by Kiru Taye
Still, breaking up with Anthony had been the right thing to do. He could never offer her what she really wanted.
Now she understood why.
"So, did you say yes to Michael?" Franca asked her when she quelled her laughter.
"I haven’t given him a reply yet."
Appalled, Kasie covered her mouth with her hand when she realised how rude it would seem to Michael. She hadn’t meant it that way.
"Why not?" Franca frowned at her, confirming her suspicions.
"I was just too stunned at first to speak. I really hadn’t been expecting him to ask me out on a date." I thought he liked you, Kasie thought but didn’t say out loud.
"Then he opened the door and I walked out. The moment just passed."
"What? Girl, you can’t miss this opportunity." Franca had a serious frown on her face. "Otherwise, I’m going for him myself."
Instinctively, chills travelled down Kasie spine.
"Keep off Michael," she said a little too sharply. Franca reared back, studying her closely.
"Anyway, I thought you had a date with Gbenga, the Head of IT this weekend?" she added to diffuse the tension.
"It’s only a first date. Moreover, a girl’s got to keep her options open, right?" Franca said.
Blood drained from Kasie’s face making he feel light headed as she stared at her friend in horror and envy.
Franca burst out laughing.
"I was joking. Seriously, you should see your face. You look ready to tear my throat out. You’ve got it bad. No wonder you were in such a cranky state yesterday when I was chatting with him...Gosh, you’re in love with him."
"What? No way."
Partially relieved Franca had been teasing about going for Michael, Kasie shook her head not wanting to believe her friend’s words. She’d only known Michael for a day, for goodness sake. Nobody fell in love so quickly. Yet, her stomach fluttered at the thought of him, her heart daring to soar.
"You can deny it all you want but I could see it in your face just now. You are clearly smitten with Michael. It’s the reason you’ve been in a near euphoric state all day. You’ve been struck by cupid’s arrow."
Franca gave her the all-knowing look again. The tension eased out of Kasie body. She truly didn’t know what she’d do if Franca was genuinely interested in Michael. It was good to know she wasn’t.
"Yeah well, we’ll have to see what happens. He’s only asked me out on a date. I personally think he just wants to make up for upsetting me last night. I don’t think he really wants me," Kasie said as doubt and suspicion crept back into her mind.
"Of course, he wants you. He’s already asked you out. It is the first step. You better call him and say yes," Franca urged.
"Well, he’s picking me up at two, so we’ll see," Kasie replied with a nonchalance she didn’t feel. The fluttering in her stomach increased by the minute at the thought of seeing Michael again.
Franca glanced at her watch. "Well, it’s one-thirty so you better get a move on," she said and stood.
"Yes," Kasie swivelled in her chair to face her laptop.
Franca headed to the door. "Call me tomorrow and we’ll grab lunch and catch up."
"Sure. I’ll call you."
Franca left her to get ready. A little guilt crept up Kasie’s spine for not inviting Franca along to the shopping trip. But suddenly she wanted the time with Michael. Alone. Without distractions.
***
Just before two, Michael was in the car park of Apex Bank premises, waiting to pick up Kasie. He paced the distance around the car. For the first time in a very long time, he was anxious. Restless.
This morning he’d asked Kasie out on a date. In itself not a problem. His whole purpose for carrying on with this charade was to get her to date him. Just for a few days. He was a man on a mission. With a plan of action. His goal to prove to his friends he was over his ex, Ruth Mbadiwe.
Yet, he was worried. Ok. Maybe worried was the wrong word. There was no need to get dramatic. He was unsettled. A steady stream of discontentment had dropped over him since he left Kasie’s hotel room last night. Yesterday morning he didn’t have a problem about going through with the challenge set to him by his friends. However this morning, he’d woken up with thoughts of Kasie in his head.
He actually wanted to date Kasie. Not for a dare. Or a bet. Certainly, not for just a couple of days. He wanted to date her properly. Take her to dinner. To the movies. Stay home with her and watch TV. Get to know more about her. What inspired her? What challenged her? What made her laugh? What made her cry? He could make a good guess. Grimacing, he glanced at the entrance to the bank lobby.
Perhaps he should call Paul and cancel the bet. It would mean a forfeit. Giving up his precious Cessie. Was Kasie worth it? Was she worth the loss of something he’d worked hard to acquire? He was yet to find out.
The niggling notion that Kasie didn’t take him seriously prevented him from making the phone call. She still thought he was beneath her. Due to his status as a chauffeur. This bothered him the most. His blood boiled every time the idea crept into his mind. She’d shown her contempt from the moment she met him. Yes, they’d called a truce.
But leopards don’t change their spots, do they?
Moreover, she’d said nothing when he’d asked her out on a date. Neither yes nor no. Obviously, she didn’t want to dent his ego by refusing him outright. He was good enough as a driver. Someone to hang around with for a few hours while she shopped. But no more.
No, she didn’t respect him.
It didn’t matter how much she’d trembled in his arms last night. The sound of his name on her lips as she'd come apart in ecstasy had haunted his dream. The intoxicating scent of her skin, the way she'd heated up beneath his touch. The way she'd wanted him to make love to her in the back of the car.
None of those things mattered. When it came down to it, she didn’t even want to admit the attraction between them to herself. Let alone the rest of the world.
So for now, the deal was on. He was going to prove to himself, and his friends, he was as desirable as a chauffeur, as he was as a successful entrepreneur. Whatever the cost, he’d do it. He had to lay the ghost of Ruth Mbadiwe’s rejection to rest. Forever.
So when Kasie stepped out of the bank entrance, and his heart stopped for a moment, he ignored it.
Why was it he seemed to be on the verge of losing his control every time he saw her?
She’d mentioned he’d appeared calm yesterday. He was good at looking unperturbed in the face on danger. It was a skill he’d learned. It served him well now. He wouldn’t be baring his soul to her again. He was a man. In control. It would remain this way.
Today, her black and white striped dress flattered her curvy figure. As usual, she appeared composed. Sophisticated. She smiled, her lips pulling up when she looked at him. He noticed her dimples. Beautiful. Her ruby red lips, luscious and inviting.
The urge to go to her had him straightening up. He wanted to pull her to his chest and kiss her lips. Till she was out of breath. He wanted to put his fingers through her hair and let it cascade down. He wanted to make her look as tousled and sexy as she’d looked last night in the back seat of the car.
Instead he took a deep breath and smiled in return. He didn’t approach her, letting her come to him instead. This was his game. He’d play it as he chose.
"Are you ready to go?" he asked as she approached the car.
"Yes. Do you have a good mall in mind?" she stopped within touching distance, staring up at him. Her fragrance drifted into his nostrils. Bewitchingly intoxicating. His grip on the car door tightened.
"Yes, I know the perfect place." For you to spend daddy’s money.
He couldn't help the cynical thoughts in his head. He got into the driver’s seat and drove out of the bank premises.
Chapter Seven
For the rest of the day they shopped. Well, Kasie shopped. Michael kept her company, waited and carried the bags for her. The encounter w
ith him had given her the impetus to do something about all the things going wrong in her life. While she was still a little wary of him, not knowing what to do with him, she’d accepted she was attracted to him. However, right now there were other things she needed to focus on getting right. Her family for one.
Earlier on, she’d called her sister and left several messages. As usual, Kemafor didn’t return her calls. Kasie really wanted to mend the bridges she had been demolished by her attitude to her family. Though she’d ignored it for months, she was going to be brave and face her fears this weekend.
In one of the shops they visited, the shop assistants mistook Michael for her friend, though she’d used the word boyfriend. Kasie had stolen a quick glance at Michael. He’d lifted his brow in a scowling expression. She concealed the smile creeping up her face behind her hand.
Michael was no boy. He was all man. Commanding. Strikingly good-looking. Adept at handling a woman. Thinking of him, his warm hands on her body brought a feverish flush over her skin.
On the way out of the shop, their hands brushed each other’s, a bolt of static travelling up her arm. They both stopped, stood still, mesmerised by the moment. The heated expression on his face made her think he was going to kiss her. Right there in front of the shop assistant. Heart pounding, she wished he would. She didn’t care who saw them. Instead, he looked away and walked out of the shop with her shopping bags.
When they got to the car, it occurred to her he’d been unusually silent during their shopping trip.
What was on his mind? Was he thinking about the question he asked her this morning?
He loaded the shopping bags in the boot before holding the door open for her.
As she stepped into the car, she reached out and touched his arm, looking up at his expressionless face.
"Michael, you asked me out on a date earlier? Is the offer still available?"
He quirked up his eyebrow, the only visual sign he registered her words.
"It is," he said.
"Then I’d love to go out to dinner with you."
"Okay."
Something about his unenthusiastic response got to her. Where was the warm glimmer she’d seen in his eyes this morning when he’d asked her out?
"I mean I don’t mind paying for dinner or going halves if you want," she said in a casual tone, still holding his cool gaze.
"I’m a man. I asked you out on a date. So I’ll be paying for the date."
"If you’re sure. I don’t—"
"Kasie, I’m sure. I’m paying," Michael cut her off, his lips in a thin line. His grey eyes were almost silver as he stared her down showing his determination. She looked away.
"Ok."
She shrugged, getting into the car. She didn’t know how much he earned. But she realised his response fitted with his whole macho behaviour. He was one of those men who opened doors and paid for everything. If it was the way he wanted it, then it was fine by her.
They drove back to her hotel in near silence.
"I’ll pick you up at 7pm," he said after he’d given her bags to the hotel porter.
"I’ll see you then." She walked into the hotel while he drove off.
***
When Michael picked her up, she decided to sit in the front passenger seat since they were going out together and he was officially off duty.
Dinner was surprisingly pleasant. The restaurant was modest and decorated with red hearts and red flowers against the white of the walls. The low Afro beat music playing in the background were mostly love songs. Very apt, considering today was Valentine's Day.
They sat them in a cosy corner booth where they had some privacy and still have a view of the rest of the space. The food was local, decent and not overpriced.
Before he picked her up, she’d hoped he wouldn’t take her to an expensive restaurant when he couldn’t afford to. Most men always wanted to impress her by taking her to expensive restaurants. This was where Michael was different. He was being himself. Spending according to his means. It made her admire him more.
They talked politics, economics—topics she somehow didn’t expect Michael to be conversant with but he was. They also talked sport, soccer especially, though he didn’t dwell on it like she’d expected.
Truthfully, he was the perfect gentleman—the kind of man she’d date in an ideal world. They didn’t live in an ideal world.
Moreover, this was the wrong time for her to be thinking about dating someone like him. She was trying to sort things out with her family. They wouldn’t approve of a man like Michael especially so soon after Anthony. Maybe in a few months when things were settled, she could take it further. Right now, she had to think about how to win her family over.
Throughout dinner, each time their eyes met, her heart skipped a beat. The sound of his voice resonated within her. The energy between them grew. Her body coiled tight with lust in response. She sensed he was holding back, keeping a tight rein on his own desires.
"So are the rest of your family in Lagos?" he asked as she scooped chocolate ice cream onto her mouth.
She took her time savouring and swallowing the delightful dessert before answering. It also gave her time to compose her response. She usually didn't discuss her family with anyone other than Franca.
"My parents are in Lagos with my younger siblings." She hesitated. "But my big sister lives here in Enugu."
"Interesting." He took as sip of his black coffee. "Your sister lives here and you stay in a hotel all week?"
Lifting her shoulders in a casual shrug that was purely superficial, she drew circles in the bowl with the spoon distractedly.
"I didn't mean to pry." There was softness to his voice and she lifted her eyes to meet his. His smile was sympathetic as if he knew what troubled her soul.
"I'm just not a fan of hotel rooms. Whenever I travel, I'm in a rush to get back home so I can sleep in my own bed."
She smiled.
"How similar we are then. I don't like hotel rooms either. But needs must. So do you travel often?" she asked to divert attention from herself. Questions about her family always reminded her of how much of a failure she was to them.
This time it was his turn to shrug.
"Often enough. It comes with the job." his answer was evasive as if he was also hiding something. "Couldn't you request to be transferred back to Lagos?"
"I could but I don't want to." She exhaled a deep sigh. "The truth is I took this assignment because I wanted to get away from Lagos. I needed some breathing space."
As if he could sense her torture, he leaned across and covered her hand with his. Calloused palm caressed the back of her hand tenderly.
"It's okay to want to take a break sometimes. All part of human nature. It gives us time to think clearly and look at things from a fresh perspective."
His words soothed her troubled mind.
"It certainly does. At least it showed my ex-boyfriend for whom he truly was." She gave a dry laugh. "We broke up yesterday morning."
The grip he had on her hand tightened perceptively and a vein ticked on his temple.
"You ex is a fool for letting you go." Something dark swam across his eyes. She blinked and it was gone.
"His loss, my gain."
Mesmerised by his intense gaze, her knees grew weak as he lifted her hand and brushed sensuous lips against her knuckles.
Dear Lord! Franca is right. I'm falling for him.
After dinner, they headed back to her hotel. When they arrived, she reached across and touched his arm. His warm skin seared her palm like an open flame and she pulled back her hand quickly.
"Michael, don’t worry. I’ll see myself out. I really enjoyed dinner tonight. Thank you." Was the husky voice hers? She really had to get out of the car before she did something stupid like ask him to kiss her.
She turned to open the car door. The feel of his hands on her shoulders got her swivelling around to face him. His darkened grey eyes were the midnight sky sparkling with fiery stars.
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"It was my pleasure," his voice sounded like a car rolling on gravels.
Before she could reply, his lips merged with hers, shutting her up, sending all thoughts out of the window. His kiss was packed with passion. Soul-searing. Bone-melting. Her heart raced, her stomach fluttered, desire for him swarming her body with powerful shameless sensations.
She didn’t know how long he kissed her. Only that she didn’t want it to end.
Michael pulled back, leaving her bereft of his touch as he came round and opened her door. He bid her good night with a gentle brush of his lips on her cheek. As she walked to the hotel lobby doors, her legs felt like they were made from jelly. Would she ever get another man to make her feel this way?
***
The next day, Michael picked Kasie up and drove to her sister’s house in GRA, Ekulu. On the way, to combat her apprehension, she told Michael an idea had occurred to her last night.
"Why don’t you move to Lagos?" she asked emboldened by the growing bond between them.
"Why?" he asked casually, not giving much away by the tone of his voice.
"I can speak to my father. He’s very well connected and can help you get a job. It’ll pay much better than whatever you’re earning right now," she continued.
"What’s the price for this great enticing job offer? My soul?" he turned to her, giving her a heated glare.
She reared back, surprised by his reaction. Glaring back at him, she queried his attitude.
"What do you mean? Don’t you want to do better than just driving hire cars? Don’t you want to get out of Enugu and move to Lagos? Everyone else does. What makes you different, Mr High-and-mighty?"
"Oh, I didn't know Lagos is now the centre of the universe." His words mocked her.
"I’ll have you know some of us are quite happy down here. No, thank you, but I won’t take a job offer from your father," he replied caustically.
Fuming, she ignored Michael for the rest of the drive to Ekulu. She couldn’t believe he could be so pigheaded. So short-sighted. There were loads more opportunities in Lagos than Enugu. Surely he could see. Anyway, this would teach her to try to help him again. Next time, she’d mind her own business.