Forty seven

I was a hater but I wasn't a liar.

Mirabel was an event decoration maestro.

If Mene wasn't here with me, holding my hand as we made our way through the hall, I was certain I would have slipped and fallen on my face because of how I was gawking around.

The grand hall that was once bland had now been transformed into a luxurious oasis for the special day. Crystal chandeliers refracted rainbows of light, casting a kaleidoscope of colors on the polished marble floor. Delicate balloons in pastel hues floated effortlessly, like clouds, above the gathering.

Tables were set with fine china, sparkling glasses, and crisp linens in a soft silver sheen, creating a sense of sophistication and glamour. A stunning floral arrangement, a symphony of white roses and peonies, graced the center of the room, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.

"This is beautiful". I had to admit.

"I know right". Mene agreed. "There's a reason Mirabel is the family's private event planner and decorator. She'd mastered the art".

I looked around the hall one more time. "Dr Mary would be so happy. I can't wait to see her reaction".

We got to the front of the hall and Mirabel paused in her conversation to attend to us. As usual, she sent every attention she could spare in this life to Mene. Hell, I wasn't even sure she noticed me standing right there, beside him. Pregnancy had marked her features more than the last time I saw her. Her complexion was splotchy and uneven, with dark spots and discolorations spreading like a map of the stress and the hormonal turmoil she was experiencing. Her nasal bridge and the tip even looked slightly wider and more pronounced.

After moments of asking Mene how he was and what he thought about the hall, she finally regarded me. The sparkle in her eyes disappeared. Mene started introducing us but she waved her hands, interrupting him.

"I've met her before at the restaurant. She's your mother's PA right?"

"Yes". Mene replied. A strange scorching feeling erupted in me as something like relief crossed her face. She couldn't hide his joy that Mene had introduced me as merely his mother's PA. I was disgusted once more at how down bad she was, even with a baby in her womb. They went on with the conversation about the event and the feeling within me grew stronger as Mene started following her into a corner of the hall to inspect what she just pointed out to him, without even telling me anything.

As I watched them leave, I finally recognized the feeling that had built up in me. It became clearer when she rose to her feet to whisper something to Mene who shook with laughter at what she said.

I was jealous and furious.

Mene just acted like his mother had asked me to escort him to this place.

My throat burned as I recalled how he'd dropped my hand the moment she came to us and the way he threw the 'yes' when she asked if I was his mother's PA.

Like he couldn't believe she was asking that.

Like he couldn't believe she would think I was anything more than that.

But wasn't this what I desired? Mene was finally giving me exactly what I asked for. With this act, no one would ever suspect that we were seeing each other.

"If Mirabel dies, you'll be the no 1 on my suspect list". I sent my gaze away from Mene and Mirabel as Suka came to stand beside me. "The death glares you always send her way are something else".

I folded my arms on my chest. "You can't blame me". My eyes settled on him and I visibly winced at the sunken and bloodshot eyes that greeted me. Has he even had any sleep at all?

"Don't look at me like that". He warned, sending his eyes ahead of him.

"I won't say I didn't warn you about Chinwe".

He stayed quiet but his throat bobbed giving away the emotion he was trying to mask under his frown. "The funniest part is don't even know what I did to her. She just started acting off and the next thing she said was she doesn't want to do this anymore. I asked why but she didn't say anything reasonable. It's such a shame that I never mattered to her when she was even the one that made me fall in love with photography again".

I gave him a reassuring pat on his shoulder. "Don't worry. You'll be fine with time".

"I'm giving up on photography though".

"I'm not surprised".

"What about you? What happened between you and Mene yesterday?"

I sighed, moving my attention back to Mene and Mirabel who were surveying one of the chandeliers above them. "It's nothing important but something I'm currently wishing I never brought up".

"What's that?"

"I told him I don't want your mother to know about us because that was one of the rules I was lectured on before I was granted this job. I was told to not fall in love with any of you but the thing is Mene and I met before I got this job".

His eyes widened. "Are you serious? Where?"

"At the Eden".

He started laughing but then his laughter faded when I raised a brow at him. "Wait. It wasn't a joke?"

"Is this a comedy show?"

He turned to face me with bulging eyes and a face now paled by my revelation. "You mean my elder brother went to a strip club?"

"Yeah. His friends took him there for his birthday and paid for me to entertain him. The chemistry between us was so intense that I allowed him to touch me".

His gaze was frozen, fixed on some unseen point in front of him like he was trying to make his system accept everything he was hearing.

"I thought he was gay before he started dating you and I swear, I didn't even know you guys were fucking. Everyone thinks my brother is a virgin. Even that whore Mirabel".

"He just minds his business". I explained and Suka shook his head slowly with his mouth agape, still stunned.

"I can't believe I never noticed that he's not gay".

"How did you even find out about us?" I'd been meaning to ask him this but it always slipped my mind.

"The day you went to the club with Chinwe". It was hard not to notice the way he cringed when he mentioned her name. "He was so mad when he saw what you were wearing. He even got angrier than I was. It's just that I was too bothered by Chinwe to dwell on it but that's when I noticed that something was going on between you two".

"I seriously hope no one else finds out though".

"Don't be afraid. Even if anyone finds out, Mene isn't like me, no one would touch you".

The corner of my eyes crinkled at his statement. "What do you mean by that?"

"I couldn't protect the woman I loved. I also turned my mother into a monster because she was trying to protect me". The smile that stretched his face made my stomach churn. I'd never seen such a sad look on Suka's face before and to think it came with a smile.

"Hey. Hey". I grabbed him by his shoulders, forcing him to look me in the eyes. "Don't ever blame yourself for things you couldn't control. I don't know the full story but I can assure you that those things would have happened even though you did something about it".

The smile on his face became a little bit lively. "Thank you. This is why I said you're the sister I never had".

"Awww, you guys are so cute". Mirabel's voice came from before us and we both sighed as we shifted to face them.

I felt a muscle in my jaw twitch when my eyes noticed her hands which were wrapped around his right arm. Anyone who saw them would think they were dating.

Rage swept over me with the speed of lightning. The fact that Mene let her hands stay right there on his arm, even caressing it sometimes, made my skin crawl.

"You did a good job here, Mirabel". Suka commended her.

"Thank you. Thank you".

"Why do you look like shit?" Mene demanded from Suka who gave him a shrug.

"Man problems. Don't worry about me, I'll sort it out". He didn't look satisfied with Suka's answer but he let it slide and then, he sent his attention back to Mirabel. He hadn't spared me a glance ever since. His eyes had just been shifting from Suka to Mirabel.

Wow, he played the part so well to the point that I couldn't but wonder if he was really acting or if this was what he always wanted?

My phone pinged and I fished it out of my bag. It was a message from Chinwe.

*Where are you? Remember we planned on going shopping today*

That's true. I was going back to The Afeelo's mansion tomorrow and I'd promised that we would hang out today since it was to be our last time together till my next leave.

*I'm on my way*

I typed back before I replaced my phone in my bag. They were all engrossed in a conversation about what happened at Suka's last year birthday party. Something I couldn't relate to but Mirabel could.

I swallowed the lump which had formed at the back of my throat and forced myself to speak.

"I'm leaving". I said to Suka, the only person who would care about that right now. Mene was too busy acting like he didn't know me to care about that. Mirabel, on the other hand, was well...Mirabel.

"Wait for me. Let's go together". Mene told me even before Suka could reply to me. I shook my head in disagreement.

"Don't worry. I know the way". My tone exposed the sadness my feigned smile attempted to conceal.

"Should I take you?" Suka offered. As much as I would love that, I didn't want him to see Chinwe again, especially not when he looked like this.

"No. Go home and get your glow back". I rubbed his back in comfort.

The glare on Mene's face would have affected me if I wasn't angry myself. He'd been acting like I wasn't here all along so what would difference would it even make?

"Bye". I told them and then turned to make my way out of the hall. I'd just gotten out of the building when my phone pinged with two text messages. All from Mene.

*Why didn't you agree to wait for me?*

*What is the problem? Why are you acting weird?*

I ignored both messages and opened my Bolt app. My phone screen flashed with a call from Mene just as I was about to book the ride home. I pressed the cancel icon immediately.

Two can play whatever game he was playing.