by Kiru Taye
After she stepped into the cool, dark interior, her eyes took a few seconds to adjust to the gloom as the driver shut the door. The shadows gave Mark an air of danger, a lion in his den. A shiver ran down her spine. Male spice scented the air, triggering the instinct to sink into his strong arms. He always had that effect on her.
Enough. She shook off the sensation and stiffened her back.
"Hi, sweetheart."
Opening his arms, he reached for her shoulders. She tilted to the left, dodged his questing fingers, and swung her arm. The slap connected with his bristly jaw.
"Don’t call me sweetheart."
"Aww."
One hand clutched his left cheek, the other pressed a button. The tinted partition slid upwards, returning the back interior into shadows with minimal sunlight filtering through the darkened windows. Gentle vibrations beneath the soft, luxurious dark leather seat indicated the car had started moving.
"You lying sonofabitch." Her right palm stung but she swung it a second time.
Firm fingers grasped her wrist mid-air in a vicelike grip.
"Perhaps I deserved the first one, Faith. But you don’t get to slap me again unless you want one in return."
Her head ached. She grunted and tugged her arm. His grip didn’t loosen.
"Let me go, Mark." Her body vibrated, anger popping in her veins in mini-explosions.
The whoosh of a ragged breath drawn in and out filled the air. He let her hand go. Pushing back in her seat, she sought to put as much distance as possible between them. Averting her gaze, she stared at the traffic light at the junction as it counted down to green. Except at the moment, red mist tinted her vision.
"Faith, what is going on?" His demand had an edge of concern.
She whipped around, facing him. A spotlight highlighted his striking profile. He must have turned it on. Dark eyes bore into hers, scrutinising, yet alluring. The urge to let go and get lost in them—in him—flared, heat flushing her body.
She shook her head, dismissing her body’s response to him. "Are you really going to ask me that after the stunt you just pulled in the boardroom?"
Horizontal lines marred his forehead, his eyes narrowed into slits.
"I didn’t do anything I haven’t been doing since I started running Apex Financials. It was a business decision, and we agreed to keep business separate from our personal relationship."
"Well, you made it personal when you decided to buy City Investments. For goodness’ sake, you know how much this job means to me."
"I told you I wanted you to work for me."
His voice gentled, soft as honey, enticing, matching the lazy smile on his face. His warm palm covered her bare lower arm, fingers caressing.
Her skin tingled, nipples beaded, and a slow ache built between her thighs, adding to her already choppy breathing. She lowered her eyelids, took a slow, deep breath, and shook his hand off.
"And I said no. I haven’t changed my mind." She met his gaze again.
His eyes marbled, glinting cold and hard. The line of his jaw stiffened, the hard-nosed businessman replacing the charming playboy.
"Then that’s a big shame because I’m not going to give up a great opportunity like City."
She flinched, hearing the unspoken words. "Not even for you." The pain in her chest announced her shattered heart.
She shut her eyes tight, fighting the tears waiting to spill from behind her eyelids. Why did she ever think their relationship was special? That she could be more than just a notch on his bedpost? Foolish woman.
She should’ve known he would remain ruthless as far as business was concerned. Was that partly why he’d started dating her? Had she inadvertently given him the ammunition to take over her firm?
"How long have you wanted to buy City? Is that why you asked me out, so you could get information from me?"
Her stomach clenched and nausea rose as she asked the question. But she had to know if she’d been a pawn in her own downfall.
"Stop this nonsense." Frustration laced his words.
"Our relationship is the nonsense." Opening her eyes, she glared at him.
"Do not belittle what we have."
"You did that already when you decided that acquiring City was more important than what we have."
"I never said that." His fingers gripping the seat side-rest showed taut knuckles.
"You didn’t have to," she replied, her throat dry.
His loud growl reverberated inside the car. It should’ve been her cue to back off. She didn’t.
"How long have you wanted City?"
The space between them disappeared as he loomed over her, her back pressed into the corner of the seat.
"Mark, what are you doing?" Her heart thudded loudly, her breath caught in her throat.
"There’s one sure way of shutting you up."
The huskiness in his voice melted her outrage, arousal taking over.
Lean, hard, masculine muscles pressed against her soft flesh, the fabrics separating them inconsequential. The hard points of her nipples chaffed against the lace of her bra. Her body trembled, her hands moistened as her lips parted. But no words came out.
Long fingers curled around the back of her neck, pressing her head forward. "I’m going to kiss you now."
Their lips joined and Faith’s fury translated into passion. She kissed him back, her hands clutching his neck. She felt him everywhere as her heart thudded and her breath stalled and she drank as much of him in as possible.
Her left hand slid down and cupped the bulge in his trousers. Mark groaned and pulled back, his eyes blazing as much as hers must blaze, too.
"What are you doing?"
"You are not the only one who can play this game," she bit out in a breathless voice.
"This is not a game." His eyes hardened and he looked pissed off.
"Then answer my question."
He blew out a frustrated breath and shifted back into his seat.
"I’d always admired Francis Okolo and the way he ran City. He is my father’s friend. When news of his looming retirement reached me a few weeks ago, I decided to capitalise on it. I made him an offer. He accepted it. No harm done."
She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded to avoid shedding the tears building up behind her eyelids.
"So while you were fucking me last weekend in Benin, you knew you be taking over City and you didn’t think to tell me." She hated how her voice sounded.
"Faith—"
"No." She held up her hand in censure. "No need. I totally get it. Business is business. What we had was just a bit of fun. And now, it’s over."
"What?"
"It’s over, Mark. It was fun while it lasted. Now, it’s time to move on."
"You’re not serious."
"I’m as serious as a heart attack. As if everything else isn't bad enough, I have to stomach seeing pictures of you and Wumi splashed all over the internet—"
"Is this about Wumi? You knew I was going to play tennis with her and other friends. Afterwards, we went out for a few drinks. It wasn't just the two of us. There were at least six of us in the group." He scrubbed his head, his frustrations vibrating off his agitated motion. "For goodness’ sake, I leased a plane and flew out to you that same night. Do you really think I would flit from one woman to another? On the same night? I am not my father. I have never cheated on you or any other woman!"
The vehemence in his voice bounced off the interior of the car. Faith reared back as if he'd smacked her. She sucked in a deep breath, calming her temper a notch.
"Mark, I believe you. But this is not about Wumi. It's about us. We are not meant to be together. I don't fit in your life, and you don't fit in mine. Full stop. I'm done with this. Take me back to City offices."
His body tensed and when he spoke into the intercom, his voice sounded cold. They sat in a depressing silence for a while, the quiet only interrupted by the occasional jolt from a pothole or the muffled beeping of car horns from outside. Faith b
raced herself because her bad news for him hadn’t ended.
"I have something else to tell you. I want to make it clear that I’m not asking you for anything in return. I’m simply letting you know because I think you deserve to know."
She paused, digging in her handbag for the packet and using the opportunity to gather her wits about her. She held it in her hand for a couple of breaths, puffing in and out. Then, she withdrew the white plastic stick and looked at the text indicator.
Her heart jolted, her insides clenched.
"I’m pregnant," she said and held the stick up.
From the corner of her eye, she saw him flinch before his hand was suddenly on her shoulder, turning her to face him.
"What did you say?"
"I’m pregnant, up the duff, expecting a baby. Here." She thrust the stick into his line of sight.
He stared at it and then at her.
"You’re pregnant and you just told me we’re over?"
"Yes." She shrugged. "It doesn’t change anything."
"Like hell, it doesn’t. You’re going to have my baby, and you’re telling me you don’t want me in your life? That’s not going to happen."
"Look, Mark. This is not the dark ages. I don’t need a man in my life before I can take care of a baby."
"Well, I’ve got news for you, sweetheart. I’m not just any man, and this is not just any baby." He gave a pointed look at her still-flat stomach. "We are both Essiens. And Essien children don’t grow up outside the family."
"Mark, listen—"
"No, you listen. You said your piece. Now, hear mine. I will not rest until you are officially an Essien. We are getting married."
Chapter Fourteen
Faith couldn’t get out of the car fast enough. No point sitting there arguing with a stubborn Mark who remained adamant they had to get married despite her protestations and disagreement.
She’d been sadly surprised at the calm way he’d accepted that they were over. Yet, the moment she mentioned the pregnancy, he’d been quick to claim the child as his and in demanding that their relationship couldn’t end now.
She blew out a frustrated breath as she boarded a crowded lift up to her floor. She would show Mark that he couldn’t railroad her into anything.
"You’re back already." Amara’s voice held surprise as Faith entered her office.
"Yes, I completed what I needed to do quickly," she replied distractedly. "Please contact Florence and set up a meeting with Mr. Okolo."
"Did you have any date in mind?"
"If I could see him today, that would be great. Otherwise, first thing tomorrow will be fine."
"Okay."
Amara hooked the phone under her ear as Faith shut her door. She picked up her desk phone and pressed a speed dial button. Each of the directors’ direct lines had been keyed into the direct dial buttons. Number three was Kayode’s.
The call connected at the second ring.
"KD," she said as soon as she heard his voice. His close friends addressed him by using his initials, and she wanted him to understand that this conversation was purely confidential. "Have you got time for a chat? I have something I need to run by you."
"Sure. I was going to pop over to Lottie’s for some lunch. Do you care to join me?"
"Sounds like a plan. I’ll see you downstairs in ten minutes."
She hung up and pressed another button on the keypad.
"Hi, Faith. I popped in to see if you wanted to do lunch but Amara said you were out already," Stella said.
"Yes, I had to go out to do something." She fiddled with her wristwatch again. She always felt guilty keeping her affair with Mark secret from her friend. But it seemed that had been a great idea because it was over, anyway. At least, for the time being. Until her pregnancy started showing and everyone began asking her who the father was.
"I need you to run some numbers for me," she said.
"What do you need?"
"I need a P&L forecast for the next 3 years, and a special report on the Energy sectors and sustainability projects in the pipeline."
"When do you need this by?"
"Tonight."
"What? Is Mr. O requesting this?"
"No. It’s for a project I’m working on. I’ll tell you about it when we discuss your report later."
"Okay." Stella sighed. "I’ll get to it, then."
"Thank you. You’re a star."
"Yeah, you owe me."
Feeling upbeat despite this morning’s news, Faith headed out to lunch with Kayode. She had a plan that would secure City’s future and pull the rug out of Mark’s takeover bid. He had to learn that two could play his darn game.
Lunch went extremely well. Kayode agreed with her plans as she laid them out. They needed one more member of the leadership team to back their proposal, and then they could move on to the next stage. This would be the difficult part.
While Nathaniel was a good enough Operations director, he and Faith had had enough disagreements in the past for her to know he wouldn’t necessarily back her proposal. Naturally, they would have sought the backing of the finance director. But since Mr. Bode was close to Mr Okolo’s age and therefore nearing retirement himself, he didn’t have a long-term active future in City.
The person next in line as director of finance was Wumi, and if the pictures Faith had seen earlier were anything to go by, she was the last person Faith would invite to back her.
Really a shame, because before Faith had met Mark, she’d had a good relationship with Wumi. Now, she wasn’t sure she could class Wumi as her friend anymore.
All because of a man!
"I got you a meeting with Mr. O in the morning." Amara walked into Faith’s office as she opened up slides to start working on a presentation.
"Great." The time should be enough for her to prepare her proposal for the MD.
"Will that be all?"
"Yes, thank you."
Amara shut the door as she left and Faith focused on her computer screen.
An hour later, she had the draft ready. She just needed to plug in the financials from Stella and they should be good to go.
Talking about finance, they needed backing, and only one person could help her at such short notice.
She picked up her phone.
"Hello," the voice said on the other end.
"Good afternoon, Mumsie," Faith said.
"Faith, my daughter. Kedu?" Mrs. Duru asked.
Faith smiled. "Odi mma." Her Ibo language wasn’t great, but this had become a fond greeting ritual of theirs since Faith went to live with Ebony’s mum as a teenager.
"Good. How are your parents and your brother, Odion?"
"I saw them two weekends ago. They are well. Well, my mum had to see a doctor because she hadn’t been feeling well. But she seems all right at the moment."
"Oh, I hope it was nothing serious. If there’s anything I can do, just let me know."
"Thank you, Mum." She paused as she composed her thoughts. "There is something I need your help with."
"Tell me. I’m all ears."
Faith told her about what had happened in the boardroom this morning and her ideas for the future of City. She left out details of her involvement with Mark, not ready to explain it to anybody, yet.
"That’s quite an ambitious plan you have there," Mrs. Duru said. "But if anyone can pull it off, I know you will. So I’m going to help you and connect you with some financiers who can back you."
"Oh, thank you, Mumsie." A huge breath she’d been holding whooshed out of her mouth as she nearly hopped off her chair with joy and excitement.
"I’ll call you back later with the names of the contacts."
"Okay, Mum. Thanks again."
Mrs. Duru hung up. Faith was pumping her hand through the air when Stella walked in.
"You look happy," her colleague said as she sat down. "What’s got you so excited?"
"Some great news to brighten a day that started dismally," Faith said, not hiding the huge g
rin on her face. Perhaps she could actually pull this whole thing off and provide a great future for her and her unborn child without Mark.
"Come on, spill. First, you make me do this report in record-breaking time." She dropped the folder she held on the desk. "Now, you look like you’ve just won the lottery."
"Close, my sister. Close." Faith pulled her chair out so she could sit side by side with Stella. "You’re a close friend of mine and I would really love to get you on board, so I’m telling you this under strict confidence. You can’t tell anyone about it, at least, not until after tomorrow, do you understand?"
"Sure. I understand. I won’t tell anyone."
"Good." She paused for a breath. "I’m organising a management buyout of City."
Stella stared at her with a frown on her face for a few seconds. Faith could see the moment the penny dropped.
"Oh my God. You’re not. Really?"
"Yep. That’s why I needed the reports. KD has agreed to it, and I just got off the phone with someone organising financiers."
"Wow. Girl, I have a new respect for you. I don’t know if I could do it. Go up against a man like Mark Essien? No way. He’s one ferocious beast."
"Yes, but even lions have tamers."
"Touché."
"So, what exactly do you need me for?"
"We need a financial whizz, and you’re it."
"Aren’t you better off with Wumi? She’s deputy Finance Director and she’ll probably be taking over as Finance Director once Mr. Bode steps down."
"Yes, but as your pictures from this morning proves, she’s already consorting with the enemy." And I don’t trust her.
"Good point. But you know I’m just an analyst."
"Stop putting yourself down. You’re the best senior analyst at City, and probably one of the best in the whole of Nigeria. One day, you’ll head the department and that day is fast approaching, in my opinion."
If it was possible for her dark skin to turn red, Faith was sure Stella’s would be crimson now by the smile she was giving her. The girl always belittled her own qualities.