It was ten in the morning and she was not halfway across the world, chilling under some palm tree and sipping on a margarita. She was in the elevator that led to her office. She had dropped Ruby and Duke off at school in record time and had just come from a meeting with Imade Harrison. She congratulated herself for making it through the past eleven days without blowing somebodyβs brains off.
Was she exhausted? Yes. Stressed? More than she would admit. Frustrated at Andre over the way he had ignored her since the day she lied to him? Of course!
She had apologized and he had responded in that cocky smile of his, telling her that he wasnβt mad that she had lied to him.
Pretty little liar, he had called her, and she unleashed hell on him. She raved and ranted and after she was done expending her anger, he gave her a kiss, got into his riding gear and disappeared.
He hadnβt responded to her calls since then. She had apologized via Whatsapp and even sent over a bottle of his favorite wine to his office. He was yet to reply.
Andre was difficult, sometimes even more than she was. And it was probably the why she was crazy about him. Men fell easily at her feet and did her bidding. But Andre was challenging. One minute he was all over her; the next, he acted like she didnβt exist. She was badly in need of some alone time with him to have a clearer definition of what he meant by an open relationship. If he was going to play games with her, she was willing to walk out on him a second time. She had recovered from the foolishness and desperation she displayed when she lied to him, and now that she had accepted that her fate was temporarily tied to the Ebute kids, she was back on her feet and brandishing her ego again.
The elevator doors parted. She stepped into the lobby, expecting to be greeted with the smiling, sometimes apprehensive face of Kudirat, the front desk girl, but it was the presence of an older woman that met her.
βGood morning, ma,β the woman greeted.
βGood morning,β Toni responded.
βHow may I help you, ma?β
Toniβs brows went up. βHow may you help me?β
βYes. Who are you here to see?β
βYou seem to be new here.β
The woman smiled. βYes, I am.β
βGood. So, let me introduce myself. Iβm Antonia Braithwaite.β
βOkay.β The woman looked at her blankly.
βHead of PR.β
βOh.β Some form of embarrassment filled her face. βIβm sorry, ma.β She rose up.
βSit down, please. Itβs fine.β
Toni began toward her office.
βExcuse me, ma!β the woman called. She stopped and gave her a side glance.
βYou have been moved to the executive floor.β
βMe?β
βYes. PR is upstairs now. This floor holds the accounts, creative and production departments. All the senior partners and their core teams, apart from Ms. Christie, are upstairs. Management is downstairs.β
Toni strolled back to her. βWhen did this happen?β
βLast week, ma. There have been major changes. People have been moving offices.β
And Toni, as if just aware of her environment, picked out the changes around her. The lobby looked more colorful and compact. There were fewer waiting chairs and more artwork. The entrance to what used to be her unit now boldly had Creative written on it.
βI see.β
Toni headed back into the elevator, putting her phone to her ear. She waited impatiently as Pascalβs phone rang.
βGood morning, Toni.β He came on in his usual peppiness.
βI just got in and discovered we are not on our floor.β
βYou just got in? Shit! I mean, when you say in, do you mean your house in or the office in?β
βTell me youβre not at work.β
βIβm emβ¦Iβm at work butβ¦ Where are you now?β
βPas, whatβs going on?β
βNothing. Nothing. Itβs just that after you asked me to cancel all your travel arrangements, you said you wouldnβt be coming to work for the next two weeks. But now youβre back after one week.β
βWell, I changed my mind. Whatβs going on?β
βI didnβt tell anyone that you didnβt travel. I lied to all of them as you asked me to. But I didnβt know youβd be hereβ¦β
βPascal, thatβs not what Iβm asking you.β The elevator door opened to another floor. βForget it. Raji will explain everything.β
She hung up and stepped out to a classier lobby that was all glassy, more corporate-looking and had a color scheme of blue and dashes of orange. Toni was greeted by another front desk lady she didnβt recognize but who knew her and gladly pointed her in the direction of her office.
βBut itβs still under construction. The architects are not done.β
βOkay. Whereβs Mr. Asepita?β
βIn a board meeting.β
βAnd whereβs that holding?β Toni looked around. The sudden eruption of a combo of hammering and drilling sounds threatened to trigger a headache she had borne all weekend.
βItβs Boardroom Two,β the lady pointed. βBut youβre not supposed to be in the meeting.β
Toni stared down at her dauntingly.
βIβm sorry, ma,β she muttered. Toni began toward the aforementioned boardroom. Just as she was about to get in, Pascal burst into the scene.
βGood morning, Toni,β he panted. βYouβre really here.β
βStop acting weird, young man. Whatβs with the changes around here?β
Pascal shrugged, still panting. βBut donβt you like our new executive space?β
βIβll like it when you tell me what is going on.β
βOkay. Iβll advise that you donβt enter there.β
βWhy not?β
βYouβre not supposed to be there. Youβre supposed to be somewhere in the Caribbean. Remember?β
Toni reached out and clasped his nose with her fingers.
βOuch. Okay, just go in. But promise me to stay calm.β
She let him free.
βPromise me, Ms. Toni. Please.β
βGo away, Pascal.β
Toni patted her hair into place and walked into the boardroom. Heads turned at her unannounced entrance. She put a halt to her movement as her eyes gave the occupants of the room a quick scan and came to rest on the shocking presence of Andre who was seated beside Raji at the head of the table. She squinted at him. He returned her stare. She then shifted her eyes to Christie who was a relieving sight with her baby cradled in her arms.
βAntonia?β Raji called, a little baffled, a little guilty. βWhat a surprise. I thought you were supposed to be halfway across the world by now.β
βI canceled. I have a lot of clients to handle. A vacation is not for me right now. A week away did me some good, though.β
βWell, weβre glad youβre here. Come on, have my seat.β
βNo, itβs fineβ¦β
But Raji was already up. A couple of junior partners offered their seats but he declined. Toni took his place. She threw a warm smile at Christie and turned a cold stare on Andre who winked back in a subtle, slow blink as Raji launched into a speech.
βSo, we have just welcomed our newest senior partner who will be taking over the marketing wing, which has become almost as huge as the entire agency. It was his professional advice in the first place that had us investing big and expanding to the branding and marketing sector. Andre Fabrice Kouassi is himself a tested brand and marketing expert, and I believe that his presence as a senior partner in Covet would take us farther than we already are.β
Toni was astonished. All that Raji had just said was news to her. Neither her partners nor Andre himself hinted that a deal with him was in the works. She felt grassed on but revealed nothing in her expression.
βGlad to have you on the team, Andre. Seems like weβll be working closely together.β
βYou will.β Raji smiled, holding some mischief in his eyes. βIn fact, your offices share a mutual wall.β
Toni let out her annoyance with a smile. βIβm sure itβll be fun.β
βI know it will,β Andre stated.
βMoving on to other issues!β Raji said. βWe havenβt got all day.β
Toni leaned forward on the table, resting her elbows on it. She remained that way, nursing her annoyance, refusing to look at Andre, not even when his hand began to caress her thigh discreetly.
The meeting didnβt take long. It came to a close in half an hour. The board members cleared the room, leaving Toni, Raji, Christie and Andre behind.
βAndre, please could you give us a moment?β Christie requested.
βSure, Christina.β
He rose up and left the office.
βAre you out of your minds?β Toni said through clenched teeth, standing to her feet.
βCalm down, Toni,β Christie replied.
βBefore we go on, lovely outfit, Christie,β Toni mentioned. Raji laughed. βMakeup on point. Hair on fleek. Youβre looking awesome, but didnβt you just push out that little bugger from your vagina the other day? Why are you here? You ought to be resting.β
βIβm not coming in every day,β Christie replied. βTwice in a week. Just to keep up with my team. Ads are passing us by to other agencies.β
βYouβre right. Back to my question. Are you out of your minds? My boyfriend? You make him partner behind my back?β
βHe didnβt want us to tell you,β Raji explained.
βWhen did he start calling the shots around here? We are partners. We do this shit together, Asepita.β
βBut you told me you trusted my judgment and you werenβt interested in knowing the person I picked.β
βI didnβt know it was the man I was sleeping with!β
βIf I had told you, would you have let me go ahead?β
βNo.β
βExactly.β
βAnd thatβs because I donβt mix business with pleasure.β
βThis is not just about you, Toni. Itβs about the agency and what we stand to gain from Andreβs presence here. He is good at what he does.β
βWe had other people just as qualified for the job.β
βBut not as good as Kouassi.β
βAnd not as pricey too. I know he bought shares to become partner, but how much did he negotiate to be paid for his awesome work here?β
Raji and Christie gave no answer.
βLet me guess, more than all of us are being paid.β
βHe is bringing in the money, Toni.β
βAnd he will. Thereβs no doubt about that. Heβs freaking good at what he does. But hereβs what you donβt know about Andre Kouassi. He is not just a brand specialist and a marketer. Heβs an investor. He wonβt sink his money, time and resources into a company if he has no desire to own it all. This was who he was before he lost everything he had in the past. The old itch to possess and dominate has returned. I personally nursed that demon back to life, but I have no desire of letting it consume what is mine.β
βIt will never come to that. He doesnβt want to own this place.β
βReally, Raji? Wasnβt it the same Andre who advised us to go public? Wasnβt it also he who told you to buy up a flourishing marketing company to expand the reach of Covet?β
βAnd I did, and look at where we are today.β
βNo, look at where Andre is. You handed over the entire marketing to him, which is almost as huge as Covet itself. Donβt you see what Iβm talking about?β
Neither Raji nor Christie spoke.
βTwo of you, together with Jumo, will find a way to undo this.β
βWe wonβt, Toni,β Christie said firmly. βAndre, despite all you have said, is an asset to Covet and we will keep him because he will help us grow. If we let some other agency out there poach him, they will use him to bring us down.β
βI agree to everything Christie said, Toni. You just have to adjust.β
βAdjust? You put his office next to mine.β
βWellβ¦β
βLet me guess again, he requested that you have us sharing a wall.β
βNo,β Raji replied. βBut if you want us to move youββ
βYou donβt understand, Raji. This is not about moving offices or bumping into each other in the coffee room. Itβs more than that.β
βToni, you just have to learn to live with it,β Christie said.
βNot like I have a choice, do I?β Her smile was sad.
βToni, come onβ¦β Raji pleaded.
βAs I said, itβs more than that. Itβs personal too. The whole arrangement just ruined my relationship with him. Thank you.β
βToniββ
βSee you guys.β
She made her exit. Pascal was waiting outside.
βSchedule my day, Pascal. Relieve Imodumeh of some of the responsibilities dumped on his lap.β
βYes, Toni.β
βWhereβs Kouassiβs office?β
βRight beside yours. But donβt worry, you got the corner office.β
Toni began a brisk walk down an aisle that was bordered by offices, most of them glass-walled. She came to the end of the aisle and stopped at a door with Andreβs name on it. The source of all the drilling and hammering on the floor was from her office. She took a peep in and returned to Andreβs door which suddenly opened from within.
Andre was standing before her, brows brought together to stare down at her. She pushed the door and strolled in.
βYou lied to me,β she accused.
He shut the door. She spun to face him.
βWhen I asked you what company you bought into, you didnβt tell me it was Covet.β
βThat was because the couple of times I mentioned in the past that I had desires of buying into Covet, you kicked against it. You told me that you didnβt want me anywhere near your business.β
βYet, here you are, Fabrice. All up in my shit.β
Andre smiled. βYou donβt want me here, ma chatte?β
βNo, Andre, because you want to take over everything my friends and I have sweated for over the years.β
βIs that how you see me?β
βI know you, Andre. This is why youβre here, why you bought major shares in Covet.β
βToni, Iβ¦β
βAdmit it.β
βI donβtβ¦β
βAdmit it, Andre.β
He put a hand in his pocket and rested a foot on the door. βIβm not admitting anything to you.β
βYouβre not the type of man who sits in one office and handles one department of an establishment. You are the type of man that owns the entire establishment.β
Andre smiled again. βLife dealt me a huge blow, Antonia, and taught me some hard lessons, one of them being that family and the woman you love are more important than amassing wealth. Toni, Covet is your work, your sweat, your blood. I will not take it from you. But that doesnβt mean I will not plan to own the largest stakes around here. That would be totally dependent on the turnover I bring to the agency. Itβs all signed up in the deal I made with your friends. So, yeah, you have every right to distrust me now that Iβm all up in your shit.β
He had a taunting look on his face that Toni wanted so badly to slap off, but she maintained her composure.
βThe question here is, does it affect our relationship?β he asked.
βThe relationship you made open?β
βBecause you lied to me.β
βAnd you didnβt lie to me for months over what you were planning to do here in Covet? Andre, youβre a hypocrite. You were angry at me when I told you I couldnβt be in your life because of your son. But the moment you found out that Mark Ebuteβs kids were my responsibility, you withdrew from the relationship.β
βYou want me fathering another manβs children? A man that still has an untouched place in your heart even after his death?β
βYou didnβt let me explain how it all came to be.β
βI am not interested, Arinola. I will not be responsible for that manβs children. Simple!β
βSo youβre sayingβ¦?β
βI love you, Tone. You know that. I want to be with you, but not like this.β
βYouβre just selfish.β
βSays the woman who doesnβt want my son.β
βI changed, Andre. I saw the wrong in what I did.β
βI changed too, when I realized I was asking too much of you.β
βAnd now, Iβm the one asking too much?β
βIβm sorry, Tone.β He sighed, pushing out his cheeks. βRight now, we want different things in life. I want a wife and a mother for my son. I want to settle down again. If you want to be that woman, youβre welcome. Only if youβll come without baggage from your past.β
βThose kids are not baggage, Andre. Their father died. Their mother abandoned them. Itβs not their faultβ¦β
βAnd theyβre not going to be my responsibility, Arinola. I already have my hands full.β
Toni bit her lip. βSo youβre saying itβs over?β she asked, trying hard to still the tremble in her voice.
βIβm saying Iβm still here, if you want to take my offer. Iβm also available if you need a friend to talk to or for the occasional booty call andβ¦β
βFuck you, Andre Kouassi,β Toni spat out, tears in her eyes. She went to him, lifted her skirt, pulled out her thong and shoved it into his mouth.
βThatβs the most of my booty you will ever get.β
Andre left the thong in his mouth but stepped aside and opened the door to let her through.
Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β ***
He never picked sides in a fight, especially when it involved two Women. Women that were dear to him. He had learned, while growing up as the only son, surrounded by sisters, that it always ended badly when he chose one warring party over the other. The only woman he always stood for and defended, even when she was wrong, was Christie. But today, it wasnβt her pulling hairs with someone else. It was the two women he worked with. Savanna and Comfort.
Savanna had returned to the country two nights ago with her newly found bitchiness. The mess with her ex had robbed Folarin of a good friend and business partner. Being around her these days was like walking in a field of landmines. She had lost weight too, now slimmer than when they last saw each other. At this rate, Folarin feared that she would look sickly in no time. It bothered him. He had done everything to bring her back to cheer, but it seemed like the more he tried, the more her pain ate at her.
Today, she showed up, waltzed into his office and announced to him that she was going to fire Comfort over the way she dressed.
βI donβt think itβs a good idea.β
βLarin, she came to work looking like a slut. Short dress, cleavage everywhere, red lipsβ¦β
βAnd so, you want to fire her?β
βThis is an office, Larin. Not a sidechicksβ bar. I canβt have that bitch dressing that way and stealing our clients from their wives.β
βWhat has gone wrong with you, Savvy?β Folarin asked.
βLarin, Comfort and I have had a few fights over the way she dresses around here, but you always take her side. Every darn time. So, today, I will show her whoβs boss when I show her the door.β
βSavanna, whatever is going on with you should not affect what goes on around here. Comfort has got nothing to do with what happened to you. You have no right to take it out on her.β
βWell, try and stop me.β
She made her exit and a couple of minutes later, he could hear her scolding Comfort. Her Bronx accent, tainted with a slight Puerto Rican inflection made her assault more painful to listen to. But Folarin endured it until she threw in an insulting word that brought out a quick retort from Comfort. What followed was an exchange of invectives from both ladies. Folarin was forced out of his office to Comfortβs where the drama was going on.
βEnough!β he bellowed, bringing the fight to an end. βWhatβs wrong with two of you?! This is a workplace, for Godβs sake!β
Comfort burst into tears, covering her face. Folarin gave Savanna a reproving stare that was insolently ignored.
βComfort, this is your last day here,β she stated. βYouβre fired.β
Comfort dropped her hands. βWh-what?β
Savanna marched out of the office.
βShe fired me?β
βCalm down, Commie.β
βWhat did I do to her? Why does she hate me so much? She called me a home wrecker.β
βAnd you called her names too, Commie. Homophobic names. She is your boss. You disrespected her.β
βBut she started it. She just came in and started shouting on me, asking me what my aim was for dressing slutty. Is this slutty, Folarin?β
βNo, Commie. Maybe, a little too much cleavage for a workplaceβ¦ Iβll speak with Savvy. What you should do now is go home and rest. Youβve been working all through the weekend. The last thing you need is to stress yourself. Go home and chill and come back tomorrow.β
βBut she fired me.β
βTrust me, she didnβt mean it. I hired you and I alone get to say when you leave here. So, go home and relax.β
Comfort nodded, but fell into tears again. Folarin reached over and delivered a hug. βGo home, Commie. Iβll drop by later.β
He left her office and burst into Savannaβs. Her chair was facing the window, her back to the door.
βYou were out of line, Savvy. Comfort didnβt deserve what you did to her. She works twice as hard as we both do. She has proven her worth here and sheβs going nowhere.β
Savanna spun her chair around. βYou want to fuck her too?β
βWhat?β
βLike your friend, Raji, you want to fuck her.β
βSavvy, what is wrong with you?!β
Savanna shook her head as if coming out of a stupor. βThatβs how I feel these days. Iβve been doing a lot of sleeping around to fill in the emptiness. I just canβt heal,β she whispered in tears, smiling at the same time. βI also discovered the joys of the phallus,β she added with a laugh.
Folarin raised concerned eyebrows at her. βSavvy…β he exhaled.
βIt started with some guy I met at some club and from then, I havenβt looked back.β
βSavvy, youβre on self-destruct. Youβre hurting yourself.β
βItβs a lot better than keeping one partner and she cheats on you. I know you understand.β
βI do, butβ¦sleeping with someone else doesnβt make you feel better.β
βYou’re just saying that. If you were given the chance to get even, you’d take it,β Savanna replied.
“I won’t.”
But Folarin was. Savanna was right about him. He wanted Comfort. He wanted Khanyi. He even wanted Savanna, and the numerous females he saw on the daily. Even the ones that walked or drove past him. These days women heard his name and threw themselves at him. They were all over his Twitter and Instagram DM and Facebook inbox. They wanted him. He wanted them back β but not for the pleasure of it. He needed just one night with someone else. It was the only way he knew he could heal from Christieβs betrayal.
But his reason didnβt make sense to him. However, Khanyi, whom he had been having therapy sessions with, understood his problem.
βYou forgave Christie too quickly and easily, not allowing yourself go through the motions. You wanted to be swiftly done with the pain and embarrassment of it. And the truth was that, despite all that happened, your relationship with her and the way you loved her was more important than anything. You saw that there had been something deep between her and Raji. The man was willing to leave his wife to be with her. You were scared of losing her, so you had to forgive her fast and move on, in spite of how you were dying inside. You werenβt as wealthy and influential as he was. All you had over him was your marriage to her, so you saved it with forgiveness. But time passed and the tables turned around for you. You got the money and the attention, and you began to realize that you were cheated on, that she hurt you shamelessly, that she didnβt pick a stranger to have mindless sex with. She picked your closest friend, who was also her closest friend, and they had something deep for months. You remembered the videos, the many different ways he slept with her. The images couldnβt leave your head. You began to hurt again. You began to feel angry over the way you easily forgave her. She should have suffered. She should have felt pain. The kind of pain you felt.
βNow, here you are, hurting yourself, hurting her all over again. And youβre unable to move past this, because youβre finding it hard to forgive her the second time. And the truth is that you may never be able to do so until you also cross the line. That way it would be even for both of you. That way you can judge yourself too, because, as much as you canβt get past what she did, you still love her, you still want to be with her; but my fear, Folarin isβ¦ what if you cross the line and never come back? What if you what you so badly want to do and realize thereβs no way back?β
βNice analysis, Khanyi. Can we now talk about the crush you have for me?β
His words had met her in a wrong place, but she kept a professional deportment. βFolarin, youβre deflecting. It doesnβt matter what I once felt for you. Your marriage and emotions are why youβre here right now. You need to handle them and not give into that voice thatβs telling you to do that thing you badly want to do.β
He had laughed off Khanyiβs words, choosing denial over truth. But here was Savanna repeating the same thing to him, coming from a place they both had been.
βI know that sleeping with someone else doesnβt make me feel better but I know you understand where I’m coming from. I know you want to feel wanted again.”
βSavvy, I canβt stop you, but please, use protection.β
βIβm not that stupid, Larin.β
βAnd no more fights with Comfort. By the way, she stays.β
βAs long as she dresses properly and doesnβt get in my way.β
βIβll make sure of that.β
Folarin strode to the door.
βI bought some things for Vanessa and Tami. Iβll swing by the house later.β
Folarin held the door handle. βChristie and I are separated, Savvy.β
βOh my God.β Savanna sat straight. βWhat happened?β
βItβs for the best, I guess. I donβt want to talk about it, please.β
He hurried out. Comfort, just leaving her office, bumped into him. He noticed she was still sobbing.
βDo you want me to walk you home?β
βIβm fine, Folarin. Donβt worry about me.β
He watched her dash out and then retreated to his office.
***
Christie found herself smiling as she sat staring into a painting of a waterfall while breastfeeding Tamilore in the coffee room. She hadnβt smiled that much in a while. The brief brainstorming session she had just had with her team left her feeling in control again. It had been therapeutic, and she felt like she was going to do more than pop in twice a week. Folarin didnβt know she was back. She knew he was going to disapprove if he found out.
She missed him. And it wasnβt just the recent version of him she missed. She wanted back the man she fell in love with and the happy days when their love was young and free of complications.
She recalled a certain morning, thirteen years ago. It was the morning of her birthday and Folarin had just stirred from a long night of slumber, batting his eyelashes to focus on Christie who was straddling him. Her soft, natural locks that spread from their roots down to her shoulders had droplets of water in them that left tiny globules on his bare chest.
βDid you just shower?β he asked. She nodded, releasing more water droplets on him. She was clothed in a transparent t-shirt that had Parental Advisory scrawled across its chest area.
βHappy birthday, Chris.β He cupped her bum, pressing her into him. She let down for a kiss.
βIs it me or your morning breath is always fresh?β she asked, inhaling after the kiss.
βItβs you. Youβre falling for me,β he responded.
βFalling for you?β She snorted. βStop deceiving yourself.β
βChristie, you will marry me and have my kids and weβll live happily ever after.β
βShut up.β She blessed him with another kiss, more sensuous than the previous.
They had just stepped out of a two-year friendship into a sexually-intimate relationship. Folarin wasnβt hiding the fact that what he felt for her was something deep. Christie, on her side, held back on her feelings. She told him she had a foot outside, waiting to leave if he misbehaved. Yet she spent most weekends with him and would use the bulk of the time, if they werenβt having sex, cooking and doing his laundry. She was the perfect wife material. Her traditional views on relationships and marriage, deeply rooted in her strong conservative upbringing, made it easy for him to fall for her. But it wasnβt principally what attracted Folarin to Christie. He told her he was in love with her natural beauty, her lightheartedness, her gentle nature and highly creative mind. He was also crazy about her seven-year-old son, Cyrus Junior, whom he had already developed strong ties with.
However, the margin in status was an issue in their relationship. Christie often found herself adjusting her lifestyle to fit into Folarinβs. At that time, he was a smalltime columnist working with The Vanguard, earning just enough to foot his bills, but he liked to pretend the differences in their lifestyles did not exist. He surprised her with the occasional gift and dinner date; and for this birthday, she was expecting him to do both. But he surprised her when he pulled out a ring from beneath his pillow and asked her to be his wife.
βItβs not a diamond ring. I canβt afford that, but someday, I will. Until then, will you be my wife, Christina?β
She went mute. Her eyes glistened. Her hair suddenly became a disturbance. She pulled it together and dragged it to one side of her neck.
βFolarin, marriage is a serious thing. I donβt want to get into it only to get out at some point. I want to be all in.β
βAnd who told you I want less? I love you, Chris, and I love Cyrus Junior. I want to be his father and also the father to the kids weβll have soon. I know Iβm not as rich as the guys you hang with, but I know that no one will love you like I do.β
βI havenβt started living my dreams yet.β
βLive them with me, Christie. Letβs grow together. Youβre the most magical, or maybe the only magical thing that has happened to me. I donβt want to lose you to someone else. Please, say yes.β
That day, she knew she wasnβt ready to be his wife. She was only twenty-three and was nursing this crazy idea of owning an advertising agency. She knew she could be the best at what she did. She was ready to take on the world. Being a wife was not what she had wanted then, but letting Folarin go was not an option. He was a gem. Men like him were had to come by. He was the type of partner that was fuel to oneβs dreams, the type that would have tears in their eyes when you take off but cheer as you ascend. She needed him in her life.
Thus, she said yes, taking the cut-rate ring and slipping it on her middle finger. She never took it off, not even when it began to fade. She was not ashamed of him. She wore that ring for a year before walking down the aisle with him in a quiet ceremony attended only by friends and family because it was all he could afford.
βDo you think weβll lose what we have?β she asked him on their wedding night.
βNever, Christie. Iβll never leave you.β
In his eyes she saw cast-iron certainty. It broke Christie that she hadnβt been that devoted to their love through the years. Raji was just an upshot of what her half-heartedness had done to their marriage.
She wanted the old days back. She feared that the Folarin she knew was no longer there.
βChristie?β
Christie looked up from staring at the waterfall painting to cast her eyes on Raji who had just walked in.
βI was telling you that Tamilore is asleep,β he mentioned.
Christie suddenly felt bare. She looked down and saw that Tamiloreβs lips had left her nipple, exposing it. She pulled her bra over her breast and let down her blouse as Raji walked to the fridge to retrieve his lunch.
βCan we talk like old friends?β he asked.
Christie held Tamilore in a more comfortable manner. βLetβs talk about daycare first,β she replied. βWhen is it going to be completed?β
βIn about ten days or so.β
Raji took a chair and sat before one of the six tables in the lounge. He opened his lunch pack which was a chicken salad.
βSo why are you back to work so early?β
βI already told you. Creative needs me.β
βCreative is doing fine. Yes, the boost your presence gives is invaluable, but your guys have been pulling their weight around here. And you know this. Why are you really here, Christie?β
She didnβt think it was wise to reveal that her marriage was going through a difficult time, but if Raji was still the man she knew, she suspected he already guessed what was happening.
βThings never got back to normal for you and Folarin after the affair, did they?β
βThey did, butβ¦ We shouldnβt be talking about this, Raji.β
Raji looked up from his meal. βYouβre still my friend, and I still care. You know you can always talk to me.β
βNot about my marriage, Raji.β
He continued eating. βIβm sorry for overstepping.β
βItβs fine.β
βBut if heβs treating you harshly because of what happenedβ¦β
βIt would still be none of your business, Raji.
Toni walked in. βHi Raji, Christie,β she greeted. Christie gave a smile. βSo, about earlierβ¦ Iβm sorry for lashing out on you guys.β
βItβs fine,β Christie responded. βWe owe you an apology. Going behind your back was uncool.β
βBut it had to be done. I understand.β
βDid you speak with him about it?β Raji inquired.
βYes.β
βAndβ¦?β
βWe broke up again.β
βReally?β
βWhy?β
βAndre and I are two stubborn, egotistic, complex people who are madly in love with each other. Our relationship will keep falling in and falling out until weβre both ready to take the plunge. Or until we realize that weβre not meant for each other.β
βAre you ready to take that risk?β Christie asked.
Toni gave her head a shake. βNo, Chrissy. Iβm terrified. I donβt want to lose him.β
Christie rubbed her hand.
βHas it got something to do with you now taking care of Markβs kids?β Raji asked, reaching for his bottle of water.
βHow did you know?β
βItβs the advertising world, Toni. Word gets around fast.β
βYouβre taking care of Markβs kids?β
βYes, Christie,β Toni answered with a sigh. βThe asshole died and named me legal guardian to his children. Nkechi has disappeared to God-knows-where and Iβm left with them. Iβm losing my mind, guys. And itβs affecting what I have with Andre. And this is why Iβm actually here. I need your help finding that Nkechi person.β
βIf we find Izu, we can find her,β Christie stated.
βBut no one knows where Izu is. How is his wife taking it?β
βBerna is a strange woman. She spends her days fasting and praying for him to come home and for Nkechi to die by some means.β
Raji scoffed.
βIβm sorry but sheβs dumb,β Toni commented.
βMiracles still happen.β
Raji stood. βNot with a community penis, Christie. I was once there, and my dick was not even cocking around like Izuβs. Salma did everything to keep me faithful but she was wasting her time. Divorcing my cheating ass was the best thing to happen to her.β
βWell, your story is not everyoneβs story, Raji,β Christie countered. βLetβs not belittle Bernaβs efforts. Sheβs a strong woman to take Izuβs crap and still love him despite everything.β
βThatβs depressing, actually.β Toni went for the coffeemaker.
βWeβll do everything to find Nkechi,β Raji assured her as he walked to the bin to dump his half-consumed salad. βHave a great day, ladies.β
Toni poured herself a cup of coffee and sat facing Christie after Raji left. βHowβs pseudo-spinsterhood treating you?β
βHorribly, Toni. I miss him. He hasnβt come to see me since the day I moved in.β
βHeβll come round. Folarin loves you too much to screw up what you two have.β
βI strongly believe that, but Iβm scared, Toni. Iβm really scared. Something doesnβt feel right.β
βDonβt be scared. Everything will be fine.β Toni tapped her hand as she reached over for some milk and sugar. Christie smiled, but the tremors in her tummy that had just begun stirring felt like they had come to stay.
***
The setting sun was cast over Folarinβs windshield. He didnβt bother to guard his face from its assault as he brought his car to a halt outside Comfortβs apartment. When he emerged from it, he discovered he had forgotten his laptop in his office. He hissed but locked the car and proceeded to Comfortβs door.
He found it open. There was a collection of shoes and bathroom slippers scattered on the doormat. Comfort was not the most organized person, but he had come to understand that there was always a pattern to her chaos, and somehow that part of her had never affected the quality of the jobs she did for him.
βCommie?β he called but got no response. He stepped out of his shoes and ventured into the house. Just as he got in, Comfort emerged from her bedroom in the nude, head bopping to music she was listening to on her earphones connected to her phone which she was holding. She didnβt notice Folarin at first, until she lowered to pick a dustpan from the floor. She rose up to meet his stare just as her phone fell to the floor.
βI brought wine and chocolate and the manuscript you so badly want to have a peep at,β he said as if his eyes werenβt being assaulted by the tantalizing offer of her swollen breasts and the clean shave of the V between her legs. βBut I left my laptop in the office. Iβll dash back and hope that, by the time I return, youβll be dressed.β
Comfort nodded, making no attempt to cover her nudity. She stretched out her hands to take the bottle of wine and box of chocolates he had come with. He then left the house and got into his car. He tried not to think of what he just saw as he fired up the car and had it trundling down the street in the direction of his office. When he arrived there, he met Savanna hunched over her laptop, just as he had left her. A pack of untouched pizza lay open on her table. He walked past her office and into his to get his laptop. A photo of Christie on his table brought a halt to his actions. He paused for a bit and then pushed the frame down as he rushed out with his laptop. When he returned to Comfortβs place, the living room and entrance were shipshape. A mild, smoky fragrance that can only be gotten from incense permeated the house.
Comfort stepped out of her bedroom in a more decent presentation but not enough to erase Folarinβs last view of her. The dress she wore didnβt hide that she wasnβt wearing a bra. It also didnβt do much to cover her thighs.
βIβm sorry about earlier,β she told him.
βIβm not thinking about that, Commie. I came as promised. And I brought that manuscript along.β
Her eyes lit up in excitement. Folarin had in his possession a manuscript, ghost-written by him, for a client who was once a mistress to some of the richest and influential men in Abuja. She was letting out juicy secrets of their sex lives and tidbits of political drama she had partaken in. Folarin had guarded the manuscript with his life, refusing to share it with Comfort who had begged countless times to have a glimpse.
βSavvy so badly wants this,β he told her, thrusting out a flashdrive to her. βShe has some mad hacking skills and thatβs why I donβt have it on a cloud online. Youβre the editor Iβm assigning to it.β
βSeriously?β
βYeah.β
βThank you so much, boss. Yay! Iβm excited. Sit, Folarin.β
He took the couch she offered.
βSo, how spicy is it?β she asked.
βIf you like fat-bellied men eroticaβ¦β
βItβll surprise you what turns me on,β she said with a rascally smile. He responded with a blank face. βAs long as itβs you who wrote it, I know the erotica wonβt tank.β
At that, he smiled quietly. He had an alias that ran a romance and erotica blog which Comfort recently discovered. They hadnβt spoken about what he wrote there. It comprised of a series of short stories chronicling his love and sex life with Christie. It had the quiet sort of mad following that erotica blogs were known for. People hardly commented or shared links, yet they came in their droves to read his stories. He hadnβt expected such following. In fact, he had started the blog just after he discovered Christie was cheating on him. The aim was to preserve the memories of the happier times in his life with her. How Comfort discovered he was behind it was a mystery to him.
βSo, chocolate or wine first?β she asked.
βAnyone.β
She dashed to the kitchen and returned with two wine glasses while Folarin uncorked the bottle. He filled the glasses. She handed one to him.
βTo what do we toast?β she asked.
βWhy must we toast to something?β
βIsnβt that how itβs done?β
He laughed. βJust sit down and sip your wine, jare. Letβs talk about the ending of this book. Iβm having a bit of a problem with the last chapter. I need a muse.β
Comfort sensuously settled into the space beside him. βIβm all the muse you need, Folarin,β she said, tucking her dress between her thighs as she thrust forward. βStart from the beginning. Tell me all about it.β
Folarin took a long gulp of his wine. The lust in her eyes was not hard to miss. He was sure it mirrored his.
A week ago, she was not on his list of desirable women. Today, he needed her. If she was Khanyi or Savanna or any other female sitting right where she sat, it wouldnβt have mattered. He would lust after her still. But there was something perverse about going after Rajiβs baby mama. It gave him pleasure, the type his burning conscience was too weak to condemn.
As he sat sipping wine with her and talking about the manuscript, Khanyiβs warning was tossed away. He would cross the line. He was ready for whatever awaited him after the deed was done.
Β©Sally@moskedpages
Larin please don’t, my heart is breaking and I can’t put d reason into words. This is definitely d end for larin and Christie. Wait oh comfort must u be a side chick to other women husbands especially those having issues in their marriage, can’t u use Ur head for once and close Ur legs. Chai am pained. Two wrongs don’t make a right though hope they survive this together. Thanks Sally you are awesome a usual.
Folarin is in a very dark place, I pray he comes back before it becomes too late for him. Thanks Sal.
Folarin is going astray ma Sally pls bring him back gosh. who knows why Comfort is doin free shows. Andre and Anthonia i hav no word for u now. God bless ur work ma Sally.
Oh dear!
Your characters are always totally realistic! You have a gift, Sally.
Folarin please don’t break my heart. Please…………..!
Nice one Sally welcome back
Sally how do we celebrate Γ± appreciate you more . Thank you just not enough
*sigh * How I wish Folarin won’t do this but he is like a lost dog who will not hear the whistle of its owner. I hope Toni and Andre will put their selfishness aside and do what is good for themselves. Good job Sally.
Welcome Sally can we get another episode pleaseeeee
Folarin is breaking my heart π
Two wrongs never make a right, but when you are the party who is hurt, you never truly understand this until you have gotten your pound of flesh and realise it was for naught. I would hope folarin wouldn’t cheat on christie as payback, but he has to, to learn that the thril is more in the thought of payback and revenge than in the act itself.
Comfort is never tired of entanglements with married men. She seems like a broken person seeking validation from other people’s husband, but then we are all humans and are broken in one way or the other.
As for Andre and Toni, I’m keeping my fingers crossed there.
Beautiful episode once again Sally, you amaze me with the depth of your characters. Thanks for giving us something to look forward to.
U just spoke my mind, dia re some pple dt are not settled until dey get even…. It happens, so I think folarin shld get it over with, especially with raj’s baby mama…. I wlda bin sweeter if it was Sal ?
Hmmmm, Larin please don’t do this. Two wrongs never make a right.
I don’t understand what is happening with all the lovers in this story, they just like to fall people’s hand.
Biko, Sally help me give them sense.
Thanks Dear. Miss you a great deal on this blog. Regards to my family people at your end
Thanks for the love, Kemi
*kisses
Hmmmn! This toni/andre drama sha ooo. I hail you and them Sally. Oga folarin should just cheat and get it over with abeg! Humans and our unforgiving nature. Welldone Sally, always keeping us on our toes.
My pleasure, Mammy
Hmmmmmmm, Folarin bit why? Must you revenge?
I wonder
Chaiii…suspected it was going to come to this @Larin.
Mehnnn…need to see where they would get past this and through this
Great job Sally!!!
Thank you, Anonymous
Folarin my guy, I know it’s hard but please don’t cross the line. …don’t.
I pray he doesn’t
I feel he would not..
Hmmmm…..
Thanks Sally, God bless you….. Have a stressful & fulfilled week. ?
I’m sure you mean stress-less week
Thank you, Bookunmie. I appreciate
Impressive as usual..larin’s and comfy combo might just do the magic for christie’s marriage. Have been there and knows how badly it hurts..bee.n cheated upon by someone you love deeply….the memories never fades away
It doesn’t, my dear
Na waoh, the break up all over is not here oh…..what is happening biko? Folarin should go ahead and cheat so they can be even.
Madam Sally, Weldon Ma…..xoxo.
*hugs and kisses to you too, dear
Mstcheeeeww…. see this Folarin now o and that nonsense comfort ? disaster waiting to happen
She loves already made bananas π
Beautiful as always Sally. Thank you
My pleasure, Omotolau
It’s Folarin again!!!!!!!!!!! Toni and Andre……Reasons I dread relationships….
Don’t dread them too much. Our lovely couples will come back soon
Doesn’t this Comfort lady want her own man!
Folarin! Na wa oo. It started with that nickname. Why have a nickname like “commie” for a woman that isn’t your wife. What if he discovers a part of himself that he can’t return from.
One thing I’ve learnt is sometimes you try out something saying “just this once”. Next thing you know, its five years and you are still hooked.
Your comment had me in stitches. But it’s the truth. Just a little and you’re far gone…
Awesome as always Sally ??… I really felt Larin forgave christie too easily. Wishe he had calmed down and gone through the whole “hurting” & “vengeance” phase before accepting her back. He is about to do.. in da dadi neh.. ita ma ta dan taba.. lol
Brother Andre is a proud man sha kilode
Shi ma ya taba Lol!
singing Psquare’s this na temptation
With a little confusion, infatuation oh Lord!
Any body but comfort na larin, that 1 is just a leach sucking life from marriages. Andre and Toni, I greet you people. The pride sha
Leech indeed. Sad to think there are real people like that
OK I’m just somewhere I don’t know. Christy was and is still selfish. Raji isn’t what I thought. Commie is just going to help cause more problems. Argh! And folarin, poor man, what’s he gonna do? Sally God heals broken hearts. Good to know Toni and Andre are going to be doing less banging seems like its all they do. Sally u know I love u, abi?
I love you too, Essence CJ
Are you sure Andre and Toni will do less banging? π
Toni’s life i think is a bit complicated but larin is making a big mistake cos two wrongs can never make a right.
If only he’ll understand this…
DONT DO IT FOLARIN
*biting my nails nervously
I hope you’ve not bitten all your nails off like this
I just knew it that Comfort will soon be comforting Folarin under the sheets. Hope you don’t destroy your marriage sha. And for Andre and Toni, they are both mumu. Well done Sally.
lol @ mumus
Yeah, i think they are
My love for Andre and Toni!!! Folarin is on his way to disaster, why comfort of all people ?
Help me ask him
The beginning of the end was Folarin’s denial. Khanyi told him the truth…if only he had accepted it and not tried to act buff. And if Folarin crosses that line, he would be too knee-deep to cross back. Andre is too selfish jare…what sef?!
Sally, I want more biko nu
And may God bless us with more
Folarin – receive sense! Andre and Toni – can you guys stop it already!?!?!?!!? Haba!
Lol! I feel your annoyance, Calabar Gal
Thanks for reading
Mean I wish Folarin didn’t damn the Consequence he is going to get burn badly…. He might not recover. I have been there before. I got burnt I never recovered…. But then if i didn’t do it I would never understand the reason why him and not another person…. Thank you for this episode
Nice having you here, Kenny
Absolutely Beautiful!!!!
Well done Sally!!!
Thank you, very much
Thank you ma’am bin waiting on this for a while now. I just wish someone will barge in on them before anything goes down at all . I don’t like the comfort lady from the start, her name should be daleru daleru sef. Andre and Toni I still have faith in you two. I kinda miss Leticia and the pre nuptial drama in this episode. Really counting down to love, your enemy even though you said you want to change the name, I know it will be an amazing read as always???Have a wonderful week ahead ma’am
Bless you, Honey
I think i get folarin”s pain. You see i think when a man cheats its usually out of boredom or being plain naughty and randy…there is not so much emotional attachment to it or so i think but when a woman has an affair.. a married woman,,,it is DEEP
Folarin should not have forgiven christy so easily…he needed to have dealt with his demons well before they got back together.
FOLARIN if you can hear me PLEASE do whatever it takes to wean yourself of the hurt…but if you sleep with comfort…its the same old demons you gonna be fighting and even more.
True that
Folarin please not comfort.
Comfort will comfort him na π
Top class read. You shaded us there, with the comment thing.
Baba went over without his condoms, I’m sure babes that.
Comfort has mad skills in catching stray semen. I’m seeing a preggy woman soon.
Savannah may even catch one too. Baba is on a spree. Someone has to hold him.
I’m here with my pop corn.
Your erotica write-up is improving. Time to have an erotica blog?
Looool! I didn’t shade anyone here. I was directly referring to blogs like Deolububble and Damescaucus that are quite popular but show little feedback. It’s something with erotica blogs. They have many followers but I think people reluctant to comment because of the content. It’s not a discussion thing but more like read and wank
As for me and erotica, I still don’t consider myself an erotica writer. I write about relationships and love. If erotica drops in, great. I don’t want to restrict myself to sex.
Sally momo,I want more oo biko.
And by God’s grace, you’ll get it
Oh dear…#deep sigh #
π
Sally, the writer. I feel for Folarin already if he crosses the line.
He’ll get hurt, no doubt
That she did it doesn’t mean that he also have to do it, he’s would be a point of no return. welldone sally
Thank you, Moi
Nice episode
Thank you
This just got juicer? Folarin biko don’t cross the line I really want Andre and toni back ?That Izu is such a nonsense man? Thanks aunt Sally for the long juicy episode ?β€οΈ
You’re welcome, Iyanu
Sally please save Folarin o, if he cross this line, he may not be able to go back
I will do my best π
Dear larin,
you will cross the line and your eyes wont clear . i feel sad already. but we all know chief hasnt healed , maybe never heal.
me i will just negodu….sally, well done
No folarin, no!
Sally please don’t please!
I’m crying here please!
Oya, take tissue. Don’t cry
Oh no. Folarin! FOLARIN!! listen to khanyi she knows what is best.
I still love Toni no matter what. She and Andre sharing office building? I say game on.
Exactly. Two can play the game
Can’t Wait for a the next episode, Andre and Toni in the same building! No be small thing oo,but Folarin pls don’t do what is stupid oo.
Thanks for reading, Yetunde
I strongly believe Folarin & Christie will find their way back to each other. I swear characters always come alive in your books. I feel like I’m watching a movie. If you ever decide to turn this book into a movie, i will definitely go to the cinema to watch it.
Keep up the good work Sally. God bless you.
Am rooting for larin to cross the line , whether him eyes ? come clear or not, let’s see ao it pans out. Thumbs up Sally
aww have so missed you…just want i needed,please help Folarin and my favourite couple Toni and Andre too……….yasss welcome back Madam Sally
Lovely write up
Loving Toni and Andre.
Sally I missing pictures in I this series.
Lovely write up
Loving Toni and Andre.
These follow up story is banging,been a while here.always tot folarin forgiveness and acceptance was too novel like. Get where his coming from hop he doesn’t do it BT definitely not blaming him it occupying his mind. Betrayal isn’t something we get ova in months even years.
NYC story. And ur para mood decisions is undastdable. Love ur work still.
Andre and Toni, and drama. The two of them will learn, using one another. But the Andre guy sha! Buying into his girlfriend’s company and all that. I bow for am o.
Betrayal isn’t something anyone recovers from quickly. It takes a lot of processing in the head. Unfortunately, Folarin has processed it in such a way that leaves one feeling bad for him. I wish common sense will prevail and he will stop but aunty komfor sef don ready to make things happen. Sadly, this may make things more complicated.
Thank you Sally. That’s the least one can say/write.
Folarin!!!!!! Gosh not Comfort please…
Okay so this was great as usual. But can Toni and Andre get back together and actually stay that way
Yikes. And sad.
Hey, finally!!! Folarin ‘s no longer acting like his wife cheated on him in some alternate reality. I’m not excited that he’s going after Comfort, but it seems like he’s being holding back for a while now. I don’t see how, in reality, a wife would cheat on her husband with his best friend and the husband would forgive all. Great writing!
Wooow, nice and long episode, thanks Sally can’t wait for episode 7
Good to have you back Sally. Been waiting for Folarin to get to this point. I feel he needs to do this but I wish not with ‘Commie’ because I don’t see how you can get back from there. And ‘Commie’ well done with the planned seduction ehn, didn’t get the feeling you dressed so seductively to the office in the prequel to this. Toni and Andre keeping my fingers crossed for you two.
The way Folarin is vexing me ehn. I can’t even explain it. Like I am so upset and taking it personal. Let him Fuck(excuse my language) Commie if he wants, as na the way hin body de do am. Shebi his face will come down
Another person annoying me also is Andre…like really?!?! hypocrite oshi. Infact all the men de vex me gan.
I’m Toni through and through.
Thanks for this episode Salz. Luv ya
love you sally. May God bless the works of ur hands and give you wisdom and strength to do more.
kissssesss !!!
Folarin please donttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt……if you do this you cannot undo it plssssssssssssssssssss!!!!! As for the two stubborn goats, Tondre,e ma wa alright!
Thanks Sal.
Folarin is nothing but stupid.
I hope he doesn’t get lost in being even with Christs and they end up not making up.
And tone a kick ass bitch needs to swallow her pride to take in all the love from her man…