the news of my love for him.

"Tarila". Someone called out my name and every part of me froze at the sight of Chinonso in front of me. The last time I saw him was the night before he humiliated me and I'd been dreading seeing him in the university again after my leave ended. I guess the universe was too impatient.

"Oh my God. Hi, Chinonso!" I feigned enthusiasm as he pulled me in for a hug. I separated from him immediately but he held my hand as his eyes checked me out.

"You look so good".

"Thank you". I told him. I couldn't say the same about him though. He needed a haircut badly. "You came to eat?"

"Yeah, I'm meeting someone in the next...". He dropped one of my hands to check his watch for the time but he never got the last part of that sentence out as he was interrupted by Mene.

"Sweetheart". Mene called out to me but his eyes weren't on me. They were busy shooting daggers at the man who had his back turned to him. Chinonso whirled around at the sound of that name and my nerves felt raw and exposed as Chinonso called out Mene's name. That was when it dawned on me.

Fucking hell!

Chinonso would clearly know who Mene was and now that I wasn't hungry anymore, the fear of Dr Mary finding out about me and Mene was back at its rightful place.

"Long time bro". Chinonso stretched out his hand but Mene didn't take it.

"Let's go home Tarila". My skin crawled with goosebumps as Chinonso's eyes moved back to me. There were a lot of emotions dancing in them but the one my mind settled on was judgement. I didn't know exactly what he was judging me for but I could bet every penny I owned that it was because I was sleeping with Dr Mary's son.

"You're seeing him?"

"I'll talk to you later". I muttered before walking towards the car. I slipped into the car, my body vibrating with rage as I waited for Mene to join me. Once he was seated beside me and Dogo started the car, I made my announcement.

"I'm heading home, Dogo". I said with my eyes on Dogo's shoulder and not once looking away, not even when Mene spoke.

"The hell you are".

"Dogo, I believe you know my address. If you don't, I'll call it out to you but just take me home or I swear I'll make a scene".

"Why are you overreacting?"

My eyes were on him now. "Overreacting?! Overreacting?! Why did you make it obvious that we are sleeping together when you know he knows your mother?"

"Sweetheart..."

"Don't call me that". I snapped. His mouth fell shut and his jaw ticked. Good. "You're a selfish bastard, Mene and I don't want to be anywhere near you".

Silence followed my tirade and Dogo hadn't still started the car because he was waiting for instructions. Not from me cause I wasn't the one who paid him. But from his boss. The only one whose opinion mattered to him.

After an uncomfortable moment of silence, Mene finally gave his order.

"Take her home, Dogo". With that, he opened the door and hopped out of the car. Tears filled my eyes to the brim.

I hated my life at this moment. I wish I couldn't give two fucks about people knowing about us just like him.

But just like they say, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

There was nothing I could do but accept my reality. And I did just that.

I relaxed into the seat, eyes outside of the window with tears dripping from them as Dogo drove me home.